When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.”55 But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go.”56 But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.”57 Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.” 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”“I will go,” she said.59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,“Our sister, may you increase     to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess     the cities of their enemies.”61 Then Rebekah and her attendants got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.REFLECTIONSWritten by Vincent ChanWhen we read Laban’s initial request it seems innocent enough: “can our sister stay another few days?” However, it seems here that the author wants us to see that this can easily lead to greater barriers. After all, is there any stronger ties than the family? These few days can easily turn into a prolonged delay.In the end, God’s plan prevails, and Isaac meets his bride. However, the bigger picture at play is that the covenant line continues. God has promised that through the offspring of Abraham, he will bless the world. And so as we see the joining of Isaac and Rebekah, we are reminded again of God’s faithfulness.  ABOUT THE AUTHORVincent is an Assistant Minister with our Fairfield Congregations