The prayer that the servant prayed is very interesting—Genesis 24 again:
13See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”
Abraham’s servant was asking God to give him a sign so that he would know which girl he had selected for his master’s son. However, at the same time, it was a test that would show the servant some very important qualities about the girl. If a girl gave him water, then offered to water his camels, he would know that this girl is hospitable, kind, hardworking, and generous. Remember what we learned about camels: they can survive for long periods of time without food and water. However, when they get to water, they will want to drink a lot—ten camels!
When young people are searching for mates, they should have in mind the qualities that they would like to see in their future spouse. They might even make a list of the characteristics that are important to them—like, honest, self-controlled, serious about their relationship with God, etc., and pray for God to help them identify such a person. A friend in Uganda said that when he was in university studying, he noticed one girl who didn’t hang out with the popular girls, who carried her Bible with her wherever she went, was quiet and reserved, and always participated in the religious activities on campus. Since he was an evangelist, these were the qualities that made him become interested in her, and she later became his wife.
God honored the servant’s prayer, and even before he had finished praying, Rebecca arrived at the well (Genesis 24:15). God knows what you need, and he will honor a sincere prayer for guidance in choosing a mate. God has “plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). Trust Him!
One characteristic that I hope would be at the top of the list is to find someone who is pure. We read in verse 16, “The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her.” Many people focus on the physical aspects, is this person attractive. God did provide a girl who was very attractive, but the most important aspect was that she was a virgin. Young people should look for someone who knows how to control themselves and has not engaged in sexual activity (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Some passages in the Old Testament show how important celibacy is in God’s sight before marriage (Exodus 22:16; Deuteronomy 22:13-21; 23-24; 28-29).