Scripture Daily

Context No. 4163 of 4322 · Genesis

Context · Reflection

Genesis 24:6-14: in context

6Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again. 7The LORD, the God of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your offspring—he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.” 9The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. 10The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. 12He said, “LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

Abraham sends his trusted servant on a weighty mission, to find a wife for Isaac. And when the servant arrives at the well of the city, the first thing he does is pray. O LORD, God of my master Abraham, he prays, please grant me success today, and show steadfast love to my master. He asks God to guide him to the right woman, and he proposes a specific sign to know her.

There is a beautiful example here of dependence on God in an important undertaking. The servant did not simply rely on his own judgment or trust to chance; he brought the matter to God in prayer, asking for guidance and for God's kindness toward his master. And his prayer was specific and expectant; he asked for a clear sign and trusted God to answer. When we face important decisions or undertakings, the wise first step is prayer, bringing the matter to God, asking for his guidance, and trusting him to direct us. The servant prayed at the well before he acted, and God answered even before he had finished praying.

When I face an important decision or undertaking, do I make prayer my first step, bringing the matter to God and asking for his guidance as the servant did, rather than relying only on my own judgment?

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