Embracing Thankless Tasks

Tired and thirsty from a long journey, Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, waited by the town well in Nahor. He stopped there and prayed. Eliezer asked God to bring the right woman for Isaac, Abraham’s son. Specifically, he asked that she would offer him a drink of water. Before he’d finished speaking, “Behold, Rebekah … came out with her pitcher on her shoulder” (Genesis 24:15) Eliezer saw right away that Rebekah was a working woman. Probably twice a day she took a heavy clay pitcher to the town’s water source to draw precious water. Then, she would complete her task by carrying it home to her family.

• Notice Rebekah’s beautiful qualities of diligence and faithfulness.
• Look carefully at her tireless industry and humble willingness to engage in menial work.
• Observe her ability to do demanding work and thankless tasks.
• Marvel at her servant heart that placed the needs of her family above what others might think.

Do you view menial work as degrading? In your mind, is physical work to be done by other people and not you? Do you dread working on “necessary, but thankless” tasks? In His Word, God praises the enchanting-but-industrious Rebekah. If you’re tempted to put off or disdain difficult work, look to this beautiful woman as an example.

Start or end your day with the powerful reminders of God’s work in the lives of women in the Bible in Elizabeth George’s new book, One Minute with the Women of the Bible.

Read Embracing Thankless Tasks on Elizabeth & Jim George.