Rebekah’s Courtesy and the Servant’s Prudence

What did she do? Patiently and gently she told him who her father was. She did not become indignant and say, “And who are you, prying into things, asking questions, and investigating my household?” Instead she answered, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor. We have plenty of straw and fodder, and also room to lodge.” Just as with the water she gave more than he asked—for he asked only to drink, while she promised to water the camels too and did so—so here also he asked only for lodging, while she offered straw, fodder, and much else besides. By all these things she invited him and drew him toward the house so that she might receive the reward of hospitality.

Let us not hear these things casually or carelessly. Let us consider ourselves privately and compare ourselves with them; then we will understand this woman's virtue. We often receive acquaintances and friends into our homes and become irritated if they remain one or two days, feeling burdened by them. But she eagerly drew into her home a man she did not know, a complete stranger, even though she would have to provide care not only for him but for so many camels.

After he entered, consider still more clearly the servant's prudence. When bread was set before him to eat, Scripture says, he replied, “I will not eat until I have spoken my words.” Do you see how awake and sober he was? Then, when they gave him permission to speak, let us see how he addressed them. Did he say that he had an illustrious and distinguished master, honored by everyone and enjoying great precedence among the local people? If he had wanted to say such things, he would not have lacked material, for the people of the land honored Abraham almost like a king. Yet he said none of this. Leaving such human distinctions aside, he adorned his master by God's favor, saying, “I am Abraham's servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my master and he has been exalted, and He has given him sheep and cattle and gold and silver.”