When the servant came to the side of the well near the city of Nahor, with his camels, he made them kneel down. Then he prayed and asked the Lord to guide him in his choice. He had certain things in his mind which he would look for in the young woman whom he was to choose, and he asked the Lord to direct him. Any Christian young man who reads his Bible carefully will learn to expect courtesy (1 Peter 3:7-8), kindness and industry (Prov. 31:10-31) from a godly girl. If such things are lacking he may well question how she could be the right one. The servant, therefore, asked the Lord to guide him to the girl having these characteristics. It is also important to see where he looked for her. It was not on the busy street of the city but by the side of the well. This makes us think of a place where the Word of God is read and spoken of. The Lord Jesus said, “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). You cannot expect to find the right girl in the wrong place. You will find her in the path of obedience, typified here by the water of the well (Eph. 5:26).
Moreover the servant asked that he might not only know the right one by her courtesy, kindness and industry, but by the fact that she refreshed him, and also that by watering his camels she helped him on his journey as a true helpmeet. Some girls are no spiritual help to the young man who takes them out. They drag him down instead of helping him, and hinder him on his spiritual journey. Dear young believer, if you meet the right girl you will find she will refresh your soul in the Lord, and if she does not do this from the very start, then be careful.
While the servant was praying and asking the Lord’s guidance, Rebekah came out to the well. He then courteously approached her and asked for a drink of water from her pitcher. She respectfully gave him a drink and offered to draw water for his ten camels. What a task this was, to draw water for ten camels but she did it quickly and willingly! The servant could only wonder and hold his peace as she did so. His prayer had been more than answered. He had not asked for good looks, for beauty is only skin deep, but he had sought the beauty that abides as the Scripture says “Favor (gracefulness) is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” (Prov. 31:30). But now the servant had found the beauty that abides, in a damsel who was “very fair to look upon.” How the Lord delights to exceed His promises, and to do for us more than we ask or think!
A Word on Courtships, G. H. Hayhoe