Rebekah Drawing Water From a Spring WellBibleWorld

Genesis 24:15

And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

The verse belongs to the account of Abraham's servant seeking a wife for Isaac from the family of Nahor in Mesopotamia. The mission sought a wife from that family as part of Abraham's effort to preserve the worship of the living God, and it was entrusted to God's guidance. Rebekah came out before the servant had finished speaking, arriving while he was still speaking. Her arrival answered the servant's earnest request and prayer for direction, showing that God directed the choice and had selected her to become Isaac's wife. Her arrival and conduct supplied the evidence he had asked God to give.

Isaac's marriage is presented as an example of seeking a suitable companion under God's guidance and trusting God's direction. It is presented as an example of respecting parental counsel, with parents guiding their children's affections toward suitable companions. That counsel is seen in Isaac's submission to his father's guidance through his experienced servant and in a union formed with his father's guidance. For children who profess to fear God, the choice of a spouse should be guided by godly judgment rather than made independently. Isaac's deference reflected a life trained in obedience, and the resulting marriage was loving and comforting.