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Abraham's pious care concerning his
son was, that he should not marry with a daughter of Canaan, but with
one of his kindred because he saw, the Canaanites were degenerating
into great wickedness, and knew, that they were designed for ruin:
would not marry his son among them, lest they should be either a snare
to his soul, or, at least, a blot to his name. Yet he would not go
himself among his kindred, lest he should be tempted to settle there:
this caution is given, Ge 24:6, and repeated, Ge 24:8. Parents, in
disposing of their children, should carefully consult their
furtherance in the way to heaven.
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His eldest servant-Probably Eliezer of
Damascus, one whose conduct and affection he had had long experience
of: he trusted him with this great affair, and not Isaac himself,
because he would not have Isaac go at all into that country, but marry
thither by proxy; and no proxy so fit as the steward of his house.
This matter is settled between the master and the servant with a great
deal of care and solemnity. The servant is bound by an oath to do his
utmost to get a wife for Isaac among his relations, Ge 24:3,4. Abraham
swears him to it, both for his own satisfaction, and for the
engagement of his servant to all possible care and diligence. Thus God
swears his servants to their work, that, having sworn, they may
perform it. Swearing being an ordinance, not peculiar to the church,
but common to mankind, is to be performed by such signs as are the
common usages of our country.
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God's angels are ministering spirits, sent
forth, not only for the protection, but guidance of the heirs of
promise, Heb 1:14. He shall send his angel before thee-And then thou
shalt speed well.
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He made his camels kneel
down-Perhaps to unload them.
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Send me good speed this day-We have leave
to be particular in recommending our affairs to the care of Divine
providence. Those that would have good speed must pray for it this
day, in this affair. Thus we must, in all our ways acknowledge God.
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V. 14. Let it come to pass-He prays
God, that he would please to make his way plain and clear before him,
by the concurrence of minute circumstances in his favour. It is the
comfort, as well as the belief, of a good man, that God's providence
extends itself to the smallest occurrences, and admirably serves its
own purposes by them. And it is our wisdom, in all our affairs, to
follow providence. Yea, it is very desirable, and that which we may
lawfully pray for, while, in the general, we set God's will before us
as our rule, that he will, by hints of providence, direct us in the
way of our duty, and give us indications what his mind is. Thus he
guides his people with his eye, and leads them in a plain path.
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V. 15. And before he had done
speaking, behold Rebekah came out-Who in all respects, answered the
characters he wished for in the woman that was to be his master's
wife, handsome and healthful, humble and industrious, courteous and
obliging to a stranger. And providence so ordered it, that she did
that which exactly answered his sign. She not only gave him drink,
but, which was more than could have been expected, she offered her
service to give his camels drink, which was the very sign he proposed.
God, in his providence, doth sometimes wonderfully own the prayer of
faith, and gratify the innocent desires of his praying people even in
little things, that he may shew the extent of his care, and may
encourage them at all times, to seek him, and trust in him; yet we
must take heed of being over bold in prescribing to God, lest the
event should weaken our faith rather than strengthen it. And the
concurrence of providences, and their minute circumstances, for the
furtherance of our success in any business, ought to be particularly
observed with wonder and thankfulness to the glory of God. We have
been wanting to ourselves both in duty and comfort, by neglecting to
observe providence.
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V. 27. Blessed be the Lord God of my
master Abraham-Observe here, 1. He had prayed for good speed, and now
he had sped well, he gives thanks. 2. As yet, he was not certain what
the issue might prove, yet he gives thanks. When God's favours are
coming towards us; we must meet them with our praises. The Lord led me
to the house of my master's brethren-Those of them that were come out
of Ur of the Chaldees, though they were not come to Canaan, but staid
in Haran. They were not idolaters, but worshippers of the true God,
and inclinable to the religion of Abraham's family.
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V. 29. We have here the making up of
the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah, related largely and
particularly. Thus we are directed to take notice of God's providence
in the little common occurrences of human life, and in them also to
exercise our own prudence, and other graces: for the scripture was not
intended only for the use of philosophers and statesmen, but to make
us all wise and virtuous in the conduct of ourselves and families.
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V. 31. Come in thou blessed of the
Lord-Perhaps, because they heard from Rebekah, of the gracious words
which proceeded out of his mouth, they concluded him a good man, and
therefore blessed of the Lord.
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V. 34. I am Abraham'
servant-Abraham's name, no doubt, was well known among them, and
respected; and we may suppose them not altogether ignorant of his
state, for Abraham knew theirs, Ge 22:20.
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V. 45. Before I had done speaking in my
heart-Which perhaps he mentions, lest it should be suspected that
Rebekah had overheard his prayer, and designedly humoured it; no,
saith he, I spake it in my heart, so that none heard it but God, to
whom thoughts are words, and from him the answer came.
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V. 50. The thing proceedeth from the
Lord-Providence smiles upon it, and we have nothing to say against it.
A marriage is then likely to be comfortable when it appears to proceed
from the Lord.
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V. 52. He worshipped the Lord-As his
good success went on, he went on to bless God: those that pray without
ceasing should in every thing give thanks, and own God in every step
of mercy.
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V. 55. Let her abide a few days, at
least ten-They had consented to the marriage, and yet were loth to
part with her. It is an instance of the vanity of this world, that
there is nothing in it so agreeable but has its allay. They were
pleased that they had matched a daughter of their family so well, and
yet it was with reluctancy that they sent her away.
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V. 57. Call the damsel, and enquire
at her mouth-As children ought not to marry without their parents
consent, so parents ought not to marry them without their own. Before
the matter is resolved on, ask at the damsel's mouth, she is a party
principally concerned; and therefore ought to be principally
consulted.
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V. 61. And her damsels-It seems
then, when she went to the well for water, it was not because she had
no servants at command, but because she took pleasure in the instances
of humanity and industry.
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V. 63. He went out to meditate (or
pray) in the field at the even tide -Some think he expected his
servants about this time, and went out on purpose to meet them. But it
should seem he went out to take the advantage of a silent evening, and
a solitary field, for mediation and prayer. Our walks in the field are
then truly pleasant, when in them we apply ourselves to meditation and
prayer, we there have a free and open prospect of the heavens above
us, and the earth around us, and the hosts and riches of both, by the
view of which we should be led to the contemplation of the Maker and
Owner of all. Merciful providences are then doubly comfortable, when
they find us in the way of our duty: some think Isaac was now praying
for good success in this affair, and meditating upon that which was
proper to encourage his hope in God concerning it; and now when he
sets himself, as it were, upon his watch-tower, to see what God would
answer him, he sees the camels coming.
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V. 64. She lighted off her camel,
and took a vail and covered herself -In token of humility, modesty and
subjection.
