I’LL WATER YOUR CAMELS TOO / GENESIS 24:13-14

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

Go the Extra Mile: The Power of an “I’ll Water Your Camels Too” Heart

Have you ever faced a moment where you were asked to do a simple task, but felt a quiet nudge to do more? In our fast-paced world, it is easy to adopt a mindset of doing the bare minimum just to get by. But the scriptures offer a beautiful blueprint for a different kind of life—one defined by radical hospitality, humility, and an eagerness to serve.

In Genesis 24:13-14, we find Abraham’s servant standing by a well, tasked with a seemingly impossible mission: finding a suitable wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac, in a foreign land. Recognizing his need for divine guidance, the servant offers a remarkably specific prayer to God:

“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 young woman, ‘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.”

The Test of Extraordinary Service

At first glance, asking to water camels might sound like a polite, minor gesture. But let’s look closer at the reality of the ancient Near East. Abraham’s servant had ten thirsty camels with him. After a long desert journey, a single camel can drink upwards of 100 liters (nearly 25 gallons) of water.

Watering ten camels meant drawing hundreds of gallons of water, one heavy jar at a time, from a deep well. It was exhausting, muscle-straining, time-consuming labor.

The servant wasn’t testing the girls for the prettiest face or the wealthiest background. He was testing for virtue, work ethic, and a servant’s heart. He knew that any young woman who would willingly volunteer for hours of backbreaking labor for a complete stranger possessed an extraordinary spirit of humility and helpfulness.

And as the story beautifully unfolds, Rebekah steps up to the well and answers with those exact, destiny-shifting words: “Drink, and let me also water your camels.”

What are Your “Camels”?

God still looks for “camel-watering” hearts today. He looks for individuals who don’t just stop at what is required, but who look around for opportunities to bless others.

In the workplace: It looks like staying ten minutes late to help a overwhelmed coworker catch up, even if it’s “not your job.”
In the family: It looks like washing the dishes you didn’t dirty, or listening intentionally to a family member’s long day.
In the community: It looks like noticing a need and quietly stepping in to fill it without needing a round of applause or public recognition.

Small, ordinary moments of kindness are often the exact keys God uses to unlock extraordinary plans. Rebekah thought she was just helping a weary traveler; she had no idea she was stepping right into the lineage of Jesus Christ. When we choose to go the extra mile, we allow God’s steadfast love and character to shine through our lives into a cynical world.

Let’s challenge ourselves today. Don’t just give the bare minimum. Look for the “camels” in your path, lift up your jar, and serve with joy.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the timeless example of Rebekah’s servant heart. Forgive me for the times I have rushed through my day doing only what is required, missing the opportunities to show Your love. Lord, soften my heart today. Give me an eye to notice the weary travelers in my life and the willingness to go the extra mile for them. Deliver me from pride, laziness, and selfishness. Give me a spirit of humility, helpfulness, and joy in service. May my ordinary daily actions reflect Your extraordinary love and kindness to everyone I meet. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace