How does Rebekah's response reflect Proverbs 31:20 about helping those in need? Setting the Scene – Genesis 24:17-20 “Then the servant ran to meet her and said, ‘Please let me have a little water from your jar.’ ‘Drink, my lord,’ she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, ‘I will draw water for your camels as well, until they have had enough to drink.’ And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew for all his camels.” Observing Rebekah’s Response • Immediate action: “quickly lowered,” “quickly emptied,” “ran back.” • Generous scope: water for one thirsty stranger—then for ten tired, thirsty camels (v.10). • No calculation of cost: each camel could drink 20–25 gallons; she keeps drawing until they are satisfied. • Self-initiated kindness: she volunteers the extra work; no one has to ask. Connecting to Proverbs 31:20 “She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.” Rebekah models every phrase: • Opens her arms—she welcomes an unknown traveler into her personal resources. • Reaches out her hands—her own hands lower the jar, draw the water, and pour it out. • To the needy—the servant and the animals stand helpless at the well, dependent on local kindness. Supporting Scripture Echoes • Leviticus 19:34—Israel called to love the stranger; Rebekah anticipates that heart. • Hebrews 13:2—“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” She lives it out centuries earlier. • James 2:15-17—faith verified by practical care; her action proves her character. Character Portrait in Genesis 24 Rebekah demonstrates: 1. Compassionate sensitivity—she notices thirst before being told. 2. Industrious diligence—physical labor embraced with eagerness. 3. Trust in God’s providence—she acts without fear of loss, confident the Lord supplies. 4. Quiet humility—no expectation of reward; she serves and moves on. Lessons for Believers Today • Genuine faith expresses itself in tangible mercy. • Hospitality begins with small, prompt gestures—“a little water”—and often grows into larger sacrifices. • Needs we meet today may play a role in God’s larger redemptive plan, just as Rebekah’s kindness positioned her to become part of the covenant line (Genesis 24:67). • The Proverbs 31 ideal is not abstract theory; it is a living standard believers can embody right now, one open hand at a time. |
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