I being the way, the Lord led me
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“I being in the way, the Lord led me!” (Gen 24:27 KJV)
“I being in the way, the Lord led me!” (Gen 24:27 KJV)
On its own, Genesis 24 seems to provide a fitting basis for an early Hallmark type love story.
And, so it should. It is worthy of more attention. But in reality, it is also part of one segment of a wonderful heart stirring saga of Abraham and what it means to walk by faith. Through the lens of the word of God, we have seen what it really means to walk by faith. Those who walk by faith sometimes stumble. Like each of us, those who walk by faith sometimes fumble what God entrusts to them. Like us, sometimes lessons that should have been learned have to be relearned.
In the midst of all of this, we see that in addition to walking by faith, Abraham’s life helps us to assess how far we see in that it provides a wonderful template how we who walk in the way can see our Lord’s continued leading.
Those who would affirm that they are in the LORD’s way and walk as He leads will have:
REAFFIRMED His leading and promises - Gen 24:1-9
Walking by faith does not mean that we plan and pray asking the LORD to bless what we have planned. Rather, we continually assess whether we are in the way, the LORD’s way. For that assessment to be valid, we need to review and reaffirm His leading and promises that God us to this point.
If in that review we find that we are not in the way, our response should not be to re-calibrate His way but re-position ourselves.
Please note how Abraham and Eliezer reaffirmed the parameters and promises of the LORD’s way - 24:1-5
Swear by the LORD, the God of heaven & earth - 24:3
Swear - promise
Some have discussed the significance of Eliezer being asked to place his hand under Abraham’s thigh. While that might have some cultural significance, that which Eliezer is asked to swear is of far greater significance. The mission that he is accepting is dependent on the both being in the LORD’s way and the LORD’s intervention and blessing.
And as such, Eliezer is accountable to do it God’s way and with God’s help.
Fundamental to this is affirming God’s way.
“SEE TO IT THAT YOU DO NOT TAKE MY SON BACK THERE. The LORD, the God of heaven and earth, 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,’"- Gen 12:1, 7
“He will send His angel before you and you shall take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you are free of this oath of mine, only do not take my son back there.” - 24:6, 7-8
Abraham believed and affirmed that the LORD led and guided His people. And while Abraham did not presume that the LORD Himself always intervened, he believed the the LORD would send His angel before him.
God leads His people.
And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
Holy Spirit now indwells, leads and guides in all truth.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Angel - Hagar, Abraham
The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.
But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Abraham believed that the LORD would oversee this 720 km journey and its purpose
Ennerdale prayer meeting
Affirmed that the LORD’s way is inclusive - 24:6-10
God who led Abraham would also lead Eliezer. Not only another person but one whom some would consider of secondary importance.
Eliezer by his careful preparation for the trip and the trip affirmed God’s way inclusive - for him as well.
2. Prayed and watched for the evidences of the LORD’s leading and steadfast love - Gen 24:10-24
his prayer by the well outside the city of Nahor, affirmed that Abraham’s convictions with regard to the LORD were also his convictions.
And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 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.”
Eliezer had done his part. Now he prayed for God to do His part.
Please grant me SUCCESS - good speed
Success - good speed KJV - but this is not about speed as we understand it today. - God’s speed - good luck
Keil “The success appointed by God cannot be secured by force; Jehovah causes that it meet the pious.”
Show steadfast love - prayed for and a way verbalized as to how God’s steadfast love could be shown.
Prayer that God’s immoveable unchanging love might be demonstrated. Even as God as demonstrated His love to Abraham and Sarah, might He also demonstrate His love to and through Eliezer.
God does not stop loving. His love does not change its shape or definition. Steadfast love does not overlook sin. God hates sin.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Watched and waited for God to prosper his journey - 24:21, 15-21
Before he had finished speaking/praying
Rebekah - daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah & Nahor (her husband) (Abraham’s brother) - i.e. Abraham’s nephew’s (Bethuel) daughter - grand-niece
beauty, maiden - woman of marriageable age - had not known a man
In response to Eliezer’s request, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” she gave Eliezer water for himself. Then she drew water for his camels - until they finished drinking.
Google ref’s - a thirsty camel can drink between 30 to 53 gallons - 120 to 200 liters of water in 3 to 15 minutes.
Camels - 24:20, 35, 63 - servant - therefore 4 to 5 camels - transport, supplies and gifts.
3. Trusted, testified and blessed the LORD for His leading and steadfast love - Gen 24:22-61
Worshiped and blessed the LORD for His steadfast love and faithfulness - “the LORD has led me in the way.” - 24:22-28
More than generous gifts for her service - 1/2 shekel gold ring - ear ring KJV - in that culture, women also wore nose rings - 2 bracelets - 10 gold shekels
Delitzch - “expresses a conviction that the right person was found, otherwise he would be rewarding her at too lavish an expense.”
Questions:
Whose daughter are you?
Is there room in your father house for us to spend the night?
Answers:
Family connection - plenty of room
Worshiped and blessed the LORD for His steadfast love and faithfulness - 24:26-28
We must always make time to acknowledge God’s grace ....
Worship and blessing the LORD should be integrated in all that we do - “Please & thank you.”
This should the constant overflow of our hearts and souls. David began and ended Ps 103 with an admonition to his own soul to bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
What does it mean to bless the LORD?
. “It means to speak well of his greatness and goodness — and really mean it from the depths of your soul.” (John Piper - Desiring God)
Blessing the LORD with ones mouth but not ones soul would be hypocricy. Jesus emphasized that.
“ ‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
Trusted and testified of the LORD’s leading - 24:29-48
Laban’s warm welcome probably accentuated by what Rebekah explained and the gifts - 24:29-32
Eliezer - “I will not eat until I have said what I have come to say.” - 24:33
Eliezer explained:
Abraham’s directive & his promise to Abraham - 24:34-41
Prayer at the well - 24:42-44
Events at the well - 24:45-48
If you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me - 24:49-51
In this context - hesed (kindly KJV)- faithfulness (truly KJV)
We do well to remember the context of this question. It was asked after repeated examples of steadfast love and faithfulness between the LORD and Abraham, between Abraham & Eliezer, Eliezer and the LORD.
So the bottom line of Eliezer’s question was, will show steadfast love and faithfulness to Abraham or me as his designated representative with the full disclosure that we are fully dependent on the LORD’s steadfast love and faithfulness.
Laban & Bethuel - “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 as spoken.” - 24:50-51
Laban & Bethuel - family decision, prospective bride not really consulted other than her agreement to go - 24:58 -
Laban rather than his father seemed to take the lead
Cannot speak bad or good - while some see this as they cannot argue with what the LORD has brought together, I would suggest that by their choosing not to affirm and equally fervent commitment to the LORD in the same sense as Abraham & Eliezer.
Laban’s lack of integrity and duplicitous nature later became all too clear in not giving Rachel to marry Jacob as he had promised - 29:13-30
Bowed before the LORD and would not delay since the LORD had prospered his way - 24:52-61
Bowed before the LORD - 24:52
Gifts & garments given to Rebekah, her brother and mother - 24:53
Send me away to my master
“Protocol and courtesy demanded a messenger be dismissed by the addressee.” (MacArthur Study Bible)
Laban & mother - wait 10 days
Eliezer - do not delay me - Rebekah agreed
Blessing probably conventional of that day but unknown to them would be fulfilled by the LORD in ways that they would never imagine - 24:60 - 13:17; 15:7; 17:8
4. Meditated and trusted others to the LORD’s way, walking as He leads - 24:62-67
Those who trust in the LORD’s steadfast love and faithfulness must at some at some point release others with the prayer that they will also trust in the LORD even as they have. That is a huge step of faith.
Isaac had meditated in the field toward the evening - 24:62-63
At the end of Eliezer’s long trip, Isaac who it seems now lived at times independent from Abraham, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi (well of the Living One who sees me - where God appeared to Hagar - 16:14 - where Isaac would settle after Abraham’s death - 25:11 - and was dwelling on Negeb
While we are not sure of the exact location, it was distant enough to be noted.
Meditated at thee right place at the right time.
The servant and Isaac trusted the LORD and each other other with the LORD’s leading - 24:64-67
Being in the LORD’s way and discerning His leading is as essential for believers today as it was for Abraham, Eliezer, Rebekah and Isaac. To that end, how do we know that we are in the LORD’s will, His way and He is leading us?
What does the word of God say specifically and generally about His will and way for us?
We are commanded to make disciples. That is where our energies, gifts and resources needed to be prioritized.- Matt 28:18—20 ; Acts 1:8
That is what what our Lord has promised to bless. How can assess our Lord’s blessing - powerful ministry of the word resulting in conversions, baptisms numbers being added to the church.
We are commanded to teach those who teach others also.
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
2. What steps have recently taken by faith?
Where decisions have been made where we stepped into a river by faith and stepped with no way of turning back?
OR were there times that we preferred to keep things the way that they were and made us comfortable rather than re-position for effective fruitful ministry?
Those who do not advance are left behind as others advance.
Farming - new methods and equipment - carefully invest in the best equipment and technology we can afford.
3. How and when are we regularly trusting and testifying of the LORD’s steadfast love and faithfulness?
In order to help us answer this question, how would we respond to a request to explain and praise God for the ways that we saw and sensed the LORD’s steadfast love and faithfulness?
Would what we testify be about the ways that our LORD had been leading us these past days, weeks or months? Or we be reminiscing about the good old days?
When we long for the good old days spiritually, it is a pretty clear indication that something has gone astray.
4. Who have and are affirming the LORD’s way and leading because of what I say and do?
By God’s grace and His leading us in the way, there should be those who while they might not be able to fully understand it, must acknowledge that what is happening in our midst is from the LORD - Gen 24:50.
But the real testimony what are doing is of the LORD is that others will want to walk with us.
In addition to that there will be those who affirm our convictions and assume leadership in the the next generation.