We don’t find him davening to have children; just thanking Hashem (by building Mizbeach’s) when Hashem tells him that he’ll have children. Of course, he certainly davened for children. But it appears that the Torah wants us to know his special Avoda in purifying himself, that he was mainly involved in thanking, which is against the nature of most humans, who always kvetch about what they don’t have.
The Torah tells us about his constant Shviras HaMiddos. His davening with Mesirus Nefesh for Sedom (who were his arch enemies)! His risking his life to save Lot (who had been in a state of Machlokes with him, and he had just rejected Avraham Avinu, when he said: I don’t want neither Avraham nor his G-d) and his true love and respect for Sara Imeinu after she was Niftar.
The Alter from Novardok Zatzal
The Alter from Novardok Zatzal has a classical Shmuess on this week’s Parsha. He asks why is: יָפֶה שִׂיחָתָן שֶׁל עַבְדֵּי אֲבוֹת יוֹתֵר מִתּוֹרָתָן שֶׁל בָּנִים (ב"ר ס"ח) – the “ordinary conversation” of the slaves of the Avos (Eliezer) more precious than the “actual laws of the Torah” given to their descendants? (The Torah elaborates at length about his conversation).
He explains because every move Eliezer made was an act of Shviras HaMiddos. He had asked Avraham if Yitzchok can marry his daughter, and Avraham Avinu told him: אָרוּר אַתָּה – You are cursed (Noach cursed your grandfather, Cham), and cannot become joined with me, who is blessed (Noach blessed his grandfather, Shem). So Eliezer had a strong Negi'a (incentive) not to want any other Shidduch to work out (so Yitzchok would have no choice but to marry Eliezer’s daughter). Eliezer went to war against his Negi'a.
He davened against his Negi'a, and made an all-out effort that he should be Matzliach, with all kinds of resources to make things work out, and to take care of Yitzchok in a different direction than his desires. Notice that Eliezer's name is never mentioned in this Parsha. Perhaps not having his name is a sign of his selflessness; of his having no “Zich” (himself) in mind throughout this episode.
But he does call himself: עֶבֶד אַבְרָהָם אָנֹכִי – the slave of Avraham. We can suggest that he was indeed Battel (devoted) to Avraham; just as Avraham Avinu was always going against his Negi'a, so was Eliezer. It always bothered me how Avraham Avinu could tell him you are: אָרוּר cursed, and go out and get a: בָּרוּךְ “blessed” (girl) for Yitzchok! What about Eliezer’s sensitivities?
