Genesis 24:61-67: a reflection

61Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South. 63Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes and looked. Behold, there were camels coming. 64Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she got off the camel. 65She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” She took her veil, and covered herself. 66The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

The chapter that began with a servant's search for a wife for Isaac ends tenderly. Rebekah comes with the servant, and Isaac, out meditating in the field at evening, looks up and sees the camels approaching. They meet; the servant tells Isaac all that happened; and the account closes: Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And then a quiet, poignant line: So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Notice that closing note. Isaac had been grieving his mother Sarah, who had died; the shadow of that loss hangs over him as he waits in the field. And God's provision of Rebekah, a new love, a new relationship, brings him comfort in his grief. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death, the text says. God did not leave Isaac in his sorrow; through the gift of Rebekah, he brought comfort and new joy in the wake of loss.

There is gentle hope in that for those who grieve. Grief is real, and God does not rush us through it or pretend our losses do not hurt. But he is also a God who brings comfort, who, in his time and way, provides new joys, new relationships, new consolations in the wake of loss. The grief of Sarah's death was real; and God brought Isaac comfort after it. If you are grieving a loss, do not think that sorrow is the end of your story. God is a God who comforts, who brings new joy after grief, in his time. Trust him to comfort you, as he comforted Isaac after his mother's death.

Lord, after Isaac grieved his mother's death, you provided comfort and new love, and he was comforted. When I grieve a loss, thank you that you do not rush me through sorrow or pretend it does not hurt, and that you are also a God who comforts. In your time and way, bring me new joys and consolations in the wake of loss. Do not let me think grief is the end of my story. Comfort me, as you comforted Isaac.