The Life of Abraham: Providence (Genesis 24:1-25:11)

“But God” testimony

8 years old this journey of following Christ began

then at 21 years old I cannot explain the rest of my life

in last semester to graduate at Lamar (CPA)

no prospects of where to work

no plans to sit for CPA exam

earlier that year

tired of running from God

surrendered in bathroom at my home church

started leading music for college and youth before Sunday school

asked to lead music at a little church

still had no clue what I was gonna be when I grew up

CPA???

not sure I ever considered what God wanted

then one day coming home from Lamar

not in Camaro, but in champagne Chevy conversion van

how about you?

Jefferson

do you have a testimony or testimonies

where certain events cannot be explained

except through the clear guidance and direction of God?

join me in

Genesis 24 (pew Bible # 20)

1—setting

Abraham is old and will die soon (25:1-11)

he will be buried in the field he purchased from Ephron the Hittite IN THE PROMISED LAND

BUT there is no mother in Israel

Sarah has already died

only Isaac

40 years old

no wife

thus no future offspring

much less descendants as numerous as sand and stars

2-4—Abraham understands the gravity of the situation

Abraham could have arranged Isaac’s marriage himself

could select Canaanite girl himself

could arrange marriage to a wealthy family

combining wealth to have a financial powerhouse of a couple

and possibly acquire more than just a burial plot of land in the Promised Land

Abraham could help God out in fulfilling His promise of land

but Abraham learned the hard way with Hagar/Ishmael

that God doesn’t need help

servant under oath—Put your hand under my thigh (24:2) not sign on dotted line

swear (24:3)

by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth

that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites

but from my kindred back in Haran

Abraham is deeply concerned that Isaac should not marry a Canaanite

he fears that this will draw him away from worshiping the Lord

5—servant “take Isaac back to Haran?”

would absolutely negate God’s call on Abraham to leave Haran and come to Canaan

6-7a—Abraham “no, the Promised Land is here”

the Canaanites are a sinful people and will later be judged for their iniquity (15:16)

seed of Abraham must be kept separate from the seed of Canaan

7b—Abraham “God will make your trip successful”

just like later God will guide Israel in the wilderness

pillar of cloud by day

and pillar of fire by night

what an impossible assignment???

travel over 400 miles

find a woman related to Abraham

who is willing to come back to Canaan

with a stranger of a servant

to marry a stranger of a man

Abraham assures “God will make your trip successful”

10–400 mile journey to Haran (map)

21 day journey

10 camels

1/2 verse covers nearly a month-long journey

51 verses for one evening and morning

the focus is not the journey to Haran but what happens in Haran

black screen

will the servant be able to find a suitable woman?

will there be a young woman who will leave her father and mother, her family and friends,

and follow a stranger to a distant land to marry an unknown man?

11—stop at well

if there is a woman, how will the servant know which one is the right woman?

12—prayer—O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success

servant is a man of prayer

14—test: Drink, AND I will water your camels

really big ask

camel w/o water for few days

can drink as much as 25 gallons

all 5 of our 5-gallon jugs PER CAMEL

10 camels = 250 gallons

ancient jars no more than 3 gallons

80-100 drawings from the well

this would take the right kind of woman

kind, hospitable, and not afraid of hard work

would there even be a young woman that will offer enough water for 10 thirsty camels?

will she be the type that will give him a drink BUT NOT OFFER MORE?

is it one thing to lower a pitcher for a single man

and quite another to exhaust oneself on behalf of his thirsty beats

15—Rebekah

17—test: Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.

18—part 1: Drink, my lord.

19—part 2: I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.

20—quickly, ran again, she drew for all his camels

21—journey successful?

she passed the test

but is she of Abraham’s kindred?

23—all important question: whose daughter?

24—daughter of Bethuel

Abraham’s brother’s family

Nahor—brother

Bethuel—nephew

Rebekah—great niece

yes, the servant has found a suitable woman

25—Rebekah invites servant to spend night

26-27—response

26—worship

27—the Lord has led me

deduced because no angel, no voice from heaven,

but what servant has been praying for

28—Rebekah runs home

will Rebekah’s family be willing to let her go to a far country to marry a stranger?

would you let your daughter?

29—Laban (brother) runs to servant

31—welcomed

33—food is getting cold, BUT I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.

34-48—retelling of story

modern reader wants

and he told them all that happened

ancient reader gives weight to account

neon lights, highlighted, underlined, italicized, bolded

let me tell you how crazy this account is

it has God’s fingerprints all over it

49—can Rebekah go?

will Rebekah’s family let her go???

would you???

50—The thing has come from the Lord

yes, her family recognizes this is from the Lord

51—take her and go

52—response: worship…again

53—bride price given

54—servant next morning: Send me away to my master.

55—family: Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least 10 days; after that she may go.

let us make some memories before we say goodbye

we just found all this out LAST NIGHT

56—servant: Do not delay me

57—family: Let us call the young woman and ask her.

will Rebekah be willing to go right away?

58a—family: Will you go with this man?

what will she say?

what would you say?

58b—Rebekah: I will go.

yes, she is willing to go right away

she responds like Abraham IN FAITH

who also left home and family for the Promised Land

60—family blesses Rebekah

61—Rebekah returns with servant

still not over: will Isaac be willing to marry his unseen bride?

63—Isaac sees caravan returning from nearly month-long journey

64—Rebekah sees Isaac

65—Rebekah puts on veil

66—And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

will Isaac be willing to marry his unseen bride?

67a—Isaac brings Rebekah into Sarah’s tent

yes, Isaac takes Rebekah as his wife

67b—she became his wife

67c—he loved her

67d—So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

this account so clearly has God’s fingerprints of guidance all over it

do you have a story like that? or two? or three? or more???

PROVIDENCE not Biblical word but theological word to describe

Tyndale Bible Dictionary—“God’s activity throughout history in providing for the needs of human beings, especially those who believe in Him.”

not deism—just started creation

but God’s ongoing relationship with His creation

God oversees His creation and works out His plans for it

providence is basically God’s provision for the needs of people on time

The Lord Will Provide (22:18)

providence = “to see before”

it’s not that God just sees things in advance

but that He steps in to take action for His plan or purpose

providence is God’s sovereignty over all of creation

where He weaves all events into a tapestry accomplishing His divine goal

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Jews correctly read OT with God as protagonist (leading character) to every account

THUS Gen 24 is not about human schemes

but God’s providence

it was God who led Abraham’s servant to Rebekah

it was God who answered the servant’s prayers so clearly

it was God who displayed His divine control in orchestrating everything

not…luck, fate, karma

Thanksgiving is a celebration in many ways of God’s provide-ence

how has God displayed His providence throughout history?

seed of woman

Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

Abraham and Sarah will have Isaac

100 years old / 90 years old

but Israel’s existence is hanging in the balance

if Isaac marries a Canaanite princess

no Israel

if God had not guided servant to Rebekah

no Israel

if Rebekah had refused to go

no Israel

BUT GOD DID ACT

through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a holy nation was formed

and at the right time THE seed of the woman was born of a virgin—Jesus

more on the hope of Jesus next week as we start ADVENT

church will be successful

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

formation and preservation of Bible

advertise class—How We Got the Bible

Life Groups or Wednesday night

my life

21 years old

tired of duplicitous life

not accounting, but call to ministry (almost hit by car)

met Amanda soon after

after break ups from relationships not centered on Christ

birth of children (boys—early; Anayah—closer)

your life

cancer—remission or going through cancer

job

spouse

why in Nacogdoches

good or bad God still works

drawn to God

salvation GOSPEL

God’s good promises can only be guaranteed

because His providence will make them come to pass

we are not deists

our God is deeply involved in our lives

do you recognize God’s providence like the servant in Genesis 24?

Genesis 24 could be 2 verses

verse 1—servant went to Haran

verse 2—& came back with Rebekah

the details and suspense are great for an account

AND HOW YOU AND ME LIVE LIFE

we don’t know all of the answers of how things will turn out

but when we see them, we start to interpret them from God’s vantage point

maybe we didn’t get what we prayed for

maybe we didn’t get what we deserved

then there are times God’s fingerprints are undeniable

call to FCC

brought to Nacogdoches in 2016

left to start church

came back as associate pastor

then called to senior pastor (Ex 3-4)

but worst part of resume is season of not being senior pastor

little did I know it stood out as HUMILITY

when I look back, I wonder if God did not bring us to Nacogdoches…for FCC

the servant’s response to God’s providence should be our response to God’s providence

“Abraham’s servant is a man who prays before he acts, praises when his prayers are answered, and lives ever conscious that the affairs of men are controlled by the hand of God.”

live in confidence that God is in control

the fact that God is in control

doesn’t mean we put the gear in neutral

quit our jobs

sit waiting for Him to act

resort to slothfulness or laziness

NO we are able to act in our feebleness and trust Him rather than our own abilities

The Life of Abraham: Providence

look back

how has God shown up in your life? undeniable

when is the last time you reflected back on your life, saw God’s hand at work, and bowed in worship?

look forward

how are you living in obedience knowing God’s providence is at work?

how are you being slothful in an area instead of acting and trusting?

Christmas devotions start next Sunday, December 1

stay for nacho bar

invite someone to sit with you that you don’t know

elder to pray and ask blessing