Monday, 10 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Distant Bride

Isaac went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” Genesis 24:63-65

Eliezer is successful and brings Rebekah back with him to Canaan. As they approach home Isaac just so happens to be out in a field meditating. The romantic music swells up in the background, Isaac stands-up heart beating fast, Rebekah stops her camel, and the camera cuts to show the couple’s eyes meeting across the field. “Who is that man?” Rebekah whispers breathlessly…

Did you know God did Hollywood period drama first?!?

Friday, 07 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Distant Bride

"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." Genesis 24:14

When Eliezer arrives at his destination, the first thing he does is pray. Rebekah, a beautiful young virgin, then arrives at the well and offers to get water for Eliezer’s 10 camels… That would take over 2000 pints of water!!! She’s an awesome answer to prayer.

This is only the second prayer recorded in Scripture. The first was Abraham’s a couple of chapters earlier.* What a wonderful picture this narrative offers us: God answers the prayers of servants as well as masters!

FOOTNOTE:
Genesis 20:17

Thursday, 06 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Distant Bride

Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. Genesis 24:10

Eliezer would have made some impression as he walked by – perhaps the same as a line of black limos would today. He’s hoping to make a grand entrance for he’s on a tough mission. He’s travelling to a land unknown to him and when he arrives he needs to convince one of Abraham’s relatives to send away their daughter forever to marry someone they’ve never met!

How would you have gone about this?

Wednesday, 05 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Distant Bride

“Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. Genesis 24:6

Twice Abraham commands his chief servant Eliezer not to take Isaac back to his home country to meet the family. God had “taken” or removed Abraham from his family of idol worshippers and led him into a land of promise.* There’s no way that Abraham wants his son Isaac, the son of promise, to go back there. That would be like leaving freedom behind for slavery.

Isaac is to stay in the land God has given him.

Tuesday, 04 August 2009 01:00  |  Written by Steve Hall and posted in Distant Bride

"I want you to swear by the Lord, ...that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.” Genesis 24:3-4

Love is good and falling in love is a wonderful thing. But marrying someone who does not love God will almost certainly draw you away from God. Abraham knows this, so he asks Eliezer, his chief servant, to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s extended family; someone who is less likely to draw Isaac into the worship of idols than the Canaanites.

What in your life is “good” yet could pull you off track?