Genesis 24:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.

NIV: Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

NASB: Meanwhile, the man was taking a close look at her in silence, to find out whether the Lord had made his journey successful or not.

CSB: while the man silently watched her to see whether or not the Lord had made his journey a success.

NLT: The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission.

KJV: And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

NKJV: And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

Abraham's servant has come to a city in Mesopotamia named after one of Abraham's relatives (Genesis 22:20–23). His quest is to find a suitable wife for Abraham's son, Isaac (Genesis 24:3–4). To fulfill this request, the servant prayed that God would send a woman with a generous spirit. This would be shown if the servant asked for water, and a woman responded by offering to also bring water for his ten camels (Genesis 24:12–14).

As shown in this verse, God has answered the servant's request so quickly that he is left speechless. Or perhaps he is resisting the urge to decide too hastily that a wife has been found for his master's son. The fact that Rebekah arrived before he has even finished his prayer (Genesis 24:15) seems too good to be true. The servant is clearly loyal to Abraham, and he wants to be sure this is actually the right woman for his master's son. Had the Lord truly granted success in this quest so quickly? Is this really the girl God means for Isaac to marry?

Abraham's servant ponders this while Rebekah completes the lengthy process of carrying water, one jar at a time, to a trough until ten thirsty camels have had their fill.

Genesis 24:10–27 follows Abraham's servant from Canaan to Mesopotamia on his mission to find a wife for Isaac from among Abraham's people. Arriving at the town of Nahor, the servant prays that God will reveal the right woman by allowing her to be the one to offer to water his ten camels without being asked. A young woman named Rebekah immediate does exactly that. When the servant learns this young woman is also the granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor, he quickly worships God for bringing him to the right woman in so little time.

Abraham asks his most trusted servant to travel to his former homeland to find a wife for his son Isaac. Swearing to do so, the servant arrives at the city of Nahor and asks the Lord to show him which young women is appointed for Isaac. Finding Rebekah, the very granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor, the servant reveals the reason for his journey to her family. Her father Bethuel and brother Laban agree to allow Rebekah to travel to Canaan and marry Isaac, which she does.

Genesis 24 takes place a few years after Sarah has died. Abraham becomes urgent to find Isaac a wife, not among the women of Canaan, but from his own people back in Mesopotamia. His trusted servant, sent to accomplish this mission with the help of the Lord, eventually returns with Rebekah, the granddaughter of Abraham's own brother. Isaac is married to her at the age of 40. Abraham's death is recorded in the following chapter.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.