The Arrival of Rebekah at the Time When Isaac Was Engaged in Communion With God by Meditation and Prayer

    It is but a slight circumstance, but as an instance of providential wisdom, it is worthy of observation, that, at the moment of Rebekah's arrival at the residence of her future husband, he was engaged in meditation and prayer. This may be in man's view an accidental coincidence, but it is the arrangement of the Providence of God. The trifling fact is recorded by the wisdom of inspiration; and there is nothing recorded which is not calculated in one way or other to give us instruction. The believer ought to see Him who is invisible, and to commune with Him as his confidential and Almighty friend. The nearer he lives to God, the happier will he be. Yet strange, the corrupt heart of man, even in the believer, is prone to seek happiness by departing from God. It is only when he is kept by the power of God, and as far as he is kept, that he finds his happiness in God's favour. To encourage his people to constant fellowship with him, he increases their happiness, as they increase in a desire to enjoy his presence. He is the hearer of their prayers, and they never seek him in vain. If he gives them not the very thing which they ask, he will give them what is better for them; and he will give them what they ask when it is good for them. Here he honours prayer by putting Isaac in possession of his highest earthly blessing, while he was engaged in meditation and prayer.—" And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming."—Gen. xxiv. 63.