Tested By Plans For The Future: Lesson 17

A. INTRODUCTION: GENESIS 24:1-67

1. Why is this story included in scriptures? Abraham sends his servant back to his family in Mesopotamia to find a bride for his son Isaac. The story includes incidents how God worked in small details for the servant to find Rebekah and return her to Isaac.

a. God fulfilled His promise to bless Abraham and become a nation.

b. God works through family.

c. Fulfills the long history to Messiah, i.e., Jesus Christ.

d. To illustrate providence, i.e., God works His will through details.

e. History is a reliable record given by credible observers.

2. Story is a type of salvation.

a. Abraham is the rich Father of Heaven.

b. Isaac is the Son of God who needs a wife.

c. The Holy Spirit is the servant sent to find a wife.

d. Rebekah is the Gentile bride who is given gifts, is led by the Holy Spirit until she meets her bridegroom coming to claim her.

“Abraham a very old man was rich and he needed a wife for his son Isaac. He sent his trusted servant to his family in the Euphrates River valley to find a wife. He instructed the servant not to take Isaac there, but promised divine help to find her. The servant took gifts with him for the future wife. When the servant arrived there, he prayed for divine guidance. God answered his prayer by sending Rebekah (a family member) who worked diligently to water the camels. He gave her gifts, so she ran home to tell her family, who offered the servant hospitality” (Gen. 24:1-31, Amplified).

3. What does God need?

a. Relationship. “Not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9).

b. Worship. “The Father seeks worship” (John 4:23).

c. Family (John 2:1).

4. What doesn’t satisfy God? Unsaved. “Not let my son marry one of those local Canaanite women” (24:3).

5. Wouldn’t unsaved believe if they could see Jesus? Wrong basis of salvation. “Be careful, never take my son there” (24:6, NLT).

6. Why doesn’t God do a miracle to convince the unsaved? Unseen providence. “He will send His angel . . . to see that you will find a young woman” (24:7, NLT).

7. What if they are unwilling to believe? Don’t see Jesus. “If she is unwilling . . . under no circumstances are you to take my son there” (24:8).

8. How can the unsaved be attracted to Christ? Gifts of the Spirit. “The servant loaded ten camels with gifts” (24:4). “Given grace according to . . . the gift of Christ” (Eph. 4:7).

9. How can the Holy Spirit find potential candidates? He goes where they are. “The servant made the camels kneel down beside a well” (24:11).

10. What brings unsaved to salvation? Prayer. The servant prayed, ‘Give me success” (24:12). “Praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20, c.f. Rom. 8:26-27).

11. God sends prepared candidates. “Rebekah came . . . who was born to . . . Abraham’s brother” (24:13).

12. How must the sinner respond? Eager involvement. “Drink my lord . . . I will draw water for the (10) camels” (24:18-19).

13. How does the Holy Spirit entice a sinner? “The servant “gave her a gold ring . . . two large gold bracelets” (24:22). “He gave gifts to them” (Eph. 4:8).

14. How must a sinner respond to salvation? Confess. “The young woman ran home to tell her family” (24:20).

Steps of Salvation

• The Holy Spirit searches for people

• The sinner must respond wholeheartedly

• Sees the riches of salvation

• Confession to saved and unsaved

“The servant met Laban, the brother of Rebekah and went home with him. They fed his camels and gave the servant a meal. He explained Abraham had sent him to find a wife for his son Isaac. The servant gave the family gifts, then asked if Rebekah could marry Isaac. Then Laban and his wife said yes. The servant bowed in thanksgiving to God. Early the next morning the servant asked to leave with Rebekah. They said to ask Rebekah. She said yes. The parents blessed and prayed for her, Rebekah left with the servant, taking her childhood nurse. Isaac was walking in the fields one evening and saw the camels coming When Rebekah was told Isaac was coming to meet her, she covered her face with a veil. They were married and Isaac loved her” (Gen. 24:33-67, Amplified).

15. How does the Holy Spirit motivate a sinner? Tell the story of Jesus. “Servant told of birth, life, and inheritance of Isaac” ( 24:34 ff).

16. Since the Father chooses sinners, and the Holy Spirit calls them, what is the next step? Individual response. “Will you deal kindly . . . tell me, and if not, tell me” (24:49).