Before
There is a lesson for us to glean from an interesting relational story midway through the book of Genesis.
By Gen. 24, Abraham is old old. Dang old, and his promised son, Isaac, is now marrying age. Facing death, Abe calls his most trusted servant and makes him swear that the servant will travel to Abe’s homeland to find for his son a wife from among his people. Under no circumstances is he to allow Isaac to marry a local Caanite girl or run off to the far away homeland where he might not return. Rather, the guy is to bring back a bride suitable for the kid.
Imagine the thoughts this dude entertained while he led his ten gift-laden camels toward an unknown woman in a foreign land that was described as “distant.” We aren’t told if he knew the language or had contacts there or even if e-Harmony had an outpost in Aram-nahariam. Here comes the lesson. Ready? Listen to the text.
He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening and the women were coming out to draw water. “O LORD, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women are coming….”
Did you catch the lesson for us? All the days traveling the desert, the servant had game-planned how this would go, as can be seen from the rest of his prayer, but he realized this was much bigger than just his role. He wasn’t in this alone. In fact, the prayer puts this faithful guy in just the right spot for God to work.
The recorded prayer displays the truth that believers like you and me don’t have to scramble and fret and manipulate people to do what we sense is the right thing to do. This is God’s deal and we, just like the servant, are called on to do our part, with integrity and kindness, and leave results to God.
How that looks for us is not difficult to project: As we go about our business, whether just be-bopping through our day, or facing a crucial event (like finding the right wife for your boss’s kid), first … pray. Short “arrow prayers” as you go can punctuate your day. Asking for wisdom before a meeting, or for understanding in the face of confusion, or calmness when others are upset, or patience when the checker is slow.
The servant, as he plodded along at camel-speed, probably thought much as to how this might go, and most likely had peppered his plan with prayer. And, in the midst of our planning and acting, so can we. As short check-ins with Jesus throughout the day becomes the norm, some of the life bumps along the way can smooth out a bit. We still face what any other person faces, just not alone.
When we pray like this servant, we assert several things,
I am part of something much bigger than just me
God is interested in what I am dealing with
As much as we know, prayer acknowledges how much we don’t know
Prayer lays a heart before God, and that humbles the person praying
This “oldest servant who headed (Abraham’s) household” surely could have tried to pull this off on his own. He had seen it all and learned a lot over the years. Clearly, he learned not to forget to remember to pray before. How many times have I convinced myself that I could do what I faced on my own. And how many of those times have I wished I had remembered to pray before; before I spoke in anger or ego, before I impulsively bought that shiny thing, before I agreed to one more commitment, before.
Friends, let’s not forget to remember to pray … before. Early and often. Work at making this part of your day, a habit that also will keep us living and thinking in ways we know are best for us and everyone we encounter.
Music for the week is right here!
How 'bout a couple of funnies for the week?
Two police officers, who are part of a task force, arrive at a cattle ranch.
The officers tell the rancher, "We need to inspect your ranch for illegally-grown drugs."
The old rancher says, "Okay, but don't go in that field over there."
One of the officers verbally explodes saying, "Mister, we have the authority of the state government with us."
Reaching into his rear pocket and removing his badge, the agent proudly displays it to the farmer, "See this badge? This badge means we are allowed to go wherever we wish on any land. No questions asked nor answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?"
The old rancher silently nods and goes about his chores. Later, the old rancher hears loud screams and spies the two officers running for their lives and close behind is the rancher's bull.
With every step the bull is gaining ground on the agents. They are clearly terrified. The old rancher immediately throws down his tools, runs to the fence, and yells at the top of his lungs:
“Your badges! Show him your badges!"
__________
While I sat in the reception area of my doctor's office, a woman rolled an elderly man in a wheelchair into the room.
As she went to the receptionist's desk, the man sat there, alone and silent.
Just as I was thinking I should make small talk with him, a little boy slipped off his mother's lap and walked over to the wheelchair.
Placing his hand on the man's, he said, "I know how you feel. My mom makes me ride in the stroller, too."