A Precious Gift

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

A PRECIOUS GIFT

Gen 24:39-54

39 "Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not come back with me?' 40 "He replied, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family. 41 Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you — you will be released from my oath.' 42 "When I came to the spring today, I said, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar," 44 and if she says to me, "Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master's son.' 45 "Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' 46 "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also. 47 "I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' "Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son. 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn." 50 Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed." 52 When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD. 53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there.

NIV

Abraham's servant recounts the events at the well, telling Laban it was the LORD's work. He finally asked for a yes-or-no answer so he would know what to do next. Laban agrees that his sister should be Isaac's wife, and Abraham's servant responds by bowing down to the ground before the LORD. How gracious the LORD was to Abraham's servant. Was it because he was the servant of his master? Was the LORD gracious to the servant because he served Abraham, whom the LORD had promised that he would have a son, and his descendants would be as numerous as the stars?  Was the LORD simply gracious to the servant for being faithful to his master? What we know is that the LORD has been gracious before, was gracious at this time, and has been gracious to us. The LORD's faithfulness has never been in question, for he has been and will always be faithful to his word. He has shown his kindness and faithfulness to Abraham's servant, and he has always bowed down before the LORD, being thankful for the hand of the LORD working for the good of his master. We do not serve an earthly master, although if we are employed, we are responsible for serving our employer faithfully and working diligently for his benefit. However, we do serve our heavenly Father, although he is also our master, as he is the Master of the Universe, the Great I AM, who created all that is created, and formed Adam from the dust of the earth, and breathed life into his lungs. Yet, he also formed us within our mother's womb, knowing us before we were ever formed. How could we not respond by bowing down to the ground in complete reverence, with a heart of thankfulness for his wonderful grace, mercy, compassion, love, and faithfulness to us? Because the LORD was gracious to Laban and approved Rebekah as Isaac's wife, the servant gave precious gifts to Rebekah, her brother, and her mother.  However, what precious gift can we give to the one who gave us life? How can we give the LORD any gift that is worthy of the LORD? The only gift we can give is ourselves, to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to our Lord for his grace toward us. We are the only precious gift we can give him.