Sunday 8 November, 2015

10 The servant chose ten of his master’s camels and left. He loaded the camels with all kinds of good things from his master. He started out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11 He stopped near the well outside the town. There he made the camels get down on their knees. It was almost evening, the time when women go out to get water. 12 Then he prayed, “Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Make me successful today. Be kind to my master Abraham. 13 I’m standing beside this spring. The daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out here to get water. 14 I will speak to a young woman. I’ll say to her, ‘Please lower your jar so I can have a drink.’ Suppose she says, ‘Have a drink of water, and I’ll get some for your camels too.’ Then let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. That’s how I’ll know you have been kind to my master.” 15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She was carrying a jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Milkah’s son Bethuel. Milkah was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The young woman was very beautiful. No man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring. She filled her jar and came up again. 17 The servant hurried to meet her. He said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” 18 “Have a drink, sir,” she said. She quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. 19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll get water for your camels too. I’ll keep doing it until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the stone tub. Then she ran back to the well to get more water. She got enough for all his camels. 21 The man didn’t say a word. He watched her closely. He wanted to learn whether the Lord had given him success on the journey he had made. 22 The camels finished drinking. Then the man took out a gold nose ring. It weighed about a fifth of an ounce. He also took out two gold bracelets. They weighed about four ounces. 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? And please tell me something else. Is there room in your father’s house for us? Can we spend the night there?” 24 She answered, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel. He’s the son Milkah had by Nahor.” 25 She continued, “We have plenty of straw and feed for your camels. We also have room for you to spend the night.” 26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord. 27 He said, “I praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. The Lord hasn’t stopped being kind and faithful to my master. The Lord has led me on this journey. He has brought me to the house of my master’s relatives.”

Interesting way to find a wife!! But the absolute take home for me is the servant’s prayerful approach to his task. Verses 12-14 record Abraham’s servants prayer – it has a clear outcome (identify the woman for Isaac) and it has a clear answer to look for so that the servant will know God has answered (what the woman will say and do). He doesn’t have long to wait and after his prayer is completely answered in Rebekah – I find verse 21 fascinating – in the Message it says: “The man watched, silent. Was this God’s answer? Had God made his trip a success or not?”

Here he has the exact answer he prayed for – immediately after he asked God to do this – and he is unsure! Just like me – I can pray with clarity for a specific outcome and then be uncertain when God delivers it to my doorstep! However – he doesn’t act on his uncertainty – but on his mission – he doesn’t align with his feelings – but with his faith – and in vs 26-27 he responds to God’s answer in worship! “How generous and true you’ve been to my master; you’ve held nothing back.” The Message version tells us.

Lord – the truth is You hold nothing back! You are generous and responsive – as I face my day and need your guidance – I will ask and expect Your answers. It is faith in who You are that I need to hold onto – not my uncertainties.

Written by Ps. Linda Quinn