Saturday, December 21, 2019

2019.12.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 24:18-28

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Rebekah say in Genesis 24:18? What does she do? What does she propose to do in Genesis 24:19? How many camels would this be? Until they have drunk how much? In what manner does she empty the pitcher in Genesis 24:20? At what pace does she return to the well? For how many camels does she draw? Who gazes at her (Genesis 24:21)? How does he remain? What is he learning? How much have the camels drunk in Genesis 24:22? What does he take out in this verse? What does he ask about her in Genesis 24:23? What does he ask about his caravan? What does she answer about herself in Genesis 24:24? What does she answer about his caravan in Genesis 24:25? To whom does the man respond in Genesis 24:26? How does he respond? What does he call Yahweh in Genesis 24:27? What does he say that Yahweh has not done? What does he say that Yahweh has done? What does the young woman run and do (Genesis 24:28)?
There’s an explosion of praise to Yahweh in Genesis 24:26-27. In Genesis 24:21, he had been watching Rebekah closely to see if Yahweh had made his journey successful. And what he has seen has answered that question with a resounding, “yes!” So, what had he seen? He could see immediately that she was pretty (Genesis 24:16)—but what was he closely watching? What does a godly wife for one of Abraham’s children look like?

A godly wife is respectful. She address this stranger as “lord”—often the equivalent of “sir”—in Genesis 24:18.

A godly wife is prompt and diligent—note the word “quickly” in verse 18 and “quickly” and “ran” in Genesis 24:20 (and again in Genesis 24:28).

A godly wife is generous. He had asked for just a little water. She offers to draw not just for him, but for his camels. All ten of his camels. Not just a little for each, but until they have finished drinking.

A godly wife aims to support this generosity with strength. The 3-gallon pitcher, including the vessel, would have weighed around 25 pounds full.

A godly wife aims to support this generosity with endurance. Each of these camels would drink around 25 gallons of water after a journey like this—that’s 80 (!) trips up out of the well with the 25-pound pitcher.

A godly wife is from the right family. We already know that this is one of the main concerns of this narrative, but we see it again in Genesis 24:23-24, and all of the other characteristics belong to this conclusion in Genesis 24:27, “Yahweh led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

A godly wife is trustworthy. Rebekah is sure of Bethuel and Laban’s confidence in her judgment. She is able to invite a ten camel caravan to stay without checking. She is aware of the house operations and stores, such that she knows that they are capable of accommodating them.

It is no surprise that these characteristics are so consistent with the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22-26). For this is how Christ is outfitting His own eternal, glorious bride!

These are all characteristics that we should be seeking to instill in our daughters, reinforce in our sisters in Christ, and especially attend to the means of grace together—by which means we trust that God will do that inward work that is necessary to produce such characteristics. And, when we consider prospects for our sons or our brothers in Christ, these should be among the primary characteristics that we seek.
In which of these do you most need to grow? What are the means by which the Lord produces it in the heart? What are the providential means by which it is exercised?
Suggested songs: ARP128 “How Blessed Are All Who Fear” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

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