Getting Answers

Although Eliezer was not aware of the scope of this, Isaac’s wife would be part of the bloodline of the blessing promised to Abraham, namely the Messiah.

“Good Enough” wasn’t good enough

Don’t settle for what you can produce to solve a problem.

There are much greater resources at our disposal.

Every issue worth worrying over is worth praying over

Before you spend time coming up with your preference in a problem, spend more time praying for God’s solution to the problem.

Eliezer’s Prayer

Where did Eliezer learn to pray?

In verse 12, the first thing Eliezer did upon arriving at the City of Nahor was to pray!

This is the first recorded prayer, as we know prayer.

Eliezer learned to pray from Abraham.

This is an important lesson for all parents and guardians: your children will learn to trust the Lord by observing you trusting the Lord.

They will follow your example more readily than they will heed your words.

Prayer wasn’t a last resort but a first step of obedience.

Prayer is work and it is one of the tasks that we must complete in order to fulfill God’s purposes in our lives.

Eliezer’s Proposition

Eliezer knew that he was utterly dependent upon God to reveal His will.

Eliezer asked God for a sign.

This was different from what many people today call “putting out a fleece”.

Eliezer was not asking for a supernatural event, but a clear indication that what he was seeking was consistent with God’s will.

Genesis 24:13–14 NASB95

“Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; now may it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar so that I may drink,’ and who answers, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels also’—may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.”

Eliezer wasn’t focused on outward beauty or a striking figure…he was seeking character.

Eliezer was asking that God show him that the woman he had chosen for Isaac was a woman of grace, humility and generosity.

This makes sense when you understand how God designed the camel.

The camel is one of the most amazing of all God’s creatures. A thirsty camel can drink up to twenty-seven gallons of water in as little as ten minutes. You might think I’m making this up, that no creature could possibly drink that much water in such a short amount of time. Most land animals, including human beings, would die of overhydration if they tried to consume a huge amount of water at one time. But the camel has a unique ability to store water, not in its hump, as many people mistakenly think, but in its bloodstream. The camel has oval-shaped red blood cells that are oriented in the direction of the blood flow. They can pass through even the smallest blood vessels when the camel is dehydrated and its blood becomes viscous and syrupy. When the camel can drink its fill, those blood cells expand to almost two and a half times their original volume so they can store extra water for weeks at a time.

Youssef, Michael. Life-Changing Prayers: How God Displays His Power to Ordinary People (p. 34). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Youssef, Michael. Life-Changing Prayers: How God Displays His Power to Ordinary People (pp. 33-34). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

God’s Provision

Rebekah’s generosity and character was shown in her willingness to serve not only the stranger Eliezer but also his camels.

10 camels X ____ gallons of water = A LOT OF WORK!

tells us plainly that Rebekah was beautiful, virtuous (a virgin), generous (she offered Eliezer a drink), and not afraid of hard work (she provided water to Eliezer’s ten camels).

Youssef, Michael. Life-Changing Prayers: How God Displays His Power to Ordinary People (p. 35). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

God is at work waiting for us to join Him.

Faithful Heart + Unconditional Obedience = Answered Prayer

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