# 222 An Attitude of Gratitude

The Book of Genesis

Day 222

Ge 24:28 So the young woman ran and told her mother's household these things.

29 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well.

30 So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, "Thus the man spoke to me," that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well.

31 And he said, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels."

32 Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told about my errand." And he said, "Speak on."

34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.

35 "The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

A couple of things to note here. Rebekah runs to her MOTHER’S house, no mention of her father, only her brother Laban, which would indicate that her father , (though alive) was in the process of handing his duties and responsibilities over to his son Laban. Laban was now in charge of the household.

The first thing Laban notices, is all the new jewelry being worn by Rebekah. This could only mean one thing, someone was interested in Rebekah as a bride! And this someone was kinfolk! So Laban rolls out the hospitality mat and does some of the same things his great uncle Abraham would do. He unloads the camels, provides bedding and straw for them. He provides water for the weary travelers to wash their feet, and then sets food before them.

But the servant refuses to eat until he tells the whole story of his mission. Please note how he begins!

He speaks of the material blessings of Abraham but uses phrases like, “The Lord has blessed,” and He has given.” Immediately we see that this servant has biblical world view that starts with acknowledging God as the source of all blessing! He knew that , “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness.”

In the 104^th Psalm we read more of this “biblical world view”as the Psalmist proclaims, “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions, these all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season. What You give them, they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good. You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created.”

Passages like these remind us of our absolute dependence upon God. And if we find ourselves prospering in any way, we would do well to remember that it is the Lord who blessed us greatly. Never forgetting that the same God who created us is also able to bring about our final breath. So it is this humble, “biblical world view,” that gives us the spirit of thankfulness we ought to have.

This God acknowledging attitude of the servant of Abraham, ought to be the attitude that we as servants of the most High God have as well.