GENESIS 24 I STAND HERE It seems only natural that the aged man of faith would seek to secure the future progeny of his son. My mind's eye watched the patriarch and his old, faithful servant discuss the signs of the times in that place, and the low standards that people lived by there. There was no question about it: his son needed a wife who could be trusted to have the fear of God about her and be able to understand the value of the promises of God.
The servant had learned from his master that God does answer prayer. God can be counted on to give answers in peace. God is more interested in the lives of His people than we could ever be. God wants people of faith to live with people of faith and teach faith-principles to those of following generations. It was important to Abraham to obey God not only by being in the place of God's choosing himself, but in the choosing of a person as a bride for his son. Our obedience is not only going to affect ourselves but also those around us and those who will come after us.
The servant of Abraham had learned from his master the value of prayer to God. He had also learned to trust God for guidance in the commission he was given. To my mind, as I watched the servant praying within sight of the well, and heard him commit the task he was responsible for to the Lord, it was impressed on me that there are family members, friends and people who know me who watch what I do, listen to how I pray, learn about faith - or the lack of it - from me. I asked myself, "Is it necessary to ask God in prayer for things that defy the normal course of life, to determine if that is God's will? Or is it also evidence of God's answer when I ask for common-place answers in a specific way and time?" It seems to me that Abraham's servant prayed in faith for something that wasn't out of the ordinary, but he wanted evidence of the kind of person the young woman would be. Would she offer water to his camels? That was the work of a servant and that was a large task.
Inner beauty cannot always be easily seen. It takes something beyond a conversation to really see what a person is like inside. Hospitality, compassion and common sense are described by the actions of a person more than merely the words they say. To see people as God sees them, we have to look past physical beauty to see what is in their heart.
Kindness, if it is within, will show itself unsolicited when the opportunity arises to benefit a person. Kind acts to an observer, are the silent testimony to the reality of a Christian's witness, who is "zealous of good works." How would patience show its characteristics to on-lookers? When a task is large and, to a degree, daunting, the person of patience will give attention to it without complaints or demands from others. Patience bends itself to the work and continues until the difficulty is past and the work is finished. To see evidence of inner joy and peace, I would watch for facial expressions and body-language as one goes about the work in which they are engaged. There doesn't always have to be a song sung to give evidence of joy. The motions that come across a face and the gestures of one's hands can reveal to the watcher the evidence of what is inside.
The servant stood by the well and learned all he had to know about Rebekah from the answers of God and the actions of the young woman. The demonstration of her inner spirit was clearly seen as she remained at the task of drawing water for the "camels also." The spirit of a true help-meet and real servant will cause them to do more than the minimum for the benefit of others who need our help.
The purpose and goal of the servant's journey was obviously reached as he stood by the well and, in essence, stood before the Lord there and experienced the answer to his prayer - the identification of his master's son's future wife. It would have strengthened his own personal faith to follow the path of obedience to such a clear answer. When those times come and it is obvious to us that God has given us what we prayed for, our first response should be thanksgiving to God for His goodness to us and praise for His grace and guidance. When God chooses to work through us to the benefit of others, it is one of the reasons for which He saved us in the first place. When we know it is God working in us "to will and to do of His good pleasure;" that makes our Christian life of faith what it should be and we experience the significance of our calling.
As I watched in my mind that faithful, aged servant identify Isaac as, "my master," I could, to a certain degree, enter into his satisfaction and pleasure in "standing by the well," and seeing God work His will.
There is a quiet satisfaction when God can use even me!
The principles of service haven't changed through the years. The servant is responsible to the Master whose name he bears. When the Master has a task, He has called for us to do - He has the right to expect we will see that work through To its purpose and completion to the Master's satisfaction - In trusting us with a work, He has the right to expect our action In every activity to be directed in some way to that stated goal - Not leaving it partially completed, but done to the full.
Not only is there satisfaction from the Master, but the servant too Appreciates the work the Master has trusted him to do. And to be able to trust God to use the servant's own hands, Or his personal intelligence to fulfill His Lord's demands Brings a joy to the soul of any faithful servant That cannot be stifled, for from his Master he has learnt To trust the same God the man of faith obviously knows And the servant finds delight when God's faithfulness to him He shows.
I may not know all at once the outcome of every God-given task; And it is not up to me to question His leading or to ask For some explanation as to why I am here doing this - Because the objective in the work is not mine, but it is His. He who has plans for each one, works them according to His will - And my obligation is in the work I am called to, just to simply fulfill The instructions He gives me without question or complaint - And in the carrying out of the work, to press on and not to faint.
To "stand by the well" and watch God bring things to pass - Assures me that what He wants me to do, He will be with me in to the last Effort that is needed to bring the purposed work to an end. I may not ever know all the reasons He chose me to send. But as long as I know I am in his will; He will prosper the way - And when I see the final outcome perhaps in some future day - I will bow to the earth and will give Him all the worship and the praise For the glory it will bring to Him throughout the eternal days.
"I have been able occasionally Father, to see evidence of Thy leading me in ways that are unmistakable. The joy and satisfaction I have been able to get for myself when I stand and see the evidence of Thy answers causes me to praise Thee.
May I be able to stand by and see some of the answers here in this place that I have been praying for, for more than 50 years. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."