Genesis 24: 42-43 “…I came… unto the well… I stand by the well…”
This chapter of Genesis relates the story of Abraham’s efforts to find a bride for his beloved son Isaac. His own wife Sarah had died and conscious of his own mortality he is trying to do everything he can to steer his son on the right course before his departure. Isaac would inherit the lands and herds but the most important things in life are the relationships. This chapter is full of relationships, parent and child, master and servant, uncle and niece and nephew, siblings, spouses, nurse, grandparents, in laws, etc. The most important relationship is that between God and His people. The Lord blessed, provided guidance and witnessed an oath. The people on the other hand prayed, worshiped, and testified of Divine favor and leading.
What can one expect as a result of a Right Relationship With God?
1. A right relationship with others. The servant, was Loyal to Abraham. He entered and oath with Abraham to complete his mission and fulfilled that oath (v9). Rudy Giuliani the former mayor of New York City wrote, “Loyalty is the vital virtue.” He was writing about leadership and those who were part of his team after they helped rally the city’s morale following the September eleventh attacks on the Twin Towers . If loyalty is missing, relationships are shallow indeed! One wonders if loyalty is even considered a virtue by today’s society.
The convenient thing is usually embraced and that without justification or excuse! Sadly, the expected thing to do is, “watch out for number one.” From Abraham’s servant comes the lesson that a completed mission requires loyalty to the relationship. From Mayor Giuliani comes the lesson that preventing chaos and the revival of a City in the grip of fear requires virtue. The writers of the Declaration of Independence finished with, “…with a firm reliance on…Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.” Marriages, cities, nations, churches, civilizations are built on relationship and relationships require loyalty.
2. God will answer prayer. When Abraham’s servant first arrived in Mesopotamia he prayed a specific prayer for the girl God had chosen to be Isaac’s wife. According to the Biblical record, Rebekah was revealed before he finished his prayer! (v15) It is difficult to be anything but optimistic when one lives day to day and moment to moment expecting the answer to be revealed!
3. Divine Favor. The servant asked for a drink of water (v17) but Rebekah did not stop drawing water until he and all his camels had quenched their thirst! (v20) Later the entire caravan was accommodated at her father’s home where they were received with considerable hospitality and all their needs met. The Bible writer has painted a masterful picture of Favor with this story. The servant is a stranger in a strange land, asking only for a drink and an over abundance is provided!
4. Divine Assistance. The servant testified to Rebekah’s family that before he left his homeland he had received a promise. “God …will send his angel with thee and prosper thy way…”(v40) If you are in right relationship with God there is HELP available! His Angels Go before us and camp around us!
5. Supernatural Refreshment. “ …I came… unto the well…I stand by the well…” What could be more refreshing, more welcome after a journey such as his, than a well? Are you weary? There is a place of Refreshment! The Hebrew word for well is “Ayin.” (Strong’s #5869) The Gesenius Lexicon defines it as, “an eye…a face…a fountain.” The servant said “I came to the well, I stand by the well.” He is telling us there is an all seeing eye that observes our journey and the progress of our mission. He is telling us there is a reassuring face into which we can gaze when the dangers and the difficulties of the journey threaten to push or drag us off course! He is telling us there is a fountain at which we can quench the thirsting of our souls when we are weary, withered and perishing!
“I came” (Strong’s # 935) means exactly that, “to come.”
“I stand” (Strong’s # 5324) means “…to station …”
Make your approach! Take your stand! By the Well!
This is the only place in the universe these wonderful things are available! You can “stand” by many things the world views as a source, but there is only one place where you can stand that will result in right relationships with those around you, where the answer to prayer is revealed, Divine favor is found, Divine assistance is provided and supernatural refreshment is offered, that is BY THE WELL! Jesus said, “…the water that I shall give … shall be … a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)