Please take your Bibles this morning and open them up to Genesis chapter 24.
! If you don't have a Bible of your own, you can find one in a seat back nearby.
If you didn't bring a Bible and you don't own a Bible at all, then go take that one home with you.
It's our gift to you.
We want you to have a copy of God's Word available to you, and especially now as we go through this chapter together.
We want you to have a copy of God's Word open before you.
So Genesis chapter 24, and when you've found it, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word this morning.
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had,
Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth,
that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell,
but will go to my country and to my kindred and take a wife for my son Isaac.
The servant said to him, perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land.
Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?
Abraham said to him, see to it that you do not take my son back there.
The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred,
and who spoke to me and swore to me, to your offspring I will give this land.
He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine,
only you must not take my son back there.
So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed,
taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master.
And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of the evening,
the time when women go out to draw water.
And he said,
O Lord, God of my master Abraham,
please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.
Behold, I am standing by the spring of water,
and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
Let the young woman to whom I shall say,
Please let down your jar that I may drink.
And who shall say,
Drink, and I will water your camels.
Let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac.
By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.
Before he had finished speaking,
behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel,
the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother,
came out with her water jar on her shoulder.
The young woman was very attractive in appearance,
a maiden whom no man had known.
She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
Then the servant ran to meet her and said,
Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.
She said, Drink, my lord.
And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.
When she had finished giving him a drink, she said,
I will draw water for your camels also until they have finished drinking.
So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough
and ran again to the well to draw water.
And she drew for all his camels.
The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the lord had prospered his journey or not.
When the camels had finished drinking,
the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels
and said, Please tell me whose daughter you are.
Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?
She said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.
She added,
As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms
and heard the words of Rebecca his sister, thus the man spoke to me,
he went to the man.
And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.
He said, Come in, O blessed of the Lord.
Why do you stand outside?
For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.
So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels
and gave straw and fodder to the camels.
And there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
And then food was set before him to eat.
But he said, I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.
He said, Speak on.
So he said, I am Abraham's servant.
The Lord has greatly blessed my master and he has become great.
He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold,
male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.
And Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old.
And to him he has given all that he has.
My master made me swear, saying, You shall not take a wife for my son
from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell,
but you shall go to my father's house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.
And I said to my master, Perhaps the woman will not follow me.
But he said to me, The Lord, for whom I have walked,
will send his angel with you and prosper your way.
You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's house.
Then you will be free from my oath when you come to my clan.
And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.
I came today to the spring and said, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham,
if now you are prospering the way that I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water.
Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say,
Please give me a little water from your jar to drink.
And who will say to me, Drink, and I will draw water for your camels also.
Let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son.
Before I had finished speaking in my heart,
behold, Rebecca came out with her water jar on her shoulder,
and she went down to the spring and drew water.
I said to her, Please let me drink.
She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said,
Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.
So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.
Then I asked her, Whose daughter are you?
And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.
So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms,
and then I bowed my head and worshipped the Lord and blessed the Lord,
the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way
to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.
Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master,
tell me, and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said,
The thing has come from the Lord.
We cannot speak to you bad or good.
Behold, Rebecca is before you.
Take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son,
as the Lord has spoken.
When Abraham's servant heard their words,
he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord.
And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold and garments
and gave them to Rebecca.
He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments.
And he and the men who were with him ate and drank,
and they spent the night there.
When they arose in the morning, he said,
Send me away to my master.
Her brother and her mother said,
Let the young woman remain with us for a while,
at least ten days.
After that she may go.
But he said to them,
Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way.
Send me away, that I may go to my master.
And they said,
Let us call the young woman and ask her.
And they called Rebecca and said to her,
Will you go with this man?
And she said,
I will go.
So they sent away Rebecca, their sister, and her nurse,
and Abraham's servant and his men.
And they blessed Rebecca and said to her,
Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands.
And may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him.
Then Rebecca and her young woman arose and rode on the camels
and followed the man.
Thus the servant took Rebecca and went his way.
Now Isaac had returned from Beir-le-Hairoi
and was dwelling in the Negev.
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening.
And he lifted up his eyes and saw,
and behold, there were camels coming.
And Rebecca lifted up her eyes.
And when she saw Isaac,
she dismounted from the camel and said to the servant,
Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?
The servant said,
It is my master.
So she took her veil and covered herself.
And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah, his mother,
and took Rebecca.
And she became his wife.
And he loved her.
So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
The grass withers,
the flower fades,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Father God,
we pray now that you would bless the preaching of your word.
Give us ears to hear and hearts to receive the truth.
We pray this in Christ's name.
Amen.
You may be seated.
Amen.
But if you happened to turn on PBS at the right time between 1983 and 1994,
you might have found yourself watching a show called The Joy of Painting with artist Bob Ross.
I trust that you all know who Bob Ross is.
Now he has his own channel.
You can watch him 24 hours a day,
anytime that you'd like.
But there he would be,
head full of hair,
happily painting a scene.
Usually it's a forest or waterfalls,
a mountain scene,
a walk through the woods.
And at the end of the show,
it would always turn out beautiful.
But along the way,
if you watch him paint,
he would make mistakes here and there.
Only he wouldn't call them mistakes,
would he?
He would call them happy accidents.
That accidental little blob of paint there in the middle of the canvas,
he would take that and turn it into a flower
or the scratch up in the corner of the canvas,
he would turn that into a tree branch.
He would take that accident,
that unintended mistake,
that seemingly random occurrence,
and he would turn it into something good,
beautiful.
And you know,
I thought about that as I read our passage this week,
that that is how many people
understand the work of God
in their life
and in the world.
Many people believe that God,
like an artist,
he has a plan for what he intends to do.
And God,
like a skillful artist,
is mostly in control of that process.
He's painting a beautiful picture.
But of course,
we know, right?
Every now and then,
an accident happens.
Something occurs that's mainly outside of his control.
Something happens that he doesn't like.
He didn't mean for it to happen.
But like a skillful artist,
he's able to take that accidental blemish
and turn it into something beautiful in the end.
What I'd like for us to see this morning
from our passage,
here in Genesis chapter 24,
is that that is not how God works
in the world.
The God that we've been introduced to
here in the book of Genesis
is a totally sovereign God.
Meaning that this God
has complete and total control
over all things.
To be totally sovereign
means that there are no accidents,
nothing random,
no mistakes,
no chance occurrences.
The end result is exactly
what he's planned from the beginning.
Every brush stroke of human history
is placed exactly
as he wants it to be.
And what may look like to us
as accidents
or blemishes
or random occurrences
or chance
is not in fact random.
The sovereign God
is not responding
to the events of history
and turning it out for good.
He is in fact
directing,
orchestrating
all things.
All things
go
as this God
plans.
We've seen
in the very first pages
of Genesis
the God who created
all things
and now in every page
afterwards
we see
a God who
upholds
and sustains
and directs
all things.
There's a term for this
and it's what we call
providence.
Have you heard this term?
Providence.
God's providence
is his sovereignty
in action.
John Piper
says it like this.
He says
it is his
purposeful sovereignty
by which
he will be
completely
successful
in the achievement
of his ultimate
goal
for the universe.
Which is
we believe
the magnification
of the glory
of God
in the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
That's his goal.
I wonder
if you see
God's hand
in your life
this way.
I wonder
if you interpret
the events
of your life
the events
of the world
in this way.
I want us
to see this morning
five effects
of God's providence
from Genesis
chapter 24.
Five effects
of God's providence
this morning.
First
number one
we see
God's providence
encourages
faithful pursuit.
Rightly understood
God's providence
his sovereignty
in action
it encourages
faithful pursuit.
You know
one wrong way
to think about
God's sovereignty
in action
is that
well if God
is working
I don't have to.
If God
is sovereignly
orchestrating
all things
for his purposes
I don't have
a role to play.
I can just
rest.
That's not how
Abraham sees it.
Look there
to verse 1.
We see here
Abraham is
old by this point.
He's about
140 years old.
The Lord has
blessed Abraham
tremendously
but there's still
something that he wants.
There's still
something that he
needs to see
happen here.
What is it?
His son
Isaac
has to be
married.
Now think about
why.
Of course
on one hand
any father
would desire
this for his
son to find
a wife
is a good
thing.
Isaac is
about 40
years old
now.
Abraham is
probably ready
for him
to get up
move out
of the
basement
go get
married
go on
find somebody
but bigger
picture here
in light of
God's promises
think about
this
why does
Isaac need
a wife?
Abraham
knows that
Isaac needs
a wife
because God
has promised
him
through
Isaac
shall your
offspring
be named
it is
Isaac
it's
through
the
line
of
Isaac
through
the
descendants
of
Isaac
ultimately
that the
promised
Messiah
will
come
so zoom
out
big picture
here
if Isaac
does not
get married
and bear
children
Jesus
doesn't
come
it's
really
amazing
I think
if you
look at
a family
tree
I wonder
if you've
ever done
this
exercise
you lay
it all
out
and you
see
all the
generations
from
generation
to generation
all the
relationships
all the
steps
along the
way
as many
generations
as you
can go
back
great
grandparents
do you
realize
every
single
one of
those
connections
must
happen
for you
to be
here
right
now
every
one
of
those
relationships
they
have
to
meet
and
marry
and
reproduce
in order
for you
and I
to be
here
right
now
think
about
it
if
your
great
grandpa
was not
born
when he
was born
and raised
where he
was raised
and brought
up
how he
was brought
up
and attracted
to who
he was
attracted
to
you
would
not be
here
right
now
is that
a happy
accident
god
knew
you
before
you
were
even
born
and
so
orchestrated
by his
providence
all
things
in such
a way
that you
would be
here
right
now
in the same
way you can
go to
Matthew chapter
one or
Luke chapter
three and
you see
the genealogy
the family
tree of
the Lord
Jesus
and you
see
the
generations
after
generations
after
generations
that
led up
to the
birth
of the
Savior
and how
does it
start
Abraham
the father
of Isaac
Isaac
the father
of Jacob
we don't
get that
far
unless Isaac
gives him
a wife
right here
you see
the significance
Isaac
must
find
a wife
Abraham
knows
God
will
do it
God
has
promised
it
and
because
God
has
promised
it
Abraham
pursues
it
in
confidence
now
that's
what
God's
sovereignty
rightly
understood
it
produces
confident
pursuit
in the
life
of a
believer
so
he
calls
his
servant
apparently
he's
the most
trusted
servant
Abraham
has
he's
his
oldest
servant
he's
in
charge
of all
that
he
has
he
makes
him
promise
swear
to
me
that
you
will
go
get
a
wife
but
not
a
Canaanite
wife
we got
some
standards
here
okay
you're
going to
go back
to my
homeland
and find
him
a wife
God
has
promised
it
now
go
pursue
it
servant
raises
a good
question
I think
verse 5
he says
well what
if this
woman
won't
come
back
here
do I
need
to take
Isaac
back
there
and what
does
Abraham
say
no
you
are
not
bringing
Isaac
back
there
why
God
has
promised
it
God
has
promised
this
land
to
my
offspring
therefore
that's
what
we're
pursuing
you're
not
going
back
there
you're
establishing
this
family
here
he's
pursuing
he's
working
he's
striving
forward
in
alignment
with the
plan
and the
purposes
of a
sovereign
and
faithful
God
God's
promises
ought to
be the
driving
force
behind
all of
our
pursuits
to
believe
that God
will
fulfill
his
promises
should
not
lead
God's
people
to
in
action
it
ought
to
propel
us
to
get
up
to
get
to
work
in
confidence
that
the
purposes
of
our
God
cannot
fail
if
God
has
promised
it
we
can
pursue
it
with
confidence
for
example
God
promises
one
day
all
nations
will
bow
before
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
every
knee
will
bow
every
tongue
will
confess
heaven
will
be
filled
with
every
tribe
and
tongue
so
therefore
we
take
the
gospel
to
the
unreached
we
take
the
gospel
to
the
nations
in
confidence
that
the
Lord
is
committed
to
this
work
I
spoke
with
a
friend
this
week
who's
preparing
to
move
his
family
and
his
young
children
to
Azerbaijan
I
can't
even
pronounce
it
outside
of
Turkey
Azerbaijan
to
bring
the
gospel
to
this
87%
Muslim
nation
Why?
He
is
committed
to
it
because
he
believes
!
is
committed
to
it
and
God
will
not
fail!
Jesus
has
promised
I
will
build
my
church
the
gates
of
hell
will
not
prevail
against
it
so
Craig
and
Patty
Simon
give
their
retirement
years
to
drive
up
and
down
highway
17
and
help
establish
a
healthy
church
here
in
Allendall
Why?
It's
the safest
investment
they can
make
is
a
plan
that
can't
fail
a
right
understanding
of
God's
providence
leads
us
to
faithful
pursuit
not
only
this
second
God's
providence
encourages
prayer
God's
providence
encourages
prayer
look there
to verse
10
now I
love
the
faithfulness
of the
servant
in this
passage
don't
you
he
takes
some
camels
he
goes
with
all
sorts
of
gifts
from
his
master
he
is
ready
he
goes
to
Mesopotamia
he
goes
to
Nahor
and
he
is
strategic
isn't
he
with
what
he
is
doing
he
knows
what
he
is
doing
he
goes
to
the
well
right
outside
the
city
right
at
evening
time
right
at
the
time
when
the
women
go
out
to
draw
water
you
see
how
that
works
he
believes
that
God
will
provide
a
wife
for
Isaac
so
what
does
he
do
he
doesn't
just
stay
in
the
tent
and
wait
he
gets
up
and
he
goes
to
where
the
women
are
again
this
is
faithful
pursuit
!
Just a
side
note
here
guys
if
you
believe
that
God
desires
for you
to be
married
and
if
you
want
a
spouse
that
might
just
involve
being
around
people
of the
opposite
sex
talking
with
them
interacting
with
them
pursuing
that
by
faith
just
trying
to
help
you
out
here
a
little
bit
the
servant
goes
he
pursues
but
then
look
what
he
does
in
verse
12
he
prays
he
said
Lord
God
of my
master
Abraham
please
grant
me
success
today
and
show
steadfast
love
to
my
master
Abraham
behold
I
am
standing
by
the
spring
of
water
the
daughters
of
the
men
of
the
city
are
coming
out
let
the
young
woman
to
whom
I
shall
say
please
let
down
your
jar
that
I
may
drink
and
who
shall
say
drink
and
I
will
water
your
camels
let
her
be
the
one
whom
you
have
appointed
for
your
servant
Isaac
by
this
I
shall
know
that
you
have
shown
steadfast
love
to
my
master
here's
another
misapplication
of God's
providence
I wonder
if you've
heard
this
if
God
is
sovereign
why
pray
if
God
already
knows
the
end
from
the
beginning
if
God
is
working
all
things
to
that
end
why
in
the
world
why
pray
if
God
is
in
control
of
all
things
big
and
small
what's
the
point
for
one
thing
we
pray
because
God
is
sovereign
and
we
are
not
God
knows
the
plan
we
don't
God
is
the
omniscient
!
One
not
you
not
me
God
knows
those
who
are
his
we
don't
often
we
know
the
big
picture
of
God's
promises
but
we
really
don't
know
all
the
details
do
we
this
servant
he
doesn't
know
if
his
efforts
are
actually
going
to
work
out
he
has
no
clarity
whether
or not
this
is
the
way
God
intends
to
give
Isaac
a
spouse
he
knows
that
God
will
give
Isaac
a
spouse
the
promise
requires
it
and
he's
pursuing
it
the
best
way
that
he
knows
how
but
God
doesn't
tell
him
to
go
to
the
well
God
doesn't
tell
him
to
find
a
wife
in
this
way
he
doesn't
know
for
sure
even
Abraham
gives
him
an
out
in
verse
8
hey
if
this
doesn't
work
out
if
she
won't
come
then
you're
free
from
this
oath
that
you've
made
church
we
pray
!
because
God
is
sovereign
we
don't
know
everything
God
knows
and
so
as
we
pursue
his
purposes
by
faith
we
ought
to
pray
Lord
give
me
wisdom
Lord
direct
my
steps
Lord
give
me
success
in
this
pursuit
Lord
bless
my
efforts
to
be
faithful
to
you
we
also
pray
because
God
is
sovereign
so
he
can
actually
answer
our
prayers
I
will
never
for the
life
of
me
understand
why
in
the
world
would
I
pray
to
a
God
who's
not
actually
in
control
this
servant
actually
believes
this
God
is
capable
of
providing
a
woman
at
this
well
at
this
time
at
this
moment
because
God
is
sovereign
he
prays
with
confidence
and so
can
we
also
because
God
is
sovereign
we
can
pray
with
specificity
you see
how specific
he is
here
this
servant
asks
God
to
direct
this
woman's
steps
to
direct
this
woman's
actions
to
direct
this
woman's
vocabulary
he is
incredibly
specific
isn't he
down to
the finest
details
I've
shared
in here
before
some
stories
of
George
Mueller
how he
prayed
for his
orphanage
if you
read his
journals
I won't
have to
repeat
stories
because
if you
read his
journals
you see
he recorded
at least
50,000
examples
of direct
and specific
answers to
his specific
prayers
that's a lot
of sermon
material
y'all
there's one
story
about the
orphanage
running out
of money
running out
of food
they had
nothing to
feed the
children
for breakfast
and so
George
prayed
and he
asked
specifically
for exactly
what they
needed
the children
you can
imagine
the scene
they gather
for breakfast
nothing to
eat
and George
prays to
bless the
food
that they
don't yet
have
and when he
finished his
prayer they
heard a
knock
on the
door
the town
baker
was there
at the
door
he had
had a
dream
the night
before
where God
told him
to go
to the
orphanage
give enough
bread for
the rest
of the
week
right behind
him was
the milk
man
his truck
broke down
right in
front of
the orphanage
so what
can he
do
except give
away his
whole supply
of milk
so it
doesn't
spoil
is that a
happy accident
that is
providence
these are
providential
answers to
specific prayers
offered up to
a good and
faithful sovereign
capable God
if we truly
believe our
God is
directing all
things
we will
pray
we will
pray
and when
God
answers
our
prayers
and
provides
as we
ask
what do
you think
the result
will be
in your
heart
we see
it in our
third point
this morning
third
understanding
God's
providence
leads to
praise
when he
provides
leads to
worship
and
exaltation
magnification
of the glory
of God
look at
verse 15
before he
had even
finished speaking
behold
Rebecca
who was
born to
Bethuel
the son
of Milcah
the wife
of Nahor
Abraham's
brother
came out
with her
water jar
on her
shoulder
the young
woman was
very attractive
in appearance
a maiden
whom no man
had known
she went
down to
the spring
filled her
jar
and came
up
I mean
talk about
an immediate
answer to
prayer
he's not
even
he hasn't
even said
amen
and here
comes this
beautiful
young woman
and it
says that
he ran
to meet
her
and he
gives her
this little
test
he said
please give
me a little
water
to drink
from your
jar
and she
says
verse 18
drink
my lord
and she
quickly
let down
her jar
upon her
hand
and gave
him a
drink
and when
she had
finished
giving him
a drink
she said
let me
water your
camels
also
until they
finished
drinking
so she
quickly
emptied her
jar
into the
trough
and ran
again to
the well
to draw
water
and she
drew for
all his
camels
and this
man is
just watching
all of this
unfold and
wondering is
the lord
doing this
is the lord
providing
he can hardly
believe it
and so
when the
camels had
finished drinking
he gave her
these gifts
of gold
and said
just tell me
whose daughter
you are
please don't
be a
Canaanite
right
is there
room in
your father's
house for
us to
spend the
night
she says
I am
the daughter
of Bethuel
the son
of Milca
whom she
bore to
Nahor
and she
said
and we
got plenty
of straw
and fodder
and we
got room
to spend
the night
come on
this is a
direct
providential
answer
to a
specific
prayer
of faith
and it
seems to
this servant
as far as
he can
tell
like
God has
provided
a spouse
for Isaac
God has
done this
God is
working
this
out
and so
what's
his
response
the servant
bows his
head
and worships
the Lord
and says
blessed be
the Lord
the God
of my
master
Abraham
who has
not forsaken
his steadfast
love and
his faithfulness
toward my
master
as for me
the Lord
has led
me
in the way
to the house
of my
master's
kinsman
the response
is worship
that's the
right response
by the way
he gives
glory
to God
for answering
his prayers
he ascribes
to the Lord
steadfast
love
and faithfulness
this God
has been
faithful
to my
master
Abraham
this God
has led
my way
he just
breaks out
in praise
he's seen
the hand
of the Lord
providentially
answering
prayers
directing
his steps
supplying
his need
you know
the more
God
saturated
our view
of
everything
is
the more
our hearts
will praise
him in every
moment
God
if you
take
him
out
of
the
equation
even
in the
slightest
degree
to the
point
where
there
is
just
a chance
occurrence
just luck
just
coincidence
nothing
special
about
this
you are
robbing
God
of the
praise
that
he's
due
to have
a
God
saturated
view
of
the
world
is to
see
his
hand
at work
at
all
times
in
every
event
in
all
ways
and in
doing
so
your
heart
will be
ready
to
praise
him
when
he
provides
all
of
this
of
course
assumes
fourth
number
four
that
you
actually
view
all
things
through
the
lens
of
God's
providence
so
fourth
a
right
understanding
of
God's
providence
gives
us
a
proper
understanding
of
all
things
look
there
what
happens
starting
in
verse
29
Rebecca
goes
back
home
her
brother
Laban
comes
out
and
she
starts
sharing
about
everything
that's
happened
and
so
now
Laban
invites
him
in
he
plays
host
for
this
servant
verse
33
says
he
feeds
him
he
sets
food
the
meal
before
him
but
the
servant
says
I'm
not
eating
until
I
share
this
story
with
you
I
gotta
say
what
I
gotta
see
you
gotta
hear
what
God
just
did
you're
not
gonna
believe
this
and
now
for
about
15
verses
from
verse
34
to
verse
49
he
recounts
the story
that we've
just
seen
this is
him
just
pouring
out
this
version
of
what's
just
happened
but
I
want
you
to
notice
the
emphasis
here
in how
he
tells
it
he
says
I
am
Abraham's
servant
the
Lord
has
greatly
blessed
my
master
he's
become
great
he
sees
the
Lord's
hand
in
blessing
Abraham
he
talks
about
all
the
things
the
Lord
blessed
him
with
he
talks
about
how
Sarah
bore
Abraham
a son
in her
old age
man
that's
a story
in and
of
itself
isn't
it
he
talks
about
how
God
has
given
Abraham
everything
he
has
Abraham
sent
the
servant
on this
mission
to find
him
a
wife
and
he
reminded
him
he
assured
him
of
God's
promises
how
he
told
him
the
angel
of
the
Lord
would
go
before
him
would
lead
him
would
prosper
his
way
how
he
comes
to
the
spring
and
he
prays
to
the
Lord
and
he
knew
this
whole
thing
was
dependent
on
the
Lord's
hand
for
success
he
recalls
his
prayer
to
God
and
he
is
like
you
are
not
going
to
believe
what
happened
next
before
I
was
done
talking
here's
Rebecca
and
she
comes
with
her
water
and
she
goes
to
draw
water
can
you
believe
that
it
gets
better
I
said
give
me
a
drink
and
she
passed
the
test
just
exactly
like
I
prayed
she
gave
me
drink
and
she
gave
the
camel's
drink
and
so
I
said
whose
daughter
are
you
she
said
I
am
the
daughter
of
Bethuel
Nahor's
son
whom
Milca
bore
to
him
and
my
mouth
just
dropped
and
hit
the
floor
this
is
exactly
the
type
of
woman
that
my
master
sent
me
to
retrieve
don't
you
see
God's
hand
in
this
so
I
put
that
ring
on
her
nose
and
bracelets
on
her
arms
and
I
bowed
my
head
and
worshipped
the
Lord
blessed
the
Lord
the
God
of
my
master
Abraham
who
led
me
by
the
right
way
to
take
the
daughter
of
my
master's
kinsman
for
his
son
see
his
perspective
on
the
whole
story
has
the
Lord
right
at
the
center
doesn't
it
his
story
from
beginning
to
end
is
that
God
has
done
this
servant
is
rightly
understanding
God's
work
of
providence
and the
events
of
his
life
let
me
ask
you
something
ought to
be an
easy
question
okay
look
through
the
passage
and
tell
me
what's
the
servant's
name
anybody
I don't
know
what it
is
you
don't
know
what
we're
not
told
what
his
name
is
are
we
the
servant
isn't
named
in
the
story
did
you
catch
that
it's
kind
of
odd
isn't
it
strange
way
to
tell
a
story
it's
one
of
the
longest
narrative
chapters
in
Genesis
and
this
guy
seems
to be
right
at
the
center
of
the
action
and
he's
the
main
actor
in
the
scene
right
wrong
the
Lord
is
the
main
actor
in
the
scene
the
servant
is
quick
he
gets
it
he's
quick
to
point
to
God
and
his
work
as
the
main
actor
in
all
the
events
of
this
account
the
same
is
true
for
our
lives
you
realize
that
you
and
I
are
not
the
main
character
we
need to
be
reminded
of
that
don't
we
you
and
I
are
not
the
main
character
in
our
life
God
is
the
main
character
of
our
life
your
life
is
not
about
you
God
is
the
point
and
the
purpose
and
the
orchestrator
and
the
leader
and
the
main
actor
of
all
of
our
lives
it
is
not
ultimately
about
us
it
is
about
him
just
think
about
your
life
for a
minute
just
think
about
the
big
things
okay
big
successes
in
your
life
major
milestones
your
education
your
success
in the
workplace
major
promotions
personal
accomplishments
your
relationships
your
marriage
your
children
now
ask
yourself
who
gets
the
glory
for
these
things
how
do
you
tell
the
story
are
you
the
main
character
is
it
about
you
when
we
see
the
depth
of
God's
work
in
every
detail
of
our
life
we
will
see
it
is
not
really
about
us
church
it
is
all
about
him
do
you
see
the
hand
of
God
in
every
detail
of
your
life
do
you
tell
the
story
of
your
life
with
God
as
the
main
character
right
at
the
center
so
that
he
receives
the
glory
the
servant
gets
it
doesn't
he
but
even
so
he
still
doesn't
know
if
this
whole
thing
is
going
to
work
out
he
doesn't
know
until
it's
done
God's
providence
is
often
best
read
in
retrospect
but
he
ends
his
speech
here
in
verse
49
and
says
now
then
if
you're
going
to
show
steadfast
love
and
faithfulness
to
my
master
tell
me
and
if
not
tell
me
I
can
turn
to
my
right
hand
or
to
my
left
I
think
God
is
in
this
I
think
God
is
at
work
in
this
but
I
need
you
to
seal
the
deal
here
verse
50
Laban
and
Bethuel
answered
and said
this
thing
has
come
from
the
Lord
it's
undeniable
we
can't
speak
to
you
good
or
bad
behold
Rebecca
is
before
you
take
her
and
go
let
her
be
the
wife
of
your
master's
son
as
the
Lord
has
spoken
how
incredible
is
this
God
has
done
exactly
as
he
promised
his
providence
has
ensured
that
every
promise
is
kept
which
is our
fifth
and final
point
this
morning
fifth
God's
providence
ensures
all
promises
are
kept
verse
52
when
Abraham's
servant
heard
their
words
he
bowed
himself
again
to the
earth
before
the
Lord
and
the
servant
brings
out
jewelry
and
silver
and
gold
and
garments
he
gives
them
to
Rebecca
he
gives
them
to
her
brother
he
gives
them
to
her
mother
and
then
they
eat
and
drink
they
spend
the
night
there
and
when
they
get
up
in
the
morning
they
say
let's
go
send
me
away
to
my
master
brother
!
and
her
mother
say
let
the
young
woman
remain
with
us
for
a
while
at
least
ten
days
and
after
that
she
may
go
but
he
said
no
don't
delay
me
any
longer
the
Lord
has
prospered
my
way
send
me
away
that
I
may
go
to
my
master
so
they
call
Rebecca
and
ask
her
Rebecca
says
yes
I
will
go
they
send
her
away
with
her
nurse
and
they
bless
Rebecca
and
say
to
her
oh
sister
may
you
become
thousands
of
ten
thousands
may
your
offspring
possess
the
gate
of
those
who
hate
him
Rebecca
and
her
young
woman
arose
and
they
ride
the
camels
they
follow
the
man
and
Rebecca
and
her
servant
are
sent
away
and
we
see
the
rest
of
the
passage
it
details
this
new
bride
Rebecca
coming
to
meet
her
new
husband
they
lay
eyes
on
each
other
for
the
first
time
and
the
two
become
one
in
marriage
you
know
from
an
earthly
perspective
this
might
just
seem
like
just
another
marriage
happy
coincidence
good
fortune
just
happy
it
worked
out
for
Isaac
good
for
him
but
in
view
of
God's
providence
we
know
this
is
the
hand
of
God
so
orchestrated
all
the
events
of
this
chapter
big
and
small
every
detail
to
the
finest
points
in
order
to
bring
this
marriage
together
and
beyond
this
in
order
to
bring
about
the
birth
of
Jesus
the
savior
of
the
world
don't
we
see
there's
purpose
here
in
every
step
every
word
every
action
far
beyond
what
any
of
these
people
could
have
possibly
dreamed
God
is
arranging
it
all
God
is
directing
it
all
God
is
painting
the
picture
stroke
by
stroke
why
to
magnify
the
glory
of
his
name
in
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
in
fact
we
see
a
picture
of
the
gospel
here
don't
we
every
marriage
is
a
pointer
to
the
gospel
Paul
tells
us
that
in
Ephesians
chapter
five
every
marriage
has
within
it
this
picture
of
Christ
and
the
church
but
think
about
this
marriage
in
particular
just
think
about
it
with
me
the
father
plans
for
the
son
to
receive
a
bride
Isaac
the
only
son
of
promise
who
like
Christ
Isaac
was
born
miraculously
of
the
power
and
the
promise
of
God
Isaac
who
like
Christ
was
nearly
sacrificed
on top
of
the
mountain
this
Isaac
seeks
out
a
bride
a
bride
who
doesn't
know
him
a
bride
who
lives
far
away
a
bride
who
must
leave
everything
behind
and
come
to
be
with
her
new
husband
a
bride
who
has
no
rightful
claim
to
any
of
God's
promises
but
has
made
an
heir
together
with
the
son
church
this
is
us
this
is
a
picture
of
the
gospel
is
it
not
by
the
eternal
plan
of
a
good
and
sovereign
God
he
has
prepared
for
his
son
a
bride
from
heaven
he
came
and
sought
her
to
be
his
holy
bride
with
his
blood
he
bought
her
and
for
her
life
he
died
by
the
eternal
plan
of
a
good
and
sovereign
God
he
is
working
all
things
to
this
end
that
sinners
like
us
might
be
united
with
a
savior
that
the
bride
of
Christ
would
be
made
one
and
wed
to
her
husband
all
things
are
working
together
to
this
end
so
that
when
he
returns
and
we
see
him
at
last
we
will
be
one
with
him
for
the
rest
of
eternity
God
has
a
plan
to
magnify
the
glory
of
his
name
in
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
and
this
plan
will
not
fail
our
sovereign
God
is
working
all
things
according
to
the
purpose
of
his
will
for
his
glory
for
our
good
his
providence
ensures
every
promise
will
be
kept
there
are
no
accidents
it
will
be
exactly
as
he
planned
from
the
beginning
how
does
God's
providence
affect
you
non
believer
God's
providence
would
lead us
to believe
that it
is not
an accident
that you
are here
this
morning
hearing
the gospel
proclaimed
hearing
this invitation
turn from
your sin
put your
faith in
Christ
and you
too
will be
made
one
with
him
would
you
come
to
the
Lord
this
morning
church
because
we
believe
he
is
in
complete
control
friend
we
can
pursue
him
and his
promises
faithfully
we
can
pray
confidently
we
can
praise
him
constantly
we
can
perceive
all
things
as
from
his
fatherly
hand
and so
trust
him
totally
and one
day
our
faith
will
be
sight
we
read
this
morning
from
the
heidelberg
catechism
question
27
I'd
like to
read
it
again
as
we
close
what
do
you
understand
by
the
providence
of
God
question
answer
God's
providence
is his
almighty
and
ever
present
power
whereby
as
with
his
hand
he
still
upholds
heaven
and
earth
and
all
creatures
and so
governs
them
that
leaf
and
blade
rain
and
drought
fruitful
and
barren
years
food
and
drink
health
and
sickness
riches
and
poverty
indeed
all
things
come
not to
us
by
chance
but
by his
fatherly
hand
follow
up
question
28
what
does
it
benefit
us
to
know
that
God
has
created
all
things
and
still
upholds
them
by
his
providence
answer
we
can
be
patient
in
adversity
thankful
in
prosperity
with
a
view
to
the
future
we
can
have
a
firm
confidence
in
our
faithful
God
and
father
that
no
creature
shall
separate
us
from
his
love
for
all
creatures
are
so
completely
in
his
hand
that
without
his
will
they
cannot
so
much
as
move
is
this
how
you
see
the
world
no
happy
accidents
no
dumb
luck
nothing
random
nothing
meaningless
all
things
are
in
the
hand
of
our
good
and
faithful
God
to
him
be
the
glory
father
we
pray
would
you
give
us
eyes
to
see
the
world
this
way
give
us
eyes
to
see
your
hand
at
work
in
our
lives
of
others
around
us
in
the
so
called
chance
encounters
we
have
with
others
lord
would
you
lead
us
to
praise
you
and
thank
you
and
worship
you
for
your
work
in
all
things
especially
so
for
your
sovereign
plan
of
salvation
in
Christ
that
will
not
fail
so
we
rejoice
lord
that
sin
and
death
and
the
devil
will
not
have
the
last
word
but
Christ
is
triumphant
he
will
return
and
we
will
be
with
him
at
last
we
praise
you
for
this
in
the
name
of
Jesus
amen