The Departure of Rebekah
Genesis 24:54–61 (NASB95)
54Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.” 55But her brother and her mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go.” 56He said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57And they said, “We will call the girl and consult her wishes.” 58Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” 59Thus they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse with Abraham’s servant and his men. 60They blessed Rebekah and said to her, “May you, our sister, Become thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them.” 61Then Rebekah arose with her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.
Abraham’s servant, having completed his mission, requests to return immediately with Rebekah to Isaac. Laban and Rebekah’s mother asks for a ten-day delay. The servant insists on leaving immediately, declaring that God has granted success and that the matter is urgent. The family then calls Rebekah, who responds with resolve, “I will go.” The family blesses her, praying that she will become the mother of thousands and that her descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. Rebekah departs with her maids, and the servant leads her toward Isaac.
Laban’s actions reveal a pattern that will become even clearer later in Genesis. He takes the lead in negotiations, and his request for a delay is not just about family affection. Laban likely hoped to gain more gifts from the servant. His motives are mixed, showing a tendency to use family relationships for personal gain. This same pattern reappears years later, when Laban deceives Jacob, Rebekah’s son, into working an additional seven years to marry Rachel. Laban’s willingness to manipulate situations for his own benefit is a consistent trait. He delays, negotiates, and seeks advantage, setting the stage for future conflict.
Rebekah’s response sharply contrasts with Laban’s. She acts with faith and decisiveness, mirroring Abraham’s obedience to God’s call. Her willingness to leave her home and family moves the story of redemption forward. The family’s blessing over her echoes the promises God made to Abraham, demonstrating that God’s covenant will continue through her. The servant’s mission succeeds because God directs events despite human attempts to delay it. Both Rebekah’s and the servant’s faith and obedience are the means by which God’s promise advances.
Today, we should trust that God’s plans move forward despite human manipulation or delay. We should not imitate Laban’s self-serving ways. Instead, we must act with faith and integrity like Rebekah. When God calls, we should respond without hesitation. We must trust that God’s purpose will be accomplished through our obedience. Let us bless others, seek God’s will above our own, and avoid using relationships for personal gain.