1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,720
Speaker 1: And the man bowed down his head and worship the Lord.

2
00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:09,960
Speaker 1: Genesis twenty four, twenty six. Dear God, as I am

3
00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:12,920
Speaker 1: on my journey to fulfilling the purpose you have for

4
00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,599
Speaker 1: my life, thank you Lord for partnering me with the

5
00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,680
Speaker 1: right people. I decree and declare that to day is

6
00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:26,000
Speaker 1: the day that you begin to partner me with kingdom connections.

7
00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,480
Speaker 1: I decree and declare that as I'm moving in obedience

8
00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,479
Speaker 1: and working in alignment with your assignment, that your giving

9
00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:38,440
Speaker 1: me uncommon favor with uncommon men and women. I want

10
00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:42,440
Speaker 1: to also thank you in advance for my spouse. Thank

11
00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:47,000
Speaker 1: you that they are being preserved and protected. I know,

12
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,880
Speaker 1: like Isaac and Rebecca, my spouse will be your best

13
00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:56,320
Speaker 1: for my life. I declare that my marriage will be

14
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,520
Speaker 1: one of purpose and understanding. I declare that we will

15
00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:05,520
Speaker 1: be in sync as two hearts become one. Lord, I

16
00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,080
Speaker 1: praise you for helping me to become the person I

17
00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:14,200
Speaker 1: need to be to love them completely. Thank you for partnerships.

18
00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,200
Speaker 1: Thank you for relationships. Then, thank you Lord for placing

19
00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,959
Speaker 1: the right people at the right place at the right

20
00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:31,800
Speaker 1: time in my life. In Jesus name, Amen, thank you

21
00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,160
Speaker 1: for praying with us today. Continue your time with God

22
00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:39,160
Speaker 1: by listening to today's Bible story, brought to you by

23
00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:52,160
Speaker 1: Bible in a Year dot com Isaac and Rebecca. Before

24
00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,600
Speaker 1: this story, we learned how God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

25
00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:01,840
Speaker 1: God had finally given Abraham his promise, but now required

26
00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:06,520
Speaker 1: an act of faith. Abraham, with anguish and sorrow, obeyed,

27
00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,720
Speaker 1: but the Lord provided a ram instead and blessed Abraham

28
00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,840
Speaker 1: for his obedience. Now we will learn about Sarah passing

29
00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:19,680
Speaker 1: away and Isaac meeting and marrying Rebecca has inspired by

30
00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:24,920
Speaker 1: the Book of Genesis. Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with

31
00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,880
Speaker 1: today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. Now

32
00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,640
Speaker 1: that God has tested Abraham's faithfulness, which he passed with

33
00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,720
Speaker 1: flying colors, our narrative turns to a time of grieving loss,

34
00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:40,760
Speaker 1: followed by a preparation for the future. The first thing

35
00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,720
Speaker 1: we'll hear of is the death of Sarah. She had

36
00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,959
Speaker 1: lived long, finally borne a son to Abraham, and now

37
00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,440
Speaker 1: the Lord was calling her to her eternal rest in him.

38
00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,959
Speaker 1: This was to be a time of sorrow and grief

39
00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,720
Speaker 1: for Abraham and a final opportunity for him to demonstrate

40
00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:03,240
Speaker 1: care for her and honor her memory. But understanding that

41
00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,000
Speaker 1: his work on earth was not yet done. We see

42
00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,079
Speaker 1: that Abraham would turn to future planning, to securing a

43
00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,679
Speaker 1: wife for his son Isaac, so that God's plan to

44
00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:19,040
Speaker 1: bless and grow his family would continue progressing. Today's passage

45
00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,920
Speaker 1: demonstrates great wisdom on the part of Abraham, both and

46
00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,680
Speaker 1: where he sends his servant to look for a mate

47
00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,160
Speaker 1: for Isaac, and in what he insists Isaac do as

48
00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,840
Speaker 1: the search is happening. Listen to what he commands his

49
00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,840
Speaker 1: servant to do and why he requires that Isaac remain

50
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:39,200
Speaker 1: in the land where they were. Notice also how Abraham's

51
00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,280
Speaker 1: servant goes about finding a suitable partner and how he

52
00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,920
Speaker 1: brings the Lord into the process. Watch also as God

53
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,120
Speaker 1: works through the process to ensure that Isaac is provided

54
00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,600
Speaker 1: with the right mate in Rebecca. You will once again

55
00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,240
Speaker 1: see how God's plans for his people come together, often

56
00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:02,640
Speaker 1: in unexpected ways and unex affected places. There's God's surprise.

57
00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:07,600
Speaker 1: Listen now to today's story. Abraham and Sarah lived a

58
00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:13,080
Speaker 1: long life together together. They braved famines, journeyed to new lands,

59
00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,960
Speaker 1: made mistakes, and experienced the faithfulness of God over their

60
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,960
Speaker 1: marriage and family. Together, they endured heartache and shared in triumph.

61
00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,240
Speaker 1: Yet time is the cruel thief of life, and Sarah,

62
00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,960
Speaker 1: in her old age, had gone to be with her lord.

63
00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,359
Speaker 1: Abraham ventured to the land of the Hittites and purchased

64
00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:38,279
Speaker 1: a field and cave there to bury his wife. Filled

65
00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:42,560
Speaker 1: with sorrow, he said goodbye to Sarah, his truest partner

66
00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:47,479
Speaker 1: and friend. God had blessed Abraham in all things. He

67
00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:52,880
Speaker 1: had accumulated wealth, influence, land, and adoration. Yet the death

68
00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,000
Speaker 1: of Sarah reminded him that his life was but a vapor,

69
00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,360
Speaker 1: and soon he would return to the dust from which

70
00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:03,320
Speaker 1: he came. It was time to consider his son Isaac

71
00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:08,360
Speaker 1: in securing his future. Abraham desired to find his son

72
00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,039
Speaker 1: a wife as faithful and god fearing as his mother was.

73
00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,479
Speaker 1: This would be a great challenge, since he dwelt in

74
00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,880
Speaker 1: a land where God was not yet known. Canaanites worshiped

75
00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,400
Speaker 1: the gods of the earth, and in vain they pursued

76
00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:29,080
Speaker 1: no higher purpose besides self pleasure and preservation. Abraham called

77
00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,320
Speaker 1: his most faithful servant to him, the oldest in his household,

78
00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,719
Speaker 1: and his friend, come and swear an oath to me.

79
00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:41,520
Speaker 1: Abraham said, swear to the Lord, the God of heaven

80
00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,159
Speaker 1: and Earth, that you will find my son a wife

81
00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:48,800
Speaker 1: among my home country and family. Shall I take your

82
00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:52,040
Speaker 1: son with me? The servant asked, for a woman might

83
00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,000
Speaker 1: be reluctant to come with me if her potential husband

84
00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,640
Speaker 1: is not there. You shall go to my home country

85
00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:03,800
Speaker 1: without Isaac. Abraham pressed, God has promised him this land,

86
00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,239
Speaker 1: and he shall not depart from it. If a woman

87
00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:09,920
Speaker 1: is unwilling to go with you, then I release you

88
00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,960
Speaker 1: from your oath. But I trust God will provide, since

89
00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,760
Speaker 1: he has promised that my son will continue to build

90
00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,520
Speaker 1: a nation with his children. So the servant swore an

91
00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,680
Speaker 1: oath to Abraham by putting his hand on his thigh,

92
00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,560
Speaker 1: which was a form of serious covenant promise. Then the

93
00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,719
Speaker 1: servant departed back to the land of Mesopotamia, to the

94
00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,640
Speaker 1: city of Naor with ten of his master's camels and gifts.

95
00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,520
Speaker 1: After a long journey, the servant had arrived on the

96
00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:42,719
Speaker 1: outskirts of his master's homeland at the time of evening.

97
00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:46,200
Speaker 1: He brought his camels to drink from a well. This

98
00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,599
Speaker 1: was the time when women from town came to draw

99
00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:53,880
Speaker 1: water for their families. The servant looked to God saying, O, Lord,

100
00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,880
Speaker 1: please grant me success to day, show love to my master,

101
00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,280
Speaker 1: and show me who might be the wife of his son.

102
00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:07,160
Speaker 1: Then the servant, knowing God's faithfulness, prayed a strange prayer, saying,

103
00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,320
Speaker 1: I am standing near this spring, and the young women

104
00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,120
Speaker 1: of the city are coming out to draw water. I

105
00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,239
Speaker 1: will ask them for a drink, and whoever also offers

106
00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,200
Speaker 1: to give my camel's water will be the one you

107
00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:23,679
Speaker 1: have chosen. It may have seemed like a strange prayer,

108
00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,320
Speaker 1: yet the servant knew that a woman who was willing

109
00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,480
Speaker 1: to go the extra mile to bless a stranger would

110
00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,280
Speaker 1: truly be an excellent wife. As he was speaking to

111
00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:37,200
Speaker 1: the Lord, Rebecca, the daughter of Abraham's brother, came near

112
00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,560
Speaker 1: the spring to draw water. She had an elegance and

113
00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,000
Speaker 1: beauty that stood out among the rest of the women.

114
00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,120
Speaker 1: The dim light of dusk accentuated her beauty, and the

115
00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:50,280
Speaker 1: servant prayed again that she might be the one for Isaac.

116
00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,520
Speaker 1: He approached her gently and asked, would you mind drawing

117
00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:59,119
Speaker 1: me some water. Rebecca, even more young and beautiful, looking

118
00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:04,760
Speaker 1: up close, smiled with kindness emanating from her eyes. Of course, drink,

119
00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,880
Speaker 1: my lord, she said, while drawing him some cold water.

120
00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:12,000
Speaker 1: The servant thanked her and took a drink with anticipation.

121
00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:15,840
Speaker 1: As he was drinking, she put her hands together and said,

122
00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,200
Speaker 1: I will draw some water for your camels. It seems

123
00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:22,160
Speaker 1: like you have come a long way. So she emptied

124
00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,040
Speaker 1: her own jar into a trough near by, and led

125
00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,680
Speaker 1: each camel to drink from it. Ten times. She drew

126
00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,520
Speaker 1: water and carried it and waited for each camel to

127
00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,120
Speaker 1: have its fill. She did so with diligence and speed.

128
00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,520
Speaker 1: The servant watched her work with excitement welling up inside him.

129
00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,000
Speaker 1: Have you done it? Lord, the servant thought to himself.

130
00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,880
Speaker 1: When Rebecca finished with the camels, the servant ran to

131
00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,800
Speaker 1: her and adorned her with gifts and gratitude. Please tell

132
00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,360
Speaker 1: me who you are and who your family is, He said,

133
00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:56,000
Speaker 1: would they have any room for me to spend the night.

134
00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,720
Speaker 1: Rebecca replied, my father is Bethuel and my brother is Laban,

135
00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,319
Speaker 1: and we have plenty of room for you and your

136
00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,480
Speaker 1: camels to stay the night. The man bowed his head

137
00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,439
Speaker 1: to God and worshiped with a grin of astoundment. He

138
00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,880
Speaker 1: spoke to the Lord, saying, blessed are you, Lord, God

139
00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:19,679
Speaker 1: of my Master, Abraham, your steadfast love and faithfulness has

140
00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:24,120
Speaker 1: orchestrated everything perfectly, and I am simply blessed to watch

141
00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:28,280
Speaker 1: it unfold. Then the young woman told her household about

142
00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,800
Speaker 1: these things. Laban hurried to the well to assist the

143
00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:35,600
Speaker 1: servant and gave his warmest welcome by saying, come on in.

144
00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,640
Speaker 1: I've got the house ready for you, and there's also

145
00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:42,320
Speaker 1: a place for your camels. They all happily settled in

146
00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:46,240
Speaker 1: the house and prepared to eat a meal together. Before

147
00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,720
Speaker 1: I eat anything, I need to tell you why I

148
00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:53,120
Speaker 1: am here, the servant said. I am the servant of Abraham.

149
00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,839
Speaker 1: And the Lord has truly blessed Abraham since last time

150
00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,720
Speaker 1: you saw him. He has become great with flocks and

151
00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,880
Speaker 1: herds of thousands. He owns land, silver, gold, servants, and

152
00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,760
Speaker 1: all sorts of treasures. Yet his greatest treasure is Isaac,

153
00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,720
Speaker 1: a son he had with his wife Sarah. He was

154
00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,960
Speaker 1: a son given to them in their old age, and

155
00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,960
Speaker 1: God's favor is on him as well. The family sat

156
00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,440
Speaker 1: at the table, astonished by what he was saying, for

157
00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,679
Speaker 1: they knew Abraham from years ago before he had departed.

158
00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,520
Speaker 1: The servant spoke again, saying, I have come here to

159
00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:35,360
Speaker 1: find my master's son a wife, and I believe Rebecca

160
00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,959
Speaker 1: is the woman God has chosen for him. He then

161
00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,720
Speaker 1: told them all the things he had prayed to God,

162
00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,760
Speaker 1: and Rebecca's actions confirming all that he had prayed for.

163
00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:51,079
Speaker 1: Laban and his father answered, this is undoubtedly from God.

164
00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,679
Speaker 1: Take her and go. Let her be the wife of

165
00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,440
Speaker 1: your master's son, as God has made it plain. The

166
00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:03,079
Speaker 1: servant praised God blessed the entire household with expensive gifts.

167
00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,280
Speaker 1: The thought of Rebecca leaving saddened her family, and they

168
00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,440
Speaker 1: wanted her to stay a little while longer. But Rebecca

169
00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:14,360
Speaker 1: felt the call of God to go. Similarly as God

170
00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,719
Speaker 1: had beckoned Abraham and Sarah to depart from their homeland

171
00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:22,640
Speaker 1: into something greater, so Rebecca departed as well. Back home,

172
00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,480
Speaker 1: Isaac went out into the field to meditate. The sun

173
00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,960
Speaker 1: was setting and the warm breeze whistled across the plains.

174
00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,840
Speaker 1: Colors of orange and purple filled the skies, and the

175
00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:38,120
Speaker 1: clouds moved with the wind. Isaac closed his eyes to pray.

176
00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:42,240
Speaker 1: He missed his mother. He whispered to God and breathed

177
00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,480
Speaker 1: in the sweet air of the promised land. He then

178
00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,440
Speaker 1: opened his eyes and in the distance, he saw the

179
00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:53,160
Speaker 1: camels approaching on the horizon. Rebecca, sitting upon the camels,

180
00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,480
Speaker 1: also lifted her eyes to see a distant figure standing

181
00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:00,480
Speaker 1: among the fields. She saw him drawing nearer and got

182
00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,760
Speaker 1: off her camel. Who is that man walking in the

183
00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,200
Speaker 1: field to meet us, she asked, It is my master,

184
00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:11,240
Speaker 1: the servant replied, so Rebecca put on her veil to

185
00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,680
Speaker 1: hide her face for the wedding. Isaac came to greet

186
00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,319
Speaker 1: them and was informed about all the things that had

187
00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:21,200
Speaker 1: taken place. So Isaac brought Rebecca to his home and

188
00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:25,320
Speaker 1: the two entered a prepared wedding ceremony. He removed her

189
00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:29,040
Speaker 1: veil and fell madly in love with Rebecca. The two

190
00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:33,840
Speaker 1: became one as Abraham and Sarah once were. Isaac enjoyed

191
00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,520
Speaker 1: the warm embrace and comfort of his wife, and the

192
00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:44,959
Speaker 1: two began to build a life with one another. Abraham

193
00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,640
Speaker 1: and Sarah have been through so much together, countless miles

194
00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,199
Speaker 1: of travel, ups and downs in their marriage, and at

195
00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,600
Speaker 1: long last, the joy of a beloved son. Sarah has

196
00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,199
Speaker 1: lived a long life and has fulfilled her purposes. Her

197
00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,760
Speaker 1: time on earth has come to an end, and Abraham

198
00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:07,280
Speaker 1: grieves her death with great sorrow. Wanting to honor her

199
00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,160
Speaker 1: in her passing, he lavishly provides a resting place for

200
00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:15,719
Speaker 1: her body, purchasing a field and a cave. But Abraham

201
00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,000
Speaker 1: will not remain stuck in his grief. He understands that

202
00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,720
Speaker 1: there is a time to mourn and a time to grieve,

203
00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,400
Speaker 1: and also a time to look to the future. God

204
00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,760
Speaker 1: has promised to bring him many descendants through Isaac, and

205
00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,120
Speaker 1: for that to happen, he must find a mate for

206
00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,880
Speaker 1: his son. Here we find Abraham acting as a wise

207
00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,719
Speaker 1: father and leader of his family. He could easily have

208
00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,120
Speaker 1: sent his servant to search the region for a young

209
00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,120
Speaker 1: woman for his son, but that could mean a marriage

210
00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:46,600
Speaker 1: to a pagan woman who knew nothing of his God.

211
00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,680
Speaker 1: That would mean disaster, So he sends his servant out

212
00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:55,439
Speaker 1: to his homeland far away. His servant makes a suggestion,

213
00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,320
Speaker 1: why don't I bring Isaac along for the journey so

214
00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,200
Speaker 1: the prospective wife can know I am telling the truth.

215
00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:07,480
Speaker 1: Once again demonstrating great wisdom, Abraham insists Isaac not leave.

216
00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,800
Speaker 1: God had promised that land to him, and Isaac must

217
00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,120
Speaker 1: stay there to protect his claim and be obedient to God.

218
00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,480
Speaker 1: But there was something more at play here. If Isaac

219
00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,160
Speaker 1: had journeyed far away and found a beautiful young woman

220
00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,120
Speaker 1: to marry. The temptation would be to stay right there,

221
00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:28,640
Speaker 1: abandoning the land God had given him. By now, Abraham

222
00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,600
Speaker 1: has lived long enough to understand the importance of trusting

223
00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,960
Speaker 1: and obeying God, and of staying the course that God

224
00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,880
Speaker 1: has set. So his servant heads out on his quest.

225
00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,400
Speaker 1: It is notable here that when he arrives in Nahor,

226
00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,200
Speaker 1: the servant prays to God and proposes a way to

227
00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:49,400
Speaker 1: identify the ideal wife. Look what he says in Genesis

228
00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:54,400
Speaker 1: twenty four, verses twelveth through fourteen. He said, Oh Lord,

229
00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:58,520
Speaker 1: the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success

230
00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:03,120
Speaker 1: today and show love kindness to my master Abraham. Behold,

231
00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,360
Speaker 1: I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of

232
00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:07,720
Speaker 1: the men of the city are coming out to draw water.

233
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,400
Speaker 1: Now may it be that the girl to whom I say,

234
00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,280
Speaker 1: please let down your jar so that I may drink,

235
00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,440
Speaker 1: and who answers drink and I will water your camels. Also?

236
00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:20,880
Speaker 1: May she be the one whom you have appointed for

237
00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,080
Speaker 1: your servant, Isaac. And by this I will know that

238
00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,960
Speaker 1: you have shown loving kindness to my master. Why is

239
00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,800
Speaker 1: this so notable. We already see that it is not

240
00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,040
Speaker 1: only Abraham's direct line that is honoring and following the

241
00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:39,160
Speaker 1: One True God. This servant, living in the midst of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac,

242
00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,440
Speaker 1: and their family have seen their master's worship and trust

243
00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,240
Speaker 1: in God, his obedience and dependence upon God, and this

244
00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:51,400
Speaker 1: influenced him greatly. So he seeks God, also asking him

245
00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,880
Speaker 1: to find the right wife for his master. He doesn't

246
00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,680
Speaker 1: ask for the most beautiful woman, as one might imagine

247
00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:01,120
Speaker 1: he would, wanting to impress his master with a striking beauty.

248
00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,880
Speaker 1: For Isaac, his test is looking for a kind heart,

249
00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:09,760
Speaker 1: a compassionate person, something that will far outlast physical beauty.

250
00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:14,360
Speaker 1: Waiting by the wall, he meets Rebecca. She is beautiful,

251
00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,920
Speaker 1: standing out from all the others, but what wins him

252
00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,160
Speaker 1: over is how she demonstrates great kindness and generosity to

253
00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,960
Speaker 1: a stranger, a foreigner in the land. This is the one,

254
00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:29,960
Speaker 1: He's sure of it. God is at work in this situation.

255
00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,840
Speaker 1: When the servant tells Rebecca he needs lodging, she welcomes

256
00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:37,800
Speaker 1: him to her family's house. There, he reveals the purpose

257
00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,880
Speaker 1: of his visit to the astonishment amazement of his host.

258
00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:48,040
Speaker 1: He is granted favor and Laban, Rebecca's brother, testifies, this

259
00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,320
Speaker 1: is from God, so far be it from them to

260
00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:54,040
Speaker 1: stand in the way. The family grants their blessing and

261
00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:58,400
Speaker 1: Rebecca agrees to the long journey to meet her future husband,

262
00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:03,120
Speaker 1: someone that he has never met or seen. They returned

263
00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:06,880
Speaker 1: to Canaan and Isaac is amazed. He is overjoyed that

264
00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,440
Speaker 1: God has provided him such a kind and beautiful wife.

265
00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,359
Speaker 1: They are married, and God's plan for his purpose and

266
00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:17,680
Speaker 1: ultimately the redemption of the world continues to move forward.

267
00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:23,760
Speaker 1: This is a story of God's divine providence, God orchestrating

268
00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,240
Speaker 1: the meeting at the right time between the right people

269
00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:30,000
Speaker 1: to provide a right mate for Isaac. It is a

270
00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:33,320
Speaker 1: reminder that God works and does amazing things in our

271
00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:39,600
Speaker 1: own lives, sometimes even despite unlikely odds and obstacles. What

272
00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,520
Speaker 1: we need to do is to always trust God, believe

273
00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,679
Speaker 1: his promises, and to obey him whatever he asks us

274
00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:50,959
Speaker 1: to do. Your Father, thank you for how this story

275
00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:54,600
Speaker 1: reminds us that you are always at work moving to

276
00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:58,439
Speaker 1: bless us and provide for our every need. Thank you

277
00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,240
Speaker 1: also for the lesson in grieve and honoring our loved

278
00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,880
Speaker 1: ones that we see from Abraham with Sarah's passing, help

279
00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,560
Speaker 1: us to trust that you will work in our situation,

280
00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,560
Speaker 1: that we will always bring glory to yourself and accomplish

281
00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:17,240
Speaker 1: your purposes in obedience with our lives in Jesus name. Amen.

282
00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,440
Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.

283
00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:25,840
Speaker 1: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey

284
00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,720
Speaker 1: dot com app and make prayer a priority in your life.

285
00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,280
Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you

286
00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:36,639
Speaker 1: love and by sharing this podcast, you can make a

287
00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:40,640
Speaker 1: difference in their life. And if you want more resources

288
00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,320
Speaker 1: on how to tap into God's power to trust in

289
00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,040
Speaker 1: Him and obey Him in all things, be sure to

290
00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:55,480
Speaker 1: visit Jack Graham dot org. This episode is sponsored by Medshare,

291
00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,920
Speaker 1: an innovative healthcare solution for Christians to save money without

292
00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:01,280
Speaker 1: sacrifice in quality