As the eldest servant of Abraham, who had sworn to Abraham to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac, solely from Abraham’s people (kindred), went about his mission to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor, he sought clear cut signs of how to identify the woman who was to marry Isaac. However, before anything else, the very first thing he does is he “prayed”. He prayed that the LORD God of his master Abraham, would grant him success that very day and show kindness to his master Abraham. In other words, he did not only pray for himself, but he prayed for his master (the one in authority) as all. We later learn from this account that God answered the prayer and gave him success, which accentuates a couple of facts:
1. The source of success is not the servant’s (our) hard work or effort, but it is the LORD God (Genesis 9:12).
2. Submission to God’s ways to show us the result/outcome is a precursor to guaranteed success.
3. In addition to total submission to God, supplication (prayer) comes before success (And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee – Genesis 9:12).
4. When we pray, we ought to pray not only for our personal success (send me good speed this day, O LORD God), but also we ought to pray for those whom we serve, including our rulers and those God has ordained over us (show kindness unto my master) (Genesis 9:12, 14).
Points to ponder:
Do you and I recognize that the success of our missions that God has purposed for our lives comes from the LORD God himself, and is not a product of our hard work or effort?
Do you and I submit totally to God, the mission we are tasked with?
Do you and I seek the LORD God in prayer to send us success?
Do you and I seek the LORD God in prayer to show kindness to the people we serve, including our leaders?
Genesis 24:9-14 (KJV)
9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
12 And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
