Rebekah

 Rebekah admired the rose-gold sky as she made her way to the well outside town, expertly balancing her water jug on her shoulder. She smiled and waved to her friends and neighbours, pausing now and then to share a greeting, some news, or a funny story from her day. A cool breeze blew as the sun sank, a welcome change from the heat of the day. 

It seemed unusually quiet as Rebekah got close to the well. The women often lingered for a few moments after they filled their jugs, visiting with friends before returning home to evening chores, but today the usual chatter was softer, a buzz of whispers. A stranger stood near the well, ten camels waiting behind him. Rebekah stared. Camels were rare and expensive. The stranger was well dressed, but his clothes didn’t look like those of a man rich enough to own ten camels. He was probably the trusted servant of an extremely wealthy man. 

The stranger looked intently at the women drawing water as if he were searching for someone. Could he be a friend or relative of one of Rebekah’s neighbours? Who among her friends might be connected to such a person? And why would he be looking for her at the well instead of going to her home and greeting her parents? 

Rebekah walked to the well, stealing glances at the stranger from the corner of her eye. The camels groaned and growled, making some of the women jump. Rebekah looked over at the man again, he was looking back at her! She quickly looked away, her cheeks heating. What could the stranger want with her? 

Rebekah filled her jug and turned toward home. Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her and whirled around, heart pounding. The stranger was standing right in front of her. She could hear the whispers of the other women all around her. 

“May I please have some water from your jug?” the man asked.

As strange as the situation was, Rebekah had been taught that it was important to be generous to strangers. “Of course, sir,” she said, lowering the jug from her shoulder and holding it out to him. “Have as much as you’d like.” 

The man gulped water eagerly. His clothes and sandals were coated in dust. He must have come a long way. Rebekah peered at the camels. Some of them stood, heads drooping, while others had knelt, their long necks stretched out along the ground. She knew camels could drink a lot of water, many times what her jug could hold, but the poor animals looked so thirsty. She turned back to the man. “I’ll get water for your camels too.” 

She dumped what was left in her jug into a water trough nearby and ran back to the well to refill it. She poured the water into the trough and went back to the well again. The camels crowded around, greedily sucking at the water, then raising their heads and shaking water droplets all over each other and Rebekah. It took many, many, many trips back and forth from the well to the trough before all the camels had drunk their fill. The sun was barely visible above the horizon and most of the other women had already gone home. Rebekah’s parents and brothers would be wondering what was taking her so long. Her whole body was trembling with exhaustion, and she was damp and covered with dust and camel hair. She dragged herself back to the well one last time to get water to take home. 

She turned from the well, wearily lifting the jug to her shoulder, to find the stranger standing near her again, a wide smile on his face and gold gleaming in his hands. He thanked her and handed her the jewellery, two bracelets and a nose ring, finer than anything she’d ever owned. His master was surely very rich for him to give such an expensive gift as thanks for a few jars of water! She slipped the bracelets onto her wrists and fastened the ring in her nose, glancing down at the jug to try to catch a glimpse of her reflection in the water. The stranger gave her a fatherly smile. “Who are your parents?” he asked. “And might you have room for a guest?” 

“My father is Bethuel, the son of Nahor and Milcah,” she answered. “And yes, we have plenty of room. I will go and tell my family you are here.” 

Rebekah raced home, the gold heavy and unfamiliar on her wrists and nose. Her brother, Laban, took one look at the jewellery and barely waited to hear what Rebekah had to say before racing to bring the wealthy stranger back to the house. Rebekah’s family prepared a feast for their guest, but before he ate he insisted on telling them about his mission to find a wife for his master’s son. The family was amazed to hear that the man’s master was Abraham, Rebekah’s great-uncle! 

“God has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master all his life,” the servant said. “He has given him great wealth and a son in his old age. And God has shown his faithfulness again today by leading me straight to Abraham’s family to find a wife for his son, Isaac. Will you also show unfailing love and faithfulness to your relative by allowing me to take Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife?” 

Rebekah caught her breath. Was she willing to leave behind everyone and everything she’d ever known to marry a stranger? But she couldn’t stop thinking about this God her great-uncle had left his family and home and gods to follow, a faithful God who didn’t go back on his promises and cared for humans like they were his own children. 

“It’s obvious God has led you here,” Rebekah’s father said to the man. Her brother nodded. “Rebekah should be Isaac’s wife.” Abraham’s servant bowed down to the ground and thanked his God. He gave Rebekah and her family even more expensive gifts, and then they finally ate. 

When the family woke up the next day, Abraham’s servant had already been busy for a long time, getting ready to go. Her brother and mother asked him to stay longer, but the man was determined to leave right away. So they called Rebekah and asked, “Are you willing to go with this man now?” 

Rebekah looked at her mother and brother and at all the familiar objects in her home. She looked at the stranger who was waiting for her to decide whether she would leave all of it behind forever, right now. 

“I will go,” she replied. She would show faithful love to her relatives and to her future husband. And deep in her heart, she hoped and believed that their God would show his faithful love to her too.