Devotion for July 05, 2011 – God May Work Through Us
Photo: Peter Toohey (Creative Commons license)
Today's Scripture Reading
Genesis 24:34-38
34 So he said, “I am Abraham's servant. 35 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.36 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.37 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, 38 but you shall go to my father's house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’
Genesis 24:42-49
42 “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, 43 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,” 44 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.’
45 “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.’ 46 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. 47 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. 48 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. 49 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.”
Genesis 24:58-67
58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,
“Our sister, may you become
thousands of ten thousands,
and may your offspring possess
the gate of those who hate him!”
61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.
62 Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. 63 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.64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel 65 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. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 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.
Today's Devotion
The faith Abraham places in his servant is astounding to me. But then we have already seen Abraham’s faith in God through his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham asks his most entrusted servant to find Isaac a wife. The servant knowing the weight of the task before him prays that his mission is successful. Rebekah is found and agrees to follow the servant back to another land and thereby sacrifices all that she has known and loved in her whole life. The faith and trust involved in all three acts is simply astounding from my context. In all three instances human beings are trusting that God is working through their fellow human beings to attain something good and fulfilling for them.
I too have seen God working through human beings on many occasions to better my understanding of who God is and how I can know God more fully. These moments of fulfillment are also astounding to me and they always expand my world in positive ways and fill me with gratitude. In the case of Rebekah and Isaac it seems as if they immediately fall in love. They recognize one another upon first meeting and form a lifetime bond. They are a gift to one another from God. We too can be gifts to one another, we too can entrust one another and keep our oaths to one another and abide by our word to one another. We cannot do it alone, we need God’s help to forge trusting relationships that stand the trying times, the grief filled times as well as the joyful moments.
Prayer: God of Abraham, Abrahams’ eldest servant, Isaac and Rebekah; we ask that you guide us in our relationships with one another. Bring us close to one another so that we can be part of your family, your community. Help us to live with one another in peace, continue to bring in new members to your community and expand your kingdom here on earth. Help us to bridge our untrustfulness, our sinfulness that keep us separated from you and each other so that we can form relationships built on faith and trust that are lived out under your eternal Love. In the glorious name of Jesus Christ we pray. AMEN.
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