God is Working Behind the Scenes

Context

Last week the near sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham. Genesis 22.

Years have gone by. Isaac has grown up.

Sarah, Isaac’s mother and Abraham’s wife, has died.

Abraham is determined that his son, Isaac, will have a wife from among Abraham’s own people. So he sends one of his servants back to his old homeland to find a wife for his son.

With the solemn promise Genesis 24:7 “The Lord, the God of heaven, … will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.”

The servant with a great retinue and camels goes on the journey.

In our lesson today, the servant is in the old country, in the home of Bethuel, the nephew of Abraham. He is recounting for Bethuel and his son, Laban, how it is that he has come to be in their country and that he believes he has succeeded in his task by finding Bethuel’s daughter, Rebekah.

Text

Genesis 24:34–38 “So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell, but you shall go to my father’s house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’”

Genesis 24:42–51 ““I came today to the spring and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’ “Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.” Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. 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.””

Genesis 24:58–59 “And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men.”

Genesis 24:62–67 “Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel 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. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 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.”

Introduction

Exegesis

The servant, likely Eliezar of Damascus, the chief servant (Genesis 15:2) arrives in Haran, Abraham’s ancestral home. It was a long and potentially perilous journey to a place Eliezar had likely never before been. But as Abraham had said, the angel of the Lord had vouched safe their passage.

So Eliezar goes to the city well in the evening. Where the women come to draw the water (Genesis 24: 11). with an adventurous spirit.

He is ready for the God who has brought him thus far, to now help at the destination. Prays for a sign.

I will ask a maiden for a drink and she will provide it to me and also offer to water my camels, no small chore.

In his mind, settle in for a wait, lots of misfires. Some women would avoid a stranger altogether. Many maidens would refuse his request. Others would offer him a drink but ignore his camels.

But while he is still praying, Rebekah shows up. The first to arrive. And fulfills all the requirements of the requested sign. He asks for water, she provides for him, for his camels. She shows her character of openness, hard work, and compassion. The kind of character Eliezar was looking for for Isaac.

When Eliazar enquires about her identity, he discovers that she is of the very family Eliezer is searching for, the kinfolk of Abraham.

So it turns out that Eliezar did not have to wait long, did not have to wait at all, the first woman to arrive was THE woman he sought.

The fact that Rebekah showed up even as Eliezar was saying the prayer means that God was already at work, before Eliezer began to pray. Before Eliazar arrived, Rebekah was in heading toward the well. Before Eliazar asked for a sign, God had prepared Rebekah’s heart to be engage with the stranger.

Eliezar was praying, Rebekah was going about her day — God was behind the scenes bringing them together.

Application 1: We believe in Providence.

In a play there is action happening on the stage. But behind the scenes so much is happening. Stage hands are moving sets, adjusting lighting and sound, providing cues, moving things into position. Behind all that is the director, guiding everything according to his vision for the production.

God is the director behind all that happens on the stage of reality.

This is what we mean by the doctrine of Providence.

The doctrine of providence is beautifully summarized in the Westminster confession of faith, Ch. V: God the Great Creator of all things does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest of them to the least, …to the praise of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.

God provides direction to all things so his praiseworthy vision for reality is accomplished.

As it says in

Psalm 135:6 “Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.”

Not just over cosmos, but our personal lives too..

Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

As Christians we believe that God is intimately involved in all that happens, directing all things, so that his people can flourish.

The doctrine of providence provokes wonder and is given to us so that we can to take faithful steps in serving God.

Exegesis 2: Providence invites cooperation

In the Genesis story God provides a sign to empower people to take spiritual action in what was previously a uncertain situation.

Because of God’s providence, Eliezar is able to affirm:

God has been good and faithful to my master Abraham.

God has prospered my journey.

God has led me to Rebekah.

And therefore NOW I WILL THE NEXT STEP

Then says to Bethuel and Laban: Now will you also show faith in God?

Because of God’s providence, Bethuel and Laban say, this is indeed of the Lord’s doing: We cannot speak to you bad or good = who are we to argue the point? And they are willing to give Rebekah away to Isaac.

Then they ask Rebekah of her willingness. Will you go with this man?

Because of God’s providence, Rebekah herself is willing to leave her family and her familiar home and to set out for a land, a home, and a man she has never met.

Psalm 45:10 “Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house,…in many colored robes she is lead to the king…”

It is not unusual for a servant to serve his master, it is not unusual for a father to give away a daughter to marriage. It is not unusual for a young maiden to agree to marriage.

What is unusual is the motivation: everyone is willing to take this step because of an awareness and belief that God is directing events.

Application 2: We can cooperate

On Thursday night, Dao and I went to listen to the the USAF Band. The singers came out to sing. Stood front and center. They were looking at the audience. Behind them the conductor was conducting the band. Because the singers knew the conductor was leading the band, the singers did not have to halt, or look around, focused on singing.

When we know God is behind us orchestrating events, we can focus on taking steps of faith.

Solo or simple actions get taken up into the great orchestration of God.

A church member shared with me that he felt the strong urge to contact a friend he had not seen in a few weeks. Little did he know that his friend had been struggling with compulsive behavior for years. Kept secret, struggling alone and ashamed, felt like he should join a group but too afraid. Desperate in his faith. Told himself, “God: If someone from the church calls I will believe that you care about me God and I’ll go to a group.” Then our member called.

It is not uncommon to call a friend. It is not uncommon to seek help. But it is powerful when we get a glimpse that behind the scenes God is working out his loving plans and we have a part to play in that.

Exegesis 3: Fruitful Outcomes

So Rebekah sets out from Haran to Canaan, to discover her new life.

A journey of several days.

As she is approaching there is a man in the field meditating and praying.

Likely praying for Eliezar and for his return and the wife that he hopes will also arrive.

Providence has guided Isaac to the field at just the right time and place to be the first to welcome Rebekah to her new home, just as Rebekah had been the first to welcome Eliezar to hers.

We can imagine the first interactions.

The servant having succeeded in his mission, is beaming with satisfaction. God was surely with me. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Rebekah has veiled herself, as a betrothed woman would do, signalling she is immediately beginning to bond with Isaac.

Isaac is smitten with her beauty and the answer to his prayers.

And Isaac took Rebekah to be his wife and he was greatly comforted after the death of his mother.

In other words, the divine plan for the chosen family continues.

There is a glow upon them all as the sun sets, it is replaced with the light of strengthened faith.

Application 3: As we cooperate with Providence there is joy.

When we live with an awareness of God’s providence it fills our lives with gratitude.

Last Wednesday, wife brought a meal to the church. Had to wedge the meal in between the end of work day and evening Bible study class. One response: we have to eat, so this is a matter of course. Another response: what a gift! Planned, prepped, packed, laid it out…thank you!

When we believe in providence life transitions from a string of events to take for granted into series of purposeful gifts from a loving God.

In the happy times we can give thanks — because we have a God to give thanks to. In the sad times we take hope — because we have a God to place our hope in.

As we pursue God’s providence to its fruition, we will discover that God brings all things to their right conclusion.

Behold you do all things well.

Hymn: Hast thou not seen how thy desires ere have been granted in what God ordaineth?

We meditate on the Providence of God so that when the sun sets on this life, the light of faith will comfort us. Just as God has provided for us in this life in a veiled way we shall see his full beauty in the next.

Conclusion

God is working behind the scenes all the time.

That means we should be filled with faith and action.

This will lead to our comfort.