WEBVTT

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 Chapter 24.

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 Last week we were in chapter 23.

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 We were at a funeral.

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 Today we're at a wedding.

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 It's the longest chapter in Genesis,

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 in case you ever have a question like that.

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 And it's all about Isaac meeting Rebecca.

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 But what can we learn?

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 Well, let's read God's Word.

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 We're not going to read all the chapter.

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 We're going to go as far as verse 28,

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 and then we'll pick up the end of the account.

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 So let's start in chapter 24, verse 1.

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 Abraham was now very old,

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 and the Lord had blessed him in every way.

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 He said to the senior servant in his household,

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 the one in charge of all that he had,

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 put your hand under my thigh.

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 It was a symbol, a sign of making an oath or a promise.

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 He says,

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 I want to swear by the Lord,

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 the God of heaven and the God of earth,

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 that you will not get a wife for my son

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 from the daughters of the Canaanites,

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 among whom I'm a living,

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 but will go to my country and my own relatives

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 and get a wife for my son Isaac.

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 The servant asked him,

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 what if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land?

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 Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?

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 Make sure that you do not take my son back there,

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 Abraham said.

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 The Lord,

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 the God of heaven,

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 who bought me out of my father's household

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 and my native land,

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 and who spoke to me and promised me on oath,

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 saying,

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 to your offspring,

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 I will give this land.

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 He will send his angel before you

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 so that you can get a wife for my son from there.

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 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you,

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 then you will be released from this oath of mine.

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 Only do not take my son back there.

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 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham

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 and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

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 Then the servant left,

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 taking with him ten of the master's camels,

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 loaded with all kinds of good things from his master.

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 He set out for Aram Naharim

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 and made his way to the town of Nahor.

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 He made the camels kneel down the well

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 outside the town.

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 It was towards evening,

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 the time that the women go out to draw water.

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 Then he prayed,

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 Lord God of my master Abraham,

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 make me successful today

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 and show kindness to my master Abraham.

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 See, I am standing beside this spring

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 and the daughters of the townspeople

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 are coming out to draw water.

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 May it be that when I say to a young woman,

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 please let down your jar

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 that I may have a drink.

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 And she says,

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 drink and I'll water your camels too.

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 Let her be the one

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 that you have chosen for your servant Isaac.

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 By this I will know

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 that you have shown kindness

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 to my master.

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 Before he had finished praying,

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 Rebecca came out with her jar on her shoulder.

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 She was the daughter of Bethuel,

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 son of Milcah,

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 who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.

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 The woman was very beautiful,

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 a virgin.

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 No man had ever slept with her.

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 She went down to the spring,

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 filled her jar,

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 came up again.

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 The servant hurried to meet her and said,

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 please give me a little water from your jar.

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 Drink, my lord, she said,

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 and quickly lowered the jar to her hands

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 and gave him a drink.

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 After she had given him a drink,

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 she said,

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 I'll draw water for your camels too

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 until they have had enough to drink.

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 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough,

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 ran back to the well to draw more water

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 and drew enough for all his camels.

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 Without saying a word,

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 the man watched her closely

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 to learn whether or not

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 the Lord had made his journey successful.

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 When the camels had finished drinking,

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 the man took out a gold nose ring

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 weighing a becca

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 and two gold bracelets

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 weighing ten shekels.

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 Then he asked,

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 whose daughter are you?

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 Please tell me,

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 is there room in your father's house

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 for us to spend the night?

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 She answered him,

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 I am the daughter of Bethuel,

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 the son of Milcah,

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 born to Nahor.

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 And she added,

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 we have plenty of straw and fodder

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 as well as room for you to spend the night.

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 Then the man bowed down

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 and worshipped the Lord saying,

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 praise be to the Lord,

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 the God of my master Abraham,

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 who has not abandoned his kindness to

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 and his faithfulness to my master.

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 As for me,

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 the Lord has led me on the journey

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 to the house of my master's relatives.

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 The young woman ran and told her mother's household

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 about these things.

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 Now, for much of the remainder of the chapter,

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 that whole account is repeated

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 as Rebecca's brother, Laban,

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 wants to know all about what's happened.

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 And the servant goes through

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 all the different things that had happened.

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 And so we pick it up in verse 61.

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 By now, everyone's come to the conclusion

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 that Isaac and Rebecca should get married.

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 It's a good idea.

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 Verse 61.

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 Then Rebecca and her attendants got ready

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 and mounted the camels

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 and went back with the man.

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 So the servant took Rebecca and left.

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 Now Isaac had come from Be'er-Lahai, Roy,

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 for he was living in the Negev.

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 He went out to the field one evening to meditate,

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 and as he looked up,

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 he saw camels approaching.

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 Rebecca also looked up and saw Isaac.

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 She got down from her camel and asked the servant,

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 Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?

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 He is my master, the servant answered.

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 So she took her veil and covered herself.

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 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done.

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 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah,

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 and he married Rebecca.

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 So she became his wife,

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 and he loved her.

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 And Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

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 Well, let's pray.

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 Father, thank you for the privilege

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 of being able to hear a story like this

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 about real people,

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 a real time,

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 a long time ago,

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 but yet a story that was written down and recorded

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 so that we can be blessed today.

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 And Father, that is our prayer,

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 that as we look at your word together,

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 as we hear your voice,

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 that we will be blessed.

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 and we will come to know something

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 of your great plan

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 of redemption,

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 your blessings to this world.

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 So teach us.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, at last,

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 some romance.

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 A beautiful love story

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 of a young man who finds

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 the wife of his dreams.

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 It's a script ready

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 for the movie makers of Hollywood,

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 isn't it?

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 Now, all this romance

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 can get us thinking about

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 weddings and funerals,

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 or weddings and marriages, rather.

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 In fact, last week,

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 as we looked at Sarah,

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 we thought about planning

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 for our own funeral.

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 And this week,

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 well, it all seems to be

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 about planning for our wedding.

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 So what does this chapter

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 have to teach us about

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 finding our true spouse?

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 Well, here's my three top tips

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 for finding the right spouse.

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 First of all,

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 look for a Christian.

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 Isn't that what Isaac had to do?

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 Find the right kind of person.

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 Not from the Canaanites.

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 They were pagans.

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 They didn't follow God.

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 But go find the right kind of person.

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 Find someone with the right character.

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 Wasn't Rebecca a fine woman?

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 Not only was she beautiful,

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 but what a servant she was.

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 going beyond and above duty,

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 watering 10 camels.

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 Somebody's worked out that

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 taking the average size of a container

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 to drop your water down into the well

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 to water 10 camels

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 would have taken 80 to 100 trips

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 back and forth to the well.

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 What character?

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 And then find somebody who's committed.

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 I mean, Rebecca was committed, wasn't she?

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 She was ready to leave her family

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 and go to Isaac's home.

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 We don't want to have someone

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 who's running back to mummy

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 every time they're in trouble.

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 They're to leave and be committed.

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 So there you have it.

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 Find your right spouse,

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 a Christian character and committed.

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 Sermon over.

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 Let's pray.

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 And we'll sing our last song.

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 Well, maybe it's about

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 finding our right spouse.

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 But let's be not too quick

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 to jump to that conclusion.

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 Because I don't think

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 this is about finding

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 your perfect partner.

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 Rather, this is actually

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 all about God's faithfulness to us.

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 In fact, this marriage story

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 tells us of the greatest marriage

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 we can all experience,

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 the marriage of God

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 to his people.

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 But more of that

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 in a little while.

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 Let's get back to the story itself.

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 Four things we're going to look at

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 this morning.

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 A marriage full of promise,

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 a marriage designed in heaven,

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 a marriage overflowing with blessing,

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 and a marriage filled with purpose.

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 So first of all,

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 a marriage full of promise.

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 Now before we get stuck

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 into the detail,

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 we need to pull back

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 with the camera lens

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 and remember the big story

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 of Genesis.

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 The big story that God

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 has made a promise

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 to renew this broken world

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 and restore

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 our disordered lives.

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 It was a promise

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 of redemption.

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 And that redemption

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 would come through

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 the family of a man

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 called Abraham.

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 So in Genesis 12,

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 verse 3,

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 we read,

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 and all people

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 or all nations,

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 all peoples on earth

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 will be blessed

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 through you.

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 A seed of Abraham,

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 a son would come

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 from the line of Abraham

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 who would deliver

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 God's promise.

00:12:44.839 --> 00:12:46.239
 A son who would bring

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 the blessing

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 of redemption

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 to the world.

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 He would come

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 and save and rescue

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 the peoples of the world

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 from their sin

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 and God's judgment.

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 That was God's

00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:00.979
 great promise.

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 But at the start

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 of the story,

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 in chapter 24,

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 we're faced with a problem.

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 Look at verse 1.

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 Abraham is now

00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:12.580
 very old.

00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:14.639
 And as we read on

00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:15.400
 through the story,

00:13:15.520 --> 00:13:16.840
 we realise that Isaac

00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:18.780
 is not yet married.

00:13:20.060 --> 00:13:21.879
 Now that's a big problem.

00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:23.160
 You see,

00:13:23.280 --> 00:13:25.220
 if Isaac doesn't get married,

00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:27.460
 then he has no children.

00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:29.379
 And no children means

00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.920
 no future children.

00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:32.680
 If there's no wedding

00:13:32.680 --> 00:13:33.420
 for Isaac,

00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:34.759
 then the promises

00:13:34.759 --> 00:13:36.600
 all come to a stop.

00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:39.259
 If there's no marriage,

00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:40.680
 then all the blessings

00:13:40.680 --> 00:13:41.340
 of God

00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:42.779
 are going to dry up.

00:13:43.420 --> 00:13:44.659
 If Isaac doesn't

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.440
 get a wife,

00:13:45.779 --> 00:13:46.960
 then God's plan

00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:47.639
 of redemption

00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:48.240
 fails.

00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:49.960
 Everything hinges

00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:51.120
 on Isaac

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:51.759
 finding

00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.759
 a wife.

00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:55.800
 You see,

00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:57.259
 this isn't about us

00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:58.779
 searching for

00:13:58.779 --> 00:14:00.340
 our perfect spouse.

00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:02.160
 No,

00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:02.759
 this is no

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.100
 ordinary marriage.

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:04.159
 marriage.

00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:05.820
 This is a marriage

00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:07.080
 which is central

00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:09.320
 to God's promises

00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:11.159
 and God fulfilling

00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:12.159
 his promises.

00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:14.200
 The promise of bringing

00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:14.840
 blessing

00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:16.519
 to the nations

00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:19.279
 through a marriage.

00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:19.399
 marriage.

00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:22.339
 So first,

00:14:22.959 --> 00:14:23.259
 whoops,

00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:24.339
 I missed the first one,

00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:26.079
 a marriage full of promise.

00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.539
 And second,

00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:28.419
 a marriage

00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:30.000
 made in heaven.

00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:32.100
 Now we might know

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:33.259
 the end of the story

00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:33.720
 that,

00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:34.419
 yes,

00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:35.519
 Isaac and Rebecca

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.240
 do meet

00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:37.519
 and they do get married.

00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.879
 But what's important

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:39.720
 for us to see

00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:40.379
 is how

00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:41.959
 Isaac and Rebecca

00:14:41.959 --> 00:14:43.000
 got together.

00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:44.100
 In other words,

00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.079
 we want to see

00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:45.699
 how God

00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:46.519
 fulfills

00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:47.439
 his promise

00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.880
 and accomplishes

00:14:48.880 --> 00:14:49.460
 his plan.

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.460
 Now the way

00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:52.300
 marriages happen

00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:52.920
 today

00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:53.880
 is,

00:14:54.060 --> 00:14:55.320
 so I'm told anyway,

00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:56.100
 you get a

00:14:56.100 --> 00:14:57.120
 wedding planner.

00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:58.820
 Someone who

00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:00.460
 organises your day

00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:01.860
 from venues,

00:15:02.140 --> 00:15:02.620
 flowers

00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.620
 and photos.

00:15:04.280 --> 00:15:05.020
 Everything is

00:15:05.020 --> 00:15:05.760
 planned out

00:15:05.760 --> 00:15:06.380
 in detail

00:15:06.380 --> 00:15:07.480
 and yes,

00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:08.680
 you get an

00:15:08.680 --> 00:15:09.560
 enormous bill

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:10.680
 for it all as well.

00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:12.500
 But when it comes

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.440
 to the wedding day

00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:14.400
 and the celebrations,

00:15:14.900 --> 00:15:15.720
 as all the guests

00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:16.120
 arrive,

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.340
 you might know

00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:18.139
 who the wedding

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:19.080
 planner is,

00:15:19.560 --> 00:15:20.379
 but it seems

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.440
 that everyone

00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:22.080
 is doing

00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:22.639
 what they're

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.419
 meant to be doing.

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:23.899
 It's like

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:25.179
 everyone has a job.

00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:26.360
 Everything has

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.080
 been designed.

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.240
 There's a plan

00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.519
 in operation.

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.419
 Well,

00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.620
 God is clearly

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.460
 the wedding

00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.019
 planner

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:35.299
 for Isaac

00:15:35.299 --> 00:15:36.019
 and Rebecca.

00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:37.919
 Look at the way

00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:39.299
 God works out

00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:40.960
 his plans

00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:42.460
 and his promises.

00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:44.780
 First,

00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:47.139
 Abraham

00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.280
 follows

00:15:48.280 --> 00:15:49.780
 God's plan.

00:15:50.780 --> 00:15:51.100
 Abraham

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:51.820
 goes about

00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:52.379
 the business

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:52.879
 of looking

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.700
 for a wife

00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:55.060
 for his son.

00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:56.700
 Maybe different

00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:57.820
 to our cultures

00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:58.259
 today,

00:15:58.400 --> 00:15:58.980
 but that was

00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.300
 what they did

00:16:00.300 --> 00:16:00.600
 then.

00:16:00.660 --> 00:16:01.220
 And he calls

00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:01.980
 in his chief

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:02.420
 servant

00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:03.340
 and gives

00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:03.920
 the command,

00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.060
 we're going

00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:05.879
 wife hunting.

00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.720
 But he's got

00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.860
 two conditions.

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.540
 Here's the first

00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:11.080
 condition,

00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:11.860
 verse 3.

00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:12.919
 I want you

00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:13.480
 to swear

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.279
 by the Lord,

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:15.180
 the God of heaven

00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:15.720
 and the God

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.120
 of earth,

00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:17.000
 that you will

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.539
 not get a wife

00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.379
 for my son

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.159
 from the daughters

00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.200
 of the Canaanites

00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:22.139
 among whom

00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:22.659
 I'm living.

00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:24.180
 But go to my

00:16:24.180 --> 00:16:25.000
 country and to

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:26.000
 my own relatives

00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.300
 and get a wife

00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:28.120
 for my son

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:28.899
 Isaac.

00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.120
 So make sure

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.720
 you get the

00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:32.659
 right kind

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.720
 of girl.

00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:35.180
 Second

00:16:35.180 --> 00:16:36.220
 condition,

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:36.960
 verse 6,

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.159
 make sure

00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:38.879
 that you do

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.639
 not take

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.440
 my son back

00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:40.639
 there.

00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.639
 He's not

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.259
 to leave

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:42.879
 his home

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.679
 here and

00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:44.179
 go set

00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:44.620
 up home

00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.000
 there.

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.460
 She's to

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.139
 come to

00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.480
 him.

00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.539
 So a wife

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.379
 must be

00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.100
 found who's

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.600
 going to

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.580
 keep in

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.500
 God's ways

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.419
 and who is

00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:54.960
 going to

00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.519
 come to

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.340
 where Isaac

00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:56.779
 lives.

00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.600
 Now these

00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.080
 aren't just

00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:59.220
 personal opinions

00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.819
 of Abraham.

00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:01.000
 They're in

00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:02.259
 line with

00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:03.179
 God's

00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:03.779
 promises.

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.559
 Verse 7,

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.559
 Abraham

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.559
 knows God's

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:33.819
 promise and so

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.579
 Abraham follows

00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:36.879
 God's plan.

00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:38.059
 He didn't

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:38.759
 know everything,

00:17:38.919 --> 00:17:39.179
 he didn't

00:17:39.179 --> 00:17:39.659
 know how it

00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:40.079
 was all going

00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:40.619
 to work out

00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:41.200
 in detail,

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.119
 but with the

00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:42.779
 little bit he

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.919
 had, he

00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:44.480
 sought to

00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.159
 obey what

00:17:46.159 --> 00:17:46.619
 God had

00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:47.000
 said.

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:48.859
 You see,

00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.500
 life is not

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.200
 about telling

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.700
 God what

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.539
 my plans

00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.839
 are and

00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:55.259
 who my

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.159
 future spouse

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:56.759
 might look

00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.379
 like or what

00:17:57.379 --> 00:17:58.059
 they'll do

00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.179
 and asking

00:17:59.179 --> 00:17:59.779
 God for

00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.480
 his blessing.

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:02.299
 no, it's

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:02.880
 always about

00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:04.279
 us following

00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.240
 and submitting

00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.740
 to God's

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.099
 plan.

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.980
 So you say,

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:09.640
 well what is

00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:10.440
 God's plan?

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:11.900
 Well we don't

00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:12.759
 have to imagine

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.539
 and think up

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.480
 what is God's

00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:14.740
 plan.

00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:15.599
 God has

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.660
 clearly revealed

00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:17.519
 his plan to

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:17.940
 us in

00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.960
 scripture and

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.059
 Genesis 24

00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:21.579
 is part of

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.180
 that big

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.019
 plan and as

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.759
 we'll see as

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.339
 we go through

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:24.980
 the story,

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.140
 how we can

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:26.940
 be part of

00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:27.599
 that plan.

00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:28.740
 In other

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.660
 words, if you

00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:30.240
 want to know

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.920
 what God's

00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:31.599
 plan is for

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:32.299
 your life,

00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:34.980
 read your

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.400
 Bible.

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.400
 Get on

00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.599
 board with

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.519
 what God

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:41.000
 is doing.

00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:42.980
 So we

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:44.720
 follow God's

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.259
 plan.

00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.700
 Second,

00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:50.039
 we notice

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:51.740
 how the

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.180
 servant

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.640
 trusts God's

00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:54.120
 kindness.

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.120
 Now the

00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:56.720
 servant has

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.099
 travelled

00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:58.019
 hundreds and

00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.579
 hundreds of

00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.200
 miles with

00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.720
 his ten

00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:01.000
 camels to

00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.759
 the family

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.980
 home of

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.380
 Abraham.

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:04.819
 And he

00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:05.880
 reaches his

00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:06.920
 destination and

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.400
 he pulls

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:07.980
 into the

00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:08.819
 equivalent of

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:10.160
 apple green and

00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:10.839
 he gets

00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:11.539
 himself a

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.160
 drink and

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.180
 ready to

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:14.360
 refuel his

00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.079
 camels.

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:17.140
 So he's in

00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:17.579
 the right

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:17.980
 place.

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:18.539
 This is where

00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.079
 he should be.

00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:19.500
 This is

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.640
 Abraham territory.

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.220
 But my

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.819
 goodness me,

00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:23.360
 there's a lot

00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:24.079
 of women here.

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:24.860
 Who's the

00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:25.500
 right one?

00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.100
 How am I

00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:27.839
 going to know

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.319
 which is

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:28.740
 the right

00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.279
 wife?

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:30.980
 Well he

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.500
 comes up

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:31.839
 with an

00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.539
 imaginative

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.059
 test,

00:19:33.139 --> 00:19:33.399
 doesn't

00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:33.619
 he?

00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:34.779
 Look at

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.579
 verse 14.

00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:37.699
 May it

00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:38.939
 be that

00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:39.339
 when I

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:39.819
 say to

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.220
 a young

00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:40.639
 woman,

00:19:41.459 --> 00:19:42.220
 please let

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.759
 down your

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.379
 jar that

00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:43.740
 I may

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.099
 have a

00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:44.459
 drink,

00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.439
 and she

00:19:45.439 --> 00:19:45.959
 says,

00:19:46.419 --> 00:19:47.339
 drink and

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:47.919
 I'll water

00:19:47.919 --> 00:19:48.619
 your camels

00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:49.019
 too.

00:19:49.659 --> 00:19:50.559
 Let her

00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.059
 be the

00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:51.599
 one you

00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:52.179
 have chosen

00:19:52.179 --> 00:19:52.679
 for your

00:19:52.679 --> 00:19:53.039
 servant

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:53.459
 Isaac.

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.379
 By this

00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:54.759
 I will

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.359
 know that

00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:55.720
 you have

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.559
 shown kindness

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.039
 to my

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.559
 master.

00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.279
 And,

00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:00.279
 whoa,

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.279
 look what

00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:01.879
 happens,

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:02.919
 verse 17.

00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:04.579
 He spies

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.000
 a woman,

00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:05.500
 she's a

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:05.859
 beautiful

00:20:05.859 --> 00:20:06.279
 woman,

00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:07.059
 and he

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.579
 goes up

00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:08.000
 to her,

00:20:08.419 --> 00:20:09.220
 verse 17,

00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:10.319
 the servant

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:10.940
 hurried to

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.279
 meet her

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.779
 and said,

00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:12.899
 please give

00:20:12.899 --> 00:20:13.399
 me a little

00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:14.099
 water from

00:20:14.099 --> 00:20:14.700
 your jar.

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.079
 What's she

00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:16.480
 going to

00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:16.759
 do?

00:20:17.399 --> 00:20:17.940
 Drink,

00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:18.579
 my lord,

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.319
 she said,

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.460
 and quickly

00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.039
 lowered the

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.599
 jar to her

00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.119
 hands and

00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:22.579
 gave him a

00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:22.980
 drink.

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:24.919
 But what

00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:25.399
 about the

00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:26.000
 camels?

00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.480
 Oh,

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.619
 after she'd

00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.000
 given him

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.460
 a drink,

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.240
 she said,

00:20:30.639 --> 00:20:31.279
 I'll draw

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.079
 water for

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.700
 your camels

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.279
 too until

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.779
 they've had

00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.259
 enough to

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.659
 drink.

00:20:35.139 --> 00:20:35.779
 Amazing!

00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:37.940
 Everything

00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.700
 is working

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.079
 out.

00:20:39.659 --> 00:20:40.419
 But let's

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:40.879
 remember,

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.759
 this is not

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.399
 random

00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:43.079
 coincidence.

00:20:43.659 --> 00:20:44.399
 This is the

00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:45.399
 result of

00:20:45.399 --> 00:20:46.220
 faithful

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.379
 dependence.

00:20:48.679 --> 00:20:49.079
 Look at

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.480
 how the

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.559
 servant began

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.879
 his search.

00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:53.319
 Verse 12.

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:55.379
 Then he

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:55.819
 prayed,

00:20:56.919 --> 00:20:57.279
 Lord,

00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.359
 God of

00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.019
 my master

00:20:59.019 --> 00:20:59.579
 Abraham,

00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.279
 make me

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:01.879
 successful

00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:03.139
 today and

00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:04.539
 show kindness

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.939
 to my

00:21:05.939 --> 00:21:06.359
 master

00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:06.879
 Abraham.

00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:08.939
 There's his

00:21:08.939 --> 00:21:09.259
 prayer,

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.879
 show kindness.

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.319
 Now,

00:21:12.379 --> 00:21:13.059
 kindness is

00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.579
 much more

00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.079
 than just

00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.779
 generosity.

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.259
 It means

00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:17.220
 God's

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.879
 faithful

00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.740
 covenant

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.759
 love.

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:21.000
 love that

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.359
 is steadfastly

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.279
 loyal to

00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:24.019
 his promises.

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:25.759
 So,

00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.740
 as he

00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.299
 prays,

00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:27.859
 the servant

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.500
 is asking

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.619
 God to

00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:30.480
 be faithful

00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.319
 to his

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:31.720
 covenant,

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.720
 that God

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.400
 would fulfil

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.480
 his promises.

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:35.480
 We can

00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.920
 almost imagine

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.819
 him praying

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:39.180
 as the

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.819
 women are

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:41.180
 at the

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.480
 well.

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.400
 Lord,

00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:43.599
 I need

00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:44.259
 to find a

00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:44.900
 woman here

00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.720
 and I

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.599
 haven't got a

00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.119
 clue who

00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.579
 the right

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.140
 one is,

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:48.940
 but I

00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.700
 trust that

00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.120
 as I

00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:50.640
 choose,

00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.519
 you will

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:52.160
 be faithful

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:52.640
 to your

00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:53.019
 covenant.

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.539
 May the

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.080
 one I

00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:55.960
 choose be

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.680
 according to

00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:57.299
 your promise.

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.400
 Show this

00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.000
 kindness.

00:22:00.080 --> 00:22:00.340
 Amen.

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.160
 And he

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:02.640
 opens his

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.279
 eyes and

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.759
 he follows

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.180
 through.

00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.259
 And so

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.580
 when he

00:22:07.580 --> 00:22:08.279
 finds a

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:08.799
 woman who

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.460
 passes the

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:09.860
 test,

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.799
 look how

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.620
 he prays.

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.680
 Verse 26.

00:22:15.080 --> 00:22:15.900
 Then the

00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:16.759
 man bowed

00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.279
 down and

00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.900
 worshipped the

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.140
 Lord,

00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:18.660
 saying,

00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:20.440
 praise be

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:20.900
 to the

00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.240
 Lord,

00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:21.940
 the God

00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.340
 of my

00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:22.779
 master

00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.259
 Abraham,

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.340
 who has

00:22:24.340 --> 00:22:24.800
 not

00:22:24.800 --> 00:22:25.380
 abandoned

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:25.880
 his

00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:27.140
 kindness

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:27.620
 and

00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.440
 faithfulness

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:28.820
 to my

00:22:28.820 --> 00:22:29.279
 master.

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:30.860
 As for

00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:31.080
 me,

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:31.600
 the Lord

00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:32.240
 has led

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.580
 me on

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.060
 a journey

00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:33.519
 to the

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.519
 house of

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:34.759
 my

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.500
 master's

00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.560
 relatives.

00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:38.380
 The Lord

00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:38.759
 has been

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.759
 faithful to

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.519
 his covenant

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.320
 promises.

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.500
 partners.

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:43.899
 You see,

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.579
 the principle

00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:45.559
 here is not

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.519
 come up with

00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.379
 an imaginative

00:22:47.379 --> 00:22:48.000
 test to

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.539
 find out

00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.200
 who your

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.599
 future

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.359
 partner will

00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:50.740
 be.

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.319
 So for a

00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:52.879
 modern day

00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:53.619
 application,

00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.000
 let's swap

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.299
 camels for

00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:56.939
 cars.

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:58.839
 So you drive

00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.500
 to the nearest

00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.539
 petrol station

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.359
 with your

00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:01.919
 prospective

00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:03.119
 partner and

00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:03.619
 they don't

00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.240
 know that you

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.139
 fancy them

00:23:05.139 --> 00:23:05.579
 and all the

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.079
 rest of it

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.079
 and you say,

00:23:07.399 --> 00:23:08.379
 I need some

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:08.879
 petrol.

00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:10.380
 And they

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:10.980
 respond,

00:23:11.320 --> 00:23:12.000
 oh, let

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.700
 me buy it

00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.420
 and guess

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:13.840
 what, I'll

00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:14.340
 fill up your

00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:14.760
 whole tank.

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.640
 Ah, there's

00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.080
 your answer,

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:16.720
 I found the

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.440
 right person.

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.440
 No, that's

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.260
 madness, we

00:23:20.260 --> 00:23:20.880
 can't do

00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.380
 that.

00:23:22.100 --> 00:23:23.100
 This is all

00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:24.200
 about trusting

00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.500
 God's

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.080
 kindness.

00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:28.420
 Live your

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.320
 life in the

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.400
 knowledge that

00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:31.780
 God's promises

00:23:31.780 --> 00:23:32.700
 are best for

00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.060
 you.

00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.000
 Rather than

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.840
 decide what

00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:36.780
 we think is

00:23:36.780 --> 00:23:37.760
 right, we

00:23:37.760 --> 00:23:38.600
 trust what

00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.699
 God says

00:23:39.699 --> 00:23:40.619
 is right.

00:23:42.699 --> 00:23:44.039
 We read

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:45.019
 his revealed

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.219
 will in

00:23:46.219 --> 00:23:46.879
 his word

00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.659
 and we

00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:48.339
 entrust

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.179
 ourselves to

00:23:49.179 --> 00:23:50.259
 a God who

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.539
 is steadfastly

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.279
 committed to

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:52.919
 working out

00:23:52.919 --> 00:23:53.579
 his promises

00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.500
 to us.

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.799
 Promises that

00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.519
 are always

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.139
 good for

00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.559
 us.

00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.500
 So we

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.240
 follow God's

00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:01.919
 plan and we

00:24:01.919 --> 00:24:03.719
 trust God's

00:24:03.719 --> 00:24:04.500
 kindness.

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:04.720
 love.

00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:08.920
 And then we

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:10.119
 meet Laban,

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.160
 the brother

00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.240
 who accepts

00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:14.599
 God's will.

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.180
 Laban is

00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:16.839
 like the

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.980
 big protective

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.740
 brother.

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.079
 Rebecca has

00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.980
 returned home

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.559
 and she's got

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.339
 a pile of

00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.980
 jewellery in

00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.640
 her bags.

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:25.599
 Well, where

00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.200
 did they come

00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:26.400
 from?

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:26.880
 Oh, I met

00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.640
 this guy, a

00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.319
 servant, and

00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.259
 he's looking

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:29.859
 for a wife

00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:30.440
 and I think

00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.660
 this might be

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:31.759
 it.

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.140
 I haven't

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.519
 met him

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:32.960
 yet but

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:33.819
 it seems

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.579
 pretty good.

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.859
 So he's

00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:36.420
 wanting to

00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:37.019
 check out

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.779
 who this

00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.619
 guy is and

00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:39.180
 well, is

00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.599
 this going

00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:39.960
 to be a

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.460
 good match

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:40.920
 for my

00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:41.359
 sister?

00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.759
 And he

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.759
 agrees and

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.480
 arranges to

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.539
 take the

00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.279
 servant back

00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:46.680
 to his

00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.299
 house because

00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:47.740
 he wants

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.140
 to know

00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:49.000
 the story.

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.720
 Verse 33.

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.119
 Then food

00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:53.680
 was set

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.379
 before the

00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:55.059
 servant but

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.460
 he said,

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.400
 I'm not

00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:56.819
 going to

00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:57.240
 eat until

00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:57.740
 I've told

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.059
 you what

00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:58.500
 I have to

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:58.720
 say.

00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.359
 Well, then

00:24:59.359 --> 00:24:59.960
 tell us,

00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:01.000
 said Laban,

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.819
 tell us

00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.480
 the story.

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.240
 And the

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:04.920
 servant then

00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:06.259
 recounts the

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.259
 whole course

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.779
 of events.

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:08.680
 He tells

00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.019
 them all

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.940
 about Abraham

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.660
 sending him

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.140
 off to get

00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:11.960
 a wife for

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.299
 his son

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:12.680
 Isaac,

00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.640
 how she

00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.019
 must be

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.579
 from his

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.039
 family,

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:16.920
 how she

00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.619
 must leave

00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:18.220
 that land

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.619
 and go

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:18.980
 to be

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.599
 with Isaac,

00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.880
 all according

00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.579
 to God's

00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:21.920
 promise.

00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.299
 He explained

00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:24.740
 how he

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.319
 prayed,

00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:25.980
 how he

00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.720
 sought God's

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:26.960
 help,

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:27.680
 how he

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.579
 trusted in

00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.460
 God's

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.059
 kindness,

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:30.960
 leaning

00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:32.039
 upon God's

00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.519
 promises.

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:33.339
 And he

00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.200
 describes the

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.819
 events at

00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.299
 the well,

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.019
 the little

00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.639
 test that

00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.039
 he had,

00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:37.639
 how he

00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:38.079
 asked for

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.480
 a drink

00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:38.819
 for the

00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:39.099
 woman,

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:39.879
 and how

00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.279
 she was

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:40.740
 to offer

00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.779
 water for

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.339
 the camels.

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:43.519
 And guess

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:43.879
 what,

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.299
 Laban?

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.299
 She did

00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.759
 everything that

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.599
 we required.

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.460
 Now, what

00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:50.899
 would big

00:25:50.899 --> 00:25:51.679
 brother Laban

00:25:51.679 --> 00:25:52.200
 think of

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.639
 such a

00:25:52.639 --> 00:25:52.980
 story?

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:54.940
 Well, we're

00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:55.460
 told,

00:25:55.919 --> 00:25:56.659
 verse 50,

00:25:56.660 --> 00:26:00.040
 Laban,

00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.860
 that's the

00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:01.200
 brother,

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.180
 and Bethuel,

00:26:02.540 --> 00:26:03.180
 the father

00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.720
 he was

00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.340
 in listening

00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:04.800
 to,

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:05.880
 answered,

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:08.080
 this is

00:26:08.080 --> 00:26:09.080
 from the

00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:09.519
 Lord.

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.120
 We can

00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:11.860
 say nothing

00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:12.400
 to you

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.300
 one way

00:26:13.300 --> 00:26:13.779
 or another.

00:26:14.300 --> 00:26:14.940
 Who else

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.400
 could be

00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:15.840
 in it?

00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.460
 Here is

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.940
 Rebecca,

00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:19.320
 take her

00:26:19.320 --> 00:26:19.900
 and go,

00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:20.920
 and let

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.480
 her become

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.180
 the wife

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.700
 of your

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.360
 master's

00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:23.620
 son,

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:25.019
 as the

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.039
 Lord has

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:27.099
 directed.

00:26:29.219 --> 00:26:30.059
 There's no

00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:30.699
 debate.

00:26:31.379 --> 00:26:31.899
 They can

00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:32.899
 clearly see

00:26:32.899 --> 00:26:33.799
 God's hand

00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.339
 in all of

00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:34.539
 this.

00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:35.579
 They submit

00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:36.359
 themselves to

00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:37.039
 God's will,

00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:38.219
 they accept

00:26:38.219 --> 00:26:39.059
 God's will,

00:26:39.739 --> 00:26:40.339
 when they

00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:41.639
 consider God's

00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:42.399
 promises to

00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:42.819
 Abraham,

00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:43.779
 when they

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.479
 think about

00:26:44.479 --> 00:26:45.299
 the servant's

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.899
 prayer and

00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:46.699
 his dependence

00:26:46.699 --> 00:26:47.579
 on God's

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.299
 kindness and

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.179
 his covenant

00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:50.000
 faithfulness,

00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:51.359
 the circumstances

00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:51.959
 at the well,

00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.859
 well, put it

00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:53.479
 all together,

00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.299
 it makes

00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:55.459
 perfect sense.

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.759
 The God

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.199
 of heaven

00:26:57.199 --> 00:26:57.659
 and earth

00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:58.539
 is in

00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:58.919
 all of

00:26:58.919 --> 00:26:59.159
 this.

00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.299
 This is

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:01.000
 a plan

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:02.079
 they can

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.500
 follow.

00:27:04.219 --> 00:27:04.659
 You see,

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.579
 God doesn't

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:07.079
 do coincidences

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:08.379
 or chance

00:27:08.379 --> 00:27:09.299
 happenings.

00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:10.759
 This is not

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.659
 a random

00:27:11.659 --> 00:27:12.679
 event.

00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:13.599
 No,

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.319
 God is

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.359
 directing

00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:16.359
 the whole

00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:16.779
 show.

00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:17.519
 Isn't that

00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.219
 what we see

00:27:18.219 --> 00:27:18.559
 here?

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.599
 God has

00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:20.039
 made a

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.559
 promise

00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:21.379
 and God

00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.099
 has a plan

00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:22.739
 to fulfil

00:27:22.739 --> 00:27:23.539
 that promise.

00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.339
 Abraham

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:25.039
 may send

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.659
 his servant,

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.500
 the servant

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.599
 may set

00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.179
 a test,

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:28.959
 but this

00:27:28.959 --> 00:27:29.939
 is God's

00:27:29.939 --> 00:27:30.339
 plan.

00:27:31.179 --> 00:27:31.759
 This is

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.679
 from the

00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:33.079
 Lord.

00:27:34.479 --> 00:27:34.979
 This has

00:27:34.979 --> 00:27:35.519
 all come

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:35.899
 about,

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.319
 end of

00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:36.979
 verse 51,

00:27:37.739 --> 00:27:38.579
 as the

00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.659
 Lord has

00:27:39.659 --> 00:27:40.839
 directed.

00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:42.519
 You see,

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.259
 God is

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.939
 the wedding

00:27:43.939 --> 00:27:44.399
 planner.

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.639
 This is a

00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:46.839
 wedding made

00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:47.519
 in heaven.

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:57.619
 love al��rrr,

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.460
 amen.

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:58.599
 Now,

00:27:59.660 --> 00:27:59.819
 it's a

00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:00.400
 random

00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.079
 event in

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.200
 the

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:02.960
 Lord's

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.180
 age and

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:03.500
 Almighty,

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:05.279
 everything we

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.139
 experience

00:28:06.139 --> 00:28:07.160
 is all

00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:07.759
 under

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.819
 God's

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.259
 sovereign

00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:10.220
 will.

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.819
 In fact,

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.579
 this story

00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:17.359
 is teaching us that God is so intricately involved with this world.

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:20.379
 He's so invested in our lives

00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:24.599
 that he is working out his plan of salvation for you.

00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:31.460
 His purpose for you is that you would know God's blessing.

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:35.819
 His plan is that you would experience the ultimate marriage,

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:38.299
 a marriage relationship with God.

00:28:39.699 --> 00:28:41.039
 Are you sure?

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.259
 Absolutely.

00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.799
 Let's see.

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:53.039
 So third, a wedding overflowing with blessing.

00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:57.240
 The wedding may be planned.

00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:02.000
 Laban and the servant and Bethuel think this is good

00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.519
 and they give the thumbs up.

00:29:04.439 --> 00:29:05.699
 Well, what about Rebecca?

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:08.919
 I mean, doesn't she have a say in all of this?

00:29:09.159 --> 00:29:11.220
 After all, she's getting married to Isaac.

00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.519
 What does she think?

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:16.579
 Well, there's been a bit of discussion about things

00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:20.139
 and verse 57, they said,

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.259
 I know.

00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:25.079
 Let's call the young woman and ask her about it.

00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.539
 Good thinking.

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.279
 Verse 58.

00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:31.379
 So they call Rebecca and ask her,

00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:33.980
 will you go with this man?

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.559
 Now, she doesn't go,

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:39.059
 oh, what colour are his eyes?

00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:41.339
 What kind of job has he got?

00:29:41.419 --> 00:29:42.240
 Has he got money?

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.819
 No, nothing like that.

00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:49.319
 I will go, she said.

00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:52.319
 She's heard the story.

00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:52.359
 She's heard the story.

00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:55.500
 God's promises to Abraham.

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.799
 God's kindness to the servant.

00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:00.099
 She's heard her brother's response.

00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:01.419
 It all makes sense.

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:03.840
 This is the Lord's will.

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:07.200
 This is of the Lord.

00:30:09.060 --> 00:30:13.880
 You see, Rebecca isn't just committing herself in marriage to Isaac.

00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:16.480
 That's part of the story.

00:30:17.060 --> 00:30:19.420
 But the big story in all of this is,

00:30:19.800 --> 00:30:22.980
 Rebecca trusting God's promises and kindness.

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:26.319
 By saying, I will go,

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:28.500
 Rebecca is entrusting herself,

00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:30.339
 not just to her new husband,

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:32.000
 but to God.

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:35.279
 By saying yes to all of this,

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:38.079
 Rebecca isn't just sharing in Isaac's wealth,

00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:42.259
 she is sharing in the promised blessings of God.

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.880
 Remember, it's through Isaac

00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:47.140
 that the blessings are going to come.

00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:49.779
 So Rebecca's yes to the marriage

00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:53.119
 is Rebecca saying yes to God.

00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:56.259
 I will go.

00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:59.339
 It's an act of faith.

00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:01.039
 She doesn't know the future,

00:31:01.399 --> 00:31:04.119
 but she has God's promise and God's blessing

00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:07.599
 and she's going to leave behind her life,

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.440
 her family,

00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:11.139
 and step out and entrust herself

00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:14.639
 to the God of redemption and blessing.

00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:20.700
 But it's not just Rebecca who gets blessed.

00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:26.080
 And it's not just Rebecca who gets called

00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:27.340
 to share in the blessing.

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:30.900
 God's plan of salvation, remember,

00:31:31.040 --> 00:31:33.980
 is that all the nations would be blessed.

00:31:34.560 --> 00:31:36.800
 That all people would get to share

00:31:36.800 --> 00:31:38.700
 in what God has to give.

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:41.700
 And as we read through Scripture,

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:44.779
 we see God's heart for the nations.

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:46.180
 And the big theme,

00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:48.279
 the big picture we see of this is

00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:50.080
 God as the husband

00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:53.019
 pursuing us, his people,

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:55.100
 as his bride.

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.580
 Listen to what God says.

00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:03.080
 You might remember these words from Hosea.

00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:05.640
 You can follow on the screen.

00:32:07.340 --> 00:32:08.900
 This is what God says.

00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:10.759
 In that day, declares the Lord,

00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:14.420
 you will call me my husband.

00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:18.640
 You will no longer call me my master.

00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:22.819
 I will betroth you to me forever.

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:26.859
 I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,

00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:29.259
 in love and compassion.

00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:31.960
 I will betroth you in faithfulness

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:34.359
 and you will acknowledge the Lord.

00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:41.139
 I will show my love to the one I called,

00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.599
 not my loved one.

00:32:43.119 --> 00:32:45.039
 I will say to those called,

00:32:45.199 --> 00:32:46.019
 not my people,

00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:47.839
 you are my people.

00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:49.079
 And they will say,

00:32:49.439 --> 00:32:50.759
 you are my God.

00:32:51.659 --> 00:32:52.079
 You see,

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:54.459
 this is God's plan.

00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:57.639
 This is God's love for the world,

00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:59.439
 his love for the nation.

00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:02.820
 God has accomplished his plan

00:33:02.820 --> 00:33:05.360
 and he has done that in love

00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:07.779
 by sending the person of his son,

00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:08.299
 Jesus.

00:33:09.080 --> 00:33:11.500
 And he's demonstrated this love

00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:15.440
 and compassion by giving his life for us,

00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:17.480
 by taking our sin,

00:33:17.600 --> 00:33:19.539
 the curse of judgment on himself,

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:22.120
 so that we might enjoy the wealth

00:33:22.120 --> 00:33:23.580
 of his blessing.

00:33:23.579 --> 00:33:28.859
 God's plan to bless the nations,

00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:34.299
 which means we are blessed.

00:33:35.419 --> 00:33:38.319
 You want to know how much God loves you?

00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:41.460
 How much God is committed to you?

00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:42.839
 He's saying,

00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:44.819
 look at my faithful promises.

00:33:45.419 --> 00:33:46.740
 Look at what I've accomplished.

00:33:47.399 --> 00:33:49.099
 Look at the cross.

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:52.240
 Even though you've rejected me

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.559
 and turned your back on me,

00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.799
 and wandered away,

00:33:55.679 --> 00:33:57.599
 I have come

00:33:57.599 --> 00:33:59.899
 to win you back

00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:03.059
 so that you might be one with me,

00:34:03.199 --> 00:34:05.359
 that we might be married.

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:09.500
 This is God's plan.

00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:12.460
 He is pursuing the nations in love.

00:34:12.799 --> 00:34:14.639
 To those not yet belonging to me,

00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:14.940
 he says,

00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:17.659
 I will be your faithful, loyal husband

00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:19.799
 and I'm not going to fail you,

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:21.599
 but I'm going to bless you.

00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:27.799
 God, who is kind and compassionate,

00:34:28.759 --> 00:34:31.460
 stands before each one of us today

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:34.799
 and is asking for our hand in marriage.

00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:37.519
 And like Rebecca,

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:41.219
 we are called to step out in faith

00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:43.159
 and say,

00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:45.259
 I will go.

00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:51.859
 So fourth,

00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:56.960
 a marriage filled with purpose.

00:34:59.299 --> 00:35:02.399
 You see, when we say yes to God,

00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:04.039
 when we say,

00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:04.819
 I will go,

00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:06.319
 I will follow you,

00:35:06.839 --> 00:35:09.019
 we're committing ourselves

00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:12.059
 to serving God's great purposes.

00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:13.739
 You see,

00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:16.300
 the way in which God is going to bring blessing

00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:17.079
 to the nations

00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:19.199
 is through his people,

00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:21.139
 through people like you and I.

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:22.920
 So,

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:25.019
 two things for us to think about

00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:26.759
 as we finish.

00:35:27.759 --> 00:35:29.599
 This means that your life

00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.719
 has purpose.

00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:34.239
 God is now calling you

00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:35.259
 to share

00:35:35.259 --> 00:35:37.579
 his story of redemption,

00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:39.839
 to declare the good news

00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:41.679
 of God's ultimate marriage.

00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:43.000
 Like Abraham,

00:35:43.299 --> 00:35:45.500
 we are to follow God's plan.

00:35:46.399 --> 00:35:47.779
 Like the servant,

00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:50.639
 we are to trust in God's kindness,

00:35:50.839 --> 00:35:52.039
 that he will be faithful

00:35:52.039 --> 00:35:52.959
 to his promises.

00:35:53.379 --> 00:35:54.759
 And we can step out

00:35:54.759 --> 00:35:56.419
 with confidence and assurance,

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.980
 knowing that God

00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:59.819
 is directing all things.

00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:01.820
 He is the planner of our life.

00:36:02.100 --> 00:36:02.860
 He is the planner

00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:04.039
 of every situation.

00:36:04.360 --> 00:36:06.640
 Because there are no coincidences.

00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:10.220
 Think about your own life.

00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:11.960
 It is all according

00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:13.620
 to his design and purpose.

00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:15.080
 Where you live

00:36:15.080 --> 00:36:17.260
 and the people next door to you

00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:18.640
 is not an accident.

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:22.039
 The people you meet each day

00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:23.680
 when you are out walking the dogs

00:36:23.680 --> 00:36:25.140
 or when you go to work

00:36:25.140 --> 00:36:26.500
 is not random.

00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:29.760
 The family that you have been born

00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:32.320
 into is not by chance.

00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:35.780
 You might be the only Christian

00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:37.340
 in each of those contexts.

00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:38.760
 It may be difficult.

00:36:39.160 --> 00:36:39.840
 But remember,

00:36:40.040 --> 00:36:40.980
 God has you

00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:42.420
 where you are meant to be

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:43.900
 so that you can be

00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.820
 a conduit

00:36:44.820 --> 00:36:46.200
 of God's blessing

00:36:46.200 --> 00:36:47.720
 to those around you.

00:36:49.620 --> 00:36:51.100
 This is God's purpose

00:36:51.100 --> 00:36:51.980
 for your life.

00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:55.040
 Bringing the blessing of God

00:36:55.040 --> 00:36:56.160
 to the nations.

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:58.819
 That's the big plan.

00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:00.599
 It really doesn't matter

00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:02.179
 what college you go to

00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:04.159
 or what job you take up.

00:37:04.500 --> 00:37:06.059
 It's whatever you're doing,

00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:07.799
 see that the purpose

00:37:07.799 --> 00:37:08.599
 of your life

00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:10.039
 in that context

00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:11.199
 is to bring the blessing

00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:12.399
 of God to the nations.

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:19.119
 And also it means

00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:20.579
 if you are married

00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:23.780
 or you plan on being married

00:37:23.780 --> 00:37:25.880
 that your marriage

00:37:25.880 --> 00:37:26.820
 has a purpose.

00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:29.519
 This might not be

00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.360
 an account about

00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:31.220
 how to find

00:37:31.220 --> 00:37:32.579
 your future spouse

00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:35.059
 but it does reveal

00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:35.900
 to us something

00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:36.880
 of the purpose

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:37.639
 of marriage.

00:37:38.599 --> 00:37:38.900
 Look,

00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:40.000
 when Isaac and Rebecca

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.760
 got married,

00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:41.920
 they weren't just

00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.800
 committing themselves

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:43.579
 to one another,

00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:45.119
 they were serving

00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:47.199
 the grand big purposes

00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:48.239
 of God.

00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:49.780
 You see,

00:37:49.900 --> 00:37:50.900
 marriage isn't about

00:37:50.900 --> 00:37:52.719
 satisfying your need

00:37:52.719 --> 00:37:54.699
 or fulfilling your desire

00:37:54.699 --> 00:37:56.300
 and if that's your view

00:37:56.300 --> 00:37:56.980
 of marriage,

00:37:57.320 --> 00:37:57.880
 you're heading

00:37:57.880 --> 00:37:59.079
 for a train wreck.

00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:01.920
 God's design

00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.739
 for marriage

00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:04.440
 is that we partner

00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:05.039
 together

00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:05.820
 to serve

00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:06.739
 the greater

00:38:06.739 --> 00:38:08.039
 and bigger purposes

00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:08.699
 of God.

00:38:08.699 --> 00:38:09.799
 It's not about

00:38:09.799 --> 00:38:10.980
 me and my spouse

00:38:10.980 --> 00:38:12.199
 or me and my children

00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:13.239
 hiving away

00:38:13.239 --> 00:38:14.339
 and doing our own thing.

00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:15.719
 It's about husband

00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:16.460
 and wife

00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:18.139
 partnering together

00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:20.119
 in God's mission.

00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:24.539
 Now maybe some of us

00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:25.699
 need to remember that

00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:27.359
 and recommit to that.

00:38:28.879 --> 00:38:29.919
 Somehow in the

00:38:29.919 --> 00:38:31.000
 busyness of life,

00:38:31.419 --> 00:38:32.739
 the pressure to take on

00:38:32.739 --> 00:38:34.239
 more into our lives

00:38:34.239 --> 00:38:35.699
 or invest more

00:38:35.699 --> 00:38:36.480
 into the lives

00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:37.079
 of our kids

00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:37.719
 running here,

00:38:37.839 --> 00:38:38.399
 there and everywhere,

00:38:38.699 --> 00:38:40.319
 means that we've

00:38:40.319 --> 00:38:41.179
 lost sight

00:38:41.179 --> 00:38:42.219
 of what marriage

00:38:42.219 --> 00:38:43.219
 is all about.

00:38:49.399 --> 00:38:50.859
 Whatever our status

00:38:50.859 --> 00:38:51.719
 here today,

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:54.079
 whether we're married

00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:55.119
 or unmarried,

00:38:56.319 --> 00:38:57.319
 whether we would love

00:38:57.319 --> 00:38:57.839
 a husband

00:38:57.839 --> 00:38:58.679
 or a wife,

00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:01.439
 let's just take

00:39:01.439 --> 00:39:02.839
 the bigger step back

00:39:02.840 --> 00:39:04.660
 and remember that

00:39:04.660 --> 00:39:05.920
 God is the wedding

00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:06.620
 planner

00:39:06.620 --> 00:39:08.880
 who is working out

00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:10.380
 his plan of redemption

00:39:10.380 --> 00:39:12.220
 through us.

00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.860
 So trust

00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:16.380
 God's kindness.

00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:19.519
 Follow God's

00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:20.360
 plan.

00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:22.620
 The Lord

00:39:22.620 --> 00:39:23.900
 is directing

00:39:23.900 --> 00:39:24.720
 your life

00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:27.100
 so we can go

00:39:27.100 --> 00:39:27.920
 with confidence

00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:28.780
 and assurance,

00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:31.120
 being a conduit

00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:32.219
 of God's blessing

00:39:32.219 --> 00:39:34.299
 to all we meet.

00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.420
 Let's pray.

00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:58.180
 Father God,

00:39:58.260 --> 00:39:59.800
 we thank you

00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:01.700
 for this

00:40:01.700 --> 00:40:02.900
 marriage account

00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:03.900
 of Isaac

00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:04.619
 and Rebecca.

00:40:04.619 --> 00:40:08.019
 thank you for the way

00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:09.179
 in which it points

00:40:09.179 --> 00:40:09.639
 us

00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:12.000
 to the ultimate

00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:12.679
 marriage

00:40:12.679 --> 00:40:14.420
 with you,

00:40:14.619 --> 00:40:15.219
 Father God.

00:40:17.400 --> 00:40:18.239
 We pray

00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:19.099
 that we would

00:40:19.099 --> 00:40:20.759
 take from this

00:40:20.759 --> 00:40:22.079
 all that we need

00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:24.059
 that we might

00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:25.199
 become the people

00:40:25.199 --> 00:40:25.980
 you call us

00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:26.380
 to be.

00:40:28.299 --> 00:40:29.500
 Help us to live

00:40:29.500 --> 00:40:30.159
 our life

00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:33.000
 trusting you,

00:40:34.379 --> 00:40:35.239
 following your

00:40:35.239 --> 00:40:36.239
 revealed plan

00:40:36.239 --> 00:40:36.920
 in Scripture

00:40:36.920 --> 00:40:39.299
 and walking

00:40:39.299 --> 00:40:40.139
 confidently

00:40:40.139 --> 00:40:42.480
 as you direct

00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:43.579
 every one of our

00:40:43.579 --> 00:40:44.099
 steps.

00:40:45.099 --> 00:40:46.500
 In Jesus' name.

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:47.839
 Amen.

00:40:47.839 --> 00:40:47.980
 Amen.

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:48.039
 Amen.

00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:48.059
 Amen.

00:40:48.059 --> 00:40:48.480
 Amen.

00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:49.039
 Amen.

00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:50.099
 Amen.

00:40:50.099 --> 00:40:50.159
 Amen.

00:40:50.159 --> 00:40:50.420
 Amen.

00:40:50.420 --> 00:40:50.440
 Amen.

00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:50.460
 Amen.

00:40:50.460 --> 00:40:50.480
 Amen.

00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:50.500
 Amen.

00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:50.519
 Amen.

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:50.539
 Amen.

00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:50.559
 Amen.

00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:50.619
 Amen.

00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:50.639
 Amen.