Abraham's Servant (Genes Is 24)

by J.A. Hickling, Portslade, U.K. | Category: Some Prayers Of Scripture | Sept 1982

By virtue of his long service to his master, Abraham's servant, presumably the Eliezer of Damascus of Genesis 15:2, must have been used to being close to extraordinary events-for instance, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; the birth of Isaac so late in Abraham's life (by which event Eliezer was ousted from being Abraham's heir) and the eventual offering up of Isaac. These events, coupled with the love that the servant had for his master and his constant observation of his master's faith in "the God of heaven and the God of the earth" (24:3), must have had such an effect upon him as to cause him to adopt a like faith.

These things are to be seen in the prayer that the servant made when he was called upon to perform what, in human terms at least, was a delicate and at the same time arduous task-that of finding and bringing back the right bride for Abraham's beloved son, Isaac. The task was delicate because everything in the future depended upon the right choice being made; it was arduous because the servant had an extremely long journey before him in circumstances we would not even wish to contemplate. But we find that Eliezer, if we may so call him having sworn before Jehovah, sets off in full faith. Did his faith waver en route or until at last he had reached the well of the city of Nahor? It may have done but he knew the remedy prayer. He would draw on the same Source of strength he had witnessed his master doing on countless occasions and there is a lesson for us here

How self-effacing was Eliezer's prayer No thought for himself or what he had experienced in the strain of the journey (and this cannot have been easy by any means), only thought for his master's well-being and success: "God of my master ... shew kindness unto my master" (v.12). He went on to say (verses 13 & 14) that, in effect, all he wanted was a clear indication which fair young woman God had chosen for Isaac. There's faith for you! But there is more than that; the central focal point of the prayer would seem to be the servant's love for his master and the work the master had given him to do. Also, what must not be Overlooked is how direct straight forward and intimate the prayer was no sermonizing just sincere acknowledgment of the God of the faithful Abraham and a detailed request for action of such a nature as would leave no room for doubt in Eliezer's mind It was a cry from the heart, a positive and direct communion with God: "and before I had done speaking in my heart ... Rebekah came" (v.45).

The Lord must long for us to have this sort of communion with Him. He knows the weakness of our frame and that we need to express ourselves to Him in common, detailed, everyday terms in order to make our requests more specific - see verse 14: " . .. the damsel to whom I shall say 'Let down thy pitcher ...' and she shall say 'Drink ...' let the same be she that Thou hast appointed ..." There could hardly be anything more specific than that, and the amazing thing is that before Eliezer had finished speaking in that detailed way, the Lord had met his request.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Eliezer is found bowing his head and worshipping God for His great blessing upon him and his master. This blessing was not only the success of his mission in obtaining the right bride for Isaac, but additionally there was water, straw, provender for the camels, a room for Eliezer and his servants to lodge in and water for the washing of their feet - in other words, "Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over". Certainly "the blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich ...."

Would it not be true to say that if our prayers, privately or corporately, were more direct, Eliezer-like in faith, less self-centred and more concerned with others, that the blessing would not be able to be contained?

J.A. Hickling, Portslade, U.K. | Sept 1982
Some Prayers Of Scripture