Gen 24:2 Avraham said to the servant who had served him the longest, who was in charge of all he owned.
Note: this does not say the servant that had been with him the longest but the one that served him the longest. Just because you have been saved for 30 years does not make you a trusted servant by default. It is time PLUS service that equates to a trusted servant that can be released on Abba’s missions.
Avraham knew he could trust this servant because he had put in the time AND built the trust.
But even a trusted servant had to take an oath that he would exercise the will of his master. This wasn’t a simple matter. The servant needed to understand the gravity of the situation.
AND it gave the servant the authority to speak boldly to Lavan when they tried to negotiate the terms of the marriage.
The master had set out the terms of the agreement and the servant had no choice but to honor his master’s wishes. And if the other party holds their line, the servant is released from his obligation.
You are not held guilty if someone else prevents you from completing the mission Abba sends you on. The guilt is on the one preventing Abba’s will from going forth.
And sometimes, it is the ones closest to you that prevent you from completing your mission. The selfishness of those around you can hinder Abba’s bigger plan in your life.
It can affect generations after you.
What if Lavan had been belligerent and not let his sister leave. The servant would be released from his obligation but the promise given to Avraham would have taken a much different turn.
Would it be the servant’s fault?
No.
The servant then prays for Abba to show him the person he came to find.
This is where it gets interesting -- his prayer is answered, CLEARLY.
It seems his prayer is answered in fullness but instead of jumping to the end he patiently waits.
Gen 24:21 The man gazed at her in silence, waiting to find out whether Adonai had made his trip successful or not.
There is extreme patience in servanthood.
The servant’s will was not a factor here. Even though his side of the equation was satisfied with identifying the person, he knew there was something that needed to happen within the other person before the fullness of his Abba’s will would come into fruition.
And he did not force his side onto the other but instead let the other party know that Abba’s hand is indeed working on his side:
“Abba completed my side of the equation, and now it is your decision as to whether you are going to complete your side.”
The servant was then treated like royalty once Lavan saw the blessings that were upon the servant. But the servant knew none of it was his. So he was able to keep a clear head and not be manipulated by Lavan:
“Yes, I have all of this stuff, status, power, etc, but none of it is mine.”
The servant spoke truth to help Lavan understand the bigger picture but at the end of the day, it was someone else’s decision.
The servant had all the master had and experienced all of the upsides of having it.
People were serving him as though HE was the master.
But he knew better.
He also knew people would flatter and serve him because of the blessing that was upon him.
But he knew better.
Humility and confidence.
Gen 24:49 “So now if you people intend to show grace and truth to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me, so that I can turn elsewhere.”
The servant knew to walk away if he had to do so. He also knew he would not be held accountable. Despite the “signs” that proved to him he was on the right track.
Ah, the comfort of being a loyal servant!
While the servant works faithfully to handle the horizontal relationships, the son’s job is to handle the vertical relationships.
Recall the 5th commandment: Honor your parents
This is grouped with the vertical relationships because of the lineage that runs top to bottom.
In order for Abba’s plan to be executed in fullness, he commissioned others to work on the son’s behalf. All of the searching, testing, traveling, etc was done FOR him.
We rarely know how our decisions impact someone we hardly know. Lavan’s decisions affected Yitz’chak’s heritage. In fact, Lavan’s selfishness had a much more far-reaching impact than he could even imagine.
He even shows up again in the next generation.
And his selfishness, again, was set to impact all of humanity.
Selfless You
Do you become frustrated with others that have not entered into servanthood?
Do you become frustrated with others that test your mission?
Has Abba answered a prayer for you but another party is not completing their side?
Do people honor you because of the blessing upon you?
Are you willing to walk away from a situation Abba has clearly orchestrated because others fight it or try to manipulate it?
Are others’ selfishness affecting your generational line?
Are other people’s needs and wants they have today worth derailing salvation that could come to you or someone you love?
Selfish You
Is it valid for others to become frustrated with you for not entering into servanthood?
Do you test others that are on missions?
Has Abba answered a prayer for someone else but you are not completing your side?
Do you honor people because of the blessing upon them?
Are people willing to walk away from a situation Abba has clearly orchestrated because you fight it or try to manipulate it?
Is your selfishness affecting others’ generational line?
Are your needs and wants that you have today worth derailing salvation that could come to others?
I am to view others the same way Abba views me.
I am to serve others the same way Abba serves me.