Genesis 24:15 (ESV Strong's)
Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder.
Genesis 24:21 (ESV Strong's)
The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.
Anticipate God Answering Prayer
The above passages needs context. In chapter 24 of Genesis, Abraham has sent his servant away to his old country to find a wife for his son, Issac. The servant has traveled to this far country and has just prayed the following prayer:
Genesis 24:12-14 (ESV Strong's)
And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”
This is where the top verses come in to play. The servant has asked God for a very specific sign that God has blessed his travels and mission. Then, “before he had finished speaking,” a servant girl responds, EXACTLY like he asked. This is the amazing part of the story. Instead of instantly praising God for the answer to prayer, the servant, instead, stands in silence “to learn whether the lord had prospered his journey or not.” Really? This is how we are often in prayer. We pray to God and ask for something and then we stand in wonder as to if or if not He will reasons. We have to realize that God comes to us and asks us to ask Him for grace in our lives. We ought not be surprised when He does answer our prayers. The servant should have started rejoicing. This reminds us of the passage in James, where he is writing to us about asking God for wisdom. Note:
James 1:5-8 (ESV Strong's)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
God wants us to ask in faith and expect the results we ask for. When we ask anything according to God’s will we can see the results according to God’s will.
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