Connecting with heaven

The father could not go himself, and would not send his son, his only son begotten of her with whom he had obtained the promises.

Others he had sent away, bearing gifts. But this son, his beloved son, would remain with him alway and be his heir. For father and mother had entered into a new and everlasting covenant by which the Powers of Heaven had granted them the promise of eternal lives and endless priesthood through this son, who, like them, had proven worthy and faithful in all things, having laid everything, even himself, on an altar of obedience and sacrifice, chastity and consecration.

For this "chosen one", no heathen bride would do! Only she who was virtuous and lovely, who had proven herself likewise unselfish, serviceable, fit and faithful, whose beauty was evident within and without.

To find her, the father sent his servant to the father's own country, to his own house and among his own kindred, authorizing the servant to contract on his master's behalf. The servant, not knowing all things, prayerfully contrived a "test" by which the chosen would be identified. It would be a self-selecting process. Anyone could claim the "prize" -- to marry the groom and receive all that his father hath -- but who would do it?

The servant arrived incognito, near the end of the day, without announcing his true identity or declaring whence he came. He spied a beautiful young woman, obediently going about her business, and waited until she was nearly on her way. Perhaps she was the one.

He had in his possession tokens of his master's authority and generosity. He could have converted them for money for himself, or flashed them to the young girl to entice her with his wealth and power. But he held them sacred and would not reveal or relinquish them until her "worthiness" had been established.

To "qualify" her, he required of her a "sacrifice". A small thing really: he asked her for a drink of water. She complied. Lowering her heavy vessel from her shoulder and pouring water into her own clean, cupped hand, she gave him drink. Having thus received, he waited to observe if she would offer yet another, even greater sacrifice, of her own accord, and go as it were with him the second mile, hastening to do so freely, joyfully, unselfishly. Would she attend to this stranger's evident needs? Did she have charity?

She did! And as she labored diligently, by her "fruits" she was made known.

The stranger started from disguise. The tokens in his hands, she knew, were of great value. He gave them to her and asked her whence she came. The name she gave was of his master's own house! (Her father's name, "Bethuel", means "man of God", "virgin of God" or "house of God".) The servant praised God! Then she welcomed him, this stranger, to her own home, consecrating what they had to provide, in both food and shelter, for him and all his company. They gave meat and drink and even washed feet! There would be no poor, no hungry, nor unclean among them.

Being led to her house and shown such hospitality, the servant revealed his true identity. He was a true messenger, sent from the presence of his master. He offered them tokens of his envoy. He declared his purpose straight away: to confer his master's blessing -- and deliver a dowery! -- for his son's soon-to-be bride. He invited the damsel to accompany him. Her family bid her to tarry, not knowing what she should do, but she, being true and faithful, believed the servant's report and followed him to be wed to the son of the father, someone she had never before heard or seen.

Escorting her on the long journey to his master's house, the servant identified the son to her as he approached -- now calling him master! The servant thus introduced her to the son. She hid her face from him with a veil as he took her to himself and embraced her and loved her. She thus received all that his father had.

Genesis 24 tells a familiar story of Abraham's faithful servant successfully retrieving a virtuous wife for 40-year-old Isaac. But it is an allegory few will understand.