Genesis 24:53

Genesis 24:53 says, And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.  The servant gave Rebekah many valuable gifts, and he also gave her brother and mother many precious things.  Though we might look at this as the servant attempting to buy Rebekah, her family and she had already agreed that she would go, so the servant was simply sharing with them some of the things that would be hers after she married.  When two people get married, everything they have should be shared by both.  Verse fifty-four says, And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.  The servant ate and drank and spent the night with the family, but the next morning he was ready to go.  He did ask their permission that he be allowed to leave though.  He did not just claim his right to take Rebekah with him after it was agreed that she would go, but he was ready to complete his mission.  Even if we know that we are doing what God has called us to do, we should never just move ahead without any concern about how what we are doing may affect others.  It is better that they support us if possible than for us to act in a ways that may alienate them.  Verse fifty-five states, And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.  Her brother and mother requested that they wait at least ten days before Rebekah left.  They may have agreed that she could go, but they were not ready for her to leave immediately.  Sometimes, other people may attempt to get us to delay in doing what God has called us to do for what may be a valid reason, but we cannot allow them to do so.  Rebekah's family were about to send her away, knowing they might never see her again, so it was not unreasonable to want a few more days with her.  Verse fifty-six declares, And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.  Again, the servant did not simply say that he was leaving immediately and taking Rebekah with him.  He asked that they not delay him in completing his mission.  The servant was basically seeking their blessing for Rebekah and him to leave immediately.  We today are better off if we leave to do God's work with the blessings or support of our families .  Verse fifty-seven says, And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.  Her brother and mother said they would leave the decision up to Rebekah.  Our family may agree that we are to do something for God today, but ultimately the choice is ours to make.  They could have said that they would decide when Rebekah would leave, but instead said the choice was hers.  Verse fifty-eight states, And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.  They called Rebekah and asked her if she would go, I believe meaning immediately, and she said she would.  Like Rebekah, we have a choice about whether or not we will do what we feel is God's will for us, and no one else can make that choice for us.  Verse fifty-nine adds, And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.  When Rebekah agreed to go with the servant, her brother and mother sent her away with her nurse.  They may have wanted more time with Rebekah, but they did not keep her from going.  If God calls some of our family away to another place to serve, we must not attempt to hinder them.  Verse sixty continues, And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.  Her brother and mother sent Rebekah away with their blessing and a desire for her to be successful in God's plan.  They did not say for her to go but to come back to them the first time something went wrong.  As followers of Christ, if we send someone away to follow God's calling in their life, we must send them with our blessings and pray only for their success.  We should never secretly hope that they will fail and return to us.  Verse sixty-one declares, And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.  The decision being made, they went on their way.  Once we have decided we know what God wants us to do, we need to be on our way to do whatever it is that He is calling us to do.