Genesis 24:10-14

II. The Servant Devises a Test

"And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed, having all goodly things of his master's in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made the camels to kneel down without the city, by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the fountain of water; and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water: and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master."

"Mesopotamia ..." normally means the land BETWEEN the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; but some scholars insist that another usage was in view here, and that the two rivers were upper tributaries of the greater rivers. This is of little importance, because, in any case, the servant went to the city of Nahor, according to his instructions.

That God Himself guided the servant here is undeniable. The test which he devised, and regarding which he prayed to God, was extremely appropriate, because it was related fundamentally to the character, attitude, and personality of the woman to be chosen. It was the ONLY test devised.

"Let the same be she that thou hast appointed ..." This water test would be all that was needed to identify the bride. Of course, it was a strenuous and demanding test. Drawing water for ten camels, especially when the animals are tired and thirsty, borders on the heroic.

THE WATER TEST FOR THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

However people may resent it, there is surely also a water test for the Bride of Christ: "Except a man be born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:15). As Christ himself stated it, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

Also, four of the seven great signs of the Gospel of John followed the water motif:

1. water was changed to wine;
   
2. the healing at the Pool of Bethesda;
   
3. the healing in the Pool of Siloam; and
   
4. Jesus, walking on the sea.