‘Well now, have I some good news for you’ said Eliezer as he entered the stable and smiled round at them all.
Immediately there was a disgruntled shuffling of feet.
‘Ah!’ he observed. ‘I see you have already heard! I know its a very long way, but it will all be worth-while - just you wait and see. We shall return with a beautiful wife for Isaac, one who truly loves our Heavenly Father.’
Again the Camels shuffled and pushed each other bad-temperedly. It seemed they didn’t believe Eliezer.
‘I can tell you how I know’ he continued, and so they quietened down for a moment to listen. ‘I asked my Master the same question as you are thinking - ‘What if the young woman I choose isn’t willing to come back with me to marry Isaac? Should I then take Isaac to your old country to choose a wife himself? This is what I wanted to know.’
The Camels were horrified!!! What! TWO Journeys? And they started such a bellowing that the other servants had to run in to help calm them down. When eventually it was peaceful again, Eliezer asked ‘Well! Do you want to hear what your Master said or not?’
He was hot and annoyed, and the Camels thought they had better improve their tempers as it wasn’t often Eliezer spoke so sharply to them. So they nodded - Yes, they would like to hear!
‘Abraham told me not to take Isaac back to his country as the Lord had made a Covenant with him to give Isaac This Land. And then he said’ and here Eliezer paused, and a big smile lit up his face. He certainly had the attention of the Camels now as they leaned foward to hear him, not wanting to miss a word.
‘Abraham said “The Lord, the God of Heaven, will send His Angel ahead of us to prepare the way”.’
That really quietened the Camels! None of them moved, they only looked at each other and at Eliezer. An Angel going before them! Now that really was something!
‘We must be very important to have an Angel helping us’ said Nebo haughtily.
‘Absolutely!’ agreed the others, and they were so proud of themselves they quite forgot to fight and grumble. Eliezer hid a smile - if it pleased the Camels to think that THEY were so important then it would mean a happier journey, and that was fine by him!
‘Do you think we shall see the Angel?’ asked Tamar.
‘Oh, I don’t know about that’ Eliezer answered ‘But you never can tell, perhaps you shall.’
This made the Camels almost happy, and then Joash asked ‘How many of us will be going. I’d like to go.’
‘And I’ came a roar of voices.
‘I must go’ announced Nebo. ‘I’m the largest and you need me to keep the others in order’ and he glared round at everyone as if defying them to contradict him. No-one did. They knew Nebo’s temper!
Eliezer counted them. ‘Yes, I think we shall need all ten of you’ he decided. ‘I shall pack all the provisions and gifts we are taking, then tomorrow we set out for Aram.’ He smiled at them and, after giving Nebo a friendly pat, he left the Camels to talk of how thrilling it would be to meet the Angel, and, of course, how very important they were to deserve such an honour!
They were so engrossed in themselves they hadn’t noticed that the little Mouse had returned and was listening to them and chuckling quietly. ‘Has that pleased you?’ she asked.
‘Oh! so you’re back are you?’ Oscar looked at her disdainfully. ‘Then I suppose you know we are having an Angel to accompany us?’
‘Yes, I know’ she said. ‘And I’m glad SOMETHING has made you happy.’
Happy? Well they weren’t too sure about that! But yes, they had to admit, they were rather pleased that their importance had been recognised.
Elizabeth Aynsley ©

Chapter 3