Be Gracious

“Therefore the Lord will wait, that he may be gracious to you…”

Isaiah 30:18 (NKJV) 

I’m often amazed whenever I take the time to consider the beautiful, freely offered, energetic service given by Rebekah to the servant of Abraham in Genesis the 24th chapter.  I think it serves as a special example to us all, young and old, male and female. 

We read that the chief servant of Abraham was sent on a quest to the city of Nahor to find a bride for Abraham’s son, Isaac.  In verse 12 he prays for a sign from God by which me would recognise the young lady who had been chosen for Isaac.  Before he had finished praying, Rebekah arrived at the well and began to fill her pitcher.  The servant asked her for “A little water from your pitcher.”  Let’s notice her reply and think about the generous heart that prompted such a response.  “Certainly Sir,” she said, and quickly lowered her jug for him to drink.  Then she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have enough.”  So she emptied the jug into the watering trough and drew more water from the well until the camels had enough. 

In other words, she did more than she was expected to do.  None of us has any idea just how much work it is to draw water manually from a well, nor just how much one thirsty camel will drink before it’s full–apparently as much as 30 gallons!  This gracious young lady watered ten camels until they finished drinking. 

Let’s not miss an opportunity to be gracious…we never know whose camels we are watering! 

Prayer

Gracious Father, grant us the same spirit of graciousness that Rebekah had, that we may go above and beyond what is expected of us in our service to others.

Amen 

Study by Cliff Neill