Readings: Psalm 126, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8, Genesis 24:1-67
Preached at Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, NY, on April 3, 2022
In previous services we took a look at two Old Testament characters, Abraham and Lot. Today, we take a look at a third, lesser-known character called Eliezer, who was Abraham's senior servant and commissioned by Abraham to carry out the important task of finding Abraham's beloved son, Isaac, a wife.
Eliezer first appears back in Genesis 15. It appears that if Isaac had not been born, Eliezer would have inherited Abraham's wealth for himself. He was something more than just a servant, he was virtually family. Abraham is getting older. Before he dies, he wants to ensure that Isaac has a wife from amongst his own people. He implicitly trusts Eliezer to carry out his wishes.
The whole story takes up 67 verses of Genesis 24, and there wasn't time in our service to read the whole account. But here is the headlines! Eliezer prays. God leads him to a spring. A beautiful young woman comes to the well. Eliezer has prayed that if she is the one then she will offer both himself and his camels’ water to drink. That's exactly what happens, and negotiations take place with her parents (who turn out to be amongst Abraham's wider family) to ensure she can be taken as a wife for Isaac. Mission accomplished.
What marks out Eliezer as person of God is that he exemplifies faithful stewardship. As Christian people, called to be faithful servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can learn from the life of Eliezer what faithful stewardship involves.
1. Trustworthy
This is obviously a very personal matter. Eliezer is taken into his master’s confidence and entrusted with his affairs. There is a lot riding on Isaac's future. The choice of a wrong partner for him in marriage could have disastrous consequences. A nations future was at stake. Making a wrong choice at this juncture could negate the promises of God.
St Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church “Didn't God give you everything you have?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Eliezer was entrusted with a great task. God entrusts us with the task of building God's church in our own generation. He invests in our lives the future of the Kingdom. Are we to be trusted? Faithful stewards are marked by trustworthiness. Our lives are greatly blessed by God. Can we be trusted to faithfully respond to the trust God has placed in is?
2. Teachable
As you observe the way Eliezer carries out his mission, it is clear he has spent time meditating, reflecting upon, and absorbing the spiritual values of his master, Abraham. He knew how to pray. He knew how to discern the voice of God. He knew that his life could be guided and directed by God in such a way as God's purposes were achieved. He was a godly man who shared, along with his master Abraham, a sense of deep communion with his God.
Way back in 1677 an author called Thomas รก Kempis wrote a book that became a spiritual classic called 'The Imitation of Christ'. In order to be an imitator, one has to have a teachable spirit. The book begins with this paragraph...
“He that followeth me, walkest not in darkness.” These are the words of Christ by which we are admonished how we ought to imitate His life and manner, if we are to be truly enlightened, and be delivered from blindness of heart. Let therefore our chiefest endeavor be, to meditate upon the life of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”
A faithful steward is trustworthy. A faithful steward is teachable. Thirdly a faithful steward is;
3. Tactical
Eliezer has a game plan. In verse 7 of Genesis 24 Eliezer is told that God will send an angel ahead of him to prepare the way for Isaac to find a wife. All well and good, but thankfully Eliezer does not interpret that as meaning he just had to sit back and wait for something to happen. On the contrary he must bring all his common sense and understanding to see that things work out.
He is tactical. Where would be a good place to find a young lady? It was a responsible daughter’s task to fetch water, so down by the well would be a good start. What time of day? Evening time was the usual, out of the heat of the sun. How could one quickly discern if a woman were of good character? Her generosity would be one indication, so he waits to see if she offers to assist himself and his camels.
I have heard people say, “I've asked God to help me do this or give up that.” You meet them a while later. They still have the same problem. “I'm still asking God to help me with this or that!” Sometimes one must ask, “What steps are you taking … apart from asking God to take care of everything?”
If you are going to pass that test you must do the homework. If you are going to live healthier you must take on the diet and do the exercise. If you are going to change your job, you must start applying for another and think through the financial, traveling, and lifestyle implications, for yourself and those around you. Why expect God to take care of things that God has already given us the resources to deal with?
Eliezer trusted implicitly that God would go ahead of him and open the right doors. But he also understood that he had to plan to create opportunities and use the resources God had placed at his disposal to make things happen. Only God could show him the right girl, but he could position himself to meet potential wives. When the right one came along, he would know, but he had to be there! A faithful steward is trustworthy. A faithful steward is teachable. A faithful steward is tactical. A faithful steward is;
4. Timely
Eliezer has a sense of urgency regarding his master’s business. He gets the people together, gathers the resources and gets on with the job. There's no committee, followed by a sub-committee, followed by a statistical analysis which produces a report that is safely confined to a minute book whilst the members congratulate themselves on a job well done.
Eliezer is a man on a mission. When he gets to the city of Nahor, he begins his search at once. After he has been received into Rebecca's home, they offer him food, but he says, “I will not eat till I have said what I have to say”. When Rebecca's mother and brother try and delay his departure by 10 days, he pleads with them, 'Don't make us stay. The Lord has made my journey a success; let me go back to my master.”
Rebecca, conscious of God's part in the whole thing, is equally diligent and urgent. She is going to be Isaac's wife, as soon as possible. There is no, “Well, I'll to think about it... I've got a hair appointment Tuesday, shopping Thursday, coffee at Leah's Friday, and whose going to fetch the water if I go 'now, I’ve got to work on finding a replacement.” . She, like Eliezer, walks with God and trusts God. She senses God is at work and simply says 'Yes!'
I understand that there are times when we need to think things through and consider the options. But then there are those other times when we need to say 'This is the will of God. Let's go for it!” As churches we are gifted procrastinators. We sometimes think that because we have talked about doing something that somehow the job has done. “Go!” said Jesus “Take my message to the world!”
A faithful steward is trustworthy. A faithful steward is teachable. A faithful steward is tactical. A faithful steward does things in a timely manner. Fifthly a faithful steward is;
5. True-Hearted.
Eliezer's deepest concern is to honor his master. He understands how much trust his master has invested in his life. He does not treat his duties lightly or flippantly. He has no desire for personal glory, but his heartfelt passion is to see that the masters will is accomplished. He is true-hearted.
If only we were as true hearted in our service of Jesus Christ. If only we could realize that all we have, all that we are and all we shall ever be is a gift of grace God has freely bestowed upon us. Such would cause a revolution to take place in our attitude towards stewardship. An attitude for gratitude is always a mark of a faithful steward.
A faithful steward is trustworthy. A faithful steward is teachable. A faithful steward is tactical. A faithful steward does things in a timely manner. Fifthly a faithful steward is true-hearted. Finally, a faithful steward is;
6. Tenacious
Eliezer doesn't give up. He sees things through to the end. He prays. He plans. He follows through. He negotiates. He gives thanks. He worships. And it all works out. As they are returning to Abraham, Rebekah spots a handsome young guy some way ahead. 'Who's that?” she asks. “Eliezer replies, 'Why that's Isaac!” So she takes a veil and covers herself.
Chapter 24 finishes, verses 66-67 “Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.”
From the first moment of commission to the joyful conclusion, Eliezer sticks to the task in hand and thanks God for the outcome. Faithful stewards often have the joy of seeing their plans come to fruition. They experience moments of joy and thankfulness that those who never see things through to the end never get to witness.
As we near the end of our Lenten season and meet around the communion table, take a moment to consider the marks of a faithful steward, exemplified by Abraham's servant Eliezer.
• We see that he is Trustworthy. He's taken into his master’s confidence and trusted with his affairs. Our Lord Jesus Christ entrusts to us the mission of his Kingdom.
• We see that he is Teachable. Eliezer learns from his master’s faith. So, we are called to be imitators of Christ.
• We see how he is Tactical. He balances faith with common sense and planning. Our lives require a similar equilibrium.
• We observe how he acts in a Timely manner. There needs to be a sense of urgency to our mission if it is to have a cutting edge.
• We see how he is True-hearted. He gives glory to his Master.
• We see that he is Tenacious. He never gives up. He sees things through.
Such are the marks of a faithful steward that we do well to take note of... to the glory of God!
The Reverend Adrian J. Pratt B.D.
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