#221 Thanks Deferred Often Becomes Thanks Never Offered

The Book of Genesis

Day 221

Ge 24:16 Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher." 18 So she said, "Drink, my lord." Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. 19 And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking." 20 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21 And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. 22 So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, 23 and said, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?" 24 So she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah's son, whom she bore to Nahor." 25 Moreover she said to him, "We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge." 26 Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD. 27 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren."

Before the servant can even finish praying, the Holy Spirit is presenting the answer to the servant!. Note the reaction of the servant. He RAN to meet her and then throws out his part of the fleece to see what she would do. He asks for a drink of water and she replies almost word for word according to his prayer and then offers to water his camels!

Note too, Rebekah’s willingness to do this. She quickly emptied her pitcher in the trough and RAN to start the first of many trips to fill the trough and the camels! This response of Rebekah’s caused wonderment in the servant…..he was literally stunned by it all! She had passed the first test in flying colors, will she pass the others? Is she the one that will “make his journey prosperous?”

The servant then gives Rebekah a nose ring and two bracelets of gold. This should tell Rebekah that this guy is well off, and that he is after a little more than water for his camels! Then he digs a little deeper. “Whose daughter are you?” Her answer is a “home run!” She is the the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor, the kinfolk his master had requested! She invites him to her father’s house, and upon hearing the news, the servant is so awestruck, that he immediately slips into thankful worship and prayer! Overcome by the turn of events and his answered prayer, he gives glory and honor to his God, the God of mercy and truth!

I wonder if we are as quick to give glory and honor to God for His mercy and truth and answered prayers in our own lives? Thanksgiving is a vital part of worshiping in spirit and in truth. Let us learn from Abraham’s servant today.

Has the Lord blessed you recently with answered prayer. Have you thanked Him? Thanks deferred often becomes thanks never offered, and that my friend can lead to the greatest enemy of faith…..pride.