The Sons of Isaac(20)

Looking up the road toward the village, he could see one lone figure hurrying along with the jar on her shoulder tipped at a jaunty angle, signifying she was a maiden, unmarried. Behind her, just leaving the gate, were other young women and children, and then a few older women with jars standing upright, which signified their married state. They were coming at a more leisurely pace.

Eleazar felt his pulse quicken. How would he approach this first young woman? How would he find out what he needed to know? He stood up and prayed. “Oh Lord God of my master Abraham, here I stand by the well of water where the daughters of the men of this city are coming to draw water. Let it come to pass that the young maiden to whom I ask a drink of water will not only give me to drink but will say that she will give my camels to drink also.”

Before he finished praying, the young maiden he had first noticed came to the steps of the well. He caught a glimpse of her face as she lifted the clay jar from her shoulder and was startled by her dark beauty. The wind had blown her mantle off and her hair bounced and curled about her flushed face. She stooped and lowered the jar into the water, then stood up holding it out from her while it dripped. He saw her more clearly now and realized what he had taken for great beauty was more simply the joy and animation that shone in her face. There was a healthy vitality about her, and he found himself hoping with all his being that she would measure up to his strange test.

Quickly he approached her. “Would you mind giving me a drink from your water jar?”

She turned around and seemed to notice him for the first time. She smiled and tossing back her hair mounted the steps until she stood beside him. “Drink, my lord,” she said as she lowered the jar on one hand and clasped the neck with the other. The water was fresh and cool and he drank from his cupped hands until he was satisfied.

“I’ll draw water for your camels also,” she said as she turned and emptied the jar into the trough. Without another word, she hurried back to the well and drew water and filled the trough again and again until all the camels had finished drinking.

Eleazar was astounded. He had asked that he be guided to the right woman by just such a test, and yet he could not believe what he was seeing. To give him water was easy, but to give water to his camels was something even the slaves balked at. Thirsty camels drank copiously. Joy flooded through him as he realized that only God could have brought about such a miracle. But stranger still, it was evident that God had also been at work here in Haran before he even arrived.

He held his peace while he watched her watering the camels. Surely there can be no one more generous. When she had finished he could no longer restrain himself. “Whose daughter are you,” he asked, “and by chance is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”

“I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor,” she said. Then looking up at him with her light brown eyes flecked with gold and long, curved lashes, she added, “We have both straw and provisions for your animals and plenty of room for you and your men.”

At that Eleazar was almost overcome with wonder and amazement. “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham,” he said, bowing his head, “who has led me straight to the house of my master’s brethren.”

He took from his belt the small olive wood box Isaac had given him and drew out the golden earrings and the two bracelets. As he put the bracelets on her arm, he said, “The young son of my master sent these for you.”

Rebekah stood for a moment arranging the bracelets and fingering the gold earrings, too overcome with excitement to speak.

Finally with a quick, bright smile, she said, “I have heard my father and grandfather speak often of my uncle Abraham. They will be so happy. I must run quickly and tell them of your arrival.” With that she set the heavy jar down in the sand and went running along the worn path back to the city.

When she arrived home and flung open the door to the courtyard, she was immediately confronted by her brother Laban. “Where’s the water you were to have brought?” he asked angrily.

“And where’s the jar?” her mother questioned. They had all been waiting impatiently for the water she had gone to fetch. It was usually the job of the new bride to bring water for the family, but Laban had objected, saying his bride was not used to such lowly tasks. Rebekah hadn’t objected since she loved to be outside and getting the water was one of her favorite errands.

When she hesitated and didn’t answer right away, Laban grabbed her by the arm impatiently. “Where have you been? It should take only a short time to get water …” He stopped suddenly as he looked down at her wrist and saw the bracelets. Immediately his eyes narrowed into suspicious slits while his mouth twisted unpleasantly. “And where did these come from?” he demanded.