Genesis 24:1-28, The Bride Of Isaac: Part One

I'm so glad to be back in Genesis you guys ready for a Bible study it's been a while let's pray Lord we know that you are sovereign you know the future you know what we're gonna even pray even before we pray it and Lord I know it's the first Wednesday of the year and I'm the first to say thank you Lord that you've given us another day to talk about you to praise you and open up your word and I pray that you would help each person in here separate from New Year's resolutions and separate from promises we make to ourself that we never keep Lord I pray that we would make a resolution to you to fall more in love with you to really intentionally take time to fall more in love with you in your word so I pray for those that feel skeptical and discouraged and I pray you would encourage him tonight and it's in Jesus name and all God's people said amen twenty-two years ago a man by the name of Richard Perea decided to work for Calvary south Denver twenty-two years ago I met at the time him Carolyn who would soon be my wife she was 11 years old yes I'm giving you the math of our age right now and really it came down to any 11-year old boy and the way he thinks he's you know he's just mean in general I was just mean I was a mean kid Carolyn will tell you people ask all the time did you guys always liked each other and she'll be like no no not at all and it's true because of me I gave my life to Jesus when I was 15 years old because of my wife who was not my girlfriend at the time but just this gal that loved Jesus and it was incredibly attractive and then we started dating when we were 16 and then when I turned 20 the week I turned 20 October 5th turned 20 October 9th got married I was a teenager the week before I married my wife Carolyn and this now that it's 2019 this October will be 14 years that we've been married which is insane it's crazy to think about and that was a very short version of our marriage and Caroline will tell you it's like seven novels our marriage because you need to know the ins the outs the everything but the point is each person in here has a story and each person in here has a story even in your time of singleness I'm not singling out the singles in here because I realize what you have to do in your life right now is just as imperative when it comes to how God is using you Genesis chapter 24 is interesting because we find Isaac the son of Abraham finding a wife but he doesn't find it in the conventional way you and I might have known or gotten to known your spouse who you are married to or maybe you're not married right now it is literally one of the most bizarre ways and is separate from cultural differences and the Western world as we know it today because I realized today you can find your spouse online I know you can find your spouse through a friend of a friend I know you can find your spouse at a restaurant that you met X amount of years ago we all have different stories but Genesis chapter 24 is so unique it is so interesting because of the way it happens so it's not just a story of Isaac finding a wife the chapter talks about God's will and it talks about God's timing which are very difficult subjects for Christians we know these subjects but we have such a hard time with them I'm gonna read to you a quote by Mormon where's be there's not gonna be anything on the screen you just have to listen to me I know so follow along warn where's be once said God is not in a hurry he kept Abraham and Sarah waiting 25 years before Isaac was born and Isaac and Rebekah waited 20 years for Esau and Jacob and Jacob waited 14 years to get the bride he really wanted and then he went had a serve six more years to build up his flock so he could be independent a total of 20 years 22 years passed between Joseph's betrayal by his brothers and the brothers reconciliation in Egypt God is not in a hurry because all his works are done in love love is patient love is kind let's be grateful that God takes his time now although it's easy for some of us but yes I think I partially agree with that for some of you it's like no that's frustrating this concept of God's timing and we need to be patient with God's timing but the reality still remains the same that as difficult as a subject this is especially when it comes to the especially when it comes to dating or pursuing your future spouse the reality is still the same God's time it has to be because of his character always perfect because it is lots to talk about we're only covering 28 verses tonight of the 67 we're gonna finish the rest next week but let's start with verse 1 of Genesis chapter 24 it says now Abraham was old well advanced in age and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things what defines advanced in age I feel like this is a polite way of not sharing what Abraham's age was especially because you don't ask that question ask that quite how old are you and slap to the face historically speaking where we're at in the story what defines it is he's anywhere between a hundred and thirty seven to a hundred and forty years old I'd say that's all I would say that's a well advanced in age and I'll be the first to say if God in especially in light of verse one decides to bless me in all things at the age of a hundred and thirty seven I'm all for it if I will live that long statistically I won't Carolyn I'll come before Carolyn moving on this just got dark verse two so Abraham said to the oldest servant back in Genesis 24 Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house who ruled all all over he had please put your hand under my thigh let's just stop there for obvious reasons for a second this is a question which I'm sure every person in here hasn't actually never been asked for someone to have them place their hand under your thigh and again when I read the Bible it's easy to just skim across the text and just better okay but can you imagine being the oldest servant of Abraham right here and being asked this question Eliezer I'm gonna tell you why I think it was him here in a second come over here yes Abraham put your hand under my thigh right now to which most of us if were you know gonna be asked that why but this was not an unordinary practice back then this was something that they were actually quite familiar with in fact we have something that's quite similar in our culture that has nothing to do with eyes and hands otherwise that would be a lot of lawsuits on hands anyways but rather we know it as pinky swearing you know someone tells you do you pinky swear not to tell anyone what I'm about to tell you and you're like wow he said thank you swear I have to obliged to this pinky swear rules of you guys know how it works but basically 1 to 4 a master to ask his servant to place their hand under their thigh was an intense way to basically have them promise to do whatever it is that they're being asked to do and again we don't know because the text doesn't tell us who this oldest servant is exactly some believe I fall under the same category that it was eleazar eleazar is introduced in the 15th chapter of Genesis and he's described as Abraham's chief servant now the reason why I'm even pointing out why it could be this guy is if it is in fact Eliezer his it makes the story all the more interesting because the name means God my help or more specifically it means the comforter and the reason why that's even just so unique in and of itself as as we've been going through the book of Genesis there have been so many I hope you guys have been noticing it this is I've been enjoying the book of Genesis for one of these main reasons because of the numerous type ologies that are presented where you have characters that have representations of New Testament characters and even for us reading it's like I feel like I didn't relate with a lot of this but in this case in the 24th chapter cuz follow me for a second don't you find it interesting that the father Abraham in pursuit to find a wife for the son dispatches an unnamed servant if it is in fact Eleazar the one who's known as the helper or the comforter comforter to accomplish this task and the typology is clear I hope it's clear for most of you that the oldest servant is a representation of the Holy Spirit if that's who he is because think about it for a second the Holy Spirit or better yet the helper or the comforter as Jesus will call him was sent into the world to draw people to Christ their need for a savior to draw people out of the world to Christ to present a bride to the bridegroom it is it's such a cool picture and as we've been going through we're in the 24th chapter of Genesis we've been seeing this all throughout the book of the typology --zz that are all presented let's not forget the original question abraham makes to his servant he says please put your hand under my thigh and look how the servant responds in verses 3 through 4 in Genesis back back in Genesis 24 he says I will make you swear by the Lord the God of heaven and the god of Earth that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell but you shall go to my country to my family and take a wife for my son Isaac so what we just read right here in verses 3 & 4 according at least two ancient custom was described as this solemn serious Oh ie pinky swearing so advanced aged Abraham will call him that was so concerned to the point that he is making his oldest servant place his hand under his thigh that Isaac his son cannot shall not marry a Canaanite and that the seriousness of it was so imperative that not just like go find a wife for my son it's like and usually come here I need you to repeat after me put your hand under my thigh good Isaac must not marry a Canaanite but must marry someone from my own country did you know for us today it's it's similar to a courtroom setting in fact I'm interested if this is still practiced today someone I feel like someone told me this and I don't know if this is very valuable resources and sources but the idea is this that you know in a courtroom setting you place your hand on the Bible you swear over the Bible do you promise to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God but in this case in Genesis chapter 24 it's not placing your hand on a Bible and swearing before a group of people it's placing their hand on a thigh and asking him not to marry a Canaanite for a son Isaac to not marry a Canaanite and for some of us reading that it's like that seems kind of harsh but you need to understand pertaining to the Canaanites they were again a typology a type in a picture of a group of people that didn't know God not just didn't know God but chose not to serve the creator of the universe to love and serve the Lord and this is a huge issue for Abraham he didn't want his son to marry someone that didn't share the same philosophies as him that didn't share you know he doesn't want Isaac to marry a gal that doesn't share the same beliefs that they believe in and as you're thinking about that and as you're going through that I mean it actually makes sense especially for today because there is there's a New Testament biblical concept that we can follow with this that's why at least Abraham here is telling his oldest servant like not only can he not marry a Canaanite he needs you got you need to go to my country or of the Chaldeans you need to go to my household now you need to find a wife for him in that capacity and for some of you parents who are listening to my voice right now and maybe your parents for this so maybe your parents weren't this way but I'll tell you for me I know that's important that my girls marry a boy I'm having a really hard time saying the sentence but here we go follow me that my girls each marry a man that loves Jesus that serves Jesus that has a not just oh I'm a Christian but I am so passionate about the Lord and I want to serve the Lord in all that I do we do we tell our girls that more often than not girls you can do whatever you want when you're older you can literally do whatever you want if it honors the Lord and if it brings glory to Jesus you can do whatever you want cuz the Bible says that says whether you eat or drink or whatever you do do it all to the glory of God and of course the boy subject is brought up between eight six and a four-year-old why I don't know but anyways and for the future boy we do we pray over our girls that their future husband loves Jesus honey parents it's good for you to pray for your kids that they marry someone that loves Jesus and they need to hear that from us because now we've set the standard we've set the bar and of course Carolyn makes me swear to be nice to future boys I made no such oath I plan not to I'm not required - I'm not being a biblical this is hurting me just talking about this we need to move on we're digressing anyways the oldest servant of Abraham is given a request by his master look at his response in verse 5 of Genesis 24 the servant said to him well perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land unless I take your son back to the land from which you came now I like just for a second I like how the servants concern isn't that like you know the the the concern is that the what if she doesn't come back rather than maybe we should involve Isaac in this process and tell him we're trying to find a wife for him and neighborhoods like no no go to my country find her be quick and I don't and it's just it's hell Arius to me because it's a legitimate concern but I'm looking at it like me me as you should he should be involved in the process so look at Abraham's response to his concern verses six through eight of Genesis 24 but Abraham said to him beware that you do not take my son back there the Lord God of heaven who took me from my father's house and from the land of my family and who spoke to me and swore to me saying to your descendants I give this land he will send his angel before you and you shall take a wife for my son from there if any woman is not willing to follow you you can't blame them then you will be released from this oath only do not I repeat do not take my son back there there's a couple things we need to remember why he's the you know you justyou can hear the tone of the seriousness of this request we need to remember a couple of things about Abraham number one he's well advanced in age we've established that he's like a hundred and forty years old but number two he's been around the block more specifically Abraham knows firsthand the consequences of disobeying God that's why your testimony is so unique I need everyone to hear what I'm saying right now your testimony is not only unique but imperative when it comes to explaining to people this is why you don't do whatever it is that you're trying to do learn from me and you hear it and I know for me young john geraci who's 19 years old turning 20 about to marry the girl of my dreams you know every twenty-year-old every teenager has life figured out and they don't I still don't right now especially with three girls this is my life I've just I mean the Lord is trying to Humble me to truthfully seek after him on a daily basis because I don't have to figure it out but back to your testimony the reason why your testimony is imperative not just for those who are hearing you but so that they can hear why they shouldn't do whatever that they might be doing that is not a good idea separate from personal preference is separate from the way you were raised the simple truth this is me being deliberately disobedient to the Lord and this was the consequences your kids need to hear it your coworkers need to hear it people need to hear it because it's not just a part of your testimony but now they can learn of what not to do Isaac the son of promise never left the promised land and it was imperative that he would not leave in fact so imperative that Abraham's instructing his oldest servant listen if none of the gals go with you then you're good to go like if that's what it you know it's better that he doesn't even marry if it means none of the gals come back with you it seems like an incredibly insensitive thing but again it goes back to a New Testament principle that remains the same for us guys you and maybe this is a part of your testimony but the consequences of marrying someone that is not a Christian it's difficult and you understand and I understand that there are situations where a part of your testimony as we were both unbelievers and we became Christians together that's great or your testimony is I was a Christian and he wasn't or she wasn't and God miraculously and His grace and mercy and love used that situation but if that's your motivation to marry that future dream guy or girl I'll convert them to Christianity it doesn't end well guys it's not a good practice and I'm the first to tell you being in the ministry as long as we have been and messy and God is redeeming and God is merciful and gracious and can take the years that the locusts ate away and turn into something so beautiful within marriages I came I can't tell you how many times I've seen that but the concept is still the same it's not worth risking pursuing a woman or a man that doesn't love Jesus being unequally yoked so in order to make this pinky-swear official excuse me by grabbing swear to the Lord official look what the servant does in verse 9 of Genesis 24 so the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham master and he swore to him concerning this matter it's done it's official time for the road trip looking verses 10 through 11 then the servant took 10 of his master's camels and departed for all of his master's goods were in his hand now keep in mind he doesn't he's not getting multiple camels to bring back multiple women and you know Isaac Jews and something it's like a four thousand year ago Bachelorette I don't know anyways he's prepping the dowry for whoever the gal is gonna be moving on verse 10 through 11 and he arose he went to miss potamia to the city of Nahor and he made his camels kneel down outside of the city by a well of water at evening time the time when look what it says the women go out to draw water you notice that not the men but the women this might seem like a shock to a lot of people reading this but to act then in that culture the women are the ones who actually did the brunt of the physical labor while the men stayed with other men and talked about how great their wives were and how hard workers they were it was a cultural practice for the women to do this hard labor so yeah so the the oldest servant finds where they're all congregating and he's like alright this is the place where I'm gonna find the ladies and so look what happens in verses 12 through 14 so then he said this is the servant this is imperative Oh Lord God of my master Abraham please give me success this day show kindness to my master Abraham behold here I stand by the well of water and the daughters of men in the city the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water now let it be that the young woman to whom I say please let down your pitcher that I might drink and she says will drink and I will also give your camels a drink let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac and by this and by this I will know that you show kindness to my Minister there's another amazing principle that we can learn from this I told you the importance of not being unequally yoked to an unbeliever so number one the principle of the two principles listed it's important I have to say this use most of you know this but hear me out that I say to the most sensitive way that I can it is important that you don't pursue someone that doesn't love Jesus with their entire life the second principle that we can learn from this is that prayer for the Lord to find a godly man or woman is imperative it's just as imperative because we live in a culture of instant gratification instant success instant information we're impatient we grow more impatient by the year don't have the answer google it don't have the result you want then find it better we are we're impatient but this this is why it's so important that only prayer becomes the imperative factor of finding that future spouse but that he or she loves Jesus guys and for the servant to pray the prayer that he prays o Lord of my master Abraham please give me success this day he's basically saying I need you to give me direction can you blame the guy for even praying that I mean he's given this enormous task he's not just like flipping a coin settling for less making this impulsive move he's intentionally asking the Lord to show him whom to pick I need you Lord to make it clear whoever it is and interestingly enough the servant wanted an indicator okay she's gonna be the one that's not only gonna give me water but she's gonna offer water to my head Hamill's that's a lot of work I mean it's one thing for you to open the door and say after you oh thank you very much and then for you and maybe you have done this and I'm just a terrible person for saying it but you are at the supermarket and you see someone with like 17 grocery bags carts and you're like let me help you unload all of it into your car and that's great but this is like above and beyond of what he's wanting as an indicator to show she's gonna be the one it's not an impossible task but it's gonna be difficult let's continue so he says let it be the yellow woman whom I say please let down your pitcher that I might drink and she says drink and also give your camels a drink it's very detailed now I do have to share a couple things before we get into this subject of knowing God's will you need to know a couple things first and foremost we think God for the day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit falls upon the disciples and everyone present but more specifically specifically pacifically is not a word anyways more specifically we don't have to draw lots anymore like they did in the Old Testament in the New Testament to try to indicate whatever it is we have we have the spirit inside us now to help us understand what it is we're trying to pursue and for God to give us a piece edit and for this it's such a detailed high standard but not completely unrealistic thing but he makes it clear if it's her let her be the one that you chose that's also important a better rendition is let the person that I meet be the person that you chose Lord and the idea is like I'm involved I'm the servant of Abraham he's my master I'm involved in this but really Lord it's your you're the one that's making the choice and by this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master so again it's it's all about the will of God modern translation understanding God's will and I love that I love it not only because we can relate with this but I love it because he's saying Lord you make the choice and I feel like it's such a loose term I feel like we saved those things we don't fully either believe it or understand why we should say it I need you guys to understand that you may think the Lord is completely unaware of your needs for a spouse and I'm here to tell you he knows exactly what you need I've shared this story with Carolyn's very sad story but I'm gonna share with you because that's a humorous ending remember when Carolyn and I were dating even in our early years of marriage we were talking about being kids and you know as a little girl you prep for your wedding you have your pretend wedding of your future whatever it might be and you think about that grand wedding day do boys think that way generally no for me as a kid and it's such a sad story but I remember you remember the game house you play house dad mom son daughter I always played house with the other kids I was always cast the typecast as the dog John you're the dog can I be the dad that's no you're the you're a good dog you're a good dog John every single time and you'd think that most young six-year-old boys would have dignity and be like no I'm better than a dog but I did it every time and I remember and this is I'm not being humorous here but I remember even as a kid playing the game house as the dog every time made me think about my future spouse that I hope I meet someone that actually loves me sad right it's kind of what those like well no I mean that's not sad it's realistic but I remember being so fixated on finding a gal that loved me for who I was and then when I met Carolyn not only did I find someone that loved me for who I was the Lord showed me you need to find something that loves me more than they love you and as I started thinking about that just in general that not only guys I know we heard you hear the term marry up we've married up most guys say that to be nice and gals say that to be nice but I truly married up like sincerely to the point where I'm going to awkwardly tell you how well I married up up here that not only did I marry someone that is so incredibly beautiful I've married someone that has agreed to serve Jesus alongside me for all the days of my life and no one could ever ask for anything better than that I married up husbands make sure you tell your wife see married up - moving on moving on the servant gives the indication this is how I know she's gonna be Isaac's wife and look what it says in verse 15 of Genesis 24 and it happened listen to this so important the first part of this verse and it happened before he had finished speaking that behold Rebekah who was born to beth UL son of Milcah and the wife of Nahor Abraham's brother came out with her pitcher on her shoulder now I love this verse for numerous reasons but number one before he had finished speaking behold the Bible says in the Gospel of Matthew that your father knows the things you have need of before you even asked him did you know that did you know that God is so intimately in tune with knowing you and your needs and his sovereignty and all and his knowledge he knows what your gonna pray before you even pray and I know some of you know that but I feel like we need constant reminders of that because sometimes when we pray we fill this void he's not listening it's like he's not hearing me but church he knows you so intimately even before you even ask even before we make our request and in this case the servant who I just that's a stressful job the task he's given right here before he had finished speaking behold her Rebecca who was born to Beth ul comes and not only does it show me that God exceeds spectators but we needed to remember that the servant who was originally concerned in verse five with Abraham like what if she doesn't even come back like what if she doesn't even come back with me not only does God exceed his expectations Hey look god I'm here I'm at the well and maybe this before he even finished speaking god I knew it was exceeds his expectations was prompt pauly impossible say in ephesians 3:20 now to him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above well all we ask or think according to the power that works within us i need if there's ever a time to say Amen in the house of god it's to this you ready we serve a God who exceeds our expectations amen we serve a God who goes above and beyond what we could ever ask think or imagine and for a lot of us we need to not only hear that but we need to infuse God's promises into our hearts because the enemy is so relentless to convince us otherwise but your heavenly Father knows you intimately enough that not only does he know your needs before you pray but he exceeds them that's why when you pray to God ask big that's why the Bible says in James if you lack wisdom ask for it he'll give it to you and even though some of you might find it hard to believe we can't forget we can't forget the Bible says we delight ourself in the Lord he'll give to us the desires of our heart and for most of you and I'm the friend it's like one of those testimonies because each of us can hear in here can share this where you've manipulated or try to rush God's will am i right we're you know what you're supposed to be doing and you're rushing it and you're going as fast as you can and you realize that timing isn't perfect maybe it's because we are trying to rush it and maybe just maybe his ways are above our ways and his thoughts are above our thoughts yeah God you know what's best even though I may think I know it's best so don't lose heart church grow weary God is gonna provide to you in due time as he provided for Isaac and not just a spouse for those who are here my voice but also just in general just in general verse 16 let's move on Genesis 24 now the young woman was very beautiful to behold a virgin no man had known her she went down to the well filled her pitcher and she came up now let's stop there for a second so ways God exceeds the servants requests and expectations number one she's beautiful she's a virgin no one no man who had adverb been intimate with her and more specifically according to Abraham's request she's not a Canaanite now I want you guys to understand as we're reading through the text as vain as this sounds it's important to note that Rebekah was very beautiful to behold that that statement is in there for a reason it's unique for a couple of reasons number one Rebekah is one of the women of whom the Bible specifically says is beautiful which is interesting to me because the Book of Ruth you know the story of Boaz and Ruth Ruth is not described as a beautiful woman in that story I mean it let me get back to that here in a second I'm gonna share to you the areas in Scripture that specifically mentioned women who are beautiful Sarah Genesis chapter 12 Rachel Genesis 29 Abigail in 1st Samuel 25 Bathsheba and second Samuel 11 Tamar in 2nd samuel 14 queen vashti of the persians she's described in Esther and of course in the book of Esther Esther is described as as a beautiful woman and last but not least the sons of Job the reason why I think the Bible is very specific about that is because the Bible is very specific David is described as a young man with ruddy good looks back to Ruth and Boaz here's my theory because I love that book if you haven't gone through the Book of Ruth go through it but Boaz found Ruth attractive on the basis of her glean gleaning from the fields did you know that that Boaz looked at the field he owned and Ruth who's sweating profusely working hard Boaz is like yes now that's a woman and of course we know the story that through Ruth and Boaz is going to come the coming Messiah that through the line of these two is going to come Jesus that's the unique part of the story but it's also important to note Rebekah is regarded as beautiful as only a few women in the Bible let's continue on verses 17 through 21 of Genesis 20 and and the servant ran to meet her and said please let me drink a little water from your pitcher so she said a drink my lord and then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand and gave him a drink and when she had finished you know his eyes are probably big like his gonna happen and when she had finished giving him a drink she said I will also draw water for your camels until they have finished drinking and then she quickly emptied her pitcher and into the trough and ran back into the well to draw her water and drew for all his camels and the man wandering at her which is an interesting type of wording remained silent so as to know where the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not I just love the survey because he's probably have you seen picture yourself where you're watching something you don't stoic least and there it's gonna happen maybe unless you have a good poker face if it was me a good and the other like people out the well would look at me like I've never been to a well before and he's watching intently he's watching he's watching is my way is my journey here gonna be prosperous is she the one because he gave specific instructions Lord if she's the one this is what needs to happen and that's exactly what needed to happen he gave terms that were not human humanly impossible he wasn't like alright Lord if she is the one she's got to walk to the camels no better yet she's gotta fly to the camels and she's got each nine of the ten camels Spanish and she's got no he didn't do any weird work like that he just simply said he's gonna she didn't offer me drinks a drink and my ten camels water to drink the odds were difficult but they weren't impossible and then the servant says and by this I will know and for a lot of us that's hard to gauge even right now as you're hearing my voice humorous I it's hard for me to gauge what God's will is to truly distinguish this is from God or this isn't from the Lord and for some of you to confidently say by this I know it will be from the Lord that's a hard statement to make because you yourself don't know there's also a biblical principle behind this Paul the Apostle will say be anxious for nothing another translation is don't worry about anything easier said than done but he says in Philippians 4:6 through seven be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving all those things are imperative let your requests be made known to God this is the important part and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and your mind through Christ Jesus here's the application dialogue with God allows us to distinguish what God wants us to do the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guards your heart and your mind through Christ Jesus is a way to say I'm pursuing what I believe is God's will and then maybe some of you have said something like this and you're like I've got this good feeling got this feeling again it's an overused statement but especially when you're pursuing something that you believe is God's will I've got this I got this feeling I'm supposed to be doing this and it's not weird indigestion or anything like that but rather the peace of God that guards your heart and mind is the very thing you need in order to pursue whatever it is you're pursuing and if you're pursuing something and not only do you not have a piece about it then that should be an indicator that you stop and you ask again because there's a difference between fearing something and not pursuing it and pursuing something knowing it doesn't make sense on paper but God is in it if fear shouldn't be the distinguishing factor as to why we make our decisions it can't be it can't be and especially for Carolyn and I when we I was just thinking about this we started a church when I was 26 years old like we moved to another state and just started a church it's insane on paper it literally makes no sense on paper we had a two month old baby two kids one was a two month old and was just like hey I'm gonna start a church in South Carolina where I don't know were you gonna work how you gonna support your family maybe you know I gotta work I gotta do my thing and you know what's so rad God was in it every step of the way not only was he in it every step of the way desperation forces you on your knees to pray to a God who not only knows the outcome but wants to reveal it to you because he does the peace of God guards her heart and mind to not do something the Lord doesn't want you to do and maybe for some of you you've been feeling lately I haven't been hearing from God perhaps it's because you've been monologuing some of you are wondering what I mean by that perhaps you're doing all the talking and you're just dumping all of your cares onto the Lord which by the way the Bible says to cast your cares on the Lord cause he cares for you both the one thing people forget about is to be still and to know that he is God meaning talk less listen more be still know that I'm God requires this and this might sound contradictory but it's this there's gotta be dialogue you make your request you share whatever it is you wait for God to respond and I'm the first to tell you guys that this isn't just like only big tasks it's like everyday and I feel like especially 20:19 we have so many things to pursue as a family for Carolyn Knight as a church as a leadership and we got a weight that we need to wait on the Lord and this is especially difficult and true for those out here who are living in a time and a season of singleness and like I said your stair your your story is just as imperative to every person in here that met their spouse your story is imperative but your story also requires waiting just like every one of us let's move on to verse 22 of Genesis 24 so it was when the camels had finished drinking and of course the servant is giddy and is giggling that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels ladies you know what this is equivalent to a ream now even though he's the servant and he's speaking on behalf of his master's son this is equivalent to if you like it then you better put a ring on it as Miss Beyonce would say or if this was four thousand years ago it be well if you like it then you better put a golden nose ring on it weighing a half a shekel and two bracelets weighing ten shekels of gold it could have been a hitch song four thousand years ago but that's essentially what it means and I want you to think about that Rebecca after fulfilling the sign that the oldest servant was looking for he presents to her the very thing that is the dowry the beginning process of there's a man pursuing marriage and I think you're the person I think you're it that he reveals to her the precious gifts and that not only is it a sign of generosity and wealth of hid the master he represented but now he's got the gifts and he's showing it these are my intentions this is why I'm here and look what happens look what he asks in verses 23 through 27 back in Genesis 24 and said whose daughter are you tell me please is there room in your father's house for us to lodge so she said to him I'm the daughter of Beth ul Milka son and whom she bore to Nahor moreover she said him we have both straw and feed enough and room to lodge verse 26 then the man bowed down his head worshiped the Lord now verse 27 verse 27 guys is so important on how God leads human beings especially in Scripture verse 27 read it with me and he said blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham who has not forsaken his mercy and his truth toward my master look at this next part 4 ad as for me being on the way the Lord led me to the house of my Master's brethren who does God lead people who are on the way as for me on the way the Lord led me have you ever met someone that's made that student maybe you yourself have made that statement the Lord led me - and you fill in the blanks of whatever it is maybe you've said it today maybe you'd said it just recently and you need to understand this guy's that God if God's leading is always consistent with his character and it's always connected with the word it has to be I'm gonna be very inconspicuous but I'm walking down because my nose is draining so much and I'm walking back to the pulpit because I'm so moved by the word seen anyway so understanding more specifically the way God leads us it's gotta be connected with his character and it's gotta be connected with the word and although some of you are hearing that it's like yeah it's painfully obvious we do know that why do I don't even need to incorporate that because I can't even begin to tell you how many people I've encountered who've made statements like the Lord led me and it was God's will and then whatever it's so imperative Lee completely against what the Word of God teaches and I don't think it's just an issue of like I feel bad so the Lord led me and I'm not just talking about unbelievers here guys I'm talking about Christians and the real after whatever they say and after the the statement the reality is that not only are they not submitted to the Word of God I don't even think they've asked God what's what they should be doing taking circumstances into your own hands and labeling it God led me it never ends well guys and we serve a God of grace and mercy who not only not only do we serve a God of second chances that helps us learn from our mistakes I'd recognize that but I also recognize Romans the book of Romans says should we sin so that grace can abound meaning yeah we unlimited grace we do whatever we want it's not a biblical concept principle we do serve a God who gives us second chances but taking circumstances into your own hands to either rush the will of God or to label it God's leading is just not a good thing so even though sometimes we never know why certain things happen the way that they do what you can always know is that God does in fact work all things together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose and you can either run from God and from his purpose that he has for your life or you can run to God and trust that there's a purpose for whatever is happening in your life right now and again if you want to accomplish his purpose in your life and you want to work out all the difficult circumstances with God involved it ends even though it may take a while it always sounds better it always ends better more specifically we need to be a doer of the word and what I hear only God leads best God will always lead best in her life I'm gonna say well no same God will always lead best in her life when we do what he says even when it's so difficult a man does plan his way but the Lord is one who directs his step thank God because I make lots of plans like all the time and I believe the Lord was leading abraham's servant here and i believe not only is the servant able to benefit from this and see how God moves that's the other cool thing you may think whatever you're praying is only for your benefit but you don't realize that God's provision in the way God speaks to you is gonna minister to other people and I think that's what's happening with the servant here I think that's what's happening with Rebecca that's here she gets the benefit from it and let's look at the last verse so the young woman ran and told her mother's household these things and you better believe she was talking at a million miles an hour because this was just an ordinary day for her she was just going to the well she was just collecting water she was just doing her cultural requirement of physical labor and isn't it interesting that even in our day to day tasks we don't even realize that God can intervene be a part of it to change your life forever we wait for the writing on the wall to you know God to speak to us and sometimes it happens but a lot of times it's just being faithful with what's in your hands today one day at a time and you better believe she told everyone in the household everything that happened at this remarkable life-changing day understanding God's will can prove to be challenging I get it and this is especially true for people that spend zero time of the word you are going to find it incredibly difficult to understand what God's will is for your life if you're not opening up the word if you're not praying if you're not dialoguing and letting him speak to you the issue isn't that we speak to an a God that is silent he speaks to us through his word he speaks to us through his servants and the Saints he speaks to us through creation itself the issues that were impatient and yet we serve a patient and loving creator and Jesus and his relentless pursuit chooses to speak to us despite our imperfections and impatience and I don't know about you guys that makes me love him even more I serve a God that uses me despite my stupidity and despite my just constant impatient attitude I'm here to tell you understanding God's will will always involve being passionate about him I'm gonna say one last time we're gonna end we're gonna do communion but to understand God's will know perfectly because I'm the first person to tell you I'm gonna learn day by day learning this you will better understand God's will for your life when you are passionately in love with him every time even though the timing isn't always the way we like next week we're going to finish the 24th chapter and Isaac will have a bride

Channel: Calvary South Denver

Views: 5,918

Rating: 4.8867927 out of 5

Keywords: Calvary Chapel, Christianity, Bible Study, Isaac and Abraham, God's Will, Jon Geraci

Id: 9fv0TXu9ud8

Length: 51min 21sec (3081 seconds)

Published: Thu Jan 03 2019