Sensing Something is Wrong

Sensing Something is Wrong

Genesis 25: ¹⁹ This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. ²¹ Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. ²² But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.

 

²³ And the Lord said to her:

 

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”

 

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Isaac’s genealogy starts off differently than Ishmael’s. It begins with trouble. Rebekah was barren. Isaac had his own relationship with the LORD, so he pleaded with HIM to provide a child. The LORD granted this plea. But then Rebekah, who never had children, knew something was wrong.

 

My Observations:

• Rebekah, like Sarah, was barren and needed a miracle.
• Isaac, like Abraham, spoke to the LORD about children HE promised.
• GOD granted the plea and explained to Rebekah the spiritual ramifications of her children.

 

You would think that GOD’s promise would come easy. Sarah, baren. Rebekah, baren. Both needed GOD’s intervention, so this may be been a supernatural situation that both women faced. It required faith that only GOD could work this problem out. Isaac showed the same faith of Abraham by asking the LORD for favor. HE showed favor.

 

But there was another barrier. Something was wrong with the pregnancy. Even though Rebekah never had children before, she could tell something was wrong. She went to the LORD and asked “Why am I like this?” GOD explained what was going on with the struggle. GOD answered Rebekah.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD explain Isaac’s genealogy differently than Ishmaels’ to Moses?
• Has GOD made you a promise and you could sense something is currently wrong?
• If you sense something is wrong with the current situation, will you ask GOD to clear the path today?

Celebration Gifts

Celebration Gifts

Genesis 24: ⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. ⁵¹ Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.”

 

⁵² And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. ⁵³ Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

 

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Laban, Rebekah’s brother and Bethuel, Rebekah’s father, heard Abraham’s servant explain what he came for. They heard the strange story and replied, “The thing comes from the LORD.”

 

My Observations:

• Abraham’s servant went to Rebekah’s family and explained his mission that was given to him by GOD through Abraham.
• The HOLY SPIRIT prepared the heart of Laban and Rebekah’s mother.
• Bethuel agreed that the situation had to be orchestrated by the LORD, but may have had some hesitance that Abraham’s servant sensed, causing him not to give him gifts.

 

Rebekah woke up that day ash she did every day. She was simply doing what she would normally do and was not thinking about anything else, other than the final chores for the day. Little did she know, GOD had something in store for her. Abraham’s servant was delivered to her by the HOLY SPIRIT. The timing was and location of his visit were uncanny.

 

He prayed a prayer that was ultra-specific. GOD answered that prayer, as if to say “This is MY selection.” Abraham’s servant celebrated by giving the family “precious things” and he also gave Rebekah a little of what she would soon own. This was truly a time to praise GOD!

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about the gifts Abraham’s servant gave and to who he gave it to?
• When is the last time you celebrated something, GOD did in your life?
• Is it time for you to celebrate GOD for all the things HE has done for you, to you and through you?

 

Stunned

Stunned

Genesis 24: ¹⁵ And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. ¹⁶ Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. ¹⁷ And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”

 

¹⁸ So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. ¹⁹ And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” ²⁰ Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. ²¹ And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

 

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Abraham’s servant was praying to the LORD, probably because he had seen Abraham do this often. He was not testing GOD or even trying to muster up faith by forcing GOD to do the impossible on his terms. He simply asked GOD to help him not make a mistake in choosing a wife for Isaac. Before he could finish speaking, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulders.

 

My Observations:

• The HOLY SPIRIT orchestrated the perfect timing of Abraham’s servant being at the well when Rebekah came out.
• Rebekah had a servant leader’s heart, able to serve strangers without complaint or personal gain.
• Abraham’s servant was stunned because the LORD answered his prayer exactly as he asked.

 

“Is this too good to be true?”, the servant may have asked himself. He asked a very specific prayer and it was answered so quickly and specifically. I believe GOD still does this. HE does not mind a specific prayer that is coupled with the right heart.

 

Abraham’s servant would gain nothing from this prayer being answered. The wife would be for Isaac, and Abraham would get the promise GOD had for him. Abraham’s servant wanted what was best for everyone else because he was already blessed by running Abraham’s household. He had everything Abraham had so he was as wealthy as Abraham. His prayer was answered.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention to Moses that Abraham’s servant remained silent, “wondering at her?”
• Have you ever asked GOD for something and it came through so quickly that you were stunned?
• Are you willing to ask GOD for something for someone else without the need for personal gain?

All in the Family

All in the Family

Genesis 22: ²⁰ Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: ²¹ Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, ²² Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” ²³ And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. ²⁴ His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.

 

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After the flood, GOD said to Noah’s family, “Be fruitful and multiply” just like HE said to Adam and Eve. Generations passed and Terah, father of Abraham, Nahor and Haran, was born. Haran died and tore Terah apart. Abraham and Nahor got a plan. They would get married and bring some joy to Terah.

 

Abraham married Sarah and Nahor married Haran’s daughter Milcah. Someone from Milcah’s family told Abraham about her children.

 

My Observations:

• Milcah was watched over by the LORD.
• Milcah and Nahor also shared in the blessing from GOD.
• Milcah had a child named Bethuel who was the father of Rebekah, who will be discussed later.

 

Though the family faced the difficulties of death, they lived for GOD in a way that HE mentioned them to Moses. JESUS, the Angel of the LORD, seemed close to this family and must have spoken to them regularly. The heartache of losing Haran was filled with joy through Nahor and Milcah.

 

Milcah was opposite of Sarah as she had eight children. They remained in the area that Terah left, amongst the Chaldeans. JESUS’ human lineage would come through this family. To clarify, I believe JESUS was the one who made numerous appearances in the Old Testament.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD give Moses this conversation and lineage?
• Have you ever thought you were not seen by GOD?
• Do you realize you are part of GOD’s family and HE sees you and loves you?