Genesis 24:1-14 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Genesis 24:1-14. Let’s go!
Genesis 24:1-4 (NIV)
1 Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
2 He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh.
3 I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
4 but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
On verses 1-4: Even in Abraham’s old age, Abraham still had goals to accomplish and things he wanted to get done. A top priority for Abraham was finding a good wife for his son Isaac, as per the traditions of his culture where parents would arrange the marriage for their child. Since Abraham could not do this himself in his old age, he delegated this responsibility to his chief servant and placed him under a strict oath to go back to Abraham’s home country and find for Isaac a wife that met Abraham’s criteria.
What can we learn from this?
First, no matter how old or young you are, be serious about setting goals and fulfilling your responsibilities.
Second, the matter of finding a life partner is of huge importance, not at all to be taken lightly. For those who plan to get married, the decision of who you choose to marry will affect your happiness and destiny more than any other decision you make in life, with one exception: the decision to trust and follow Jesus Christ. So you need to choose wisely.
Genesis 24:5-8 (NIV)
5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?”
6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said.
7 “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’–he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”
On verses 5-8: Abraham insisted that Isaac must stay in the land of Canaan where Abraham was (v6). Why? It’s because Abraham knew that God had given the land of Canaan to his descendants. He did not want Isaac to get sidetracked and to go someplace other than the land where Abraham’s descendants were meant to be. Likewise, there are certain decisions you must make and boundaries you must decide not to cross in order to protect the inheritance that God has for you. Don’t be sidetracked or distracted from going after, and protecting, the inheritance that God has for you.
Genesis 24:9-11 (NIV)
9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor.
11 He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.
On verse 11: Abraham’s servant heads to the town of Nahor, which bears the same name as Abraham’s brother (Genesis 11:26) and grandfather (Genesis 11:24). He goes to the well outside the town at a time when the women go out to draw water.
What can we learn from this? When you’re trying to find someone special and you’re not yet sure who it is exactly (whether it’s a life partner, that next great employee, that next person to win to Jesus), go and make yourself available. Position yourself in places where you can potentially meet the kind of person you are looking for. This might seem obvious, but I find Christians can sometimes overspiritualize their search for someone special by “leaving it all up to God”, in other words, without making any real effort to find or be found. “But JB, didn’t Adam fall asleep and when he woke up Eve was right there?” Yes, but that’s because Adam had never seen a woman before. He had no idea what to look for! That’s not necessarily your situation. God is willing and able to show you who that special someone is, but you need to put yourself in position to find and/or be found. If you keep your head in the sand and you never try to make any connections with others, if you just expect that special someone to pop up out of nowhere, then don’t blame God if you don’t find the person you’re looking for. Finding that special someone involves doing what is reasonably within your control and trusting God with what is out of your control.
Genesis 24:12 (NIV)
12 Then he prayed, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
On verse 12: Abraham’s servant didn’t just rely on his own smarts and strategies. Even more, Abraham’s servant involved God in the process, asking God for success in his search for a partner for Isaac.
Likewise, when you’re searching for that special someone (such as a life partner, that next great employee, or a friend to confide in), involve God in the search process. Make Him the chair of your search committee. Remember that a successful search doesn’t depend all on your efforts and smarts. You need to trust God and involve God in the search process as well. Wisely do what is in your control and trust God with what is out of your control. This is wisdom and faith working together.
Genesis 24:13-14 (NIV)
13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14 May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’–let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”
On verses 13-14: Notice that Abraham’s servant wasn’t just looking for any girl from Abraham’s home country. He was looking for a girl with a certain type of character, someone who had an exceptional heart to go above and beyond when serving others. Abraham’s servant wisely valued character above looks, talents, wealth or status.
Likewise, when looking for that special someone (whether it’s a life partner, that next important team member or friend), be specific about the kind of person you are looking for. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you’ll fall for anyone. In particular, value the person’s character above that person’s appearance, talents, or status, because that person’s character will have a bigger impact on the health and happiness of your relationship than anything else. As Proverbs 31:10 says, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” That is not to say that other considerations like appearance, compatibility, and talents are not important, but you want to look for character first and foremost.
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me today that in the search for others I have a part to play and You have a part to play. It’s not all me, nor is it all You. It’s You and I working together. It’s doing my best with what is in my control and trusting You with what is out of my control. It’s wisdom and faith working together. Today, may I be armed with wisdom and faith to make the best decisions. Have Your way with my life and future. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
