She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD and said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring. As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “Thus the man spoke to me,” he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. He said, “Come in, O blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.”
Comment: The servant of Abraham will immediately have a pretty good grasp of who the girl is, as soon as she says her name and lists her family. The old servant may well have been with Abraham ever since he left this his old stamping ground. The servant offers a prayer of gratitude; the girl races to tell her mother what has happened. What is she thinking – a young marriageable aged wealthy daughter having fallen into a generous high class travelling entourage? Laban, the brother, sees the line up of visitors coming and races out to contact them. A quick look at his bedecked sister and a few words later he flies to the oncoming group and makes them extremely welcome. Food is set before them but Abraham’s servant says that he has much to say! With the words ‘speak on’ from Laban we await tomorrow’s episode!
Prayer: Help me not to race unthinkingly into the future nor to lag behind when You open a path, O Lord!
As I read it! 