Abraham's Servant at the Well

Illustration of Abraham's Servant at the Well
Standing by a well in a far country, Abraham's servant asked God to show him the right bride for Isaac. Before he finished praying, Rebekah walked out with her pitcher.

Sent by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac among his kindred, the eldest servant of his house traveled with ten camels to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia. Stopping by the well at evening, when the women came out to draw water, he prayed to the LORD God of his master Abraham for good speed and asked for a clear sign: the young woman who offered water not only to him but also to his camels would be the one God had appointed for Isaac. Before he had finished speaking, Rebekah came out with her pitcher and did exactly that. The servant bowed his head and worshipped, blessing the LORD who had led him in the way.

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Category
Petition
Prayed by
Abraham's servant

Key Chapters

Genesis 24 A Wife for Isaac 11 min read A servant on an important errand brings the practical details of his task to God...

Key Passages

Send Me Good Speed This Day

Genesis 24:12-14

A servant on an important errand brings the practical details of his task to God and asks Him to guide every step.

A12nd he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: 14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

The LORD Led Me

Genesis 24:26-27

Once his prayer is answered, the servant's first response is to bow and worship the God who kept His mercy and truth.

A26nd the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

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Characters 4

Abraham Abraham is revered as the father of the Jewish nation, chosen by God to leave his homeland in Ur of the… Isaac Isaac was the long-awaited son born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, fulfilling God's explicit… Rebekah Rebekah became the wife of Isaac after Abraham's servant identified her through a divine sign at a well in… Eliezer of Damascus Eliezer of Damascus was the steward of Abraham's household. When God promised Abram a great reward, Abram…

Places 1

Haran Serving as a pivotal location in the patriarchal accounts, Haran is where Terah settled with his household…

Themes 3

Prayer From Moses on the mountain to Jesus in the garden, prayer is the lifeline between heaven and earth. Every… Faith Without faith it is impossible to please God. From Abraham leaving everything for an unknown land to a… Hope Hope in the Bible is not wishful thinking - it is confident expectation anchored in the character of God.…

Did You Know?

1

He prayed to 'the LORD God of my master Abraham', showing the faith he had learned in Abraham's household.

2

The servant is not named in Genesis 24.

3

Watering ten thirsty camels was hard work, so the sign tested Rebekah's generous character as well as God's leading.

4

Rebekah appeared 'before he had done speaking', an answer that came while he was still praying.