Her eyesight was good and right now, she had never been more grateful for that. Sitting on the Camel’s ‘humpy’ back, a long way from the man that had caught her attention, she could tell he was in deep thought. A thinker. Thinkers are reflective. Reflective people are cautious. Cautious people try to make the best decisions. Good.
She had asked the good man she had been traveling with, the same one that had given her gold, earrings and bracelets and spoken to her family so respectfully, and he had said the very words she was glad to hear. “That is my master.”
She had never imagined that such a great and important decision, probably the most important decision of her adult life as far as she was concerned, would be made on such short notice, almost on a whim. She had been asked to marry a man somewhere far away, a man she had never met and she had said yes. What could be more impulsive?
But in truth, she had been preparing for this. It wasn’t the gold and jewellery involved. No. She had had such offers in the past. It wasn’t the good man’s talk of his master’s son who was honourable, wealthy, and well… good looking; the man she now saw before her. No. It wasn’t all that.
It was the fact that the moment was decisive. Something about the good man’s request made her see beyond the ordinary.
She had been taught to be respectful and act like a true maiden. She didn’t need to be coerced to help a total stranger. True, drawing water for forty, thirsty camels, that had been travelling for God knows how long, was indeed a heinous task. And she had been ready to quit drawing water for the day before the man asked. But somehow, she knew she couldn’t refuse.
She was right. It was a defining moment. Before her now, was a man she had never met. What was he really like? Beyond his servant’s praises and exalting words, what kind of man was he, really? Would he love her with devotion? Will he love God with all his heart? Will they have a good life together?
Her many years of thinking, meditating and praying during long walks to the well, attending to chores around the house and working in her father’s field had taught her to trust God. To depend on him for everything; to do what she could, with all diligence, and leave the rest to him.
She had learnt to watch for the times, the changing of the seasons. She had learnt to choose her battles and know what decisions her life depended on.
Hearing the man’s words and examining the situation opened her eyes to the reality of the moment. Her time had come and there was no need to stall. Her heart was in the right place. Her God had gone before her.
With these thoughts in her mind, she reached for her veil and covered herself, just as her camel stopped, and Isaac smiled up at her.
Here comes everything.