Scripture Daily

Context No. 3335 of 4322 · Genesis

Context · Reflection

Genesis 24:15-20: in context

15Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder. 16The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up. 17The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.” 18She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink. 19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking.” 20She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.

Abraham's servant had prayed for a sign: let the woman who offers to water my camels be the one you have chosen. And before he even finishes praying, Rebekah comes to the well. Asked for a sip of water, she not only gives it gladly, drink, my lord, but volunteers to draw for all his camels too, hurrying back and forth to the well until they have finished.

She does this without knowing she is being watched or tested. And watering ten thirsty camels was a heavy, thankless task, many trips with a heavy jar. Her kindness overflows the request; she does far more than the minimum for a stranger who had no claim on her. What marked her out as God's choice showed itself not in a grand moment but in ordinary, wholehearted helpfulness. God often reveals a person's character in just this way, in how generously they respond when someone asks a small thing of them.

When asked for a little, do I give generously and go beyond the minimum, as Rebekah did, revealing a heart of ready kindness even to strangers?

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