Genesis 24:1-67 - God orchestrated His plan, one detail at a time.

Before Hilary and I started dating she led a coffee house ministry and I led a youth group.

I was broke and living in a parsonage

We didn’t agree on anything theologically.

We spent a lot of time together.

There was no romantic inclinations—We simply wanted the other to understand how wrong she was.

People began insinuating that we were dating.

We sat on the couch: “I think I might be called to singleness.”

Hilary said it’s like the Lord was pushing us together.

Three months into dating, I proposed

Nine months later we were married.

The Lord had orchestrated every detail, because it sure wasn’t us.

Context

Sarah, Isaac’s mom, died (Genesis 23)

“Sarah’s tent” is empty—there is no “mother in Israel”

Isaac was 40, still single (brother got no game).

Isaac was the son of promise.

Through Isaac God was going to make Abraham a great nation for Himself.

In order for that to happen, Isaac needs a wife.

Big Idea: God is orchestrating His plan one detail at a time.

Stand to read

Genesis 24:1–10 ESV

1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that I may make you swear 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, among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter. 10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.

Leader: This is God’s Word

Everyone: Thanks be to God

This is not a small request.

The distance from Hebron (where Sarah was buried) to Mesopotamia was 520 miles.

It would have taken this servant 21 days if he was traveling 25 miles per day alone.

Notice how Abraham has grown throughout Genesis.

Genesis 12 - He receives the promises, but he’s still manipulative and tries to short cut God’s promises.

Genesis 17 - God reminds him of His promises. Though Abraham is doubtful, he still obeys

Genesis 24 - Abraham has seen what the Lord can do. He’s a man of faith who knows that God is able to keep His promises.

He knows that God will be faithful to carry his line for generations.

Abraham trusts God’s providence.

Say “providence”

Providence is how God powerfully governs His creation and works out His plan for it.

God is continually involved with everything He created!

God did not create the universe then leave it alone—He directly maintains and sustains it.

The universe cannot uphold itself—God upholds it and governs it according to His will.

He directs everything to work in their instinctive nature to accomplish His purposes in the world.

This is why Abraham sends his servant so far to retrieve a wife, because He knows that God will provide according to His promise.

Nothing happens apart from His loving care and concern.

Church,

We can trust God’s providence

Nothing happens by chance. No such coincidence.

God sovereignly works out His plans throughout the world.

What’s amazing is that He does the same thing in your life, even when you don’t notice it.

The job you have is not because you rocked an interview—God gave it to you.

The house you have is because the Lord provided you with it.

Even when we don’t understand what good can come from the dark and weary situation you’re in right now, we can trust God’s providence.

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.”

If you are a Christian, you can find strength in God’s providence even when things go badly for us in this world.

How can we have this assurance?

Gospel presentation

God has conquered the worst thing about us—our sin.

God provided a Savior, Jesus, to die on the cross to forgive us of our sins.

If God can handle the biggest problem we can ever face, sin and death, then we can trust Him with the rest of our lives.

Transition

The servant gives us the first recorded prayer in Genesis.

He prays specifically for God to make clear to him who the woman would be.

Genesis 24:11–14 “11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.””

He is praying for the woman to be made clear for him.

He’s asking the Lord for favor in her eyes.

This servant clearly loves Abraham and wants to see the promises of God realized through him.

Before he said “Amen,” a beautiful young woman came out with her water jar.

Her name was Rebekah, and she was the grand-niece of Abraham.

His brother, Nahor’s, son’s daughter.

Abraham sent him to his country and to his kindred…

The servant runs over to her to meet her and gives her the line that he prayed about: “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar” (v. 17)

She was so kind and generous with urgency she gave him a drink and then offered to give some to his camels!

The servant just stared at her

Genesis 24:21 “21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.”

Her actions were exactly what this guy prayed for!

Every Sunday that you guys show up to church and bring friends I get so encouraged.

Especially on our higher attended Sunday’s when everyone is here.

One Sunday, I asked Braeden “Where are all these people come from?”

He said, “Dude, you’re the pastor. Didn’t you pray for this?”

Nothing supercharges me more than seeing God do big things in your lives and in our church.

He asks if he could stay the night at her family’s house and she says yes!

The Lord answered his prayer so quickly that he had to respond immediately with worship and praise!

Genesis 24:26–28 “26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord 27 and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” 28 Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.”

While he is stilling with her and her family at dinner, he tells them everything that took place.

He celebrates what God has done on the journey in meeting Rebekah then asks for her to become Isaac’s wife.

Genesis 24:50–51 “50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.””

The next morning, her family blesses her and send them on their way.

As they are coming up, she sees Isaac in the distance.

Genesis 24:65–67 “65 and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

The Lord provided for Isaac a bride, who would comfort him in his mother’s death.

God remembers Isaac while He’s accomplishing His plan of redemption.

Transition

Why is Israel hearing this?

Why is this story of God’s promises important?

Church,

God works in every aspect of our lives.

The Lord sent Abraham’s servant to see God fulfill His promise.

The Lord chose Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife, to comfort him in a dark time after losing his mom and to further reveal His promise to Abraham.

God cares about the small details in your life.

God cares about who you date/marry.

God cares about where you live/work

God cares about how you spend your money.

The Lord provides our basic needs

The Lord established you in your mothers womb.

Your talents and abilities comes from God.

Your successes and failures come from the Lord.

Luke 1:52 “52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;”

Every step you take each day, every breath you drawl, is directed by God.

Your heart beats simply because the Lord tells it to.

He doesn’t distance Himself from us as if He’s indifferent.

He’s in every aspect of your life.

The Lord desires to be the foundation of how you operate in this life.

God led Hilary to begin a coffeehouse ministry

God led me to Switzerland Baptist

He worked in every small detail for His glory and our good.

The Lord has a plan for every aspect of your life.

Your life matters to God.

Take the Next Step

Trust God’s providence.

Will you trust the Lord with everything in your life?

Tell someone about how God has been working in your life.

Make the ask in prayer.

Ask God align my heart with yours.

Ask Him to provide

You’re not going to burden Him.

He orchestrates all things out for His glory and your good in Christ.

Invitation to receive, repent, and respond.