Ten Thirsty Camels

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what is says.” James 1:22

I will never forget that April morning seven years ago when I woke up feeling sad and hopeless. I glanced outside at the blazing sun and the already 93 degree temperature at 8 a.m. In that very moment, I was overcome with regret. I longed for the life that I had left behind in Southern California; the prefect weather; great friends; the ocean; even the traffic didn’t seem like such a bother now. The Arizona desert just wasn’t cutting it for me.

I had hit an all time low. Thankfully my dear husband came to the rescue and with much concern and love told me I needed to move on. His suggestion that day seemed daunting. He was bold enough to tell me I needed to take the initiative to make some friends and make a life for myself in our new home.

We decided to go to a Bible study for couples in our age and stage of life, and that’s where I met Diane. I could tell the minute I met her that she was kind, a good listener, accepting, and wise. We hit it off immediately and made plans to go to lunch.

That day was the start of a beautiful friendship that has spanned over the years. We have walked through births, deaths, health issues, financial struggles, and relocations. Diane and her husband are the god-parents to our Isabelle. Many great moments of laughter and conversation have been shared over the years. Though miles separate us now, it only takes a moment to reconnect, whether over the phone, or email or in person. I hate to think what would have happened had I continued to live in my loneliness and bitterness and not taken the initiative to make friends in Arizona. But thankfully God had a much bigger plan and orchestrated the opportunity for this amazing friendship.

The story of Rebekah comes to my mind when I think of initiative. In Genesis 24 we are introduced to one of Abraham’s servants who is assigned the task of finding a suitable wife for Isaac, Abraham’s son. It was common practice in that day for a son’s wife to be chosen by his parents. So Eliezer set out from Canaan with ten camels and headed to the town of Nahor. He reached Nahor just around dusk as the women were coming to draw water from the well. He made his camels kneel by the town well and prayed this prayer:

“Give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.” Genesis 24:12-14

Before Eliezer was finished praying, Rebekah approached the well to draw water. Now in those days it was custom to offer weary travelers water, but not their animals. Eleiezer asked Rebekah for a drink.

“’Drink my lord,’ she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, ‘I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.’” Genesis 24:18-19

Rebekah doesn’t stop there though, she offered Eleiezer a place to stay for the night in her family’s home and a place for his animals to eat and rest. After meeting Rebekah’s family, Eliezer explained the purpose of his visit and how God had honored his request in finding a suitable mate for Isaac. The families made arrangements for Rebekah and Isaac to marry.

I love this story. I love to see the hand of God weave in and out of the lives of Eliezer and Rebekah. I’m sure Rebekah woke that morning ready for a normal day in Nahor. Little did she know she would be engaged to Abraham’s son by that evening. She followed the promptings of our Lord, took initiative that went against the common customs of that day, and demonstrated a servant’s heart.

Now fast-forward to 2009. How are you at taking initiative? Have you watered any camels lately? Would you drop what you are doing to be a friend to that lonely individual? God certainly directs the lives of those who serve Him, but He leaves plenty of room for us to take initiative.

“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25