Focus Chapters:
- Genesis 21:8-34
- Genesis 22-23
- Genesis 11:32
- Genesis 24
Standout Verse(s):
THE ACTION
Genesis 24:12-14 NLT
“O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”
THE REACTION
Genesis 24:15-22, 26-27 NLT
Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah. Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again. Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”
“Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.
The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission. Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists.
The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.
Observation (s):
- The servant did not seem to have a personal relationship with God but still petitioned God to guide him and grant him success on his mission. He did not rely on his own perceptiveness to pick Issac’s wife but rather gave way for the God of his master to do so.
“O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.
- Rebekah did not hesitate to provide the drink requested by the servant. In fact, she took every opportunity to extend kindness. Her kindness to a total stranger extended to quenching the thirst of his animals, without him asking.
“Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.
- When God delivered, per his petition, the servant bowed and worshiped God. A God who is faithful and demonstrates unfailing love deserves worship of thanks.
The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.
Application:
You are not a one-man team. It is often very tempting to take on both critical and non-critical tasks without consulting God or praying for guidance and success. We should never assume that God sanctioning the mission is an instant recipe for success.
There are often hidden dangers along the way that can derail us. The true recipe to success occurs when God sanctions the mission and guides you throughout, every step of the way. It is also vital that you do not forget a critical component. When you have tasted the sweet joys of success, do not forget God. Be like Abraham’s servant who fell down and worshiped God.
After all, a faithful and unfailingly loving God deserves a measure of worship.
