The Camels were restless. They had heard a rumour that they were going on a journey.
‘When?’ they had asked the Mouse who had brought the news.
‘I don’t know’ she had answered. ‘I just heard them talking.’
‘You are always “just hearing them talk” growled Nebo.
Nebo was the biggest and strongest of the camels so he had been named after the mountain, and he was very proud of his name. ‘One of these days you will find yourself in trouble with all your eavesdropping’ he added.
But the little Mouse just twitched her whiskers, she wasn’t worried, and it was SO exciting finding out the news first!
‘What exactly did the Master say?’ asked Asher.
‘I shall have to be quiet for a while whilst I try to remember everything’ she teased, then off she scampered.
The ten Camels looked at each other. They were not noted for their good temper, and this was beginning to try their patience a little too far!
‘I think we should just ignore her when she returns’ said Joash.
Most of the others growled in agreement, but Tamar said ‘If we do, how long shall we have to wait until we find out?'
How annoying! But Tamar was right. So they decided to be patient a little while longer.
A short time later the Mouse returned. ‘I’ve remembered’ she said brightly.
‘Good! Then perhaps you will be good enough to tell us’ snapped Nebo, then, remembering his manners, he very reluctantly added ‘Please!’
The little Mouse was delighted. ‘Yes, of course I will’ she said, and she ran up the wall and settled herself on one of the saddles hanging there.
‘Can you all hear me?’ she asked.
‘Just get on with the news you are so keen to tell us’ growled Asher.
‘Well, you all know Eliezer, don’t you?’ she began.
The Camels began to fidget and move around. The Mouse recognised the warning signs so quickly added ‘Of course you do, he is your Master’s Head Servant in charge of everything he has. Well, I heard him talking to Abraham, and Abraham asked him to go on a journey - a long journey - so you will be going with him of course.’
And the little Mouse, looking so pleased with herself, expected to hear how clever she was. It did not happen!
‘I expect we shall have to walk for miles and miles’ grumbled one.
‘Yes, and with heavy loads too’ grumbled another.
‘Well no-one need try to put too much on me or I shan’t get up’ said a third.
‘There’s more to tell’ interrupted the Mouse who was tired of hearing their complaints.
‘Then why don’t you tell us?’ roared Joash.
The little Mouse sighed. It wasn’t easy trying to be friends with a Camel!
‘Abraham wants Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac from amongst his own people, so that’s where you are going’ she announced.
‘Amongst Abraham’s own people? But that’s miles away! It will take us days and days to get there’ said Asher.
‘Weeks, more likely’ added another ill-humouredly.
‘Probably months!’ finished a particularly bad-tempered Camel as he kicked at the wall.
‘Oh! I’m off’ said the little Mouse. ‘I can’t stand listening to your grumbles any longer’ and down from the harness she ran, along the floor, and out the door.
The Camels continued their grumbling. It seemed to be what they liked doing best!
‘Why can’t Isaac find a wife right here?’ asked Asher of no-one in particular. ‘We wouldn’t have to go on such a long journey then.’
‘It’s because the people right here don’t worship God’ snapped Omar. ‘You know that!!’
‘And a local wife could maybe get Isaac to worship her gods of wood and stone, instead of our Heavenly Father’ explained Tamar a little more gently.
‘Huh! That wouldn’t happen’ snorted Nebo. ‘Not with Isaac.’
‘Abraham is wise’ insisted Tamar. ‘It isn’t worth taking the risk.’
For once all the Camels agreed, and it was whilst they were in this all-too-rare good humour that Eliezer walked in.
Elizabeth Aynsley ©