January 7, 2025 -Planting Seeds

GENESIS 21:8-23:20

GENESIS 11:32

GENESIS 24:1-67

One Year Bible Audio & Daily Reading (oneyearbibleonline.com)

Genesis 24:26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

Abraham's servant trusted in God. He knew about God from his master Abraham. He saw Abrahams faith and all that God had done for him so, when he went to look for a wife for Issac he didn't just go a start talking to all the women that he could find. He didn't interview them and come up with a process on his own to determine who would be the best wife. He asked God for help. And God answered. And in doing that he knew that what happened was all by God's hand so his immediate response was to praise God. Just as his master Abraham would have done.

Genesis 24:31 “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord,” he said. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

On see this and hearing this Rebeka went back to her home and told her family and they recognized God's hand in the situation. Her brother came out and brought the servant home recognizing that he was someone who was "blessed by the Lord"

Genesis 24:42 “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,” 44 and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’ 45 “Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ 46 “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also.

Now he shares that rest of the story. He let's them know that Abraham said that he would be free of his oath if they say know so there is no pressure. He also tells them about his prayer and God's answer.

Genesis 24:49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”

He gives them the out because he is not looking to make anything happen of his own will and action. It is all in God's hands.

Genesis 24:50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.”

Rebekah's parents could not deny the hand of God in the situation and were also obedient to Him. They knew Him and trusted Him as well.

Genesis 24:58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,” she said.

The servant was excited to complete his task and probably very excited to tell the story of God's faithfulness. He knew that everything was just as God had ordained it so there was no reason to hesitate. Knowing that God's hand was on them Rebekah's mom and brother who asked if she could stay with them a few more days trusted this too into God's hands. Rebekah who has been watching all of this was willing to go. I wonder if she was worried, or excited, or a little bit of both.

Genesis 24:67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

This is like planting seeds. Abraham's servant saw the hand of God in the life of Abraham. In the things that he had experienced and done. A seed planted that sprouted. Then in his trusting of God he witnessed God's hand in his life and was moved to a stronger faith. His response of praise was immediate and Rebekah and her whole family saw and trusted in the hand of God in this situation. As a believer in Jesus we need to trust God for direction and guidance is the decisions and work of our lives and when we do that He will be faithful and respond. When He does we need to praise Him and give Him the glory for what He has done. That will in turn show others His power and what faith looks like. Now Rebekah and her family were Abraham's family so they already knew God but Abraham's servant didn't know God until he witnessed Him through the life of Abraham. I would bet if all the believers in this land were to do as Abraham and his servant did then non-believers would have to come to see and acknowledge that God's hand is on our lives. What a great seed to plant.