Rebekah Went to Fetch Water and Found Gold

By Mary Vee

Rebekah's two friends stood at the end of the path outside Rebekah's house. Their water jugs wabbled on their shoulders .

"Rebekah. Ready to go to the well?"

"Uh huh."

"She's dancing again, Hava."

"Dancing with a water jug, Deborah. That girl needs a husband."

"And we don't?"

"Of course we do."

Rebekah danced in between her friends and linked arms. "Come now, you know I'll settle for nothing less than a prince."

The three friends burst out laughing.

They joked and laughed all the way along the path leading out of the city.

Rebekah pulled her arms free from her friends and sprinted ahead a few steps. "Race you there."

The wind blew through her hair. She twirled around once than slowed to a walk. "The air smells good. I could stay out here all day."

As she neared the well, she noticed a traveler with several camels resting. "Hmmm, I wonder what brings him to our city. I wonder where he's been, where he's going, what he's seen. Oh, how I wish I could travel and see other places."

She went down to the well, filled her pitcher and came up. Suddenly she noticed the servant running to meet her. He must need help.

The traveler stopped a few steps from her. "Please, please, may I have a little drink of water from your pitcher?"

Rebekah looked at his his face. Poor man, he looks so thirsty. "Yes, of course, drink, my lord." She quickly let her pitcher down and gave him a drink.

He smiled and drank some more. "Thank you. This water is good. You're very kind."

Rebekah raised her pitcher to her shoulder. His camels must be as thirsty as he is, poor things. "I'd be happy to draw water for your camels, if you wish."

Rebekah didn't give him a chance to respond. She ran over to the trough and emptied her pitcher. Those poor creatures, they've drank the water I just poured, already. She ran back to the well to draw water again and again until the camels stopped dinking.

She wiped sweat off her face with her sleeve. Rebekah laughed when the camels plopped down to rest. "That's much better."

Rebekah sat down under the tree to rest. She watched the traveler reach into a satchel. He dug around for a minute then pulled out a ring and two bracelets. Oh, dear, this is a wealthy traveler. Who have I met this day?

The traveler gently walked near her. "This is a gift for you."

Rebekah could hardly breathe. "For me, my lord?"

The traveler smiled. "You have been so kind to me. Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father's house for us to stay for the night?"

Rebekah looked back at her friends who were filling their pitchers then back at the traveler. "My father is Bethuel. His parents are Milcah and Nahor. We have both straw and feed enough for your camels and a room for you to rest."

The traveler bowed his head and worshipped the Lord. "Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has led me to the house of my master's brethren."

Rebekah's mouth fell open. "You are the servant of Grandpa's brother, Abraham? Oh, wait 'til my family hears about this. Come on. I can't wait to tell my family."

Rebekah ran ahead as fast as she could without spilling water from her pitcher.

Sometimes when we do something nice for someone, we find out our good deed has helped more than we realized. Sometimes when we do a good deed we receive a reward we can touch. But everytime we do a good deed, God will give us a sparkly, joyful feeling inside that makes us smile, or jump, or dance. Do a kind deed and see!