Waiting and Letting Him Take the Lead

“And the man, wondering at her [Rebekah], remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.” ~ Genesis 24:21, NKJV

Abraham sent his oldest servant to his former country in order to find a bride for his son Isaac. As one reads Genesis 24, one can't help but be impressed by the quality of this servant, and by his obvious faith and love for the God of his master Abraham. When he arrived in Abraham's old country (by the city wells, about the time when the women of the city came out to draw water), he prayed for the Lord to direct him to the woman He had chosen for Isaac: “Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” (vs. 14) The servant had hardly finished speaking when Rebekah came to the well. She gave the servant a drink and volunteered to water all ten his camels - no quick or easy undertaking. Verse 21 records that as Rebekah worked, the servant watched her silently. He was waiting to see whether or not she would finish the task and thereby demonstrate that she was the one whom God had chosen.

God wills to prosper all His children, always. He prospered Abraham, He prospered Isaac, and He prospered this faithful servant on his mission to find a bride for his master's son. I love how the servant responded to the Lord in verse 21. He didn't leap to inject himself into the situation as soon as Rebekah spoke; he didn't immediately begin to question her or decide she was the right choice; he waited. Even better, he waited silently. He let the Lord show him what to do before he did anything. It's so easy for us to leap ahead of the Lord, seeking to take control of the situation ourselves rather than wait (quietly!) for the Lord's guidance. Abraham's faithful servant, who was also a faithful servant of God, is an example to all God's children. He is willing to prosper us. But we are best prospered when we are willing to wait and let Him take the lead.

--by Rebecca