Upon the request of Abraham’s servant to be sent back to his master, along with Rebekah, the bride-to-be of Abraham’s servant, Rebekah’s brother Laban and mother request that she stay with them for a at least ten days before they send her with him. To this the servant requested them not to hinder him, for he yearned to return to his master at the prosperity of the mission that the Lord had brought about.
Points to ponder:
One can understand Rebekah’s brother’s and mother’s familial longing to stay a little longer with her and so their request to have her stay for at least ten days with them is well founded and justifiable. However, one also ought to recognize and realize that our personal interests to hold back ones we love, which can impede and hinder God’s mission, should not be the case. We need to put our familial relationship secondary to God’s purpose. Most full time missionaries, who are forced to stay away from their families, on account of fulfilling God, the Master’s, mission, understand this, but do others who are not serving full time as missionaries also understand this? We must never hinder God’s mission.
Genesis 24:55-56 (KJV)
55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
