006. A Prayer Of Abraham’s Servant.
A Prayer Of Abraham’s Servant. The Prayer as recorded.—Genesis 24:11-14. The Answer.—Genesis 24:15-17; Genesis 24:61; Genesis 24:67. Not only was Abraham himself a man of prayer, but his family and those of his household seem to have breathed his spirit. Isaac his son is mentioned as one who loved to meditate, and we find him at the evening hour communing with God; “mistrusting self, he leaned on heaven.” Sarah, the beloved wife of Abraham, slept in death; grief rested heavily on the heart of Isaac, for his mother was one whom he had loved and cherished.
He appealed to his father Abraham for direction and advice, in a matter involving his temporal happiness, and, no doubt, sought the Lord to guide the servant whom Abraham sent to the fair Rebekah. In the choice of a wife for his son, Abraham is not influenced by worldly considerations; he would choose for him a virtuous and religious companion—with whom he could go down the vale of life, with one prayer, one God, and one heart. The servant whom he sends to meet the chosen one is a man fearing the Lord, and in all his ways acknowledging him. While on his journey he prays. Affectionate to his master, faithful to his trust, with the blessing of God he is ready for duty; and so should it be ever with us—let us do nothing in our own strength; as long as—
“Evil walks the world unsleeping, Evil sleeps within the soul,” we need the protection of our heavenly Father; prayer must nerve us for duty, prayer must teach us to be faithful. Scarcely is the petition made when the servant beholds its answer, in the form of Rebekah at the well. In the whole of this scene we see the guiding hand of God. There is no want of modesty in Rebekah—a trait so essential to perfect female character—but all the simplicity of nature. God, in answer to prayer, prepared the hearts of Isaac and Rebekah to realize, when they meet, that union of soul, of which the cold, calculating world knows nothing—a union which only heaven and nature teaches, and God will hallow—
“Making hearts, like double stars, One in their bright effect.”
It is not well or man to walk through life alone; Isaac felt the want of gentle companionship—felt the want of his mother’s love. “That wild flower, the soul, with its tendrils the affections,” needs the training of the planter, and while they twine round the frail supports of earth, must also twine upward; and, would we make them ready for a purer soil we must bring them where the air of heaven will fan and the dew of prayer moisten.