Friday, December 7

ABRAHAM’S SERVANT

Genesis 24:1-26

 

     This is the story of Abraham’s servant.  He is a real no-name in the Bible.  Although some people think this may be Eliezer, he never is named in this section of Scripture.  Who he is, is not important, but what he did, was. 

     The humility starts with Abraham’s obedience to God.  He knows that he cannot let his son get a wife from the Canaanites.  He follows God’s commands and decides to send his servant on a trip to find a wife for Isaac from his own people.

     This man was not just any servant.  He was the chief servant and in charge of everything Abraham had.  He probably could have given this job to someone else, but he took a vow to follow Abraham’s command.  He swore by the “God of Heaven” to follow orders.   He asks a lot of questions to make sure he will do everything that Abraham is asking.  He wants to do it God’s way and not his own.

     When he gets to the well, he doesn’t waste time looking around and deciding for himself who looks best.  He prays to God and asks for a very specific sign about who the girl should be.  Again, he is not doing it on his own—he is trusting God.  He got his answer quickly.  Rebekah comes out before he even finishes praying.

     Rebekah is also a picture of humility.  She not only offers the man water, but waters all ten of his camels, also.  This would be a hard job.  Camels when they drink, drink a lot.  While she was doing this, the servant continued to watch her closely to make extra sure that she was the one chosen by God. 

     When he finds out that she is the one, he bows down and worships the Lord—right there in front of the well.  Rebekah runs to tell her family when she sees this.

     The servant had a lot of chances to make his own choices, or to give himself the credit for a successful journey, but he never did.   He was humble before God and accepted what God chose. 

     Later, Rebekah became the mother of Jacob, who was later renamed Israel.  He became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, and, out of those lines, came Jesus, the Son of God.

~Ben and Jill Simcik