What Does Camels Coming Mean in Scripture?
Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor. And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. And he said, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, 'Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels' - let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."
Key Facts
Term Name
Camels Coming
Primary Meaning
Symbolizes God’s provision, faithfulness, and the unfolding of His covenantal promises.
Old Testament Reference
Abraham’s servant’s journey with camels in Genesis 24:10-14.
New Testament Fulfillment
The Magi’s arrival on camels in Matthew 2:1-12, honoring Jesus as the fulfillment of Gentile inclusion.
Key Takeaways
- Camels symbolize God's provision and faithfulness in fulfilling promises.
- The Magi's camels in Matthew 2:1-12 mirror Genesis 24’s covenantal journey.
- Camels represent trust in divine guidance during life’s journeys.
Camels in the Old Testament: A Symbol of Provision and Journey
In Genesis 24:10-14, camels symbolize both divine provision and the unfolding of God’s covenantal promises through Abraham’s servant’s journey.
Abraham’s servant loads ten camels with goods (Genesis 24:10), a tangible sign of Abraham’s wealth and God’s blessing. He prays that the woman who offers water to the camels will be the chosen bride (Genesis 24:12-14), linking the camels to divine guidance. When Rebekah fulfills this sign, the camels’ return journey loaded with gifts (Genesis 24:35) becomes a testament to God’s faithfulness.
The camels’ return with gifts underscores the covenant’s continuity, as Isaac and Rebekah’s union fulfills God’s promise to Abraham. This imagery invites readers to see provision not as mere material wealth but as a sign of God’s active presence in human affairs.
Camels and the Journey of the Magi: NT Fulfillment in Jesus
The arrival of the Magi on camels in Matthew 2:1-12 reimagines the symbolic journey of Genesis 24, anchoring Jesus as the culmination of God’s covenantal promises.
In Matthew 2:1-12, the Magi’s camels mirror the journey of Abraham’s servant in Genesis 24:10-14, where camels carried divine provision and marked God’s guidance. The servant’s camels brought gifts to secure Isaac’s bride, and the Magi’s camels carry gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor the Messiah. Their journey, guided by a star, parallels the servant’s reliance on God’s direction through water and gifts. Both episodes underscore that God’s promises - Abraham’s inheritance in Genesis and the Gentile inclusion in Matthew - unfold through unexpected, yet divinely orchestrated, movements.
The Magi’s arrival reveals Jesus as the universal recipient of worship and the center of God’s redemptive plan. Their Gentile identity and the symbolic weight of their gifts (fitting a king, a deity, and a savior) affirm that Jesus fulfills not only Israel’s hopes but also the longings of the nations (Genesis 12:3).
This symbolizes the expansion of God’s covenant community beyond Israel. The Magi’s journey, like the servant’s, becomes a testament to God’s faithfulness in gathering all peoples to Himself (Isaiah 60:3-5). Their camels, laden with homage, prefigure the global scope of Jesus’ mission, inviting readers to see His birth as the dawn of a new covenant that includes all who seek Him.
Camels Coming: Trusting God’s Provision Today
The biblical image of 'camels coming' invites us to see how God guides and provides in our lives, as He did for Abraham’s servant and the Magi.
In Genesis 24:10-14, Abraham’s servant trusted God to direct his search for Isaac’s bride, relying on divine timing and signs (like the woman who watered the camels). Similarly, the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12 followed a celestial sign to honor Jesus, demonstrating faith in God’s guidance even when the path was uncertain. These stories remind us that trusting God’s provision requires surrendering control and recognizing His work in both mundane and extraordinary circumstances. By embracing this trust, we can navigate our 'journeys' - whether career paths, relationships, or spiritual growth - with confidence that God equips and leads us. Furthermore, the camels’ role in carrying gifts - cited in Genesis 24:35 and Matthew 2:11 - challenges us to view our resources and actions as tools for welcoming others into God’s covenant, as Rebekah’s hospitality and the Magi’s offerings expanded His redemptive story.
Exploring Further: Camels in Scripture and Culture
Beyond Genesis and Matthew, camels appear in other biblical narratives, offering additional layers of meaning related to divine guidance and cultural context.
In Numbers 22:21-31, Balaam’s journey with his donkey (often misassociated with camels in cultural memory) illustrates divine intervention, while camels in other texts, like Numbers 31:18, highlight their role in ancient trade and wealth. These examples show how camels symbolized both spiritual and material dimensions of life in the ancient Near East.
Further Reading
Key Scripture Mentions
Genesis 24:10-14
Abraham’s servant travels with ten camels, trusting God to choose Isaac’s bride.
Matthew 2:1-12
The Magi arrive on camels, bearing gifts for Jesus as a fulfillment of God’s promises.
Related Concepts
The Magi (Figures)
Gentile seekers who followed a star to worship Jesus, symbolizing global inclusion in God’s covenant.
Covenant (Theological Concepts)
God’s binding promises to Abraham, fulfilled through Isaac’s lineage and Jesus’ birth.
Hospitality (Terms)
Rebekah’s act of watering camels (Genesis 24:14) reflects divine favor through service.