from Genesis 24 

Part 1 of 2  

...Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder...

Genesis 24:15

God is a God of Romance. In Genesis 24 we see all the classical signs of a love story. The account is woven with both man's responsibility and God's providential timing in the finding of a wife for Abraham's son, Isaac. The colorful story tells us from the beginning that "Abraham was now old and well advanced in years" ( vs.1). It is time for him to pass on his patriarchal responsibilities to his grieving unmarried son, Isaac. God had promised Abraham that through his seed the earth would be blessed. How is this to happen when his son is not yet married?

The intricacy of how God allows boy to meet girl in this dramatic scene is laced with prayer, humor, perfect timing, attraction, amazing displays of character, and God's precise guidance for a nervous servant who is taking his task very seriously.

The stage is now set for a scene the likes of what we find in Romeo and Juliet or Sleepless in Seattle. The combination between God's purposes and man's involvement are intriguing.

Abraham was very specific and clear with his servant in terms of meeting God's requirements for his promises to be fulfilled. There are four principles we see unfold in discovering the direction and purpose of God.

First of all Abraham made it very clear that in the choosing of a wife for his son the most important requirement was that she was to be a woman of the same faith. It's very humorous to me the kind of lists people come up with when they are looking and praying for a spouse. One of my daughters once went out on a date. When we asked how it went she said, "I won't go out with him again". When we asked why, she said, "He doesn't like cream cheese or dancing". I thought, tongue in check, it must not be God's will then.

Seriously speaking, the Bible couldn't be any clearer when we are facing marriage, one of the largest decisions this side of heaven, that we must not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Notice Abraham specifically stated that he must go to his country among his relatives and get a wife for his son (vs.4) and that he must not find a woman from the Canaanites since God told Abraham, "to your offspring I will give this land" (vs.7). All of this to say, she must be a believer in the same God that called Abraham to leave his pagan roots and go to the land of promise.

Secondly, the servant wasn't to force himself on a potential mate for his master's son. The servant was very concerned that his weighty commission be done right and so he asked Abraham, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me?" Abraham replied,"If the woman is unwilling to come back, then you will be released from this oath" (vs.5; 8).

Whatever road God is leading you on or whatever decision in life you are facing, if the Lord is truly in it, you don't have to kick down any doors to make it happen. When God directs the doors open up naturally. Pastor Chuck Swindoll once said concerning God's will, "If it's of the flesh it's forced, if it's of the Father it flows."

In this case, Abraham knew that if it was the right woman fit for God's plan and his son, the servant would not have to force her and she would be perfectly willing to go.

Thirdly, God promises divine guidance and direction. Abraham knew his servant would be concerned and worried over the magnitude of going to a foreign country and meeting a family he never met, to choose a bride that had to be perfect for the unfolding of God's covenant family. Abraham reminds his servant that "God will send His angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son there" (vs 7). 

God doesn't play games, change His mind or rip the carpet out from under us when we seek Him for guidance. Abraham's servant may have felt like a sojourner on foreign soil, but he wasn't going alone, and neither are we.

Psalm 32:8 states the "He will instruct and teach you in the way you should go." This promise is as dependable as tomorrow's sunrise!

Lastly, (we are getting to the romance part) the servant specifically prays for confirmation. In seeking God's plan for our direction it is O.K. to ask for confirmation to be sure. I mean the man was specific. He prays, "May it be when I say to a girl (near the well), please let down your jar that I may have a drink , and she says drink and I'll water your camels too, let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master" (vs.14). Then we read "Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with a jar on her shoulder" (vs.15).   

Wow! If you have ever doubted that God was Providentially Romantic your doubt should end here. Unfortunately, I need to end here as well. To hear more of the story, either come to Bible study this Wednesday night in the Fireside Room or read Part 2 in the next TCFinTouch newsletter.

Pastor Bill 

If you have questions or comments on this article,  

feel free to email Pastor Bill at billg@trail.org