What a wonderful chapter of Scripture to marvel at the providence of God!  Here we have the servant of Abraham embarking on a journey of no small account.  First, he was in pursuit of a wife for Isaac.  Second, it was a long trip that had no guarantee of success.  Their only hope was the steadfast love and sovereignty of God. 

The servant travels I don’t know how many miles.  But it was a lot….a whole lot.  And he ‘just happens’ to arrive at a well at the precise time that Rebekah comes, a young virgin who would end up being Isaac’s wife.  In his heart the servant prays a prayer, a very specific prayer in fact, that the woman he encounters will respond to his request in a certain way and end up being the wife of choice for Isaac.  That is no small request after a journey of so many miles! 

Yet the Scripture tells us that just as the servant was finishing up his request, at that very moment, here comes Rebekah.  She gets water for herself and after hearing the request of the servant, responds just as he prayed she would. 

Imagine yourself as Abraham’s servant!  What excitement and enthusiasm he must have felt.  How amazed must he have been at the goodness and glory of the Lord.  He knew his request could only be answered by One who controlled all things.  But this is exactly who He was praying to:  the God who rules not only over all circumstances, but over and through all human responses.  Amazing! 

This story reveals the God of glory and possesses particular application to us.  For here we see the Lord of history, ordaining the small details necessary to fulfill His global purposes through Abraham’s seed.  This is just the beginning, yes.  Much more is still to come.  But isn’t it awesome that our God reveals Himself through the little things, the small things.  Sure, He does mighty things that no one can deny, but in great measure His glory is revealed through the seemingly insignificant acts of history, acts ordained by Him to bring about the worldwide redemption He desires and will attain. 

Let us not despise the small things then.  Let us never think of ourselves as too great to do the most menial of tasks.  God doesn’t shy away from such detail.  And neither should we. 

Let us also recognize and rejoice in the fact that every encounter is a divine encounter.  There is no impersonal force called coincidence.  There is a sovereign Lord who rules over all things and exercises perfect wisdom in His providence.  Who did you meet today?  Or who will you meet?  Whoever the Lord wanted you to, ultimately.  The people in our life are people the Lord has ordained be in our life.  Relationships new and old ought to be treasured because they come from the Lord. 

Let us also never shy away from praying specific and very big prayers.  God knows our weaknesses.  God also loves to reveal His glory and honor as a good and sovereign and wise Lord of lords.  So let us not shy away from petitioning Him for special acts of favor and providence. 

Finally, let us always make sure to respond like the servant, in humble adoration of and praise to our great God.  He is Lord of history.  He is God over the big and the small.  He is jealous to fulfill His worldview purpose of redemption through acts large and small.  We are included in that, so let us be encouraged.  The work we are called to do might not seem so great.  And maybe it is not.  But it is not too small in God’s eyes.  It fits right in with His perfect plan to make the world how it ought to be and better. 

 What is your task in this world?  And who sees it?  God knows.  God sees.  And that is more than enough if we are viewing things rightly.