God Prepares a Way
This week, I want to talk about the story of Abraham’s servant going to choose a wife for Isaac.
It starts with Abraham tasking his most trusted servant with going to the land of his kindred to find a wife for his son. This was not a casual request. The scripture reads, “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.” – Genesis 24:9 (KJV): “And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.” – Genesis 24:2–4 (KJV)
The stipulations of the oath:
- Do not take a wife from the Canaanites.
- Go to Abraham’s country and kindred to find a wife.
- Do not take Isaac back to Mesopotamia.
- If the woman refuses to come, the servant is released from the oath.
I don’t pretend to understand the part about putting a hand under the thigh. People who are smarter than I explain it this way. What the gesture means (“hand under my thigh”): – This ancient gesture signaled a most solemn, life-and-posterity-level oath. Many scholars connect it to the sign of the Abrahamic covenant—circumcision—given as a token “in your flesh.” Again, I am not sure what the gesture actually is, but it means serious business.
The point I am trying to make is that covenants are involved, and we know how seriously Abraham takes covenants.
Why it mattered spiritually:
- Abraham is safeguarding the covenant line—marriage within the covenant so the promises to his “seed” remain centered in faithful worship. He ties the oath explicitly to the land promise and divine guidance.
- The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah is presented as part of God’s unfolding promise to multiply Abraham’s seed and bless the nations:
- Genesis 22:17–18 (KJV): “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
- Even Rebekah’s family echoes that covenant-multiplication theme when they send her forth: – Genesis 24:60 (KJV): “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.”
So with the stage set, I will get to the point. Everything Abraham did was connected with covenants. I believe this was the way he safeguarded everything that was important in his life. He knew that God or his servant in the story we are discussing would reliably keep their promises because of the covenant relationship.
What does that mean to us? When we make covenants and do our part in keeping them, we can be assured that God will follow through as we expect him to.
But that is still not my main point. The reason this story stood out to me is the way the servant’s journey is told twice. Once, as it happened, and again as he recounted it to Rebecca’s family. No detail was left out. But that was not the last time the servant recounted the story. “And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.” So, the events surrounding how Rebecca was chosen as Isaac’s wife were explained three times. Then the story ends with a typical, and they lived happily ever after.
Last week, I talked about how the Lord provided for Abraham on the mount because he didn’t withhold Isaac as a sacrifice. Again, because Abraham had confidence in the covenant he had made with God. This week, I want to point out that when we undertake to execute the responsibilities associated with covenants, the Lord prepares the way for us to do the thing he commands.
In the retelling of the story, Abraham’s servant seems almost amazed that everything he asked to complete his mission of securing Isaac a wife happened just as he had asked. “And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my master’s son. And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.”
The line that impressed me is, “And before I had done speaking in mine heart…” I have had similar experiences where everything seems to fall into place when I am doing my best to do what is right and keep the commandments. If you think about it, you could probably remember a similar experience. I truly believe that God does prepare the way for us as we follow him.
Here is some bonus material on the subject. It is a lot, but worth the read.
Scripture and church history are full of moments where the Lord “prepared the way” for covenant-keepers. Here are some touchstones you can study and teach from, with the exact words of scripture:
- Abraham’s servant led to Rebekah Genesis 24:27 (KJV): “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” Note the servant’s humility: “I being in the way”—as he acted, the Lord steered.
- Nephi’s classic promise 1 Nephi 3:7: “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” The whole chapter shows that “way” unfolding step by step.
- The Lord as light in the wilderness 1 Nephi 17:13: “And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.” 1 Nephi 17:3: “And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; …” Obedience + nourishment + “means” = prepared way.
- Led by the Spirit when the path is unclear 1 Nephi 4:6: “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.” Often the way is prepared as we move with faith, not before.
- The Jaredite crossing—God anticipates the deep Ether 2:25: “And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come…” God doesn’t remove the sea—He equips us for it.
- The Lord goes before His servants Doctrine and Covenants 84:88: “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” Missionary chapters in D&C repeat this pattern often.
- Old Testament promise of divine “way-making” Exodus 23:20 (KJV): “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.” Isaiah 45:2 (KJV): “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight…” Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV): “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
- New Testament guidance for covenant ministry Acts 16:9–10 (KJV): “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” Doors close (Asia, Bithynia) so the “prepared” door to Macedonia can open.
- A way to escape in trial 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV): “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Sometimes the prepared way is endurance and deliverance, not removal.
Moments in Church history that echo this pattern:
- The Saints’ exodus and the “Miracle of the Gulls” (1848): After the first spring planting in the Salt Lake Valley, crickets devastated crops until flocks of seagulls arrived over many days, preserving enough food for survival. Pioneers recorded it as divine intervention preparing the way in a desolate land.
- Zion’s Camp (1834): Though the original military objective wasn’t realized, participants testified the Lord used the march to prepare leaders (many future Apostles and Seventies) and to teach reliance on revelation during cholera, scarcity, and opposition.
- Kirtland Temple (1836): Despite poverty, the Saints consecrated resources and were blessed with spiritual outpourings and angelic ministrations that prepared them for missionary expansion across North America and Britain.
- The British Mission harvest (1837–1841): Amid economic distress in England, prepared hearts received the message—thousands entered the covenant path, supplying strength to gather and build Zion.
A simple study path you might try this week:
- Read Genesis 24, 1 Nephi 3–4, 1 Nephi 17, Ether 2–3, and D&C 84, marking every phrase about God going before, preparing, providing “means,” angels, and the Spirit leading. – Then journal one current commandment/calling you’re keeping. Pray and write specific “means” the Lord is already providing. Share one insight with a family member or friend—you’ll strengthen their faith and your own.