All The Single Ladies...of the Bible: Part 1

There are some outstanding stories in the Word, but really when I think of the headlines I read today they really don't seem as improbable as I hear some people say. In fact, they mirror what happens in our world every day. There's nothing new under the sun - Ecclesiastes 1:9. This is why when I read about Ruth the other day I thought, now this is really something. She ended up meeting and getting married just by being really thoughtful and selfless. Then I remembered other single ladies, namely Rebekah and Rachel. And I realized there are some key similarities in their chance encounters that could be helpful to handmaidens in waiting. Let's bring those out.

Rebekah - became Isaac's wife after his servant was given the task of finding a certain type of woman to marry him

In those days and times many marriages were arranged by the parents. This was the case here. Abraham sent his servant back home asking him to promise that he would find a wife for Isaac who was befitting for the role (from the family's homeland). Wanting to make good on his promise, the servant went and asked GOD to give him a sure fire way to know who the right woman was. 

Genesis 24:12

12 He said, "O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. 13 "Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;14 now may it be that the girl to whom I say, `Please let down your jar so that I may drink,' and who answers, `Drink, and I will water your camels also'--may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master."

So, before he even finished praying, here comes Rebekah. Mind you, her family is fairly wealthy. And, I'm not sure, but it would seem there could have been a maid coming out to draw the water rather than she, but here she was employing her servant's heart to go and draw water.

Genesis 24:15

15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah,  the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder.16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.17 Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar." 18 She said, "Drink, my lord"; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink. 19 Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw also for your camels until they have finished drinking." 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels. 

GOD was quick answering this prayer. She followed through as expected. I would like to highlight some themes here. First, she was being useful at the well (drawing water when she did not have to), kind (serving the servant...and TEN camels when she did not have to), and humble (she was already pretty well-off, but still saw no problem with meeting this stranger's needs). Well, in simply being productive she showed that she was the perfect wife for Isaac. Also, she was a virgin and had not even courted anyone. I know, that's very uncommon today. Sexual relationships are a part of dating in some cross-sections of American culture. But, note that purity was a factor in the narrative. It was deliberately highlighted and I believe that's symbolic in many ways. But, for the purpose of this discussion, it goes to show that men are looking for women whose hearts can belong solely to them, who haven't been compromised by many suitors and / or promiscuity. They were built to desire a woman who was made just for them and they don't want to feel like they've already had to share. It sounds crude, but it's true. It's the design. There was Adam and then came Eve and that was that. She was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh and that was all she wrote. Eve's loyalties had not been divided when they got married. And so here it was that Rebekah was being chosen with that aspect of her life being clear and ready to fully embrace Isaac without hindrance or distraction. So, if you are a GOD-fearing, Bible loving lady in waiting here are some tips from Rebekah:

1.) Use your gifts and talents, focus your energy, and perform them well. Women who have purpose stand out to men who also have it and that's what you're looking for.

2.) Be productive. Sitting around watching mind-numbing hours of useless television is not the way you were meant to spend your time. GOD has given you many resources, you have something to offer. Get busy with that.

3.) Employ your servant's heart. If you are a believer who has confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you already have this. It may need to be cultivated and grown, but you got it when you received His Spirit, so the next time you get a chance to do so, use it.

4.) Be humble. This is a strong biblical theme, and a spiritual necessity. In fact, it's one of the ways that you would be known to be a follower of Christ. Laying down your "sista' girl" can be quite powerful in getting a closer walk with the Father, not to mention it clears away one obstacle a man of GOD would have in approaching you.

5.) Make sure they are definitely all the way in GOD's family. That servant traveled miles with his caravan to get to a place where the people knew who GOD was. Missionary dating is NOT going to render the results you're looking for. If they don't have a personal relationship with GOD and you do, they are NOT the one. Don't even compromise your heart...leave them alone and wait. (Single ladies only...if you're married you're in it to win it, 1 Corinthians 7:12-16)

6.) Just do your thing and GOD will bring them to you. You don't have to look, you don't need to "put yourself out there". Delight yourself in the LORD and HE will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4.

Stay tuned for Part 2 where we'll dish on Rachel's situation and glean more understanding.