A tired traveler stands by a well at evening. Ten camels kneel behind him. He asks a young woman for a sip of water.

Most people would tip the jar, let him drink, and walk home. That is polite. That is enough.

Abraham's servant asked God for a sign before he ever spoke to anyone at that well. He chose his sign with care. He did not ask for a woman in a certain color or a stranger who arrived at a certain hour. He asked for a woman who would do more than he asked.

"Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,' let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master." Genesis 24:14 (NKJV)

The word translated "kindness" is (hesed) חֶסֶד — "kindness, covenant love." The servant asked God to show hesed to Abraham, and he looked for a woman who carried the same kind of heart.

A camel that has crossed the desert can drink well over twenty gallons in a few minutes. Ten camels is a lot of water. That is trip after trip down to the well with a clay jar, then back up to the trough.

Rebekah offered anyway.

"And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, 'I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.' Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels." Genesis 24:19-20 (NKJV)

Genesis records that she ran. Nobody asked her to water the camels. She saw the need and met it before anyone spoke a second request.

The servant was not testing her strength. He was looking at her heart. His request was the minimum. Her answer was the extra.

If you are single, watch for the extra. Watch how a person treats a waiter, a tired parent, or a coworker who can never repay them. A person who does the bare minimum while dating will do the bare minimum in marriage. Marriage brings many evenings when one spouse has to draw water for camels they did not bring home.

If you are married, the question turns around. Do you give your spouse only what they ask for? Or do you go back to the well?

Anyone will give you a drink. Look for the one who waters your camels.