Laban

Looks like Laban Rebekah’s brother was the leading person in the family, and when he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister and heard the story about Eliezer seeking a bride for Isaak. Laban understood this was the finger of the LORD and on the camels, there were also material things of high value, quickly he prepared the house for the visitors and the stall for the camels and then he run to meet this person with all the treasures.

Things of value

Laban found Eliezer, his men and the camels at the spring; they didn’t follow Rebekah they waited in faith for “the LORD to invite them” and Laban came and did and they followed him and entered his house and met the family of Bethuel the son of Nahor and Milcah. Laban wanted to impress the visitors, he gave all the men water to wash their feet and when they recovered from the journey Laban unloaded all the ten camels, and I am sure he tried to discover all the things of value there.

First things first

When Eliezer had washed his feet and recovered, food was set in front of him. I am sure that Eliezer was hungry, but he was a faithful servant and his heart forced him to put his duty before the desire of his flesh, he said “I will not eat until I have stated my business” and Laban the “leader” said “Speak on”. Bethuel was present, but it seems, as Laban was the man in the house and together with his mother decided there. Then Eliezer told them who he was “I am Abraham’s servant”. Eliezer was proud of being the servant of Abraham, not because of Abraham but because of Abraham’s great God YaHaWaH; “The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great; He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.” According to Eliezer, everything that Abraham had “The LORD” had given him.

YHWH

“The LORD” here has been translated from the Hebrew word YHWH which is the name of God, “The LORD” is a title not a name, this translation in many Bibles is not bad, it is wrong. God wants a personal relationship with you, He is using your name when speaking to you, and you can use His name when speaking to Him.

Can lift you up

Then Eliezer told them the about Abraham, Sarah and Isaac and about his meeting with Rebekah. Eliezer had his faith in the God of Abraham, and told everything exactly as it was and happened. When you have your faith in God and not in people, you feel free to speak the truth, you don’t have to change stories, you don’t have to glorify yourself, you don’t have to talk people down, you don’t have to impress with lies, and God can lift you up when your faith is in Him.

Witnesses

After that Eliezer had told the family of Nahor and Milcah that he wanted to take Rebekah with him as a wife for Isaac. He said; “So now if you are going to show kindness and truth to my master tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right or to the left” Eliezer in his story had emphasized God as the source to all that had happened and that God had picked Rebekah as wife for Isaac. Moreover, those who heard the story from the mouth of Eliezer also knew God by the name YHWH, and when Bethuel and Laban agreed to Rebekah going with Eliezer, the huge family of Nahor and Milcah were all witnesses.

The worship belongs to God

Bethuel and Laban, his son said; “The matter has come from the LORD; so we dare not speak bad or good. Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.” The spirit of God was in the air and affected all in the house, and the family promised Rebekah to be the wife of Isaac and all the family were present and heard it. Eliezer could have showed appreciation for Bethuel and Laban, hugged them, and praised them, but again Eliezer bowed himself to the ground and worshipped YaHaWaH, the great God of Abraham.

Gifts

Then it was time to show thankfulness to Rebekah and her family; “Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and articles of clothing, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and her mother” Again it seems that Laban and his mother was the leading persons there.

The Spirit had left

Then finally it was time for food and rest: “Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. In the morning when they got up, Eliezer said, “Now send me back to my master” After a good night’s sleep Eliezer got up in the morning and the only thing on his mind was to fulfill the mission that Abraham gave him. He reminded Laban and his mother of their promise and asked them to send him back to his master. However, the power of the Spirit of God was not there like the day before.  

Questions

1. How would you describe the faith of Eliezer?
2. What does your heart “look like”?