Genesis 24:54 Commentary and Bible Study

The situation is a cause for celebration and they eat and drink together that evening and then rest till the morning, the servant being treated as an honoured guest. In the morning, he is impatient to be getting away, prompted by zeal to complete the task given him and to see the Lord’s intervention brought to conclusion. But Laban and Rebekah’s mother are surprised at the suddenness of the proposed departure. The had expected a period of time to adjust to the great change in their family circumstances. When therefore the servant asks them to release him and send Rebekah with him there and then, they are taken aback and propose a delay. They ask him to stay a few days and mention a period of ten days as an implied minimum. There is no indication that the servant suspects that at this point they are changing their minds, but he cannot rest easy about the matter until he is on his way. He knows how painful this departure will be and assumes that after the farewell celebration which they have now had, the best approach is to leave promptly. He perhaps fears that a prolonged stay may give them time to regret their initial agreement to the plan. At this point he speaks like a man who has seen the hand of the Lord in his life and rejoices in it, but who now sees something arise to thwart all the good that has taken place. He exerts himself to insist on his immediate departure lest the impossible happen and the plan be disrupted at the last minute. ‘Send me away to my master’. He speaks as a servant still, even though he now has sole charge of his master’s affairs.