007. Eliezer’s Prayer At Haran.
Eliezer’s Prayer At Haran.
Abraham had now reached the 140th year of his age. Admonished by infirmities, which were yearly increasing, as well as by the departure of his beloved wife, that his own death could not be far distant, like a wise and prudent father, and according to the custom of the times, he turns his attention to the establishment of Isaac in a family state. It would doubtless have been easy for him to have entered into some advantageous worldly alliance, and taken the daughter of some distinguished prince, or chief of the land, in which he sojourned. But, while he had no objection to exchange with them the common civilities of life, he was aware of the hazard of asking of any one of them a daughter in marriage for his son. He could not be ignorant of the grand design of God, in calling him into the land of Canaan—the ultimate overthrow of idolatry, of which that land, and indeed the whole world, was full, and the establishment of his true worship on earth.
He would feel it to be a duty, therefore, “to erect the strongest possible safeguard around the pure faith of his seed;” and to this he was still more strongly urged, by knowing that the inhabitants of Canaan were, on account of their great wickedness, devoted to destruction. He saw them filling up the measure of their iniquities, and he feared lest his beloved Isaac, and his descendants, becoming partakers of their evil deeds, should share in their punishment. The measure proposed of sending for a wife for Isaac into Mesopotamia, where Nahor, Abraham’s brother, and his family were living, was, therefore, every way worthy of one upon whom the security of such important interests devolved. Vestiges of idolatry, indeed, lingered among them, but it was far less prevalent than among the families of Canaan.
Having thus settled one important point, the kindred from among whom a wife for his son should be selected, the patriarch proceeds to the consideration of another, scarcely less important—the person, whom he should send on this delicate but interesting embassy. Fortunately, in his own family he had one who feared the Lord, and whom, therefore, he could trust. This was his eldest servant, or steward, probably Eliezer, who is mentioned Genesis 15:2. To him he confides this important undertaking, takes from him a solemn oath to insure his fidelity, expresses his firm and unshaken confidence in the prosperous issue of the expedition, as in the measures he was adopting, and in the end he proposed, he had in view the honor of God, and the fulfillment of his promises.
Having received his commission, Eliezer departs on his journey with suitable presents, and probably with a suitable retinue. At length, he reaches the city where Nahor resided. The evening was just setting in. It providentially happened that he was near a well of water. It was about the time, when, according to the custom of those eastern countries, and with which he was doubtless acquainted, the women would come out to draw water. Taking advantage of this prospect, and well aware of the importance of God’s good guidance, he devoutly prays for success upon the mission confided to him.
“This prayer,” says Mr. Bush, “is remarkable:—
1. “For the faith in which it is offered.
“He speaks all along under a full persuasion, that the providence of God extended to the minutest events, and that there was no presumption in appealing to him on the present occasion. His words are full of confidence that God would direct him in a matter of so much importance to his church in all future ages.
2. “For the correct views of the character of Jehovah which he expresses.
“He addresses him as the covenant God of Abraham, who had given him exceeding great and precious promises. In approaching him in this character, he would occupy the best possible vantage ground for urging his request, as any promise made to Abraham would furnish a plea, which could scarcely fail to be effectual.
3. “For the sign, which he presumed to ask.
“A better he could not well have desired; for such an offer, freely made to a stranger, would indicate a most amiable disposition. It would demonstrate at once the humility, the industry, the courtesy, the extreme kindness of the female, and would be a pledge that she possessed all the qualifications, which he deemed most desirable in a companion worthy of his master’s son. She who could be thus complaisant and obliging to a stranger, would certainly conduct herself well in the relation of a wife. It is a natural inquiry, whether the servant did right in thus fixing in his own mind upon a sign, and apparently prescribing it to God as a test of the selection about to be made. In reply, we may observe: (1.) That the event seems clearly to prove that the proceeding received the divine approbation, if it were not in fact of divine suggestion. (2.) Let the circumstances of the case be considered: It does not appear that any particular individual or particular family had been designated by Abraham, to whom his servant was to apply. All was uncertainty in this respect; and yet a choice was to be made without any great delay, which might have been attended with special inconveniences on all sides. The exigency, therefore, was peculiar, and the servant seems to have determined to do what common prudence would have dictated to any sensible man, under similar circumstances. Being an entire stranger to all the people of the city, he resolved to take his stand at the public watering-place, and judge as well as he could, from the deportment of the young women, which of them promised fairest to possess the requisite endowments of person, temper, and manners. All this, as far as we can see, was both proper and politic under the circumstances; and being an habitually pious man, when once he had fixed upon a definite course of action, he looks up to God and implores his blessing upon it. This was all. But his conduct, except in imploring the divine blessing upon whatever he undertook, is evidently no rule for us in the ordinary transactions of life.” A prayer offered, with such a reliance upon the divine faithfulness, was sure to be answered That answer was direct and immediate. The damsel came forth, whom the steward would have chosen before all others. He enters into conversation with her. This leads to an invitation to her father’s house, where Eliezer states the object of his visit, and relates the various circumstances, which had brought him acquainted with the family, whose hospitality he was enjoying, The hand of the Lord was acknowledged in the whole transaction, and the question is referred to Rebekah, whether she will return with Eliezer, and become the wife of Isaac. “Wilt thou go with this man?” was the simple question propounded; and the direct and artless reply of Rebekah does her the highest honor, “I will go.” On learning the. success of his negotiation, Eliezer, prompted by a sense of the kindness of God, pours forth his heart in expressions of gratitude. Shortly afterwards, he takes his departure with Rebekah in charge, the latter having received the blessing of all whom she left behind. The journey home was prosperous. Isaac meets his bride, while walking out to meditate at even tide, and Eliezer introduces him to her. He conducts her to his mother’s tent; she becomes his wife, and, it is added, “he loved her,” a declaration which cannot, in truth, be made of all men in respect to their wives, but which we should expect would be true of one in whom, and for whose welfare, God had so kindly and signally interested himself.