Genesis 24:34-49

³⁴ So he said, “I am a servant of Abraham.

³⁵ The LORD has richly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, camels and donkeys.

³⁶ And Sarah my master’s wife had given birth to a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has invested all that he has.

³⁷ My master made me swear, saying, ‘You will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I am living,

³⁸ but you shall go to my father’s family and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’

³⁹ I said to my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’

⁴⁰ But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make what you do succeed. You will take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s family.

⁴¹ When you come to my clan, then you will be free from my oath. So if they will not give her to you, you will still be free from my oath.’

⁴² “I came today to the spring and prayed, ‘O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are making what I do succeed,

⁴³ see, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,”

⁴⁴ and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the LORD has selected for my master’s son.’

⁴⁵ “Before I had finished praying in my heart, see, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’

⁴⁶ She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give water for your camels to drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels water to drink also.

⁴⁷ Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms.

⁴⁸ Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter from my master’s kin for his son.

⁴⁹ Now then, if you are going to show faithfulness and trustworthiness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”

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Messengers of another destiny

The servant retells his story to the members of Bethuel’s household. He has experienced God’s faithfulness (grace) and trustworthiness (truth). He praises and worships and blesses God for leading him to this place, to these people. Then he serves the ball into Bethuel’s court. It is now up to these people to decide whether they are going to reciprocate God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness.

If they choose not to honor the event with their agreement, the servant will go on to the right of left, and God’s blessing with him. The LORD is constantly sending his angels and his other messengers (us) to interfere in the lives of unbelievers in just this way. This is one of the ways he provides a witness for himself. His faithfulness to all by providing rain and harvest is also a constant witness of his existence.[1]

Messengers of another destiny give the unreached an option. They can either take the circumstances they find themselves in as a sign from the LORD, or just choose to keep ignoring him. If they turn their back on God, they turn their back on a destiny wrapped up in him. This was the choice Bethuel’s household had to make that day. They had to decide whether they would be part of Abraham’s story, or not.

Thank you, LORD, for sending us as your messengers to those who need you in their lives. Give us the courage to go, and tell them about their chance to be part of your eternal life.

[1] Acts 14:17.