Service and Worship: Genesis 24:22-28
When God does answer our prayer, our job is to worship Him. He knows His plan for us. He knows the future and the past. He knows what our needs require. Because of this, He deserves our praise.
Rebekah should receive some credit. When she gives water to the camels of Abraham’s steward, it was no light task. Depending on the length of the journey, the season, and their individual health status, camels can drink dozens of gallons of water per animal. It is probably a significant underestimate to think Rebekah pulled a hundred gallons of water out of the well for the steward’s ten camels. If they were really thirsty, she could have potentially pulled three or four hundred gallons of water out of the well with her random act of kindness.
This gives significant context for the steward’s prayer. He knew the task would not be easy. Someone who only wanted to satisfy the cultural obligation of hospitality would have offered a drink to the steward but not necessarily for his camels. Hoisting that many gallons of water out of a well shows willingness to serve sacrificially.
Willingness to serve to the point of personal sacrifice is a trait God desires. Sacrificial service makes marriages strong. It helps children grow up to be good citizens and make strong communities. Our ability to put our desires aside for the sake of someone else’s benefit is an important part of following God. This is the very trait Jesus displays on the cross when He embraces our sin and dies for our sake.
Can there be any wonder Abraham’s steward worships God? The steward prayed and God answered his prayer. In this moment he knows the journey was not without cause and God is with him. His worshipful response upon finding the girl is worthy of notice. The steward need not worry, God’s hand has moved.
It feels like the steward’s prayer was answered quickly. Before the steward even finished praying, Rebekah was on her way! Keep in mind, though, the journey from Canaan to Mesopotamia would have taken a great while. The steward had plenty of time to worry about his ability to complete the task. He had plenty of time to fear how long the process would take.
We’re often in the same boat. Sometimes God answers prayers immediately, which it seems is the case here if we forget the greater context. Sometimes God answers prayer after we’ve journeyed and wrestled with the problem for a while, which is the case here. Quite often the most important events in our life, the ones that require the most amount of prayer, require some journeying before we are ready for God to answer. But when the answer comes, it is always reason to praise God.
God does answer prayer. He cares about those who follow Him. His answers are timely, but not always according to our timeframe. When God does answer our prayer, our job is to worship Him.
