Bibledoorajar Meets the Family

The girl had been living north of Ur. She probably knew everyone that lived there and she probably knew the story of her Uncle Abraham who left the family and started across the terrible desert to reach a land promised by God. But her family, that of Nahor, had not gone on and it is doubtful that this young girl ever expected to live anywhere else. But things have a way of changing if God is involved. Now the servant had inquired about her family and had asked if there was room for he and his entourage where she lived. Yes, her answer had been yes, and we are left to imagine her swift run home ahead of the entourage wearing her newly acquired trophies. Soon she made out the shape of her brother Laban and as soon as he saw the jewelry, and heard her report, he ran to meet the entourage.  Laban saw all the riches which laden the backs of the camels. Now Laban may have already been a hospitable guy, but when he saw those camels he became hospitable in deed! Quickly he ordered that the animals be cared for and water be offered to soothe the feet of the weary travelers. And, yes, food must be prepared. But no, stop, the servant said. None of that until the mission can be  fully revealed and the purpose of the visit be settled. Now, the question before us is will God's selection of Rebecca for Isaac be accepted by the family?

I once saw a family in counseling. The problem was presented thus: "Ever since our daughter got saved she wants to do nothing else but pursue God. We want her to go to church, but we think she has gone a little overboard with all of this religion. She sits on our patio all the time praying." As I talked with the young eighteen year old it was clear that no mental illness was present. She had just accepted the nose ring and the bracelets. She was absorbed with the idea of being His bride. When I counseled the parents to be patient and to allow the girl the privilege of exploring this new relationship in her own way, they became very angry. They insisted I diagnose some mental illness. But when the girl heard my words, her countenance brightened and she thanked me for understanding. I often wonder what life was like at home afterwards for that girl. But I know if she continued to make room for  the Servant to take her to the bridegroom she became the wealthiest member of the family.

Bibledoorajar Applauds New Beginnings

We are witnessing an arranged marriage in our story. Most would agree that an arranged marriage is only as good as those arranging it. Abraham had been careful to select a faithful third party to make the arrangements. He had considered culture and family values. The faithful third party had been serious about his responsibility in the matter and had asked his master's God for help even to the point of asking for a sign. Today, some say that God does not care about the decision of whom we marry. Others want God involved from the beginning of something as important as marriage. It does seem questionable for a Christian to not involve God in the beginning of the process if they are going to trust Him to help sustain the marriage for the rest of its' duration.  At any rate, our servant felt that Divine providence was needed and now he had the girl before him. She was beautiful and the servant gazed at her as she provided water for his entourage and animals. Was this the girl that would make his trip successful? Having the requirements of the sign met, the servant was ready to meet the parents. He takes a gold nose ring and two gold bracelets and asked the girl this question. Who's daughter are you and do your parents have room for us to stay the night?

Proponents of arranged marriages say the system works well within their culture. In some cultures the couple have no choices in the matter. But in our story we will see that the potential bride did have a say in the matter. Rebecca accepted the nose ring and bracelets that the servant offered in the name of his master and ran to the home of her parents. The servant fell to his knees and thanked God for His providence.

"I thought I'd give you something shiny and new

I tried to find something worthy of you

But I realized when I look inside

There's some things that money cannot buy."

The gift sung by 98 Degrees

Bibledoorajar For The Sample

     Bibledoorajar congratulates a special reader on her recent retirement from 38 years of teaching young third graders. She has had the summer to sample life without teaching as has been her long practice, but at the end of the month this sample of life without school will blossom into its fullness. Enjoy the rewards of retirement sweet lady, you deserve it. I know the Lord has great plans for how your gifts will be used in this next phase of your life.

"Furthermore, you who heard the message of truth, the Good News offering you deliverance, and put your trust in the Messiah were sealed by him with the promised Holy Spirit, who guarantees our inheritance until we come into possession of it and thus bring him praise commensurate with His glory."  (Paul to the Ephesian Christian Community--1:13ff)

The Servant had talked with Rebecca and had given her a foretaste of what life would be life in the home of his Master. He sealed the foretaste with gifts of silver and gold jewelry, together with clothing now in her possession. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and mother. These gifts told her that though she had not received all that his Master had for her, they were a sample of what life would be like--a down payment of sorts on a wonderful inheritance to come. The richness of the gifts were a comfort to Rebecca's family. She would be loved with a special love--a wonderful taste of the life that God, Adonai,  had planned for her. But what would Rebecca's answer be? What would her family say?

You and I have been given gifts which forecast what our everlasting love life will be like. We are not ordinary people anymore; no longer of this world, but of another of which we have been given a foretaste.

"So if you were raised along with Christ, then seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at the
right hand of God. FOCUS YOUR MINDS ON THE THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THING HERE ON EARTH." (Paul to the Colosse Christian Community--3: 1ff)

Bibledoorajar Speaks of Signs

The servant prayed for God's grace, but now he has takesn it a step further. He has asked for a sign. He said, "Here I am, standing by the spring, as the daughters of the townsfolk come out to draw water. I will say to one of the girls, Please lower your jug, so that I can drink. If she answers, 'Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,' then let her be the one you intend for your servant Isaac. This is how I will know that you have shown grace to my master." (Gen. 24:13ff.)

I remember studying the issue of asking for a sign from God in this modern age a few years back. It seemed there were two schools of thought. The first was that it should not be done as it showed a lack of faith on the part of the one praying. The second was that it could be done if it did not presume on the will of God. If there was already a direction stirring in the heart of the petitioner then asking would not be just to satisfy one's own curiosity. I admit I have not done much of it over the years; hmm. more food for thought.

At any rate it worked for the servant because the Bible says he had hardly got the request out of his mouth when Rebecca showed up carrying a jug on her shoulder. Here the Bible tells us what kind of girl she was. I wonder if the servant got this revelation? Anyway, she was described as beautiful and a virgin. She provoked a response from the servant---he RAN TO MEET HER.

I like to think that the Holy Spirit runs to meet the needs of the holy ones whether we ask for a sign beyond our holding up our relationship with Jesus or not. We should not presume on Him, but we can stir up our faith and believe that He will.

Bibledoorajar Looks at Identity

     Abraham's servant stands at the well. He has been dispatched to secure a bride for Isaac. The selection is critical. Pick a wicked girl--promote a shameful identity. Pick a righteous girl--promote an identity worthy to be praised. In America we prize our freedom to pursue our lives as individuals. We can go anywhere and do anything to apprehend that which we wish. We tend not to think as much about being fully caring and responsive to a community. The servant seems to know that the girl he selects must bring praise not only to her family of origin for taking on such a great responsibility, but she must also desire to fulfill that responsibility and therefore bring praise to her new family and to their God. It is this commitment that will help influence the budding nation of Israel to understand that they are to be a "light to the nations." Their deeds and their behavior and indeed their character will affect how unbelievers will perceive the true God. So, here we see in this proposed marriage, the root of something very powerful that will lead to a national identify.
     As a Christian, I am called to project the highest standards of my faith. I am part and parcel of how the kingdom of God is perceived. If I express contempt for my Christian brothers and sisters I bring shame on my family. If I express contempt for any whom God has created I cease to be a "light to the nations." If I cease to carry out acts of service, I imply that my Father does not care about the community around me.
     There are stories in the Old Testament that tell of evil ways of Jewish people. In the these stories, you will often find the name of the parentage of the person and which tribe they were from. It is a testament to the fact that our actions reflect on our parentage and our community. My mother is deceased, but I can still hear her counsel to my brother and I, "Don't bring shame on your Daddy's good name."  As I have matured I realize the importance of her counsel. More importantly, I realize the importance of not bringing shame on my Heavenly Father and His good Name. It certainly makes you want to implore Him for His help and even follow the Servant's example and ask for a sign in matters that will affect our future and our community doesn't it?

Bibledoorajar Speaks of Those Who Summon

     Abraham's faith had looked up to God and because of that faith he was made righteous in God's eyes. This does not mean that he was a perfect man, but he was a man who identified and related to God rightly. In the book of Genesis we have seen Abraham lean on God through ten trials of his faith and now he has come to the ending of his life successfully.  The Bible calls such common people who are rightly related to  and leaning on God as "holy ones", "saints", or "righteous ones" more than 200 times. These are those whom God summons to be summoners as He Himself is. Over and over these "holy ones" lean on God through their own personal trials of faith and summon others to Him.
     Now in our story this summoner has summoned his servant to go and summon a bride for the chosen son. The servant was to go to Haran, the city founded by Abraham's father and the place where Terah had died. Family still lived there and it was to that family that a summons would go but all of this was unbeknownst to them and to the servant until the time it would be revealed. The servant and his band began their long journey with ten heavily gift laden camels. On these ten animals was everything the servant needed to complete his summons successfully. But still the servant addressed God : " Lord, God of my master Abraham, please let me succeed today; and show your grace to my master Abraham." The Bible says that they arrived at even, a time when the women would come to draw water at the wells of Beersheba. The Servant continued in prayer: "Here I am standing by the spring, as the daughters of the townsfolk come out to draw water. I will say to one of the girls, Please lower your jug, so that I can drink. If she answers, 'Yes drink, and I will water your camels as well', then let her be the one you intend for your servant Isaac. This is how I will know that you have shown grace to my Master." (Gen. 23 ff) He asked for a sign and the sign was to be an act of service. How appropriate.

"How beautiful the radiant bride who waits for her groom with his light in her eyes.
How beautiful when humble hearts give the fruit of pure lives so that others my live."

                                                     How Beautiful by Twila Paris

Bibledoorajar Thinks about conversation

     I was thinking about the conversation that the servant would have had with Rebecca.  Surely he  rehearsed all he knew about his master and the chosen son picking and choosing what he would say as he went on his way to the land of Abraham's kin. What he would say to the girl would be very important. How he listened would be even more important. He needed to elicit a positive response from a girl toward people whom she had never seen before. He needed to persuade her to leave her world for another. I think the servant would have told her that Abraham, the father, lived in a Land of Promise (Canaan) as a peculiar and different person. He had come to enjoy great wealth and blessings from God and did not live as the heathens around him. Perhaps he would even have shared the wonderful promise that God had made to Abraham. He would have explained for this great nation to come into fruition meant that Abraham's son of promise would need a bride. He could have told her about the supernatural aspects of Isaac's birth and that his name meant "laughter" because his parents were so pleased at the circumstances of his unexpected birth. He would have spoken about how Isaac had always lived in the land of promise and had always shared in his father's wealth. He would inherit or receive ALL HIS FATHER HAD. And if the young woman asked what Isaac was like, he would tell her that he always made sure his father's wells stayed open so that living water was always available. And, if enemies closed the wells up, he would have them dug again. Though a young man, he meditated in the fields and prayed often to God. Surely this conversation would help him persuade a bride to come to the son. But the servant also had another "ace in the hole". He would take gifts and with all his being he would call out to the girl to join with the son.
      Surely this conversation would have peaked interest. Why the servant was talking about being a part of a great dynasty through the chosen son! But even with this information, the girl had NO IDEA about how far reaching this idea would be! Years and years later, in the fullness of time, God sent His Son to earth. Here the Son proclaimed that He would build His church. It would be composed of those He would call out of the world to Himself. The apostles waited in Jerusalem as Jesus told them to do. They were waiting for another Servant to come, the Holy Spirit. This Servant would be very capable and would 1) teach them all things and bring to their remembrance all that Jesus had said to them (John 14:26), and, 2) He would guide them into all truth revealing a message sent from the Father and Son in heaven revealing what was to come (John 16:13). The apostles would be gifted to accomplish what Heaven intended. And so it has been.