WHO WAS REBEKAH? ~??⛲️??

[Bible Speaks]

WHO WAS REBEKAH? ~??????

Rebekah grew up to be a very beautiful young woman, but she was no passive, vain beauty. She was spirited, and she remained morally pure. Her family was prosperous enough to have servants, but Rebekah was not coddled or treated like a princess; she was raised to work hard. Like so many women of those times, Rebekah had some heavy chores to do, including fetching water for the family. Early in the evening, she would hoist a vessel onto her shoulder and head off to the spring.—Genesis 24:11, 15, 16.

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One evening, after she had filled her jar, an elderly man ran up to meet her. He said to her: “Please give me a little sip of water from your jar.” It was such a modest request and so politely made! Rebekah could see that the man had traveled far. So she quickly swung her water jar from her shoulder and let the man drink, not a mere sip, but a real drink of the fresh, cool water. She noticed that he had a train of ten camels kneeling nearby and that the trough had not yet been filled to water them. She could see that his kind eyes were watching her attentively, and she wanted to be as generous as she could. So she said: “I will also draw water for your camels until they are done drinking.”—Genesis 24:17-19.

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Note that Rebekah offered not merely to give the ten camels a drink but to water them until they were satisfied. If very thirsty, one camel might drink over 25 gallons (95 L) of water! If all ten camels were that thirsty, Rebekah faced hours of hard work. As matters turned out, it seems unlikely that the camels were extremely thirsty.* But did Rebekah know that when she made her offer? No. She was willing, even eager, to work as hard as need be to show hospitality to this elderly stranger. He accepted her offer. Then he watched her intently as she ran back and forth, filling and refilling her jar and emptying it into the trough again and again.—Genesis 24:20, 21.

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Rebekah’s example speaks eloquently to us today. We live in an age when selfishness seems to reign supreme. Rebekah surely noticed the elderly man’s gaze upon her. There was nothing improper in his look; it suggested amazement, wonderment, and joy! 

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When Rebekah was done at last, he gave her gifts—precious jewelry! Then he asked: “Please tell me, whose daughter are you? Is there any room at your father’s house for us to spend the night?” When she told him of her family, his joy intensified. Perhaps in a rush of enthusiasm, she added: “We have both straw and much fodder and also a place to spend the night”—a considerable offer, as there were others traveling with the old man. Then she ran off ahead of him to tell her mother what had happened.—Genesis 24:22ttt-28, 32.

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Clearly, Rebekah was raised to be hospitable. Here is another value that seems to be on the wane today—and another reason to imitate the faith of this kindhearted young woman. Faith in God should lead us to be hospitable. Jehovah is hospitable, for he is generous to all, and he wants his worshippers to follow suit. When we are hospitable even to those who may never repay us, we please our heavenly Father.—Matthew 5:44-46; 1 Peter 4:9.

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