We are continuing this incredible story of Abraham’s servant finding a wife for Isaac. He was praying and waiting and watching, and Rebekah was in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing.
“Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. 17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” 18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. 19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful. 22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a bekaand two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” 24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.” 25 And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night.” 26 Then the man bowed down and worshipped the Lord, 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.” 28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.” (Genesis 24 v 15-28)
Rebekah’s destiny was shaped in the ordinariness of life.
- She didn’t know she was being watched. Whether we like it or not, we are constantly being watched. If we use social media even more so! Our character is continually on display in moments that may not appear very special. She didn’t know who this man with the camels was. She was just herself. She was being kind. At the centre of kindness is the well-being of another, and it reveals a person’s character.
- She offered to go the extra mile. She could have stopped after giving him a drink and then moved on from there, but she didn’t. She went the extra mile and volunteered to water all his camels. She was not there for herself. She would then offer the servant and his camels a place for the night. We never know the outcome of such hospitality.
- She was faithful in the ordinariness. Often, we think we must wait for an incredible God moment to serve His purposes. It seems God is waiting for us. He is looking for our faithfulness in the unglamorous moments, the boring parts of life.
- She had somewhere and someone to share the story with. For her, it was her mother and the family members. She told of the gold ring and bracelet gifts, the whole encounter with the servant and his prayer, and how she learns that there is a wider family connection. But she was not going to keep this to herself. In our world, we make so many decisions on our own, without drawing people into our lives to share the journey with us.
It is an incredible story, which, as we know, we still have the next part to read. But the main point so far is this: Be faithful in small, everyday acts of kindness and character-building, because you never know when an ordinary moment might become a divine appointment. And when those moments come, don’t face them alone; run to your family and friends.
Missions Paul 