Like gold hidden among the pebbles on the riverbed, Rebekah is a noteworthy character in the Bible. Her one decision to extend abundant kindness to a stranger would unknowingly change the course of her life dramatically. She is by no means a perfect woman, but God the Author of Life chose her to become the wife of Isaac, distinguishing her as one of the matriarchs of the faith.
Two priceless character traits this woman of faith exhibits are her remarkable servant-like heart and her exceptional surrender to God’s will for her life. Her faith in God’s plan led to one of the most beautiful love stories in the Bible, but that calls for its own post. For this blog, we will focus on what set her apart from the rest of the women: her amazing kindness. Rebekah from the Bible didn’t just decide on a whim to do something exceedingly kind to a stranger. Her actions reflected her character. This type of kindness was cultivated and practiced daily in her life. If we also want to learn this extraordinary trait, then we must first practice kindness at home.
Highlights on Rebekah from the Bible
The back story includes Abraham, already in his old age, desired a wife from among his relatives for his son Isaac. He sent his most trusted servant Eliezer on a sacred mission to find a wife for his master’s son in Ur of the Chaldeans. The journey necessitated the distance of 900 miles, and Eliezer led quite a procession of travelers, bringing with him 10 camels loaded with much of his master’s riches.1
Upon arrival, Eliezer’s method of finding the right bride was not a measure of physical appearance but a test of character. He prays:
"O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here at the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; now let it be that the girl to whom I say, 'Please, let down your jar so that I may drink,' and she replies, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels water to drink' - may she be the one whom You have selected for Your servant Isaac..." (Genesis 24:12-14).
Now, in no way was watering the camels a quick and easy task. One thirsty camel can easily drink between 20 to 40 gallons of water. With 10 camels in his caravan, this can easily take an hour of hard work!1,2 The work he requested to be done was not for the faint of heart, and Eliezer knew this. Isaac was heir to all of Abraham’s riches, and his future bride would be co-heirs with him. She would also play an important role in fulfilling God’s promise of making Abraham into a great nation. Eliezer was looking for a remarkable woman indeed.
Who would pass the test with flying colors but Rebekah herself, daughter of Bethel the son of Milcah, a very beautiful young virgin (Genesis 24:15).
Quick and Observant
The servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please let me drink little water from your jar." And she said, "Drink, my Lord," and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink. When she had given Eliezer a drink, she said, "I will also draw water for you camels until they have finished drinking." So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran again to the well and drew water for all his camels (Genesis 24:17-20, emphasis added).
By her response, we learn that Rebekah is a kindhearted woman. She responds quickly to Eliezer’s request. And upon observing a greater need unmet, she selflessly embraces the inconvenience and offers to water all 10 camels until they were satisfied.
Fulfilling a huge task for a loved one is one thing, but to do so for a stranger is another. Rebekah knew that the work will be arduous, requiring her to run back and forth to the well carrying heavy loads of water multiple times. She may have had to draw up to 400 gallons of water!2 Committing to do so would unexpectedly give away an hour of her precious time. But she welcomed this interruption in her daily routine to extend kindness to a stranger, and she does so quickly and without complaint. This was kindness unmatched.
Her Great Reward
After the task was completed, Rebekah’s hard work was generously compensated beyond her wildest dreams:
When the camels finished drinking, Eliezer took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her hands weighing ten shekels in gold" (Genesis 24:22).
She Was Offered a Marriage Proposal
When her task was complete, Eliezer revealed his true intentions and informed her family of his mission to find a wife for his master’s son. The gold jewelry (the nose ring and the bracelets) she was adorned with and the extravagant caravan that accompanied him were indicative of the abundant wealth of the prospect’s family she would be marrying into.1
She Was Offered a Kingdom
And she was offered much more than a marriage. Unbeknownst to her at the time, accepting the marriage proposal to Isaac meant becoming a part of an invisible kingdom – a heavenly Kingdom. God had just begun the work of building His kingdom by choosing and setting apart her father-in-law Abraham. He chose her to be a part of His master plan in the family line of the Messiah. He chose her to be part of the Redemptive story of mankind. One devotional study writes:
God had invited her to play a vital role in the story of his people. He had gone to great lengths to pursue her. Like Sarah, she would become a matriarch of God’s people…3
Cultivating Kindness in the Home
Why is carrying on Rebekah’s legacy of kindness important? And why should we teach our children to emulate her example? Because such actions are honorable. Proverbs 11:16 says, “A kindhearted woman gains honor”. Secondly, such actions showcase the beauty of the Gospel. We show the love of Christ when we extend kindness to others. Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, host of Revive Our Hearts, writes:
[W]hen we treat people with kindness rather than indifference or impatience, we become channels of blessings, dispensing gracious words and actions that can’t help but adorn the gospel of Christ.4
Practice Kindness with Family
Today, most of us are mistrusting of strangers let alone bend over backwards to help one; we were taught as children to never speak with strangers. Moreover, we don’t like inconveniences. We’d like to stick to our daily routine as much as possible rather than lose an hour of our precious time (I’m writing mainly about myself). I can definitely see the challenge in extending kindness generously. Nevertheless, displaying the love of Christ in the form of kindness should always be an endeavor. A good place to start is practicing acts of kindness at home.
If I want to showcase the Gospel, and if I want to raise my children to be kindhearted, then I must begin with myself. I can practice kindness by serving my husband and my children without grumbling. When one of my children asks for orange slices, I know soon the request will triple.
“I want some too!” cries my second born.
“I want oh-wen-jez!” my toddler repeats.
Instead of sighing frustratedly over having to cut three oranges instead of one, I can by God’s grace embrace the opportunity before me to model kindness and joyfully fulfill their request.
Look for Unmet Needs
Another great habit to practice is becoming observant to the unmet needs around us. When a family members asks for something, we can go one step further. For example, if a parent asks us to put away the dishes, and we see that there are dirty dishes that need to be washed, we willingly set aside time to do both tasks without having to be asked. If we are asked to clear the table, we can also sweep the floor. If we know our spouse likes a clean room, we can take initiative and make a habit of keeping a clean home.
These simple gestures are the building blocks to a great Christian lifestyle. Jesus Christ commands us to model kindness that is above the natural human behavior:
"If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you" (Matthew 5:39-41).
We can never demonstrate this level of kindness on our own strength. But we can begin by allowing the Holy Spirit to train and shape us by practicing this selfless behavior with our family. Then others outside of our home will readily see that our actions reflect our character. Wolgemuth continues:
[I]f we were all to demonstrate true kindness toward the people who know us best and see us at our worst, our more public displays of affection would likely ring more true. And I suspect that if we showed more kindness at home, we’d also find ourselves growing genuinely kinder toward everyone else.4
Final Thoughts
The reason why I adore the story of Rebekah and Isaac is because it demonstrates the Gospel! Rebekah’s story is your story. Jesus went to great lengths to pursue you. He came to you as a servant and washed away your sins.5 And like the adorning of costly jewels, He lavished you with His grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love.6 His proposal is the same. He is offering you His kingdom.
Just like Rebekah, He is inviting you to become one of the matriarchs of His people. His desire is for you to join the ranks of Christian women who are called to mother and train up children in the faith. So next time you read her story in Genesis, be encouraged that Rebekah’s story is meant for you. So keep serving those precious children of yours and keep embracing those inconveniences. He wants to display His gospel kindness in and through you – the kindness that truly shines.
1 Guzik, David. “Genesis 24 – A Bride for Isaac”. Enduring Word Commentary. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/genesis-24/. Accessed 14 May, 2022.
2 DeMoss, Nancy Leigh. “A Faithful Servant.” Revive Our Hearts. 15 Jun. 2015. https://www.reviveourhearts.com/podcast/revive-our-hearts/faithful-servant-1/. Accessed 14 May, 2022.
3 Spangler, Ann, and Jean E. Syswerda. Women of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan, 2007.
4 Wolgemuth, Nancy Demoss. “Kindness Begins at Home.” Revive Our Hearts. 29 Aug. 2017. https://www.reviveourhearts.com/blog/kindness-begins-home/. Accessed 14 May, 2022.
5 Philippians 2:7, Matthew 20:28, Luke 22:27
6 Ephesians 6:4-8
1 thought on “Amazing Facts About Rebekah from the Bible Part 1: Cultivating Kindness”