20_Portrait of a faithful servant
Gen 24:1-9 Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live; 4 but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
Jim Elliott was a young man when he, with his companions, attempted to reach out to the hostile Auca Indians in the jungle of Ecuador. Moved by distrust and fear, the Aucas massacred them all. Jim’s young wife Elizabeth was left alone. She passed through her own crucible of faith. With the weight of her loss pressing on her, and a 10-month-old baby to care for, she took time to ask the Lord what she should do.
Amazingly, she felt led to continue the task that Jim had begun. She returned to the jungle and efforts continued to reach out to the Aucas. With her child, she eventually lived among them. Many of them came to know and trust God, including those who struck Jim down out of fear. Today, the Aucas live in the light of the gospel, a testimony to God’s forgiveness and power to transform, but also her faithfulness.
Faithfulness is a hallmark of servanthood. Genesis 24 presents a vivid portrait of a true servant, the unnamed steward of Abraham. This picture is against the context of a journey to find a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac.
When Sarah passed away at 127, Abraham mourned deeply for his wife. Their bond, strengthened over nearly a century, had been filled with God’s promises, trials, and victories. Yet, as a man who trusted God’s purposes, Abraham rose from his grief to continue in the Lord’s will. His first act was to secure a burial place for Sarah, since he officially owned no land in Canaan. Such was his godly reputation that the Hittites, recognizing him as a prince of God, a mighty prince as well as a prophet, offered him what he wanted.
Abraham then turned his attention to ensuring a wife of faith for his son, Isaac. Now 40, Isaac was ripe for marriage. Abraham was determined that his son should not marry a Canaanite. As the heir of the covenant, his wife must be committed to God. This was the crucial task entrusted to Abraham’s servant by his aged master.
The way this man performed his task revealed the heart of a true servant—faithful, dependent on God, and single-minded in mission.
Abraham’s trust in his servant was complete. The servant was not merely a hired hand; he was a steward of Abraham’s household. He had shown himself faithful to his master’s interests. This led to his being given a much greater responsibility. He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much also. The reward for doing a small task well is to be given greater tasks.
Abraham made his servant swear an oath to find a wife from Abraham’s people rather than from the Canaanites. Haran, also called Padan-aram, was the place in Mesopotamia where most of Abraham’s family had settled after leaving Ur. The steward set out on his long journey with ten camels loaded with provisions and gifts. Yet his faith does not rest on these resources, but on God’s help.
At a well just outside Haran, he stops. He has no idea where to start looking for Abraham’s relatives. But he is not at a loss. He prays, asking simply for success for the sake of Abraham. He asks God to show him exactly the woman that Isaac is to marry. He specifies the sign by which he will know her. Humility, faith, and complete devotion to his master, glow brightly in his prayer.
Hardly has he ended his request when Rebekah comes to the well to draw water. In her sweet diligence and hospitality, she fulfils the sign he had asked for. Yet he does not leap to conclusions. Verse 21 says, “Meanwhile, the man was taking a close look at her in silence, to find out whether the Lord had made his journey successful or not.” Patience is one hallmark of a faithful servant. He waits to discern God’s will fully, rather than acting on impulse.
He asks Rebekah if her family has resources to shelter and feed his party for the night. It is no small task to take in ten camel-drivers and to provide fodder for ten camels. But Rebekah’s ready agreement shows that she comes from a family of substance. Even more amazing, she is Abraham’s niece.
Overwhelmed with thankfulness, the servant worships low, saying, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned His kindness and His trustworthiness toward my master.” He recognizes God’s hand in every step of their journey.
At Rebekah’s home, the camels are fed and can rest. The steward takes the opportunity to get the dust of the journey off. But he will not eat, even after his long journey, until he has performed his task. Even with the meal before him, he asks permission to speak. Introducing himself as Abraham’s servant, he praises his master as one blessed by God, one who walks with God, and who is immensely rich. So should our words constantly exalt our master, Jesus the Lord, who has been blessed by God because of his obedience to death, and is the heir of all things.
The servant describes his mission and how God revealed Rebekah as the choice. He asks that she be sent with him to be wife to his master’s son. He makes it clear that it will be unkindness to his master if they refuse.
Rebekah’s family are compelled to acknowledge God’s hand, saying, “The thing has come from the Lord.” After sharing a meal that night with the family, with much distribution of gifts, the servant is immediately eager to set out on his return journey the next day. His fatigue and discomfort go unheeded. When the family requests that Rebekah depart after ten days with them, he respectfully declines. His desire is to complete the duty assigned to him, without thought for his own comfort.
As the return trip nears Abraham’s home, Rebekah glimpses a man in the field. With quick instinct, she asks the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant replies, “It is my master.” Strikingly, we read nothing more about this faithful man. Having accomplished his master’s purpose, he needs no recognition, for there is no greater joy. This is the perfection of servanthood.
This story foreshadows Jesus Christ, who came not to do His own will but the will of the Father. In following him, we too are called to be faithful servants. Our own interests fade. We commit ourselves, heart and soul, to our master’s wishes and interests.
Faithfulness is not measured by public applause but by steadily doing the will of God. Moses, who was faithful in all God’s house, led Israel through the wilderness for 40 years. The Lord told the parable of faithful servants who multiplied the talents entrusted to them by their master. Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, kept going until the will of God was completely accomplished.
As his chosen people, let us rejoice in being his servants. Let us understand the task he commits to us, big or small. Let us be eager to complete the work. Let us patiently wait for him to confirm his will. Let us always be thankful for his guidance. Let us not waste time in self-indulgence and luxury.
In our workplaces, homes, and communities, we are called to serve God in all that is entrusted to us. Whether as spouses, parents, sons and daughters, colleagues, neighbors, or employees, let us fulfil God’s work with all that we have. Let all be done with love for God seasoning it. Let it be to his glory, for he sees and abundantly rewards his faithful servants. And let us fade out once our task is done, satisfied that we have pointed others to Him.
May he commend us at last: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.”
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