Genesis 24:1-28
And he said, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. (Genesis 24:12) NASB
After Abraham buried the wife of his youth, Sarah, his mind turned to his son’s welfare. Abraham was advanced in age and wanted to ensure that his son inherited all that God had promised. He knew Isaac had to remain in the promised land but not be drawn away from God by the pagans among whom they lived. That meant Isaac should not marry a Canaanite nor return to the land of their relatives. So, to ensure that didn’t’ happen, Abraham gave his oldest servant, who was in charge of all he owned, specific instruction to go to his country and bring back a wife for Isaac from among his relatives.
What an honor it must have been for this servant to be entrusted with the future of Abraham’s legacy, the long-awaited fulfillment of God’s promises. And this trust was not misplaced. The prayer in verse 12 reveals something that Abraham must have known about this servant; his heart was to serve, honor, and do the will of his master. I believe the Easy to Read version of this verse captures the servant’s true heart: The servant said, “Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Please show your kindness to my master by helping me find a wife for his son Isaac.
For the important task ahead, the servant prays to God, who has shown Himself strong for Abraham all these years, asking for success but not for himself. He prays for his efforts to succeed so that his aging master’s desire to protect and provide for his son would be fulfilled. He prevailed upon God to show lovingkindness to Abraham, not himself.
I am captivated by the heart of this servant! He demonstrates for us what it looks like to obey from a heart of love. This journey was not easy, nor was it quick. But, he goes with one prayer in his heart: that he would succeed for his master’s sake. He has nothing to gain personally. He already has everything the master owns at his disposal, but this is a labor of love. This is servant love, selfless love.
To me, this is what a servant lover-of-God looks like when they are freely obeying out of love. They long to return God’s love in any way possible. They are secure in their relationship with Him. They have above and beyond what they could ever ask for, so they don’t operate from a place of lack. They are free to share the heart of the Father for others. Out of this place of love, service isn’t just obedience; it is an act of love that flows straight from a heart that is eager for any opportunity to express its love.
I want to be this kind of servant, lover of God, and the good, great, fantastic, tremendous news is ALL THAT IS TRUE OF ME and YOU because we are in Christ! We already have access to all the Father is and has and can love Him and others freely, extravagantly, without limits! We can love as God loves. We were created for this; to be loved and to love. This truth reaches deep into my spirit and makes me feel like my true self!
Selah, think about, ponder, meditate on this.