Faithful Servant

This week we leave behind one painful story of God's provision to look at another, more joyful, expression of that provision. In Genesis 24 Abraham, now feeling that the end of his life is near, sends a servant to get a wife for Isaac. Although they are not living together, they have maintained enough of a relationship that there is no mention that Isaac, now in his late 30's, takes issue with his father's mission.

The servant, though unnamed in this story in both the bible and the Torah, is believed to be Eliezer - the most senior of Abraham's servants. Abraham sends Eliezer to the town of Nahor (also the name of Abraham's brother), making the servant swear that he will not get a woman from Canaan. In return for Eliezer's promise, Abraham promises that he will not hold Eliezer to this oath if the woman he finds is not willing to return with him. After arriving in the town of Nahor, the servant prays a very specific prayer for success:

12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”(Gen. 24:12-14, NIV)

Before he finishes praying, he sees Rebecca - who turns out to be Nahor's granddaughter - come to the spring (or well). When he asks her for a drink, she offers to fill the trough for the camels to drink as well. His prayer answered, Eliezer praises God, goes to Rebecca's home, and recounts the events so her family can understand what God has done.

Eliezer prepared for both success and possible failure when he started on his mission. He prayed for specific guidance. He praised God openly, but acted with humility - when introducing himself, he gave only the name of the one who sent him. And he recounted for others the gracious movement of God's hand.

May we have both the faith and the faithfulness of this servant.