Genesis 24:26-56

The servant bowed and worshiped the LORD and said, “Blessed is the LORD, the God of my master Abraham. The LORD has been kind and truthful to him and has led me to my master’s relatives.” Then Rebekah ran and told her mother’s family about all these things. She had a brother named Laban, who ran out to Abraham’s servant, who was still at the spring. Laban had heard what she had said and had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms. So he ran out to the well, and there was the man standing by the camels at the spring. Laban said, “Sir, you are welcome to come in; you don’t have to stand outside. I have prepared the house for you and also a place for your camels.” So Abraham’s servant went into the house. After Laban unloaded the camels and gave them straw and food, he gave water to Abraham’s servant so he and the men with him could wash their feet. Then Laban gave the servant food, but the servant said, “I will not eat until I have told you why I came.” So Laban said, “Then tell us.” He said, “I am Abraham’s servant. The LORD has greatly blessed my master in everything, and he has become a rich man. The LORD has given him many flocks of sheep, herds of cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels, and horses. Sarah, my master’s wife, gave birth to a son when she was old, and my master has given everything he owns to that son. My master had me make a promise to him and said, ‘Don’t get a wife for my son from the Canaanite girls who live around here. Instead, you must go to my father’s people and to my family. There you must get a wife for my son.’ I said to my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’ But he said, ‘I serve the LORD, who will send his angel with you and will help you. You will get a wife for my son from my family and my father’s people. Then you will be free from the promise. But if they will not give you a wife for my son, you will be free from this promise.’ “Today I came to this spring. I said, ‘LORD, God of my master Abraham, please make my trip successful. I am standing by this spring. I will wait for a young woman to come out to get water, and I will say, “Please give me water from your jar to drink.” Then let her say, “Drink this water, and I will also get water for your camels.” By this I will know the LORD has chosen her for my master’s son.’ “Before I finished my silent prayer, Rebekah came out of the city with her water jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and got water. I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ She quickly lowered the jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink this. I will also get water for your camels.’ So I drank, and she gave water to my camels too. When I asked her, ‘Who is your father?’ she answered, ‘My father is Bethuel son of Milcah and Nahor.’ Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, and I bowed my head and thanked the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, because he led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. Now, tell me, will you be kind and truthful to my master? And if not, tell me so. Then I will know what I should do.” Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is clearly from the LORD, and we cannot change what must happen. Rebekah is yours. Take her and go. Let her marry your master’s son as the LORD has commanded.” When Abraham’s servant heard these words, he bowed facedown on the ground before the LORD. Then he gave Rebekah gold and silver jewelry and clothes. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and mother. The servant and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, the servant said, “Now let me go back to my master.” Rebekah’s mother and her brother said, “Let Rebekah stay with us at least ten days. After that she may go.” But the servant said to them, “Do not make me wait, because the LORD has made my trip successful. Now let me go back to my master.”