Reading: Genesis 24:34-38 and 42-49

Genesis 24:35 – “Go to my father’s household and to my relatives and choose a wife for my son.”

In our Genesis story, the focus is beginning to shift to the next generation. Isaac has grown up and Sarah dies at 127. Abraham considers his legacy and decides to find a wife for his son Isaac. At the start of chapter 24 Abraham has the oldest servant in his household take an oath to find Isaac a wife, telling him, “Go to my father’s household and to my relatives and choose a wife for my son.” The servant swears allegiance to this mission. Abraham desires a wife for his son that is faithful to the Lord his God. The actual accomplishment of the mission happens in verses 10-33. Today we begin to read the “God-moment” side of the factual story.

Abraham’s servant willingly followed his master’s vision for a wife for Isaac. We can see that at least a little of Abraham’s faith in God has rubbed off on this Canaanite servant. He recounts the story to Rebekah’s family with God guiding each step. Sometimes events unfold in our lives in this way. We can see how God is guiding each step, providing each word, opening every door. We, as the servant clearly was, are awed to be a part of God’s unfolding plan. Other times, however, we stumble and bumble along, yet still end up right where God needs us to be. In hindsight we can see God’s fingerprints all over the place. We know God was with us, leading and guiding all the time. From both of these kinds of God-moments, we learn to trust God more deeply and to follow God more closely because we come to increasingly know that God is always faithful and good. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for always being at work in our lives – whether we are aware of it or not. Open our eyes and our spirits to be more sensitive to your abiding presence, guidance, and direction. Continue to build our faith and trust in you, O God. Amen.