Protected Anyway

Protected Anyway

Genesis 26: ⁶ So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. ⁷ And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.” ⁸ Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, ^[a]showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. ⁹ Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?”

 

Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’ ”

 

¹⁰ And Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.” ¹¹ So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

 

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Abimelech was older. He had the same conversation with Abraham about men lurking around his wife. Now Isaac was having the same problem. The men or Gerar wanted to take Rebekah. Traditionally they would kill the husband but leave the brother alive. I

 

My Observations:

• Isaac lied about Rebekah being his sister because he was afraid.
• Abimelech saw Isaac showing affection to Rebekah that was not like a brother.
• Abimelech saw through the lie and protected Rebekah despite the deception.

 

Isaac was put in a difficult spot. He wanted to find a solution to the famine so he went to the king. He was told not to go to Egypt, but Gerar was just as bad. He lied about his relationship to Rebekah, probably to keep her and him alive. Whatever the case, it was a lie.

 

Abimelech knew Isaac was related to Abraham. He may have remembered what happened when Sarah showed up. All the women became barren. He did not want something like that to happen again. He ordered every man to stay away from Rebekah. They were protected anyway.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD explain this lie to Moses?
• Have you ever lied out of fear or insecurity?
• Can you begin your day with praising GOD for forgiving you of all your sins?

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?

Prophecy Fulfilled. Comfort Provided.

 

Prophecy Fulfilled. Comfort Provided.

Genesis 24: ⁶² Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South. ⁶³ And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. ⁶⁴ Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel; ⁶⁵ for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?”

 

The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself.

⁶⁶ And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. ⁶⁷ Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

 

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Up to this point Isaac had not been mentioned much by himself. He was mentioned as the promised child in the context of Abraham. But this time Isaac is mentioned as an adult. He moved away from Abraham, but not far away. Abraham’s servant brought Rebekah to him while he was having his quiet time with the LORD. Rebekah asked “Who is this man?”

 

My Observations:

• Rebekah was probably filled with excitement that she was chosen by GOD to be the mother of many nations.
• Abraham’s servant was probably excited to tell the supernatural story to Isaac.
• Isaac was comforted by Rebekah’s presence and was probably renewed from being saddened over his mother’s death.

 

Sarah may have told Isaac that he was the one who would fulfill GOD’s prophecy. Rebekah was told that she would fulfill GOD’s prophecy. Both had been told these things, but it wasn’t until they met that they may have said to themselves “This is really going to happen!”

 

Two people had their lives changed over a matter of a couple of weeks. Rebekah was not expecting to be married any time soon. Isaac knew he would be married, but was probably feeling a little down because he was not allowed to marry any of the women around him and did not know how he would fulfill the prophecy. GOD brought both of them love and comfort.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD turn to speaking about Isaac when describing things to Moses?
• Have you ever been shocked when GOD comes through with a promise, HE made to you?
• Do you believe that GOD is willing to guide you by the COMFORTER today?

No False Barriers

No False Barriers

Genesis 24: ⁵⁴ And he and the men who were with him ate and drank and stayed all night. Then they arose in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.”

 

⁵⁵ But her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go.”

 

⁵⁶ And he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since the Lord has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master.”

 

⁵⁷ So they said, “We will call the young woman and ask her personally.” ⁵⁸ Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?”

 

And she said, “I will go.”

 

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Ready to go back to Abraham, the servant asked to leave with Rebekah. But the brother and her mother asked for Rebekah to stay for “at least” ten days. Abraham’s servant reminded them of the supernatural agreement. They asked Rebekah if she wanted to go. She agreed.

 

My Observations:

• Laban and Rebekah’s mother may have gotten nervous overnight and wanted some time to talk to Rebekah to rationalize what was about to happen.
• Abraham’s servant was convinced that the LORD had orchestrated the circumstance.
• Rebekah spoke up and said she will go.

 

Everyone else seemed to have an opinion about Rebekah’s life, but Rebekah had the last word. She may have seen through her brother’s and mother’s concern and made a decision to not delay. GOD orchestrated a strange situation that suddenly came up.

 

One day Rebekah was doing chores as usual, then next day, she was about to leave forever. This would have been difficult to understand for any family. But Rebekah may have also known in her heart, that GOD would take care of her. She agreed, possibly because of her faith in the LORD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about this small conflict?
• Has GOD ever told you something and the next day, you second guess what HE said?
• Will you remain prayerful when someone puts up a false barrier to what GOD wants you to do?

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?

 

Checked Out to Check In

Checked Out to Check In

Genesis 24: ²⁹ Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. ³⁰ So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. ³¹ And he said, “Come in, O blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”

 

³² Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. ³³ Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told about my errand.”

 

And he said, “Speak on.”

 

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Laban, Rebekah’s brother, came over to check out what was going on by the well. He saw camels and a strange man speaking to his sister. He went to them and heard her story. He then invited the man into their house. He checked out Abraham’s servant.

 

My Observations:

• Possibly the HOLY SPIRIT told Laban to prepare a place for a guest to come and he did so without knowing Abraham’s servant would show up.
• Laban discovered that Abraham’s servant was the one he was waiting for.
• Laban was excited to see Abraham’s servant because he may have heard from the HOLY SPIRIT and saw it fulfilled.

 

Abraham said GOD would send HIS angel before the servant. I believe the HOLY SPIRIT prepared the situation so Laban would not drive Abraham’s servant away, rather invite him into their home. Laban verified that he was the one he was looking for and got excited.

 

Abraham’s servant did not get caught up in the excitement. He insisted that he explain the circumstance that GOD had him in. He would not eat until he explained. Laban may have been led by the HOLY SPIRIT to listen.

 

Challenge

• Why does Laban say “Come in, O blessed of the LORD?”
• Has GOD ever sent you on a journey, not knowing if you had a place?
• Is the HOLY SPIRIT prompting you to prepare a place for someone?

They All Praised

 

They All Praised

Genesis 24: ²² So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, ²³ and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”

 

²⁴ So she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.” ²⁵ Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.”

 

²⁶ Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. ²⁷ And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” ²⁸ So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.

 

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Abraham’s servant realized that Rebekah was the one who GOD led him to. He gave her gold from the Garden of Eden. I believe all gold came from there. She explained who she was related to.

 

My Observations:

• Rebekah was a strong woman who had a strong mother and grandmother.
• Rebekah got excited, but used wisdom and ran to her “mother’s household.”
• Abraham’s servant praised GOD for showing mercy to Abraham.

 

Rebekah was excited, Abraham’s servant was excited and soon the entire household would be excited. Milcah must have been a prominent figure in the community. She was Haran’s daughter. Haran was Abrahm’s brother who died. Rebekah mentioned Milcah in a way that she was the one who was known.

 

Abraham’s servant thanked GOD for showing him exactly what he was looking for. He wanted Abraham to get exactly what he asked for. He may not have know how important finding Rebekah was. GOD orchestrated the scenario where Abraham’s family would become involved. They seemed to be one of the few who worshipped GOD at the time.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD go into detail over whose household Rebekah belonged to?
• What did you do when GOD answered a prayer in your favor?
• Can you praise GOD for what HE has done and what HE will do in your life?