The lengthiness of the account of Eliezer's trip to Haran to find a match for Yitzchak seems excessive until we see it in the right perspective. Stop for a moment and ask yourself what were you put into this world for, and then try to explain all the myriad details of your life and how they further this goal. It indeed requires a symphony of small actions woven together into a magnificent tapestry to procure a life of greatness.
Take a detective story for example. The plot can sometimes be very simple, but untangling the thread of relevant details from all the false leads is what makes the story fascinating.
Let us see Eliezer as an undercover agent for the forces of holiness, specifically for his master, Avraham. He is sent to the land from which his master broke away, the land of deceipt and immorality, to redeem a precious jewel that came from the King of Kings' Holy Crown. Each little detail can threaten the whole assignment. Carefully, with cautious, well thought out steps, he pries Rivka from Hakever (the letters of her name written backwards), the grave that her parents were spiritually digging for her, out into the bright light of Haboker (a different arrangement of the same letters), the morning, the symbol of light and kindness that his master Avraham represented.
Eliezer sets out on his way and concentrates deeply into the unity of the Tetragrammaton and the value of the Name El-him, and simultaneously, into the unity of the Tetragrammaton and the value of two other Holy Names, all of which add up to the numerical value of 224, which is also the the value of the word Derech, way. When he finds he has instantaneously skipped hundreds of miles, he is confident that his adherence to Holiness will keep him in good stead. He decides to utilize this closeness and he gives Rivka a trinket weighing a Beka, the weight prescribed for Pidyon Nefesh, so as to elevate himself from being an accursed Canaanite to being blessed to Hashem. Nimbly, he alternates between being completely trusting in Hashem and completely distrusting of Besuel's wicked family. Time after time he thwarts their evil intentions until they finally release Rivka and bless her farewell.
Our lives are replete with minute details that are brought our way specifically by Hashem. They are all meant to be utilized towards our ultimate goal of becoming eternal. We must be at least as wary in our decision making as an undercover agent.
Adapted from Rabbi Vali's book on Bereshis. Questions and subscriptions can be mailed to: the Yeshiva