The Generosity of Rebekah

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    In Genesis 24 it says that Abraham had his chief servant go to Abraham's homeland to look for a wife for his son Isaac.  The servant asked God to show him a sign.  It says that he prayed in verse 12-14-

 “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” NIV


   The servant hadn't even stopped talking and Rebekah shows up.  And Rebekah goes about fulfilling exactly word for word what the servant asked God to show him.  A couple of things struck me about this.  One was that this servant has been traveling for a while and Rebekah does not know him and who he is.  For all she knows they could be thieves.  But, she offers to water their camels.  This was a big job.  The men stood around and watched her do it too.  Nobody helped her.  It was an incredibly generous thing for Rebekah to do.  She didn't know they were going to turn around and offer her a wedding ring to a wealthy family.  For all she knew they were getting on their camels and moving on and she would never see them again.

   There are numerous passages in the Bible that tells us that there is a reward for those who remember those who are in need and who are generous.  We can't always respond to all needs.  Be we need to be aware of what we can do.  Rebekah was aware of a group of men who had traveled a long ways and aware that she had the time to help them with their flock and took the time to do it.  It was not an easy thing to do.  It took time to do it.  She didn't do it expecting a big reward.  If she hadn't said those words though we wouldn't know who she was today.  It was the thing that set her apart from the rest of the ladies that day that came to draw water from that well.  Moments later, the servant would be put a big gold braclet on her wrist and he would begin to reveal to her who he was.  It is a great story.  Check it out in Genesis 24.

"The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered." Proverbs 11:25, NASV

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