Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, ”Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” (24:1–4)
What follows is a remarkable story. This trusted servant, the head steward of Abraham’s estate, is sent by Abraham back to Abraham’s relatives to find and bring back a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac. When the servant arrives in Mesopotamia, he prays a very specific prayer so that he will know the woman to whom God is leading him. Note that when a particular young lady says and acts exactly how the servant prayed that the “right” woman would, he doesn’t leap up and say, “This is the one!”, but rather “gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not” (Genesis 24:21).
While it looked obvious that she was the one, was she? The servant was supposed to take a wife for Isaac from among Abraham’s relatives. At this point, while she fulfilled the specifics that he prayed, Abraham’s steward does not yet know if this young woman is indeed a relative.
Soon enough, however, the steward finds out that this woman is indeed a relative and “The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen” (Genesis 24:26-27).
Some of us who are of a less cautious, more impulsive, nature, should take the example of this servant to heart. May we watch and wait for appropriate confirmation. In my case, I have a husband who is on the more cautious side. Because we are so different that way, we can frustrate each other, but we seek to appreciate each other and be thankful that God put us together and that He can use us to bring balance to each other.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you direct our paths. You are so faithful. Help me to be careful and discerning to make sure that it is You whom I am following. Amen.
