How did you meet your husband? I met Doug at a skating rink shortly after I turned sixteen years old. Once we started dating we never looked back. He asked me to marry him when I turned seventeen and we married when I turned eighteen years old.
The scripture reading is Genesis 21:8- Genesis 24. This section is packed with excitement. In Genesis 21 we see Sarah protective of Issac. Ishmael is making fun of her son Issac. She will have none of this. Is this the first bullying? Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away.
They wander in the desert and Hagar is convinced this is the end of her life and her son’s life. But God, the God who sees–He reassures Hagar there is a future and a hope for her and her son.
Soon Abraham is tested, God needed to know that Abraham loved him more than Issac. God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son. Abraham obeys God. Here we meet the God who provides. When Abraham prepared to kill Issac, God stopped him and provided a ram. What is in your life that you love more than God? Abraham fully trusted God. He believed that God would resurrect his son.
Abraham is in the hall of faith in Hebrews 11.
God says in Genesis 22: 16-17 because you have obeyed me and did not withhold your son, I will certainly bless you.
In this section, we read about Sarah dying in Genesis 23. Abraham buys a plot of land to bury her.
In Genesis 24 we finally come to another love story. Abraham is old and arranges for his servant to travel to where he has relatives and to find a wife for Issac. He did not want Issac to marry someone, not of his faith.
I love how this servant strikes out with camels and jewelry. He knows how rich Abraham is and how important it is to find Issac a wife after all he had to swear an oath. This servant prays a prayer and formulates a plan. He will look for a young girl who is kind. How will he know that? She will offer him water and water the camels. Upon arrival, he positions himself to observe.
Rebecca arrives at the well, she is curious and offers the servant water and water for the camels. She invites him back to her father’s place. The servant meets her father and brother. Low and behold, Rebecca agrees to return to where Issac is living.
Issac greets them and they are married. Issac loves Rebecca. He loved her deeply.
My something old is Abraham arranging for his son to have a wife, my something new is how the servant followed through in getting a wife for Issac. My something to do is to love my husband more, the way that Issac and Rebecca loved one another.
Are you struggling, remember Hagar discovered that God cares for her and her son.
Father God, so much information in these chapters. Let me be faithful as Abraham. Let me trust you as Abraham trusted you.
What is God asking you to do? Renew your relationship with God, with your husband, with a child.
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