Re-Digging The Well of Prayer
RE-DIGGING THE WELL OF PRAYER
Genesis 24:1-20 NLT
Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. 2 One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh.3 Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 4 Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
5 The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?”
6 “No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. 7 For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants.[a] He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. 8 If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”
9 So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions. 10 Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled. 11 He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water.
12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. 13 See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”
15 Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah.16 Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again.17 Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”
18 “Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. 19 When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.
1. Simple prayer.
Abraham’s servant prayed a simple, honest, and specific prayer. He didn’t use many words—he simply asked God for guidance and favor.
Supporting Scriptures for Simple Prayer
Matthew 6:7–8 — Jesus teaches that God hears simple prayers:
“When you pray, don’t babble on… your Father knows exactly what you need…”
Psalm 34:17 — God hears the plain cry:
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them…”
Philippians 4:6 — Simple requests are welcome:
“Make your requests known to God.”
2. Sacrificial prayer.
Abraham’s servant also prayed in a spirit of sacrifice, not necessarily giving up possessions, but offering his obedience, time, effort, and comfort to fulfill God’s will.
His prayer was sacrificial because:
He submitted his whole mission to God’s leading.
He sacrificed his comfort to fulfill Abraham’s covenant purpose.
The journey itself was an act of obedience and service.
Biblical Examples of Sacrificial Prayer
Romans 12:1 — Present your life as a living sacrifice:
“Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, this is your spiritual act of worship.”
Psalm 50:14-15 — Sacrifice of thanksgiving and obedience:
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving… call on me in the day of trouble.”
Hannah’s prayer (1 Samuel 1:10–11) — She offered her son to the Lord.
Sacrificial prayer includes offering something valuable to God.
Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) — The ultimate surrendered prayer:
“Not my will, but yours be done.”
Abraham’s servant prayed with a life offered to God, that is sacrificial prayer.
3. BOLD PRAYER
His prayer was also remarkably bold, audacious and very specific.
Genesis 24:14 — A Bold Request
“If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’ — let her be the one…”
Supporting Scriptures for Bold Prayer
Hebrews 4:16 — Come boldly:
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace…”
Joshua 10:12–13 — Joshua prayed boldly for the sun to stand still.
1 Kings 18:36–38 — Elijah prays boldly for fire from heaven.
John 14:13–14 — Jesus invites bold asking:
“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
James 1:6 — Ask in faith without wavering.
Abraham’s servant asked with faith, clarity, and confidence in God’s covenant promise.
Four Truths Concerning Prayer:
You will never be chastised for prayer.
Prayer is simply asking, seeking and knocking.
Prayer keeps us connected to our Father.
Pray always, and at all times.
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.