Genesis 24:32

Genesis 24:32 says, And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.  The servant and those with him were treated with great hospitality.  Their camels were cared for and so were they.  We should always be hospitable to others whenever possible, even if it costs us a little materially.  Verse thirty-three adds, And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.  The servant and those with him were offered food, but the servant said he would not eat until he told them about his errand.  He was putting his duty to Abraham above his own needs.  We should always put the things that we vow to do for God above our own physical needs.  I believe that although the servant's vow was to Abraham, he was really there to fulfill God's plan.  The servant was told to tell what he needed to say.  Verse thirty-four declares, And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.  The servant first identifies himself and his relationship to Abraham.  Though they were his relatives, these people may not have heard anything about Abraham since he left.  Verse thirty-five adds, And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.  The servant tells them of the many ways that God had blessed Abraham.  I believe that as followers of Christ today, that if we see someone we may not have seen in a long time, that when we share with them about our life that we should always give God the credit for any success that we have.  Verse thirty-six continues, And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.  The servant told of the birth of Isaac late in Sarah and Abraham's life, and that Abraham was going to pass everything he had on to him.  We can be certain of one thing, and that is that when we die everything we own will pass on to someone.  Abraham had become rich and powerful, but the only thing he could take with him after he died was his relationship to God, and that is all anyone can take with them.  Verse thirty-seven adds further, And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:  The servant told them of his oath to Abraham to not find a wife for Isaac from among the woman in the land where he lived.  Verse thirty-eight concludes, But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.  The servant now tells them exactly what his errand was.  He was there to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham's kin folk.  This is not exactly the way we see finding a wife portrayed in the movies today, but it was not uncommon then and in parts of the world today.  I believe that the important thing is that Abraham and his servant believed that God was behind their plans, and we today, as followers of Christ, should make sure that God is behind our choice of a husband or wife.  Verse thirty-nine states, And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.  The servant recognized the fact that the woman he selected might not be willing to go with him.  He wasn't there to take some who didn't want to go.  As we go about doing God's work today, we cannot make anyone else go with us.  Verse forty states, And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:  Abraham told the servant that God would be with the servant when he chose a wife for Isaac.  If God is with us in our plans, then we should never fear failure, especially from a spiritual prospective.  Verse forty-one adds, Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.  Abraham told the servant that if he chose someone, under God's guidance, and she would not come then the servant would be freed from his oath.  Like the servant, we can only do what we believe that God is leading us to do, and the success or failure is not our responsibility.  Our main purpose as followers of Christ is to share the gospel, and when we do we are being faithful to God, whether people accept the gospel or not.