(Genesis) Genesis 24:15-20
God values physical attractiveness and uses it to attract people to Himself, as seen in the story of Rebekah's selection as Isaac's bride.
In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Rebekah from the book of Genesis. He highlights her polite and courteous nature, as well as her beauty. The preacher emphasizes that Rebekah's actions of offering water to the servant and then going above and beyond by drawing water for all the camels demonstrate her kindness and willingness to serve. He also mentions that Rebekah was a virgin and had not been known by any man. The preacher concludes by stating that there is nothing wrong with God using a beautiful person for His purposes, as beauty is a creation of God.
Full Transcript
Now, verse 15, "...came to pass, before he done speaking, that behold Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Melchah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder," and here comes out the very one, "...and the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her, and she went down to the well and filled her pitcher, and came up." I told you she'd be good-looking, and I knew it was coming, of course, but she was good-looking. The Word of God says it, friends. Nothing wrong with that.
I resent that Hollywood and the devil today in the theater gets beauty. I think the Lord ought to have some of it. He made it to begin with, and there's nothing wrong with him using a lovely person and a beautiful person, fine-looking men and women.
I pray always God will call that kind into His service today. Now, will you notice, "...the damsel was very fair to look upon," just not an ordinary girl. She would have won a beauty contest.
She's a virgin, neither had any man known her, and she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. Now, verse 17, "...and the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord.
And she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I'll draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking." Now, the important thing for you and me to note here is that she's a very polite girl also, very courteous. She's beautiful, not dumb, and very polite.
You can be sure that she probably is not a modern girl by any means. She could certainly qualify. "...And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran again into the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels." And remember, there were 10 of those camels there, and I don't know when the last time they filled their hump.
It's just like filling a radiator in a car to fill those camels up.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Search for a Bride
- A. The servant's task: find a bride for Isaac
- B. The importance of Rebekah's beauty and character
- C. The servant's prayer: God's choice is best
- II. Rebekah's Qualities
- A. Physical beauty: 'the damsel was very fair to look upon'
- B. Moral purity: 'a virgin, neither had any man known her'
- C. Politeness and courtesy: 'Drink, my lord.'
- III. The Servant's Test
- A. The servant's request: drink from her pitcher
- B. Rebekah's response: 'Drink, my lord.'
- C. The servant's observation: Rebekah's character
- IV. The Servant's Prayer
- A. The servant's trust in God's choice
- B. The servant's desire: God's will be done
Key Quotes
“The damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her, and she went down to the well and filled her pitcher, and came up.” — J. Vernon McGee
“Drink, my lord.” — J. Vernon McGee
“And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran again into the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- We should trust in God's choice and desire His will to be done in our lives.
- Physical attractiveness is not a bad thing, but rather something that God values and uses to attract people to Himself.
- Politeness and courtesy are important qualities that are valued by God.