Genesis 24:17-2717And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. 18And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. 20And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. 22And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; 23And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in? 24And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. 25She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in. 26And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord. 27And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren. (Genesis 24:17‑27).
WE can still learn a great deal from this remarkable story. The courteous manner in which Eliezer requested a drink is very instructive,
“Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.” He was not bold and demanding, for if we expect to find a friend with real Christian characteristics, we must act in a thoughtful and considerate way ourselves. So here, Eliezer soon found a ready willingness on the part of Rebekah; and he knew that she was the one the Lord had chosen for Isaac. She drew water for all his camels, and this was not a small task, for Eliezer had ten camels!
Well might he wonder, and yet our God is a God of wonders! One “who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Eph. 3:2020Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20). It wasn’t long until Rebekah was rewarded for her kindness, and surely Eliezer was rewarded for waiting on the Lord. His promise is ever the same, “Them that honor Me I will honor” 1 Sam. 2:30,30Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. (1 Samuel 2:30) but we cannot expect to be honored, if we do not honor the Lord first. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Prov. 3:66In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6).
Before Eliezer did one thing more, he asked Rebekah a most important question, he said, “Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee.” Too many young Christians leave this important question until later on, and sometimes, sad to say, they never ask it. They want “just a little friendship”, and can go on for a long time having a so-called good time, without saying “Whose daughter art thou?” or in other words “Are you a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus?” It was foremost, however in the mind of Eliezer, and Rebekah readily replied that she was the daughter of Bethuel. Yes, she gladly owned that she was one of Eliezer’s master’s brethren. It wasn’t a half-hearted indefinite confession, like so many in our day causing us to wonder if they are really the Lord’s. One who really belongs to the Lord, can confess His Name clearly and definitely, and is glad to do so.
Another lovely thing about Rebekah is the way she speaks of the hospitality of her parent’s home, though not inviting Eliezer herself. She was learning these things in the happy circle of her own family. Yes, there was room for the man and his camels, and soon her brother came out and invited him in. Everything was so beautifully proper in its place, and this was another evidence that it was not just an empty thing with Rebekah. Any boy or girl can be nice when they are out, but it is the home life that tells, and Eliezer was going to see her actions at home, “Let them learn first to show piety (godliness) at home.” 1 Tim. 5:4,4But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. (1 Timothy 5:4) is a good word for us all.
Eliezer had learned to take everything from the Lord, and to thank Him for His blessings, and he bowed his head right at the well and worshipped. Then he began to talk about the Lord too. There is not much danger of getting into bad company when we talk about the Lord, and it is a fine thing to make this the subject of our conversation. Eliezer was making decisions in his heart, and Rebekah in. hers, but there was ample evidence on both sides of an ardent desire to do the will of the Lord.
Messages of the Love of God 2/1/1948