Sunday, December 6, 2009

In Genesis 24 Abraham now well advanced in years sends his trusted servant to the land of his brother, Nahor, to find a bride for his son, Isaac. When his servant arrives in the city the first thing he does is seek the Lord's help (Matthew 6:33) to find Isaac's bride. Reading Genesis 24:10-27 you will see that before he has finished speaking to the Lord, Rebekah shows up and does all that the servant had asked of the Lord. The servant's prayer was answered before he finished speaking! In Psalm 32:8 of the Bible it says, "I (the Lord) will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eyes." But we first have to seek the Lord each and every time we need direction or instruction. Isaiah 65:24 promises us this same thing! It says, "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear." But we first have to seek the Lord. Yesterday I closed my journaling Just 4 You Today with Proverbs 3:5 and 6 - look back at that or better yet look it up in your Bible and then look at Psalm 37:5. What conditions must we meet if we are to receive God's guidance? In two words, trust, commit. We are to seek Him - lets commit to seeking the Lord - and we are to trust Him. Abraham trusted God and he could trust his servant and the servant learned to trust God.

Now look back at the story of Abraham's servant and see how the servant reacted when God answered his prayer (v.26). He is so thankful that he praises the Lord! Yes! He bows down with his head and worships the LORD and says, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham...". If God did it in Genesis 24 for Abraham's servant, he will do it for you. He is no respector of persons. God will answer your prayer even before you are through speaking! He does every time when you are obedient to do what He asks of you as He guides you - it's when we are disobedient that we are found to be lost and often struggling. Think back and pray to God your Father and ask Him to show you where you are today and what you need to be doing for Him or maybe repent for doing. "...he will not forsake His mercy and His truth toward you." He will "do exceedinly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory..."! (Ephesians 3:20)

Before I close, notice one more thing in this story God gives us to encourage us. The servant was able to stay and lodge in the home of Abrahams' relatives. Did the servant include this in his prayer? No. This was given to him as part of the "more abundant life" God promises to us that choose Him! (John 10:10b - life more abundant: superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough, more than sufficient!) The servant chose God. Choose life today - trust in the Lord!