The Hospitality of In-Laws

  “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”15Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.17The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”18“Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.”... And she added, "We have  plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night."  (Genesis 24)

Thoughts: Hospitality is attractive.  Here Abraham's servant was to go to his relatives to find a wife.  His prayer was to find someone who would be thoughtful, kind, welcoming- in short- hospitable.  Rebekah was not just attractive physically, she was attractive spiritually- and it showed in a generous kindness.  Laban, Isaac's uncle, was also kind to the man and welcome him.  If in-laws are kind and generous- it fosters and environment for a good, long-lasting relationship.  
    There is all these songs ("Mother-in-law") and stories of in laws not getting along with a new partner or spouse.  But kindness, welcoming, acceptance, hospitality go a long way to breaking the caricature of being an in-law.  

Prayer: Lord, may your hospitality toward me show in how I am hospitable toward others.  Break barriers down by your love and hospitality shining through me. 

Rebekah- the Knot Tier

15Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.

17The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”

18“Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.

22When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka^c and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.^d 23Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

24She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.” 25And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night.”

26Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 27saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

28The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things (Genesis 2)

Thoughts: Rebekah was a beautiful girl.  She was so pretty that Isaac told her to not call him her husband less he get in trouble.  Vs. 16 also says she was a beauty.  But she also was a servant.  She was willing to share water with both him and his livestock, in a time when water was precious.  God had led Abraham's servant to her.  This is a lesson to all those looking for a spouse- God leads in the right way at the right time- and He is able to do it as He did here- in answer to prayer. 
      She was hospitable. She was a good cook- she knew how to prepare food just right for her husband.  She loved her son Jacob and perhaps encouraged him too much to deceive his father in order to be blessed.  We can learn from her mistake to not be over-eager to take things into our own hands.  Because of her manipulation- Jacob had to flee from Esau and she never saw her favorite son alive again.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to be helpful, hospitable, and also even handed as much as I can.  

Rebekah

14May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

15Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.

17The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”

18“Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.

19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.  (Genesis 24)

Thoughts: Abraham was a strong character. Jacob was a strong character.  But we know little about Isaac's faith except he kept it and passed it on (more tomorrow).  However, Rebekah proved her faith and probably was the strongest person of the two.  Rebekah was a virgin- this was stated to point out her devotion to purity.  Rebekah was a true servant going the extra mile for a stranger who could not guarantee any help for her (as far as she knew).  In the end, Rebekah was willing to leave her home to go hundreds of miles in trust in God.  Later Rebekah would help Jacob be blessed, believing God had chosen the blessing for him.  She had real insight and relied on God for the future too. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to serve others and to therefore serve you.  Help me to always be seeking your blessing.