Genesis 24 - GOD HAS AN ONLINE DATING SERVICE! - Part 2
"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match..."
The most successful INTERNET DATING SITES today, according to Wikipedia, are very specific concerning those they target. To ensure compatibility many of them are advertised according to RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS. That would have suited Abraham if he had been able to access the internet. Many today would accuse him of being a racist because he did not want his son to marry a Canaanite.
Abraham sent his trusted servant out to find a perfect match for his son Isaac, but he was instructed to go to Abraham's relatives. He didn't want a marriage where race or faith in God would be compromised.
Today the servant could have linked into JDate (which is for Jewish singles) while avoiding the local dating sites such as CanaaniteDate.com.
How do you find a person who is COMPATIBLE? Today he could have surveyed Isaac and entered the data online to find the characteristics in a woman he wanted, such as age, gender, what city she was from, height, weight, education, income, sense of humour, her interest in sports, her political persuasion and medical condition. What if she has mental problems or severe disabilities? To go one step further, Abraham's servant could have linked into a site that used a personality test to ensure compatibility.
It all sounds like a great way to go if you are looking for a marriage partner, but Rebekah takes a huge risk in following this servant of Abraham. She has no idea whether or not she is exposing herself to ruthless predators, only to find herself a victim of fraud or of being stalked or of sexual exploitation and violence. For all she knows she could end up as a victim of human trafficking!
If Rebekah lived today she could have asked for a police check on Abraham's family. It would have revealed a few cautions against Abraham - abandonment of his son Ishmael and attempted murder of Isaac. God acquitted him as righteous but how would you feel about having a father-in-law like that?
At least two couples I know began their relationship on the internet. Recently Sharyn Cook said "I met my husband on the internet and he is definitely God's answer to my prayers".
The question the servant had to ask was "How do I find someone who will be compatible?" He decided to use GOD'S ONLINE HELP, the best and most successful dating site of all, accessed by the same password Sharyn used - "PRAYER".
So the oldest and most trusted of servants goes to find a girl willing to go with him, leave her family, come to a totally new land called Canaan, marry and live with a man she has never seen before in her life. This is a big ask. No wonder the servant prays in Genesis 24:12 (NLT), "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham." This servant obviously has a RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD although I think he could have included a desire for a bit of lovingkindness for Isaac too. Afterall, he is the one who is going to be affected the most by this prayer. Prayer voice activates his faith and links him directly to GOD'S INTERNET DATING SITE.
God knows what He is doing as he leads the servant to Rebekah. Imagine if Rebekah was so off-line with God that she had not agreed to come. Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ was to come through the line of Isaac. Her positive response, however, shows that she is a right person for Isaac.
Should this servant give us advice as to finding someone who is compatible for marriage, he would say "Dedicate yourself to the purpose but let that purpose be guided by your prayer." How different might be the results should this kind of online search be conducted today. Connected to God's wisdom, our choices make so much more sense and have so much greater impact and fruitfulness. The invitation today is to be connected to God in every arena of our lives, especially in the decision of a life partner in marriage.
Pastor Ross
