40. The Abraham's Servant's Endeavor of Faith (Gen 24:1-33)

 Abraham sent his servant, not Isaac, to find Isaac’s wife with a strict requirement.

Please Read Gen 24:1-33

What was Abraham’s warning to his servant who would go to find Isaac’s wife? (two, v3-4, v8)

 

What promise of God made Abraham think that God’s angel would go before his servant and prepare a wife for Isaac? (v7)

 

The servant prayed for God’s guidance (verses           ). The sign of God’s chosen woman was greater kindness than requested (verse          ). He met a girl on the well, and it happened as precisely as his prayer, so he wondered if she was God’s chosen (verses            ).

How did the servant realize that the woman was God’s chosen for Isaac? (two, v14&19, v27)

Answers & Meditation

Don’t take Isaac’s wife from the Canaanites

Do not take Isaac back there

Abraham must have seen the sinfulness of the Canaanites. God didn’t forbid marriage with the Canaanites for Abraham. But, Abraham knew what was good for the chosen people of God.

Why did Abraham not send Isaac to look for his wife? He wanted to get rid of any possibility that Isaac would leave the promised land in case the woman doesn't want to leave her homeland.

“To your descendants, I will give this land.”

God didn’t promise to send his angel before the servant. But, Abraham believed He would send because this plan was in accordance with God’s promise of the land.

12-14, 14, 15-21

Abraham’s servant also was faithful and sought God’s guidance.

She did as the servant had prayed

She was from Abraham’s relatives

Abraham didn’t require his servant to pray before selecting a woman. He could pick any woman he liked. And it was not violating his master’s order. But, he sought the Lord’s guidance.

In his prayer, he asks an even harder requirement: she should show greater kindness. Rebekah came and did as he had prayed. However, the servant was still paying attention to God’s guidance.

As he heard that Rebekah was from Abraham’s relatives, he confirmed that she was God’s chosen.

Christian’s life = going through a narrow gate

What girl would follow a stranger to marry another stranger she has not seen? This plan would not work without God’s help.

Abraham thought, ‘if this plan doesn’t work, it is OK. Maybe it is not God’s will. Only I won’t let my son return to my old homeland.’

Look at the servant’s prayer. His requirement makes it even harder to find Isaac’s wife. All these are to know God’s guidance. If he finds a bride who meets these requirements, you have no choice to admit that God has prepared her. Because something less likely happened.

Christians keep taking less successful ways to confirm God’s will. It is a bit stressful to walk through a narrow path, but exciting because we see His hands.

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