Genesis 24:14 English Standard Version (ESV) Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”

In our third listing of love in our bible search we find the love of spouse. How many of us place God first in our search for a proper helpmate. God provided Eve for Adam. When did we decide that we are better suited for match making? It is because our flesh has a hunger and our minds decide what looks good? This is one of the most difficult of all aspects of love of spouse. We think we know what is best.

Mankind has been involved in matchmaking all over the world for various reasons. Kingdoms have made arranged marriages based on the need for peace and forming alliances. Wealthy parents perceive the gene pool of their own social class as a method of ensuring posterity and proper breeding. Poor fathers sell off pretty girls for a price for their own comfort. None of these reasons take into account the one thing that God can provide: knowledge of the future outcome.

Here in Genesis 24:14 it is clear that God can and will show His love for His creation if we will seek His will. Abraham in seeking a wife for his son Isaac would have remembered the mistakes of his past in not waiting on God’s promise. He would seek God’s will for his beloved son.

Now we can see the heart of Father God in His steadfast love for His creation. He has arranged a marriage for His Son Jesus Christ based on a foreknowledge that guarantees a successful and joyous union. 

Genesis 24:12 English Standard Version (ESV) And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.

Our second expression of love is in Genesis 24 were the word love and is attached to an act by Eliezer of Damascus for his master Abraham. Once again we see that someone is supplying the need of another, in this case service. Eliezer prays for success in service that his master might feel the love that he has for Abraham.

This is a complex expression of love which can take on many forms. At one time Eliezer was the object of affection by Abraham who prayed to God for a son because this servant would have been the recipient of Abraham’s blessing without an heir. The relationship between Abraham and Eliezer was built around faithful service and mutual respect.

The Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon introduces a new word here in the emotions of relationship and that is zeal. 

Galatians 4:18a King James Version (KJV) But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing,

Easton’s Bible Dictionary makes this assertion; an earnest temper; may be enlightened, or ignorant and misdirected.

The world is often zealously affected as an expression of love in service but that does not mean it is right or righteous. It only reflects the servants understanding of his master’s orders. Who that master is will determine if those acts are righteous.

John 8:44 English Standard Version (ESV) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

As I mentioned earlier, expressions of love in service to others can be very complicated.