Bible Stories for Adults

Isaac Marries Rebekah

Genesis 23-24

Next Week - Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25 - 27)
Bible Words to Remember:
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21

God called him to leave Haran	Genesis 12:4	= 75
Ishmael was born	Genesis 16:16	= 86
Abraham was circumcised	Genesis 17:24	= 99
Sodom & Gomorrah were destroyed	Genesis 18:10, 19:27-28, 21:5	= 99
Isaac was born	Genesis 21:5	= 100
Sacrificed Isaac	Genesis 22:1 = Josephus said Isaac was 25	= 125
Sarah died	Genesis 23:1, 17:17	= 137
Isaac married Rebekah	Genesis 25:20, 21:5	= 140
Jacob and Esau were born	Genesis 25:26, 21:5	= 160
Abraham died	Genesis 25:7	= 175

What event prompted Abraham to prepare for his death?
Genesis 23:1-2 = Sarah died
What did Abraham want to take care of before he died?
Genesis 24:1-4 = Get a wife for Isaac from his relatives
Why was it important that Isaac marry from within the family?
Genesis 17:7-10,14 = God had commanded Abraham to be a separate people

To whom did Abraham entrust the mission?
Genesis 24:2, 15:2 = His eldest servant, Eliezer of Damascus
What concerns did the servant have?
Genesis 24:5-6 = What if the woman doesn't come? Should Isaac go?
Why didn't Abraham want Isaac to go to Haran?
Genesis 15:13,18 = He was in the promised land, Slavery in another land
Why wasn't Abraham concerned that the woman wouldn't come?
Genesis 24:7-8 = God will send His angel ahead to get a wife
How did Abraham make sure this would be done, even if he died first?
Genesis 24:9 = He made the servant swear an oath

How far was the servant's journey?
Genesis 24:10 = Hebron to Haran, 500 miles, around a month's journey
What tactic did the servant use to meet local girls? = God would bring the right one
Genesis 24:11 = Waited at well when women would come for water
What other wives did God bring to the well?
Genesis 29:1-2, 9 = Jacob met Rachel
Exodus 2:15-16, 21 = Moses met Zipporah
What did the servant do as soon as he arrived at the well?
Genesis 24:12-14 = He prayed for God's guidance & success

How long did it take God to respond to the servant's prayer?
Genesis 24:15 = Before he had finished praying
What was Rebekah's relation to Isaac? = Draw family tree on board
Genesis 11:27-29 (22:20-24) = Rebekah was daughter of Isaac's cousin, Bethuel

What requirements had Abraham given his servant for his son's wife?
Genesis 24:4 = From my own relatives
What bonuses did God throw in? = ... energetic, kind, hospitable, industrious, decisive (rest of story)
Genesis 24:16 = Very beautiful, a virgin

How much did the servant coax Rebekah to complete the sign from God?
Genesis 24:17-21 = Without saying a word, the man watched to see
What did the servant do when it appeared that Rebekah might be the one?
Genesis 24:22 = Gave her a gold nose ring and gold bracelets

What was the final proof that Rebekah was the one God had sent?
Genesis 24:23-25 = She was of Abraham's family
How did the servant respond to this proof?
Genesis 24:26-27 = He bowed down and praised God

How did Laban respond when he saw the expensive gifts Rebekah received?
Genesis 24:28-32 = He ran to invite the man into his house
What character traits does this indicate of Laban that are confirmed later?
Genesis 29:20-23 = Laban substituted Leah for Rachel after Jacob's 7 yrs
Genesis 31:19 = Laban kept household gods
Genesis 31:43, 29 = Claimed ownership of Jacob's family & possessions

How did the servant respond to the lavish hospitality?
Genesis 24:33 = He was anxious to fulfill his calling & refused to eat first
NOTE: It was bad manners to decline a host's food & to raise issues before casual meal talk
Did the servant say he would force Rebekah to return with him? = Put matters in God's hands
Genesis 24:34-41 = His oath was complete, She wouldn't be forced to go
What was the underlying message of the servant's recounting of events?
Genesis 24:42-48 = God had selected Rebekah to be Isaac's wife - God provides
Did Laban and Bethuel recognize this message?
Genesis 24:49-51 = Yes ... This is from the Lord
How did the servant respond when his mission met success?
Genesis 24:52 = He praised God

Parents of the man would choose the woman their son would marry
Was this custom followed for Isaac's marriage?
Genesis 24:3-4 = Abraham sent servant to get a wife for Isaac
Was this custom followed in the next generation?
Genesis 26:34-35 = Esau took Hittite wives for himself
Genesis 27:46-28:2 = Isaac sent Jacob to marry a cousin
The father of the woman would give his daughter to the future husband
Was this custom followed for Isaac's marriage?
Genesis 24:50-51 = Bethuel gave Rebekah to Isaac

A purchase price (bride price) was paid to the bride's father
Was this custom followed for Isaac's marriage?
Genesis 24:53 = The servant gave costly gifts
The bride's father gave his daughter a gift of property or a maid (dowry)
Was this custom followed for Isaac's marriage?
Genesis 24:59 = They sent Rebekah off with her nurse

The betrothal was an engagement period that was legally binding = Reversible only by divorce
Was this custom followed for Isaac's marriage?
Genesis 24:54-58 = Servant was in a hurry to return & begin the marriage
What was significant about the blessing Rebekah's family gave her?
Genesis 24:60 = Not knowing, they stated God's covenant thru Isaac
After the betrothal, the bride was brought to her husband's home
Was this custom followed for Isaac's marriage?
Genesis 24:61-66 = Rebekah was brought to Isaac's house

In this process, people would marry first, then love
Did this occur in Isaac's marriage?
Genesis 24:67 = she became his wife, and he loved her

Where did marriage come from?
Matthew 19:4-6 = God instituted marriage and joins couples together
Why did God create marriage?
Genesis 2:18 = It's not good for man to be alone
What did the wisest man in the world say about marriage?
Proverbs 18:22 = He who finds a wife finds what is good & receives favor from the Lord

Is it wrong to stay single?
Matthew 19:11-12 = Some are single by birth, by men & by decision
Why did Paul feel it is best to stay single?
1 Corinthians 7:32-35 = To devote yourself to the Lord
Is Paul saying that married people should get divorced to devote themselves to the Lord?
1 Corinthians 7:25-28 = Stay as you are
What did Jesus say about divorce?
Matthew 19:7-9 = Divorce was allowed because of man's sinful nature

Why did Paul feel it is best to be married?
1 Corinthians 7:1-2 = To avoid the immorality of the world
How did Paul summarize his opinions on staying single or getting married?
1 Corinthians 7:7-9 = Stay single if you can control yourself

How are wives to treat their husbands?
Ephesians 5:22-24 = Submit to husbands as church submits to Christ
How are husbands to treat their wives?
Ephesians 5:25-30 = Love wives as Christ loved the church & gave His life for her
How are these instructions summarized?
Ephesians 5:21, 33 = Submit to one another & love one another