A Faithful Servant
Theme: A Journey with Abraham
Theme Verse: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Hebrews 11:8 NIV
Readings: Genesis 24:10-66
Memory Verse: Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, saying, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."
(Genesis 24:26-27)
This is another story of faithfulness: the faithfulness of God and the faithfulness of Abraham's servant. It is also a great love story and God is the matchmaker. A word received: I will always remain faithful to you. What I want is your faithfulness to me. Prayer: LORD, help us to be your faithful servants as Abraham's servant was on Abraham's business.
First, look at Abraham's trust in God's guidance and provision of a wife for Isaac, the son of God's promise. He sends his servant back to his country (NW Mesopotamia) and his relatives (Genesis 24:4) and emphasized that no matter what happened his son was NOT to be taken back to where God first called Abraham. He trusted in God's promise of the gift of the land to his descendents (Genesis 24:7). He shared his conviction with the servant that God "will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there." This is a long journey, taking many weeks.
Now notice that the servant has the same trust on God's guidance and provision. He prays both for God to "give me success" and "show kindness to my master". Notice later (Genesis 24:27) "as for me, the LORD has led me". [He keeps referring to God as the God of Abraham but recall that the servant had learned his faith in God from Abraham and God has chosen to be known through the centuries as "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: as well as by his name, "I Am", and other titles.] He's reached the town and now needs to know which girl, as well as find the family and asks for a pretty unusual sign. Watering ten thirsty camels is not a joke! Before he has finished praying God answers his prayer. Not only does she water his camels, she is Abraham's brother's granddaughter! (Genesis 24:21) He "watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful." God was faithful. God has led him straight to Abraham's family and the right girl! The servant "acknowledged God in all his ways and God did direct his paths". (Proverbs 3:6) Prayer: LORD, help me to acknowledge you in all my ways and ask you to direct my paths.
His first response is to worship and praise God (Genesis 24:26). When he tells the story to Rebekah's family and he also tells them how he praised and worshiped the LORD. (Genesis 24:48) When the servant heard the family's answer (Genesis 24:52) he bowed down and worshiped God. When we see God at work and answered prayer, do we stop and give thanks and praise to God? Remember the story of the 10 lepers. (Luke 17:12)
Notice that the servant tells the whole story again to Rebekah's family -- with all the details. This happens a number of times in the Bible. It is the story-teller's way of making sure people remember accurately. It also means that this is very important. Remember Saul/Paul's conversion on the Damascus Road is told three times in Acts. (Acts 9:3ff, 22:6ff, 26:13ff) Jesus says at the last supper, "Do this in remembrance of me." God wants us to be a remembering people: remembering his mighty deeds and his steadfast love and kindness. A word received: I want you to remember, as this man did, the events of my faithfulness to you. I want you to be a remembering people. My people are called to remember my deeds and pass on to others and their children the witness of my faithfulness to them. Let this man be a model for you in his telling of my faithfulness. Psalm 78:1-10 talks about the importance of remembering what God has don and telling the next generation. It talks also about the consequences of forgetting.
Now look at how Rebekah and her family respond to what God is doing when Abraham's servant tells who he is and the whole story. (Notice that the servant gives them an "out" in Genesis 24:49.) Laban (brother) and Bethuel (father) answer, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has directed." (Genesis 24:50-51) They saw the evidence of God's working and they and Rebekah responded and obeyed immediately. Notice that the servant doesn't waste any time. Contrary to custom (compare Abraham's three visitors in Chapter 15) he won't even eat till he tells them his assignment! The family wants to keep Rebekah their daughter and sister "ten days or so" (which could stretch out a long time). The servant wants to leave the next morning and wants to promptly return to his master. (Remember Abraham is very old, Isaac is forty, and the journey long.) Notice that Rebekah was given a free choice!! She was not forced but she too could see how God was working and obeyed promptly. Prayer: LORD, help me also to obey promptly.
The family agrees and sends her with their blessing. When Isaac meets the returning caravan he too sees God's work and promptly marries Rebekah and "loves her" and was comforted. At every step someone could have said, "No!" Prayer: LORD, help me to see you at work in my life. Help me to obey you promptly and with joy.
Note: God can accomplish his purposes through many different cultural forms. The important thing is His will. Sometimes arranged marriages were forced as in Romeo and Juliet and other famous cases but what I saw in India was that when the family loves the son or daughter they do their best to make a match that is good for both and with two families that get along -- since you also marry a family! When I was in India many families allowed their child to meet and veto or agree to the choice. When we see evidence of the LORD's working, do we take action promptly as Rebekah did and obey immediately?
A humorous note (often seen in Bible stories): Laban sees the gold nose ring and bracelets and hears the story and says, "Come, you who are blessed by the LORD…" This fits with what we know of Laban later when Jacob comes to him.
Notice God's timing in this story. God's timing is important. If we hesitate, when we know something is from God, we may miss out on the best God has for us. God has many "days" of the LORD, times and seasons of his special arrangement and we need to pray for eyes to see and hearts to respond. Prayer: LORD, please help me to be faithful and obedient when you give me clear directions.
God has a plan for his people's lives and cares about their choices -- including whom they marry. God wants us to "seek his face" and pray for guidance about these important decisions. Both Abraham and the servant had prayed over and over for the LORD's guidance and He gave it!
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 26
Please read the Study Guide first.
Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1. God is faithful. We can trust Him. He wants us to be faithful to Him.
2. God has a plan for us. He wants us to obey Him. His plan is always best. He answers our prayers with what is best for us.
3. When we see God working, we need to give God the praise and glory He deserves.
4. God works in all cultures.
5. God wants us to remember His faithfulness and actions and tell other about them. That is being a witness.
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