Bible tale: Isaac and Rebekah

Isaac and Rebekah
from Genesis 23 to 24
re-told by Debbie Dunn

• Story Highlights:
  * Abraham sent his servant to find Isaac a wife from among his brother’s relatives.
  * Abraham’s servant prayed & found Rebekah, the granddaughter of Abraham's brother, to be Isaac’s wife
  * Rebekah agreed to travel the long distance to Canaan to become Isaac's wife.

Narrator #1: Sarah died at age 127. A few years later, before Abraham died, he realized it was time to find a wife for his son, Isaac, who was about 40.

Narrator #2: Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a local Canaanite [kay-nuh-nite] woman. So, he made his loyal servant promise to travel the 450 miles to his former home in Mesopotamia to find a wife for him among his brother's relatives.

Narrator #1: The servant promised. He loaded up ten camels with expensive gifts. He and the camel drivers started on their way.

Narrator #2: The servant headed to the town where Abraham's brother had settled. He made his camels kneel beside a well just outside the town where the women came each evening to draw water.

Narrator #1: While the servant waited, he devised a step-by-step plan to find Abraham's relative as he prayed, "Oh Lord, God of my master, Abraham. Please give me and my plan success today as I seek to obey his wishes."

Narrator #2: He also prayed, "I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ …"

Narrator #1: "If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will also give water to your camels,’ let her be the one you selected as Isaac’s wife."

Narrator #2: Before he even finished his prayer, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder.

Narrator #1: She was the granddaughter of Abraham's brother. She was beautiful, old enough to be married, and still a virgin. In those days, it was common for young ladies to marry when they were about fourteen.

Narrator #2: Rebekah went down to the spring and filled her jug. The servant ran over to her and said, "Please give me a little drink of water from your jug."

Narrator #1: Just like the servant planned, Rebekah not only gave him a drink of water but also drew enough water to satisfy the thirst of the ten camels.

Narrator #2: The servant gave her a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists. Then, hoping he had found the right girl, he asked, "Whose daughter are you?"

Narrator #1: Sure enough, the servant discovered she was indeed the girl Abraham had wished for his son to marry. She invited him to her home.

Narrator #2: The man bowed low and worshipped the Lord. He prayed, "Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, for leading me straight to my master's relatives."

Narrator #1: Rebekah ran home to tell her family everything that had happened. After seeing the jewelry she was gifted, her brother, Laban [lay-bn], ran out to meet the man at the spring.

Narrator #2: Laban [lay-bn] said, "Come! I have a room ready for you and a place for the camels."

Narrator #1: The servant, the camels, and the camel drivers came to Rebekah's home. After they gave the camels food, water, and bedding, the servant insisted on telling them about his mission, plan, and prayer before he ate dinner.

Narrator #2: Rebekah’s family patiently listened as he related the whole story about who sent him, why he had come, and his special prayer. He concluded by saying, "So tell me. Will you or won't you show unfailing love and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no, and then I'll know what to do next."

Narrator #1: Rebekah's brother and father replied, "Obviously, the Lord has brought you here, so there is nothing we can say."

Narrator #2: They then said, "Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed."

Narrator #1: When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed to the ground and worshiped the Lord. Then, he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah.

Narrator #2: He also gave expensive presents to her family before they all went to sleep that night.

Narrator #1: But early the next morning, Abraham's servant said, "Send me back to my master." After all, they had to travel 450 miles to reach Rebekah's new home.

Narrator #2: Her family wished to delay her journey by ten days, but Rebekah immediately agreed to leave.

Narrator #1: As Rebekah, her childhood nurse, and servant girls climbed up on the camels’ backs, her family sent her off with a blessing. They then began their long journey.

Narrator #2: Meanwhile, Isaac was out walking and meditating in the fields. He looked up and saw the camels coming.

Narrator #1: When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly got off her camel. She asked the servant, "Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?"

Narrator #2: The servant said, "It is my master." Rebekah covered her face with her veil. Then, the servant told Isaac everything he had done.

Narrator #1: Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent, and she became his wife.

Narrator #2: He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.

Narrator #1: END OF SKIT. Let’s give our volunteers a great big hand!

Are you a Bible enthusiast or do you lead a Youth Group or Family Bible Study? To get a FREE PDF download of this story, click on this link below:

Free PDF download of the role-play about Isaac and Rebekah

Do you want more stories about Abraham and Sarah – the parents of Isaac? If so, visit the chapter called ABRAHAM AND SARAH from my EXPLORE BIBLE STORY dot org website.

Click here to get more stories about ABRAHAM AND SARAH – the parents of ISAAC.

My ever-expanding Explore Bible Story dot org website includes Bible stories and Biblical Family Trees about

• Creation, Adam, & his Descendants
• Noah, the Ark, & the Flood
• Abraham & Sarah
• Isaac & Rebekah, Esau & Jacob
• Jacob & his 4 wives
• 12 sons of Jacob who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel
• Moses who was from the line of Levi
• Joshua who became leader of Israelites after death of Moses
• 12 Judges of Israel including Deborah, Gideon, & Samson
• Kings of Israel including Saul, David, & Solomon
• 4 Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, & Daniel
• 12 Minor Prophets of Israel
• 4 other important Prophets of Israel: Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, & Nathan
• Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Lord, Savior, & King of king
• 12 Disciples of Jesus
• Apostle Paul & other Significant Followers of Christ
• Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
• The Free Gift of Salvation & The Sinner's Prayer
• About Website: Explore Bible Story.org
• About the author: Debbie Dunn