#32 - A Servant's Prayer

Genesis 24:10-14

Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.

Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

Comments

Here was a servant on his master’s errand, praying to his master’s God for kindness to be shown to his master. Even though the servant prayed for success, it was not the self-serving prayer of personal ambition, but one that sought only the welfare of his master. 

It was also a very practical prayer. The sign from God for which the servant prayed was not something impractical like the color of her hair or the beauty of her features; the servant was asking that Isaac’s wife be someone who was hard-working and gracious. Giving a drink of water to a thirsty man was not all that special, but drawing enough water for ten camels was hospitality in the extreme.

Reflections

The servant prayed for the welfare of his master. Do you more often pray for yourself or for others?

God answered the servant’s prayer, but it would not have happened had not Rebekah been willing to play her part. Has God ever used you to answer someone’s prayer? Has God ever used someone else to answer your prayer?

Prayer

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who still answers the prayers of humble servants.