Faithful Servant

Faithful Servant

Deborah

Read: Genesis 35:1-8

I walked toward the church kitchen, dreading the next couple of hours. The previous night’s banquet had been a success, but it had ended rather late. As chairman of the fellowship committee, I was responsible for finishing the cleanup chores. Pushing the door open, I was amazed to see a spotless room. The dishes were all washed and put away, including the large punch bowls. The counters sparkled, the floor had been swept, and the trash cans had been emptied. I knew instantly who had been there. Kayla didn’t have an official title, but she was always working behind the scenes, quietly doing whatever needed to be done.

Today’s passage refers to another woman who faithfully served behind the scenes. Although we aren’t told when Rebekah died, Scripture does record the details of her childhood nursemaid’s death. Deborah had accompanied Rebekah when she left home to become Isaac’s bride. After she helped to care for Esau and Jacob, perhaps she became a part of Jacob’s growing household. Deborah died soon after Jacob returned to Canaan. She was honored and greatly mourned by the family she had served for two generations. Jacob buried her beneath an oak tree that was afterward known as “the oak of weeping.”

We know nothing about Deborah’s life except how it ended and that she served faithfully. When our own lives come to an end, all that will truly matter is how well we served God. Any earthly titles, honors, or awards will be meaningless. When God rewards his servants, he will look at how devotedly they carried out the work he assigned them and whether they served him willingly out of love and gratitude. Although she was a servant, God honored Deborah by putting the details of her death in his Word. Someday, he will honor all his faithful servants, including the quiet ones like Kayla and Deborah.

Well done, my good and faithful servant.

Matthew 25:21