And the servant. .. departed.
The embassy of Abraham’s servant
I. HE USES ALL POSSIBLE HUMAN MEANS OF SUCCESS.
II. HE EXPECTS DIVINE HELP.
1. His prayer to God for success (Genesis 24:12).
2. Prayer for special Divine guidance (Genesis 24:13-14).
3. Prayer for what was good in itself.
(1) He looks for the best qualities in the bride. She was to be amiable, modest, kind--all qualities of the heart, and without which all other endowments were vain.
(2) He desires the Divine confirmation of his choice. (T. H. Leale.)
The mission of Abraham’s servant
I. THE MISSION.
1. This delicate mission was delegated to a servant, because Isaac was too inexperienced to go himself; but the choice was left to God.
2. Observe the touching confidence between master and servant.
3. The servant was enjoined by oath. Allowable in Judaism; but Christ says, “Swear not at all.” The word of a Christian is to be so true that no oath could add to its security.
II. THE DISCHARGE OF THE MISSION.
1. The servant’s expectation of Divine help.
2. The principle on which the selection was made. The qualities required were amiability, sincerity, modesty.
III. REBEKAH’S ARRIVAL.
1. She found Isaac engaged in prayer and meditation; two things from which we have sadly fallen.
2. As soon as Rebekah knew her husband was coming, she veiled herself. And this, brethren, is what we so much want; I know it to be the bane of domestic life, the want of modesty and delicacy; without Rebekah’s veil affection becomes alienated, and often turns to hatred; love, to be constant, must be kept pure. (F. W. Robertson, M. A.)
Eliezer’s mission, journey, and suit
I. ELIEZER’S MISSION.
1. Representative.
2. Delicate.
3. Important.
4. Successful.
II. ELIEZER’S JOURNEY.
1. His company consisted of the men who went with him, and the ten camels laden with presents, &c. The ten camels were intended, doubtless, not only to express the circumstances and wealth of his master, but also to convey the bride and her personal possessions to her husband. The men needful to look after the camels, and also to protect Eliezer and the presents.
2. His destination. Many days’ journey across a wilderness inhabited by warlike tribes, to the city of Nahor. Great skill required in making a safe journey.
3. His arrival, Rests outside the town, where was a well (11). His reliance on God. Here he offered a prayer (12-14). God heard the prayer and conducted to the spot a damsel who in all things fulfilled Abraham’s desire
4. and his own wish (14).
III. ELIEZER’S SUIT.
1. The approach of Rebekah. Her coming providentially ordered in answer to prayer. Though beautiful (16), she seems not to have been vain. And whatever the circumstances of her family, she conformed to the primitive habits of the people. Went to draw water for household purposes.
2. The request of Eliezer. Putting her to the test. Was the sign to be fulfilled by her? She cheerfully complied. Told the story of her kindred.
3. The presents. Such as a bride might expect to receive. Her acceptance of them promised a favourable compliance with the suit.
4. Eliezer’s gratitude to God. He worshipped (26). Learn:
1. Faithful servants a great blessing in households.
2. All undertakings should be conducted in the fear of God.
3. God gives “ journeying mercies” to the faithful.
4. God is to be praised for all our successes. (J. C. Gray.)
Lessons
1. Faithfulness in making vows will be diligent in the performing them.
2. Prudence will teach men to suit provisions unto undertakings (verse10).
3. Providence makes stops to creatures where it hath more to discover to them.
4. It is better staying in the field by a little water with God, than to go into cities without Him.
5. Rest for man and beast is but reasonable after labour and travel.
6. Honest labours become the greatest ladies even in household affairs; it was an honour among the saints of old (Genesis 24:11). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Good speed for the day
Matthew Henry wrote: “I forgot, when I began my work to-day, explicitly and expressly to seek help from God, and the chariot-wheels have driven heavily. God forgive my omissions, and keep me in the way of duty.”
I pray Thee send me good speed
The prayer of Abraham’s servant beside the well at Nahor
We have here--
I. PRAYER IN ITS ESSENTIAL NATURE.
II. PRAYER IN ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE.
III. PRAYER WITH ITS NEEDFUL ASSOCIATE. He puts himself “in the way.”
IV. PRAYER, WITH ITS FITTING SEQUEL. Praise (Genesis 24:27). (J. F.Poulter, B. A.)
An admirable prayer
Truly he had not lived with Abraham in vain! Observe--
1. The character under which he addresses the great Supreme: “Oh, Jehovah, God of my master Abraham.” He well knew that Jehovah had entered into covenant with Abraham, and had given him exceeding great and precious promises. By approaching Him as a God in covenant, he would find matter for faith to lay hold upon; every promise to Abraham would thus furnish a plea, and turn to a good account. Surely this may direct us in our approaches to a throne of grace, to make mention of a greater than Abraham, with whom also God is in covenant, and for whose sake the greatest of all blessings may be expected. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is to us what the God of Abraham was to Eliezer; and in the name of our Redeemer we may pray and hope for everything that is great and good.
2. The limitation of the prayer to the present time: “Send me good speed this day.” We may in a general way ask for grace for our whole lives; but our duty is more especially to seek direction at the time we want it. Our Lord teaches us to pray for daily bread as the day occurs.
3. The sign which he presumed to ask for; that the damsel to whom he should say so and so, and who should make such and such answers, should be the person whom the Lord had appointed for his servant Isaac. In this he might be under extraordinary influence, and his conduct therefore afford no example to us. The sign he asked, however, was such as would manifest the qualifications which he desired and expected to find in a companion who should be worthy of his master’s son; namely, industry, courtesy, and kindness to strangers.
4. The faith in which the prayer was offered. He speaks all along under a full persuasion that the providence of God extended to the minutest events, to the free actions of creatures, and even to their behaviour, of which at the time they are scarcely conscious. His words are also full of humble confidence that God would direct him in a matter of so much consequence to his Church in all future ages. (A. Fuller.)
Lessons
1. In hard undertakings it is best to call in God by prayer upon man’s endeavours. He helps to purpose.
2. God in His being, power, grace, and covenant with his, is to be conceived by petitioners in their address by prayer to Him.
3. Good success in events desired, depend only upon God.
4. The success of faithful servants is mercy to their masters, which they should desire.
5. It is likely to prove best when matters are committed by masters to the care of praying servants.
6. God doth indulge sometimes visible signs to be asked, to assure His favour to His own.
7. It becomes man to wait when he desires God to appear.
8. In desiring any visible sign of God’s respect, God must not be limited.
9. God doth appoint and determine wives eminently, for His own specially.
10. Ingenuity and courtesy to strangers is a good guess for one to make a good wife.
11. Observation of God’s mercies unto faith and prayer is the true use of His signal manifestations. So did Abraham’s servant. (G. Hughes, D. D.)
The sign sought by Abraham’s servant
It is important to observe in what sense and to what extent this capable servant asked a sign. He did not ask for a bare, intrinsically insignificant sign. He might have done so. He might have proposed as a test, let her who stumbles on the first step of the well be the designed wife of Isaac; or, Let her who comes with a certain-coloured flower in her hand--or so forth. But the sign he chose was significant, because dependent on the character of the girl herself; a sign which must reveal her good-heartedness and readiness to oblige and courteous activity in the entertainment of strangers--in fact, the outstanding Eastern virtue. So that he really acted very much as Isaac himself must have done. He would make no approach to any one whose appearance repelled him; and when satisfied in this particular, he would test her disposition. And of course it was these qualities of Rebekah which afterwards caused Isaac to feel that this was the wife God had designed for him. It was not by any arbitrary sign that he or any man could come to know who was the suitable wife for him, but only by the love she aroused within him. God has given this feeling to direct choice in marriage; and where this is wanting, nothing else whatever, no matter how astoundingly providential it seems, ought to persuade a man that such and such a person is designed to be his wife. (M. Dods, D. D.)
A sign of duty
If you are at present engaged in something that is to your own conscience doubtful, and if you are not hiding this from God, but would very willingly, so far as you know your own mind, do in the matter which He pleases--if no further light is coming to you, and you feel a growing inclination to put it to God in this way: “Grant, O Lord, that something may happen by which I may know Thy mind in this matter”--this is asking from God a kind of help which He is very ready to give, often leading men to clearer views of duty by events which happen within their knowledge, and which, having no special significance to persons whose minds are differently occupied, are yet most instructive to those who are waiting for light on some particular point. The danger is not here, but in fixing God down to the special thing which shall happen as a sign between Him and you; which, when it happens, gives no fresh light on the subject, leaves your mind still morally undecided, but only binds you, by an arbitrary bargain of your own, to follow one course rather than another. This matter that you would so summarily dispose of may be the very thread of your life which God means to test you by; this state of indecision which you would evade, God may mean to continue until your moral character grows strong enough to rise above it to the right decision. (M. Dods, D. D.)