Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Sunday's Message - The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (Abraham's Servant Finds Isaac a Wife)

We're going to spend the summer of 2023 with the Patriarchs. During eleven worship services, beginning on Father's Day, we'll use passages from the book of Genesis to look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, focusing on how the Lord was consistently and actively involved in their lives. And by the end of the summer, we should have a better understanding of the one whom they followed and on how that same God can lead us. During this series, we'll look at the stories and passages below:

On Sunday, the message focused on what we can learn from Abraham's Servant Finds Isaac a Wife, Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49. A recording and copy of the sermon are below. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel at 10:00 a.m.


I think I have a new appreciation of prayer. But before I say anything else, let me be clear, I’ve always believed that prayer is important, and it’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Still, given some of the things that have happened in the last month or so (and I’m not talking about the bat in the house), I think my understanding of what prayer is and does, well, I think it’s grown a little bit; imagine that. Now, to be completely honest, the issues that have put me on my knees recently aren’t really all that dramatic or profound. And I’ll tell you, I know they can’t compare with some of the stuff that other folks are struggling through, and I’m talking about folks right here this morning. But you know, these issues have been important enough, at least to me, that I find myself doing more than a politician may have in mind when he looks into the camera and says, “Those families are in my prayers.” What I’m talking about is a whole lot more personal than a line in the press conference.

And I’ll tell you, that’s one of the reasons I’ve been looking forward to preaching the passage we have this morning, you know, the one about Abraham’s servant finding a wife for Isaac. Of course, that’s not to say that the other four stories we’ve already talked about aren’t important, because I think they certainly are. I mean, when we talked about how God called Abram and how he responded, well, that gave us the opportunity to think about how we’ve been called and how we can respond. And when we looked at how God promised a child to Abraham and Sarah, that gave us the chance to think about what God has promised to us and how he’ll keep those promises even when our response is less than perfect. And then we considered how Abraham sent away Hagar and his son Ishmael, a story that reminds us that even though there are times when we have to make difficult, even painful decisions, we can still trust in God’s mercy and compassion. And then, last week, we focused on how God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and based on that, how we can actually do what God has commanded us to do, namely to love one another as we’ve been loved and we can do it, trusting that God will give us the opportunity and ability we’re going to need. Now, like I said, all those stories are important, at least, they are for me.

And in fact, having said that, when compared to a father sending one son into the wilderness and laying his half-brother on an altar, what we’re looking at today may seem like small potatoes. I mean, on the surface, all we’ll talk about this morning is Abraham’s servant telling the story of what happened to him as he was trying to find a wife for Isaac. That’s it. Still, when we take a look at what he faced and what he did and what happened in the end and then apply all that to ourselves, I think we can find some pretty solid direction as we try to figure what we can do in the face of tough situations, and I’m talking about the kind of stuff I’ve been thinking and worrying about over these last few weeks and the kind of issues with which some of y’all may be struggling right this minute. Now that’s going to be our focus for the next ten minutes or so.

And like I said, it all comes from the story about Abraham’s servant finding a wife for Isaac. I mean, at the very beginning; this patriarchal employee faced a tough situation. Just listen to what it says in Genesis, and remember, this is the servant retelling the story himself:

The servant explained:

I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has been good to my master and has made him very rich. He has given him many sheep, goats, cattle, camels, and donkeys, as well as a lot of silver and gold, and many slaves. Sarah, my master’s wife, didn’t have any children until she was very old. Then she had a son, and my master has given him everything. I solemnly promised my master that I would do what he said. And he told me, “Don’t choose a wife for my son from the women in this and of Canaan. Instead, go back to the land where I was born and find a wife for my son from among my relatives.” [Genesis 24:34-38, CEV]

Now that was the situation faced by the servant. And to call it overwhelming and confusing, man, I think that would be an understatement. Good night nurse, we’re talking about finding a wife for this miracle child, the son of a guy whom God had really blessed and a woman who’d experienced a truly miraculous birth. And he’s your boss, for crying out loud! Talk about pressure. And while there sure seemed to be a lot of focus on the what, there’s not very much on the how. I mean, exactly how was he supposed to find this bride from among Abraham’s relatives and how exactly was he supposed to persuade her to get on a camel and head west. As he described his mission, this servant was in a tough spot, wasn’t he?

And I’ll tell you, that’s why I think what he decided to do is so important. You see, as soon as he got to the neighborhood, before he did anything, the servant prayed. Now, this was how, in his own words, he described it:

When I came to the well today, I silently prayed, “You, Lord, are the God my master Abraham worships, so please lead me to a wife for his son while I am here at the well. When a young woman comes out to get water, I’ll ask her to give me a drink. If she gives me a drink and offers to get some water for my camels, I’ll know she is the one you have chosen.” [Genesis 24:42-44, CEV]

Now that was what he did. In other words, before mapping out a strategy or throwing up his hands, Abraham’s servant went to God in prayer. And I want you to notice that, as he prayed, two things happened. I mean, first, his focus narrowed, because that’s what happens when you make a request to the one who is both the Lord and God. And then second, his vision sharpened. You see, as he was talking with the Lord God, he not only expressed what he needed but also how he might know that it had happened. You see, the girl of his master’s dreams would be the one who would show kindness to a stranger when asked. Now, that’s what the servant prayed.

And I’ll tell you, after he’d finished, at that point, he was able to move forward and complete this overwhelming and confusing job he’d been given. Again, in his own words, this was what he said:

Even before I had finished praying, Rebekah came by with a water jar on her shoulder. When she had filled the jar, I asked her for a drink. She quickly lowered the jar from her shoulder and said, “Have a drink. Then I’ll get water for your camels.” So I drank, and after that she got some water for my camels. I asked her who her father was, and she answered, “My father is Bethuel the son of Nahor and Milcah.” At once I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and gave thanks to the God my master Abraham worships. The Lord had led me straight to my master’s relatives, and I had found a wife for his son.

Now please tell me if you are willing to do the right thing for my master. Will you treat him fairly, or do I have to look for another young woman? [Genesis 24:45-49, CEV]

Now that’s what happened. You see, with his focus narrowed and his vision sharpened, now he was able to see God at work, pointing him toward the woman who would be the mother of the next patriarch, you know, the son of Isaac. And finally, he was able to do what he’d been instructed to do, you know, to find this matchless match for his master’s son. Now, that’s the story in a nutshell.

And I’ve got to tell y’all, I really think this speaks to us right here and right now. For example, just like the servant, we face tough situations in our lives, don’t we? Even though I doubt that any of us will ever be told to find a spouse for our boss, often the kind of stuff we face is far more personal and frankly far more difficult. But you know, even though the details may be different, I believe the feelings those situations may trigger are pretty much the same. For example, I think we can also feel overwhelmed, not unlike what Job felt when he said this to God: 

I am sick of life!
And from my deep despair,
    I complain to you, my God.
Don’t just condemn me!
    Point out my sin.
Why do you take such delight
in destroying those you created
    and in smiling on sinners?
Do you look at things
    the way we humans do? [Job 10:1-4, CEV]

I’ll tell you, I think it’s easy to become overwhelmed, just like it’s easy to also feel confused, and I’m talking about confused as to why this is happening and what we should do about it, something that the prophet Habakkuk must have experienced when he approached God with this:

Our Lord, how long must I beg
for your help
    before you listen?
How long before you save us
    from all this violence?
Why do you make me watch
    such terrible injustice?
Why do you allow violence,
lawlessness, crime, and cruelty
    to spread everywhere?
Laws cannot be enforced;
    justice is always the loser;
criminals crowd out honest people
    and twist the laws around. [Habakkuk 10:2-4, CEV]

You see, whether it involves a concern for ourselves or for others, an issue that’s physical or emotional, enduring a painful loss or an unexpected burden, I think, from time to time, we all face tough situations.

But you know, when that happens, I think we can do the exact same thing the servant did. You see, like him, we can pray. We can bundle up all those concerns and those issues, all the losses and the burdens, I’m talking about all that stuff that overwhelms and confuses, and we can take them to God. And I’ll tell you, when we do that, when we decide to approach him with all our problems and pain, I think we’re going to find that our focus will narrow. As a matter of fact, I believe it’ll zero in like a laser beam on the same one to whom Abraham’s servant directed his prayers and the psalmist directed his when he prayed,

I come to you, Lord,
for protection.
    Don’t let me be ashamed.
Do as you have promised
    and rescue me.
Listen to my prayer
    and hurry to save me.
Be my mighty rock 
and the fortress
    where I am safe.

You, Lord God,
are my mighty rock
    and my fortress.
Lead me and guide me,
so that your name
    will be honored.
Protect me from hidden traps
    and keep me safe.
You are faithful,
and I trust you
    because you rescued me. [Psalm 31:1-5, CEV]

You see, when we make the decision to approach God in prayer, I think we’ll find that our focus won’t be scattered all over the place, instead, it’ll be narrowed to the one who can offer help. But that’s not all that’ll happen. I’ll tell you, as our focus narrows, I also believe our vision will sharpen. You see, as we talk with God, I think we’ll find a sense of clarity we may have lacked before. In other words, we’ll have a better understanding of where we need to be and how we might get there, a place that I believe the Apostle Paul reached when he wrote this to the Philippians:

I pray that your love will keep on growing and you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God. [Philippians 1:9-10, CEV]

You see, as we face tough situations, I think our focus can narrow and our vision can sharpen.  Man, this can happen when we pray.

And I’ll tell you, the reason for doing this is just as important for us as it was for Abraham’s servant. You see, I believe the focus and vision that we receive when we pray enables us to move forward and to confront all those overwhelming and confusing situations we face. For example, as it did for the servant, prayer opens our eyes so that we can see God at work, actively moving in our world. And even though it may not always be in the way we expect or even want, God’s presence can be just as real for us as it was for him. As Paul wrote to the Romans,

All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God’s people. We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so his Son would be the first of many children. [Romans 8:27-29, CEV]

I believe that’s going to happen. And you know, because we’ll be able to see God working all around us, we’ll also be able to do what God has called us to do. In other words, regardless of what we might be facing, prayer enables us to face those situations as people who are filled with that same Spirit. Again, according to Paul, this time in his letter to the Galatians:

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. [Galatians 5:22-23, CEV]

You see, I believe this is going to happen, when we pray. I mean, just like it did for Abraham’s servant, we’ll be able to move forward.

As I said a little while ago, over the last few weeks, I think I’ve come to a new appreciation of prayer, but not as a way to change God’s mind; rather, as an offering that helps us better understand and accept God’s will. And I think we can see that reflected in the story we read this morning. You see, as we consider what the servant faced and what he did and what happened at the end, I think we’re actually a lot like him. I mean, we also face tough situations, situations that feel both overwhelming and confusing. And in the face of those situations, we can also pray, something that will narrow our focus and sharpen our vision. And finally, with that focus and vision, we’ll be able to move forward, because prayer enables us to see God at work and to do what he’s called us to do. Now I think this is what prayer offered then and offers now. And we can believe this because we’ve heard the story of Abraham’s servant finding Isaac a wife.
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