Think back with me to God’s covenant with Abraham from Genesis 12:1-3

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (ESV)

There are two beautiful elements from this covenant that we see highlighted in today’s reading of Genesis 24. 

The first is God’s command to Abraham to go. Go and don’t look back. Abraham believed and obeyed and it was counted to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). And we see in our reading today that Abraham obeyed so much that he wouldn’t even go back to his father’s country…even to find a wife for his son, Isaac. Instead, he sent his head servant (possibly Eliezer of Damascus, mentioned in Genesis 15…which would have been cool because he would have followed Abraham on this whole journey and seen God’s covenant first-hand and now had the chance to walk in it himself…but more on that in a minute). 

No, instead of going back to his father’s country, Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for his son. And not only that, he gave strict instructions to not take Isaac with him, implying that he wanted to guard Isaac from being tempted in going back as well. 

By this point, Abraham was very old. God had given him some land, the son of the promise, and had blessed him tremendously (he was very wealthy). To the average person, this is the time of the ‘retire and take it easy’ mentality. A time to focus on self. This is also the time to let the guard down, follow your own plans and pack in your faithfulness. 

(I don’t mean to sound negative…I’ve just been in ministry a long time and watched so many men and women of God that I respect trade in their faithfulness for self-gratification, claiming they earned it. I’ve watched many fall to affairs, seen saints stop growing in their faith, or shift their worship to worldly things like people/politics/pleasures.)

But Abraham does not let his guard down. And we get a glimpse into his 137 year old mindset from Hebrews 11:8-10,15-16

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God…15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (ESV)

Abraham did not look back. He was looking forward to the city whose builder was God. He desired a better country. 

May we learn from Father Abraham to keep our eyes on that city, and not look back. Not even for ‘good reasons’ like he had in finding a wife for his son. 

The second element that we see from the covenant in Genesis 24 is blessing on those who bless Abraham – Particularly with Abraham’s servant (maybe Eliezer). 

Abraham assures the servant that God would go before him on this quest (by sending an angel). Perhaps the servant had a relationship with Abraham’s God prior to this account, but it doesn’t seem likely. Up to this point, the servant knew about the covenant (because he had been circumcised along with every other male), but it doesn’t seem as if he had a personal relationship with God. He had been living in the benefits of his master’s faith. 

And so many do that today. Living Christianity-adjacent. Experiencing the rewards of being near the church of Jesus, yet never truly believing and following themselves (Hebrews 6:4-6). Maybe they grew up in church – being brought by parents or grandparents. They experienced the goodness of God in and through others, but never for themselves through a personal relationship with God. 

But Abraham’s servant, we see, takes a step in the direction of relationship. On the journey, as he is sitting next to the well (I’m sure feeling the weight of the task before him), he prays to the Lord.

12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” 

Genesis 24:12-14 (ESV)

The servant prays, possibly for the first time to the God of his master ON BEHALF of his master. He is praying the covenant (wanting Abraham to be blessed). A simple prayer of faith that ends like most simple prayers of faith, by asking for a sign. “By this I shall know…”

God answers these kinds of prayers. Prayers offered by those seeking truth. Prayers offered by those who want to know that God truly is who He says He is. God gives signs. Not for every prayer, but for prayers offered in simple faith like this. 

And when God answer this prayer…the servant responded in genuine worship! 

26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord 27 and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” Genesis 24:26-27 (ESV)

The servant worship the Lord. He responded for himself. 

The servant experienced God’s Covenant with Abraham for himself!  As he sought to bless his master, God blessed the servant. Not with riches, but with RELATIONSHIP with God. 

And this was at the heart of God’s Covenant with Abraham. That through this special relationship God had with him, others may see it and enter into relationship with the LORD themselves. 

13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)

Questions For Reflection:

1. Are there things from your life before Christ that tempt you to lay down your faithfulness to the LORD? Are there people/politics/pleasures that have you ‘looking back’? If so, confess them before the LORD and ask him to fix your eyes upon Jesus.
2. Have you been walking ‘near’ a relationship with God?  Experiencing the benefits of someone else’s faith but not having a personal relationship with Jesus? What is keeping you from surrendering your life to him today? Just like Abraham’s servant, you can pray a simple prayer of faith today.