Have you ever experienced a fast answer to prayer? How was your reaction? In our previous posts we saw Sarah whose desire to have a child lingered for years even though God had promised her a child. The child was born at God’s appointed time. The delay was not a pleasant experience and Sarah became impatient in waiting. Until you find yourself in a difficult situation, you might be the first to accuse Sarah of impatience. But if you go through a similar situation and stay till the end, then you are a real warrior. Isaac was old enough to marry but Abraham didn’t want his son to marry among the Canaanites. He told Eliezer, his senior servant, “I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.” (Genesis 24:3-4). How is that possible? Eliezer had lived with Abraham and understood that God’s hand is with his master. He had learned from experience that his master Abraham had a special covenant with God. Eliezer had encountered how God miraculously blessed his master with Isaac. With this knowledge, even though the current task looked daunting, Eliezer was certain that the God of his master would give him victory. Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. (Genesis 24:15) As Eliezer and his entourage got to the city of Nahor he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” (Genesis 24:12-14). Eliezer’s faith was based on what he had experienced through Abraham. “Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” “Drink, my Lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” (Genesis 24:15-19). Indeed Eliezer received rocket speed response to his prayers. Rebekah was no ordinary woman. She was very beautiful, a virgin and a hard working young woman. A typical camel can drink at least 20 gallons of water at a time. Eliezer and his entourage had 10 camels and Rebekah gave them water until they had had enough. In simple mathematics, Rebekah might have fetched water worth about 200 gallons for the camels. Fetching the water from the well to the feeding troughs for the camels to drink was a whole work. Rebekah gladly did it without complaining. In fact, she volunteered her services willingly. Rebekah was not just beautiful, but she was strong, determined and willing to go the extra mile. If Isaac needed a wife, certainly Rebekah is the perfect match. Eliezer was stunned and “without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful. When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.” And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night.” (Genesis 24:21-25). Eliezer must have been super excited. God led him to the right person. Rebekah was homely, she informed Eliezer that we have straw and fodder for your camels and a place for you to sleep. Her kindness, goodness and determination to help was outstanding. Rebekah was an answer to a prayer and she demonstrated her readiness with her character. God wants the best for His children. If you want God to bless you with His very best, be ready like Rebekah to go the extra mile in service. The answer to your prayers might be your willingness to go the extra mile.
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