Word of Encouragement (03/03/2022)
As we reflect on Eliezer’s prayer of thanksgiving, we have been focusing on the reasons for his deep gratitude. We talked about the immediacy of God’s answer and his deep sense of responsibility as a faithful servant. Another reason was his humility, which overwhelmed him with a sense of awe that the LORD should hear his prayer.
Notice how Eliezer blesses the LORD for two things: for the LORD’s steadfast love and faithfulness to his master Abraham; for leading him to the house of Abraham’s kinsmen so he can fulfill his mission so quickly. The order shows his humility. He blesses God’s kindness to his master first before he gives thanks to God for the favor He has shown to him. He believes that the two are related: God has shown favor to him because He is faithful to his master and his mission is on behalf of his master.
Humility is not to think low of oneself; it is to know one’s proper place within the structure God has established. Eliezer recognizes that God did not enter a covenant relationship with him; He did it with his master Abraham. If he can have any relationship with the LORD, it is only because he belongs to Abraham’s household. He was given the covenant sign of circumcision precisely for that reason. He knows that, if he can enjoy God’s favor, it is because he is allowed to share in God’s blessings to Abraham. There was no doubt that he enjoyed Abraham’s trust and was honored to be in charge of all that his master had because of his faithfulness. But he was ever mindful that all the blessings that his master’s household experienced, including the trust he enjoyed from his master, were all under God’s gracious covenant with Abraham.
In humility, Eliezer marvels that the LORD showed him a favor. Who is he that God should pay attention to his petition and answer so quickly? He knows that it was for his master’s sake. But it could not be denied that the LORD heard him! We all want to be heard, right? We want someone to pay attention to what we have to say and be genuinely interested in it. We are drawn to those who listen well. They don’t have to have all the answers. They don’t have to have a lot of interesting things to say. We seek out interesting people to talk to when we are bored or when we have the mental space to seek personal growth. But when we feel alone and insignificant and useless, we desperately need someone just to hear us out with genuine compassion and undivided attention.
To have someone like that is a wonderful blessing, isn’t it? Do you have someone like that? You may find out that you have more than you think if you give your elders and deacons and fellow saints a chance. But even if you don’t have anyone like that, you have God. Jesus is our sympathetic high priest (Heb. 4:15), who will never fail to listen and give us His full attention. Because of Him, we can come to God and cast all our cares upon Him, and when we do, it delights our heavenly Father! It is He, who searches high and low for those that would call upon His name even though it is we, who have nothing to offer Him and everything to gain from Him.
Let us not lose sight of what an amazing thing it is that God should pay attention to us! If we so appreciate the sympathetic ears of others, who cannot do much for us, shouldn’t we be so ecstatic that the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth has promised to lend us His sympathetic ears and almighty power? Should we despair because we think we don’t have someone to go to in times of heartache when we have God?
As we rejoice in this wonderful truth, let us be humble. For it is only on account of Jesus’ blood and righteousness that we enjoy all these privileges. When we become humble, we will realize we have so much more to be thankful for even when our situations don’t change.