ABRAHAM'S OLDEST SERVANT   

                            

          Chapter 24 of Genesis is significant in two respects. It is one of the longest chapters in the Bible. Secondly, it tells an interesting story about Abraham's oldest servant. Many ignore or overlook the servant's excellent and noble qualities, as their focus is mainly on Issac and Rebecca.  But  a careful study of the chapter would bring to light some of the finest qualities found is him.  Some scholars believe that the servant referred to in this chapter is Eliezer of Damascus (Genesis 15/2). But there is no direct evidence to this. Therefore, I wish to refer him as 'Abhrahm's oldest Servant' in this article. This servant was assigned a difficult task of finding a suitable bride for Issac, son of Abraham. He was asked to go to Northern Mesopotamia, for this purpose, where Abraham's  forefathers lived. The servant accomplished the job perfectly ,step by step ,by seeking God's guidance at every move. This article attempts to highlight the excellent way he followed on each occasion. Hope you will be thrilled to read this.

Step 1: The servant reached the village of  Nahor after a long and tiring travel. There was no one to receive him. Nor did he know any one there. But the job had to be done quickly. He  wanted to pray. But there was no exclusive place for prayer. However,he started praying at the entrance of the village silently in his heart. He prayed, 'O Lord, give me success today." (Genesis 24/12). No one knew that he was praying, but he was talking to God in his heart. This is called as "Arrow Prayer", that is praying silently in heart in the midst of other works, without being noticed by others. He wanted to begin his work with a prayer. His heart was longing for God's leading. Therefore he prayed in the place where he stood unmindful of the surroundings. Do we start our works with a word of prayer or drowned in our busy schedule?  

Step 2:  When he prayed, he pleaded that the matter should be accomplished, "TODAY", viz, the same day. His prayer was that God should help him to complete the job the same day, not even the next day. He prayed with faith, expectation and confidence. He was anxious to complete the work quickly so that he would take the good news to his master as early as possible.

Step 3:  Then, he prayed for the next move. He wanted God to show him the right girl. He imagined a situation in his heart. He desired that one of the girls of the village who was coming to the well where he was waiting, should offer water not only for him, but also for his camels (Genesis 24/13). In that event, he would assume that the particular girl, the one chosen by the God. By this, he would confirm that God had shown kindness to his Master (Genesis 24/14). Here, I wish to point out his attitude. Instead of praying to God to show a wealthy and beautiful girl matching the status of Abraham and Issac, he prayed to God to show a girl with full of compassion and love. This is a model prayer. Do we set such parameters while searching brides / bridegrooms for our children? God was pleased with his prayer. Rebecca appeared there and talked to the servant exactly the way he had planned in his mind. He selected her as the bride for Issac. The entire process of decision making was completed  hassle free. God made his job easy and pleasant. In short, he allowed God to select the right bride.

Step 4:  When the servant was satisfied with Rebacca, he followed her to meet her parents. There, he thanked God saying, "The God of my master Abraham had led me by the right way"(Genesis 24/48) to achieve the object in view. What is meant by the 'right way'? It is nothing but finalizing an alliance as per God's plan. I want to pose before you a pertinent question. How many marriages are fixed and finalized by God's plan nowadays? We force our view and have everything in our own way. Don't forget that God's ways are the best ways.

Step 5: Food was served to the servant in Rebecca's house. But the servant refused to eat saying that he would not eat until the affiance is given an approval. (Genesis 24/33). In India, there is a practice that no one will eat until the marriage proposal is accepted by both the families. Is not the statement of the servant something similar to the practice in India? Did Abraham's servant bring this practice first into the world? Any way, he deserves our appreciation.

Step 6:  The previous evening he came. The marriage proposal had been given a finality the same night. The next day, he started to return to his home town (Genesis 24/55-56). He reached this new place after a long travel. Physically, some rest is essential. Yet, on completion of job, he wanted to return. He did  not want to enjoy the rest and hospitality at Rebecca's house. He was particular of informing his master. He did not want to keep the master in anxiety. Shall we miss when offers for rest and hospitality come together?

          Nabal, who was living in the times of David, once said that "many servants are breaking away from their masters these days"(1 Sam 25/10). He was obviously referring to large number of unfaithful servants in his days. But Abraham's servant proved to the world that he was different. We are also God's servants in this world. God expects us to be "faithful and wise" (Mathew 24/45).

 

Joseph Stephen

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