May I tell you the story of a single act of kindness that affected the lives of billions, even to this day?

The ancient patriarch Abraham “…was old, and well stricken in age…” (*1) and he was concerned that his son Isaac was not yet married. So he called for his most trusted servant, and in the custom of the day, sent that servant back to the land of Abraham’s ancestry to negotiate a wife for Isaac. Now that may seem a little strange to us – arranging a marriage, but for the servant, it had to have been a daunting task! I mean after all, he was to travel to a land he did not know, find a family he had never met, and persuade a young girl to leave her home and her kin forever, and marry a stranger!

Dubious (*2) but faithful, the servant loaded ten camels and set out for Mesopotamia, arriving at the well on the outskirts of the village, just as the women were coming out to draw evening water. But now, which – which maiden is it? How’s he going to find her?

Well, the servant prayed, “…O Lord God of my master Abraham…let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also; let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac…” (*3)

Well, he didn’t even finish the prayer before a very lovely (*4) young woman approached the well, filled her pitcher, and started back. Well, he ran and he asked for a drink. She gave him that drink and then said, “…I will draw water for thy camels also...” (*5)

Now, do you know how much water ten thirsty camels can drink? I didn’t know, so I looked it up – more than 250 gallons! Now that is an act of kindness! This Rebekah was unique; no one had known the like of Rebekah!

Well, the servant watched her in wonder. Could this be her? Could it really be that easy? Well, she had passed the first test, but now the critical thing – was she of the covenant lineage? She was.

Rebekah invited the man to her home where he presented his incredible story and invitation to her and to her family. And the next morning Rebekah’s family put the decision to her, “…Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, “I will go.” (*6) Oh, that’s faith!

Meanwhile, back in Canaan, it was evening. Isaac went out into the fields to meditate. In the distance he saw the camels coming. From atop the camel Rebekah saw him, and asked, “…What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?…” (*7) When she learned that it was “him,” she came down from the camel, veiled her face as a bride would, and went to meet him. Isaac “…took Rebekah, and she became his wife;” and the record says, “and he loved her...” (*8)

Rebekah became “…the mother of thousands of millions…” (*9) Nations today call her mother –
probably even you – and all of that because of a timely act of kindness coupled with simple faith.

My friends, kindness does matter!