by George | Feb 3, 2021 | Community News
While He Was Yet Speaking
Abraham knew that he was getting older, and realized he didn’t have a lot of time left. So, he sent his servant to get a wife for Isaac his son. Back then, they didn’t have computerized dating or social media apps. Instead, you went to your “kinfolk.” (This doesn’t sound right to our modern ears, but that was the custom.)
The servant set out on his journey, leading a huge caravan. Genesis 24:10 describes it: “Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.”
Genesis 24:10
Abraham didn’t send just any servant. This was his oldest and most trusted servant.
When he gets there, he is probably exhausted, but he remembers to pray. This is key! Before we attempt any task, we should pray, and ask for God’s guidance and help.
“Then he said, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’— let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
Genesis 24:12-14
Looking at the servant’s prayer, we see that he was specific, and he asks God to answer in a specific way.
The Bible says that God answered before he was done praying!
“And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.”
Genesis 24:15
Rebekah then proceeds to do just as the servant had asked for. This was no easy task! The waterpots were heavy, and she drew water for 10 camels!
A note of caution:
We know that God answers prayers in His time and His own way. Be careful not to confuse circumstances with answered prayer.
The servant doesn’t assume anything. He waits in silence.
“And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.”
Genesis 24:21
Then, he gives Rebekah the jewelry he brought and asked who she was related to. Finding out that she’s “kin” to Abraham, the servant rejoiced.
“Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD. And he said, “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”
Genesis 24:26-27
What can we learn from Abraham’s servant?
- Pray before you start.
- Believe that God will answer.
- Look for answered prayer.
- Remember to worship God and thank Him for answered prayer!
by George | Feb 1, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Search Me
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalms 139:23-24
What an amazing time we live in. Medical science has made great strides in diagnosing and treating illness. They have developed many ways to “look inside you” with x-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound and the like.
If you’ve lived any length of time, you’ve probably had to undergo one of those tests.
While we’ve made great strides in that area, we know that those tests aren’t infallible. Sometimes, there is something inside of a person that is not detected. It may be “hidden.”
The psalmist asks God to look inside of him, to do a scan of you will.
He is not asking God to do a medical scan, but rather a spiritual one.
God knows all and sees all, so you know that His examination will see all things.
He asks God to “search me and know my heart…”
God knows exactly how we feel.
“For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
God knows how you feel…
The psalmist asks God to “know my anxieties…”
We all get worried and anxious sometimes, but have we asked God to help us? The first step is asking God to make us aware of our anxieties. Then, He can administrator the medicine for it, His perfect peace.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3
The psalmist also asks God to “… see if there is any wicked way in me…”
This scan uncovers sin, particularly hidden sins that get in the way of fellowship with God.
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.”
Psalms 32:1
There is joy in God’s forgiveness.
Finally, he asks God to
“… lead me in the way everlasting.”
Once he has gone through the “scan” which has uncovered his anxieties and sin, he asks for God’s guidance.
Let’s do like the psalmist today and ask God to examine us, bringing to light our anxieties and sin.
Confess them to God.
Go forth in His peace, and joy of forgiveness, being sensitive to His guidance of your life.
by George | Jan 29, 2021 | Community News
The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
“I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD.”
Psalms 116:17
Have you ever wondered what “the sacrifice of thanksgiving” means?
In old testament times, it was a literal sacrifice.
In “The Good Book Blog”
Joy Mosbarger writes:
“… the sacrifice of thanksgiving is actually a peace offering that is motivated by thanksgiving. This type of offering included an animal sacrifice as well as various sorts of cereal or bread offerings.”
Living in the age of Grace, we are not required to do animal sacrifices. They were rendered obsolete by the blood of Christ!
But, we can still express our thankfulness to God in prayer, and our conversations with others.
This thankfulness can bless others, just as it did in biblical times. Joy states:
“After the Lord and the priest received their portions, the worshiper who brought the sacrifice would take the remaining portions of the meat and the bread and prepare a feast in which family and friends who were ritually pure could share. “
So, our thankfulness to God should be plentiful, and motivate us to share with others. Joy concludes:
“Maybe the kindness and generosity of God should be an impetus to get us to express to others the same kindness and generosity that we have experienced.”
Let’s live today with an attitude of thankfulness, including it in a whisper to God, and demonstrating it with our actions towards others.
