Walking in God’s Sovereignty: A Journey of Faith and Obedience (Genesis 24)

Part 1: Praying God’s Will (Genesis 24:1-14)

Introduction

Genesis 24 is a beautiful narrative of God’s guidance and faithfulness. It tells the story of Abraham sending his chief servant to find a wife for his son, Isaac. It demonstrates how God is at work in the ordinary details of life, arranging and orchestrating even the most mundane matters, weaving them together in His Sovereign plan.

Today, we start a four-part Sermon Series: “Walking in God’s Sovereignty: A Journey of Faith and Obedience.” This sermon series will explore the theme of God’s guidance and our reliance on God’s promises. Genesis 24 invites us to reflect on how God’s sovereignty works in our lives when we walk in faith and obedience.

Each sermon in the series will highlight key biblical principles:

Trusting God’s Promises: Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s promises, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.

Seeking God’s Guidance Through Prayer: The servant’s prayer at the well demonstrates the importance of bringing our decisions before God and asking for His direction.

Recognizing God’s Hand: The series encourages us to be attentive to God’s working in our lives, just as the servant recognized God’s provision in Rebekah’s actions.

Walking in Obedience: Rebekah’s willingness to leave her family and follow God’s plan serves as a model of obedience and faith.

Throughout this series, we will be reminded that walking in God’s sovereignty is not about having all the answers but about trusting His promises, seeking His guidance, and obeying His leading. It’s a journey of faith that transforms our lives and brings glory to His name.

We begin our study today by exploring how prayer intersects with God’s sovereignty. To get started, let’s take a look first at a contemporary story in which John D. Rockefeller Jr. failed to pray before acting.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. and the Ludlow Massacre

In the early 20th century, John D. Rockefeller Jr., heir to the Rockefeller fortune, faced a critical decision regarding labor disputes at the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, a family-owned business. In 1913, coal miners went on strike, demanding better wages, safer working conditions, and the right to unionize. Rockefeller chose to take a hardline stance against the strikers. He refused to negotiate and used private security forces to suppress the uprising.

This decision culminated in the Ludlow Massacre of April 1914, where a violent confrontation between strikers and security forces led to the deaths of over 20 people, including women and children. The tragedy tarnished Rockefeller’s reputation and haunted him for years. In later years, Rockefeller admitted that he had acted without seeking God’s guidance or considering the moral implications of his decision. He realized that prayer and a deeper reflection on God’s will might have led him to a more compassionate and just resolution.

Transition to Next Point:

What if Rockefeller had paused to pray and sought God’s guidance? More than likely, a different outcome. Prayer doesn’t slow us down or get in the way of progress. Prayer aligns us with God’s will and God’s timing; and sometimes, it saves lives.

The Main Truths

Now let’s look at the biblical story, which first teaches us that praying God’s will means that we have confidence that

I. God’s plans are anchored in His promises. (vv. 1–9)

What stands out in these first nine verses is faith: Abraham’s and the servant’s. It’s kind of funny that the chapter begins by saying that “Abraham was now old, getting on in years.” That’s putting it mildly. He’s now 140 years old. Yeah, I’d say that’s old. During those many years, Abraham has learned that God’s promises never fail. There were times that Abraham attempted to take matters into his own hands, and he failed miserably. Those were hard lessons that taught him to have confidence that God keeps His promises. He will provide a wife for Isaac. After all, the promise of many descendants cannot continue without marriages and children.

Abraham believed that God’s unseen hand would do all that was necessary to find a wife for Isaac. So Abraham called his chief servant to make a journey to find Isaac a wife. Why a journey? Weren’t there available bachelorettes there in Canaan? Frankly, no, there were not. There were only Canaanite tribes who were pagans, serving false gods. In Genesis 9:25 Noah voiced a curse against Canaan, saying: “Canaan is cursed. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.” There would be no mixing of Abraham’s offspring with these cursed people. He ordered the servant to go to his homeland and family to take a wife for Isaac.

Abraham’s servant was also a man of faith. So it was with profound faith that the servant obediently placed his hand under Abraham’s thigh and swore an oath, “by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth.”

Yet, to shore up his confidence, he asked Abraham, Genesis 24:5 “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?” Abraham’s answer was certain: Genesis 24:7 “The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your offspring’—he will send his angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there.”

Abraham trusted that God was able to make things happen, even if they seem impossible.

Application: Just as Abraham trusted in God’s promises, we are called to rely on God's faithful word, to seek His guidance, and to trust His Sovereign activity to bring about His will.

Scripture is rich with God’s promises that serve as anchors for our lives.

Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

These and many other promises serve as anchors, grounding us in God’s unchanging character and His eternal Word. When we meditate and rely on these truths, we can face uncertainty with confidence, knowing that God is faithful to His promises.

Key Point: Our confidence in prayer rests on God’s eternal promises.

Confidence in God’s faithfulness compels us to pray about everything. Abraham’s servant serves as an example:

2. Prayer seeks God’s wisdom before taking action. (vv. 10–12)  

Verse 10 places the servant in Nahor. Moving from verse 9 to verse 10 we miss the time and distance of the servant’s journey: seven hundred miles and approximately 35 days. He had plenty of time to plan his strategy, to think about his first steps in securing Isaac’s wife. He brought with him a huge caravan of camels and goods, no doubt to make a huge impression on a possible mate for Isaac. But the servant had a much more powerful resource in his pocket.

There in the slanting rays of evening when women came out to draw water, Abraham’s servant directed his camels to kneel near the town well. Having positioned his camels, we discover the servant’s strategy, his first steps of action, that powerful resource in his pocket: Prayer. “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make this happen for me today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.”

Note three things about this opening prayer:

It was humble. His prayer, though a plea for his own success, was mainly spoken on behalf of his “master Abraham.” He asked the Lord, “show kindness to my master Abraham.”

It was earnest. “Make this happen for me today.” There’s both confidence and urgency in his prayer. Viewing the women from the village, the servant must have believed that before him was the one God had selected to be Isaac’s wife.

It was reliant on God’s providential power. He recognized his need for God’s guidance and power, rather than relying solely on human planning. “Make this happen” was a declaration of his submission to God’s sovereign will and power.

George Washington Carver and the Peanut

George Washington Carver, a renowned African American scientist and inventor, faced a pivotal moment in his career when he was tasked with finding new uses for crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes to help struggling Southern farmers. Carver was a deeply spiritual man who believed in seeking God’s guidance in all his endeavors.

One day, overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, Carver retreated to his laboratory and prayed, asking God to reveal the secrets of the peanut. He later recounted that God spoke to him, saying, “Separate the peanut into its constituent parts, and then recombine them.” This divine insight led Carver to discover over 300 uses for the peanut, including peanut butter, cooking oil, and even dyes and plastics. His innovations revolutionized agriculture and provided economic relief to countless farmers.

Carver’s reliance on prayer not only opened unexpected doors but also allowed him to see his work as a form of worship. He often credited God for his discoveries, saying, “It is not my work, but God’s.”

The two stories from history — Rockefeller and Carver — along with the biblical story, highlight the profound impact of seeking—or neglecting—God’s guidance in major life decisions. Rockefeller’s failure to pray and reflect on the moral dimensions of his choices led to a tragic outcome that haunted him for life. In contrast, Carver’s reliance on prayer not only yielded remarkable scientific breakthroughs but also brought him peace and purpose, knowing he was aligned with God’s will.

The lesson is clear: Prayer invites God’s wisdom and opens doors that human effort alone cannot. It reminds us to seek God’s guidance in all decisions, trusting that He will provide clarity and direction in ways we cannot foresee.

Key Point: Genuine prayer depends on acknowledging our dependence on God’s wisdom and sovereignty.

3. Specific prayers invite specific answers. (vv. 13–14)  

Not only was the servant’s prayer humble, earnest and reliant, it was extremely specific.

But first, notice in verse 13 that the servant’s prayer was conversational and intimate. “I am standing here at the spring where all the women from town have come to draw water.” Simple words. Do you sometimes find it difficult to find the words to use in prayer? Do you struggle to find the right formula to shape your prayers? Do you honestly think that God wants you to pray to Him with words from a theological dictionary? Is God listening for a formula or a friend?

What words do you use when talking with your best friend? Do you even worry about the words? Are you trying to impress your best friend with your grasp of the English language? Certainly not. You’re just talking. You’re sharing your heart, your dreams, your discouragements, your hopes. When we’re praying, we’re talking to our best friend forever, who loves us more than we can possibly measure. Like Abraham’s servant, just talk. “I’m standing here not knowing exactly what to do. Please help me.”

Kent Hughes points out that the servant “did not ask for a miraculous, supernatural sign from God. Rather, he sought guidance in the regular, ordinary events of life.” Hughes goes on to say, “The God of Scripture is not simply a God of miracles who occasionally injects his power into life. He is far greater because he arranges all of life to suit and effect his providence. This makes all of life a miracle. God is over all. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, and all-controlling. This is the God of Scripture. The servant was depending on God to orchestrate the ordinary movements of women drawing water at a well to uncover the perfect match for Isaac.

Now, notice the prayer’s precise and specific nature: Genesis 24:14 “Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels also’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

Again, see here the God-awareness in the servant’s prayer. God is here. He is present; which means He is intentionally active and powerful in the daily-ness of our living. Knowing that God is present and is aware of our circumstances, and is orchestrating ordinary life toward His good and glorious will, gives us confidence to pray as specifically as Abraham’s servant.

Lord, I’m going to ask these girls to lower a jug so that I may have a drink. And the one who says back to me, “Drink, and I’ll water your camels also,” let her be the one you have appointed as Isaac’s wife.

What was the servant looking for? He seems to know exactly the type of woman that will suit Isaac the best. He’s looking for kindness, hospitality, physical strength, and a heart of service; traits that we will see in Rebekah next week.

God reminded me through this story, that He invites us to pray specifically about our needs, decisions, and concerns. I can pray like this because God is present, active and working in the ordinary movements of life to move me in the direction of His will. We learn that clear and honest prayers are more likely to align us with God's will and invite His specific answers.  

Being specific in prayer is important for several reasons, both spiritually and practically. Here’s why this matters:

Praying specifically deepens our relationship with God. Specific prayers require us to be honest and vulnerable before God. This level of openness fosters intimacy with Him, as we share our deepest desires, fears, and needs. Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge.”

Praying specifically helps us recognize God’s answers. When we pray specifically, it becomes easier to see how God answers. If we pray vague prayers like, “Bless my family,” it’s harder to discern God’s work compared to praying, “God, please provide for my sister’s financial needs this month.” 1 John 5:14–15 “This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.” Specific prayers help us track God’s faithfulness.

Praying specifically focuses our faith and intentions. Specific prayers force us to clarify what we truly need or desire. This process can reveal our motives, align our hearts with God’s will, and strengthen our faith as we wait for His response. James 1:6–7 “But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” Specificity helps us pray with confidence and focus.

Praying specifically helps us grow in gratitude. When we pray specifically and see God answer, it fosters gratitude. We can clearly see His hand at work and give Him the glory for meeting our needs in precise ways. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Specific prayers make it easier to identify reasons for gratitude.

Praying specifically aligns us with God’s will. Specific prayers lead us to seek God’s will more intentionally. As we pray specifically, we sense His Spirit guiding us to adjust our requests or surrender our desires to His greater plan. Take, for example, Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 26:39 “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Even Jesus, in His specific prayer in Gethsemane, submitted His will to the Father’s.

Key Point: Honest, specific, detailed prayer demonstrates faith and opens the door for God's precise guidance.

Now, let’s pull these biblical truths and principals together and form simple steps of action so that we are not only hearers of the Word, but doers also.

Application

Rely on God’s faithful promises when seeking His guidance. This means that God’s Word is our companion to prayer.

Prayer, rather than rushing forward with our own plans, is essential in decision-making. This means that we must be humble and submissive to God’s leadership. This is part of what Jesus meant when He said that true disciples deny themselves and take up the cross daily.

Pray specifically about your needs, decisions, and concerns. This means that we believe that God is a loving Father who wants to be invested in the details of our ordinary lives; and He has the power to intervene in those details and desires.

When we abide in Christ and His words abide in us, we can pray with confidence, depending on His will to shape our prayers. This means that prayer is not a religious activity but a part of our relationship with Jesus. As you pursue a love relationship with Jesus, watch your prayer life grow.

Closing Illustration:

Before cell phones and GPS, we used maps to find our way on a journey. I guess there might be some people who still use maps — in fact, we purchased a Rand McNally book of maps when we were traveling to Idaho this summer. However, to find our way on each leg of the journey, we set our course using GPS before we began each day’s journey. Prayer is the GPS of faith; it aligns us with God’s will and sets us on God’s path before we move forward. Let’s pray.

Lord God, teach us and inspire us to surrender to your sovereign will. We ask you to give us wisdom and clarity for our journey of faith. When we pray, remind us to be humble, earnest, reliant on your providential power, and to be specific about our needs and desires. We choose to depend on your Word to guide us and to trust your faithful promises as we travel in faith each day. Amen.