WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.540 Thank you. This is the word of the Lord. Please take a seat. 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:08.700 And God, we look to you. You are God in heaven. You are God of heaven and earth. 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:11.279 Our God is in heavens. He does all that he pleases. 00:00:12.300 --> 00:00:16.019 Pray that you will show us through your word a big view of you. 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:20.000 And for us to see the joy it is to be in Christ. 00:00:20.080 --> 00:00:23.160 That you are for us in Christ. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:27.039 Yeah, it was a long passage. Thanks for standing with us. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:30.339 But we believe the word of God is living and active, speaks to us. 00:00:30.699 --> 00:00:33.600 And we are to devote ourselves to the public reading of scripture. 00:00:34.439 --> 00:00:37.659 And actually, I think it's a fascinating story. A love story. 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:41.820 And we see God's hand over all the details of the story. 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:48.780 Now, it's about Abraham's servant going out to find Isaac, a wife. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:56.439 The chapter begins with Abraham commanding his servant to do some matchmaking for Isaac. 00:00:57.039 --> 00:00:59.460 And as we read this, I want us to observe this. 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:04.539 That Abraham has full confidence that this mission will succeed. 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:08.739 Abraham has full confidence in God's providence. 00:01:09.099 --> 00:01:10.939 He says in verse 7, 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:14.620 The Lord, the God of heaven, he will send his angel before you. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:17.900 And you shall take a wife for my son from there. 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:22.640 Trust that God will send an angel and make this mission prosper. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:27.540 Why does Abraham have this confidence that God will provide? 00:01:28.460 --> 00:01:31.680 First, Abraham knows who the Lord is. 00:01:32.040 --> 00:01:33.239 He's God of heaven. 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:34.060 That's what he says. 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:36.120 The Lord, the God of heaven will do this. 00:01:36.340 --> 00:01:39.939 In verse 3, he addresses the Lord as God of heaven and earth. 00:01:40.519 --> 00:01:43.640 Abraham knows that the Lord is the one who made all of it. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:44.780 Who made the heavens and the earth. 00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:48.099 He's the creator and the sovereign God over heavens and the earth. 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:50.000 He holds all of this in his hands. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:54.400 Second, Abraham knows the Lord's promises. 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:57.959 Because some of us sitting here might be thinking, 00:01:58.200 --> 00:01:59.739 I really need to find a wife. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:01.159 And maybe that's true for you. 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:06.680 But here, Isaac absolutely, certainly needs to find a wife. 00:02:06.980 --> 00:02:11.460 And that's because God made a covenant with Abraham. 00:02:11.460 --> 00:02:21.420 God bound himself in relationship to Abraham and promised to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. 00:02:21.620 --> 00:02:23.719 He will make Abraham into a great nation. 00:02:24.219 --> 00:02:28.159 And in Abraham's offspring, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:29.939 That's God's promise to Abraham. 00:02:29.939 --> 00:02:35.800 And we've learned that the promise will come through Abraham's son, Isaac. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.680 So for that to happen, Isaac needs to get married. 00:02:39.900 --> 00:02:41.020 To have children. 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:42.280 So that he can have offspring. 00:02:42.620 --> 00:02:47.579 And so Abraham reasons out that God must provide Isaac a wife. 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:49.060 He's bound by his covenant. 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:57.020 And that faith, that trust that God will provide, that God promised, it shapes how Abraham goes about this mission. 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:01.060 He sends out his servant with some strict requirements. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:03.039 Some strict non-negotiables. 00:03:03.860 --> 00:03:08.740 And that's because when we trust in God's providence, then we don't have to compromise. 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:16.760 If God promises to provide for us, we don't have to settle and do it our way as we've seen Abraham do time and time again before. 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:21.879 First, Abraham says in verse 3, this is the first requirement. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:23.320 He says in verse 3, 00:03:23.460 --> 00:03:28.760 Isaac's wife must not be from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell. 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:30.620 She must not be a Canaanite. 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:35.100 Now, problem is, they were living in the land of Canaan. 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:36.520 They were living among Canaanites. 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:38.980 It'd be so easy to find a Canaanite wife. 00:03:39.080 --> 00:03:39.920 The servant can go out. 00:03:40.460 --> 00:03:41.659 There's Canaanites everywhere. 00:03:41.780 --> 00:03:43.020 They were living in that land. 00:03:43.760 --> 00:03:45.420 But instead, Abraham tells the servant, 00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:48.860 go to my country and to my kindred. 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:54.900 The servant needs to go back to Abraham's hometown, homeland in Mesopotamia. 00:03:55.379 --> 00:03:57.480 That's over 800 kilometers away. 00:03:57.900 --> 00:03:58.580 And they didn't have planes. 00:03:58.700 --> 00:04:00.379 They don't have paved roads. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:03.320 That's at least a 20-day journey by foot. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:04.260 800 kilometers. 00:04:04.259 --> 00:04:16.240 And not only that, he has to go to this place, maybe he's never even been, find one of Abraham's distant relatives, who knows what he looks like, and find a woman from that family as Isaac's wife. 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:17.939 It's a long journey. 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:19.399 It's the harder way. 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:21.180 So why do that? 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:27.879 And that's because Abraham knows marrying a Canaanite would invite compromise. 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:30.540 He was living in Canaan. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:35.160 If Isaac married a Canaanite, he would merge with the surrounding culture. 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:37.060 He would take on their customs. 00:04:37.579 --> 00:04:41.860 Customs of people who didn't know God, who were committed to idolatry. 00:04:42.660 --> 00:04:46.199 He would get swallowed up in their ways and forget the ways of the Lord. 00:04:46.199 --> 00:05:04.039 That this small covenant community that God made with Abraham was at risk of being swallowed up by the Canaanites, by their neighbors, and not just any neighbors, but by a people that we learned in Genesis chapter 15, who will be judged by God and cast out of the promised land. 00:05:05.039 --> 00:05:07.459 The Canaanites would be judged by God and cast out. 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:21.019 And so to protect Isaac against this, to protect against this compromise, Abraham tells his servant to go all the way back to his homeland in Mesopotamia to find a wife there for Isaac. 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:27.959 But in verse 5, the servant asks, what if the woman won't come with me? 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:31.199 What if I go, I find someone, but she's not willing to come back with me? 00:05:31.699 --> 00:05:32.439 Fair question. 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:33.060 Right? 00:05:33.180 --> 00:05:41.120 Because imagine a stranger walked all over from Laos, walked from Laos to Hong Kong and told you, hey, pack your bags. 00:05:41.459 --> 00:05:42.399 I found your spouse. 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:44.160 I don't know photos. 00:05:44.219 --> 00:05:44.620 Don't worry. 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:45.459 Come with me. 00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:46.420 Right? 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:48.860 You might have a few questions for that person. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:51.620 You might, you might not, you might ask a few things. 00:05:51.620 --> 00:05:58.840 But even if that happens, even if she says no, Abraham is adamant. 00:05:59.340 --> 00:06:03.340 He says, you cannot bring Isaac back to my homeland. 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:07.660 Even if she doesn't come, I know God will bring her. 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:12.160 But even if, if in the case that she doesn't, you cannot bring Isaac back. 00:06:12.579 --> 00:06:14.939 And that is also an act of faith. 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:22.259 Abraham trusts that God promised to give Isaac's, to give him the land. 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:27.779 Along with that promise of offspring, God promised Abraham the land of Canaan. 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:33.259 And he doesn't want Isaac to step out, leave that land, leave that promise. 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:36.759 He also doesn't want Isaac to be tempted to look back. 00:06:37.180 --> 00:06:40.779 Because living in Mesopotamia is the easier way. 00:06:41.139 --> 00:06:42.060 It's the easier life. 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:47.600 Abraham, since God called him to go his whole life, he wandered around in tents. 00:06:47.699 --> 00:06:51.439 He didn't have a city, a house, a homeland that he settled in. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:57.860 But Isaac, if he went back to Mesopotamia, he could go back and live with his relatives 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:02.540 in a city where it was prosperous, where he'd be safe and secure, not wandering around. 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:09.240 And in fact, we see in verse 10 that there was a city actually named after Abraham's relative, Nahor. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:16.600 He could live, Isaac could go and live in a city run whose mayor was a friend of his, was a relative. 00:07:17.460 --> 00:07:20.639 He could live an easy, secure life there. 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:28.379 But Abraham says, no, you can't bring Isaac back because Abraham wanted Isaac to remember God's promise. 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:29.879 They will receive this land. 00:07:30.460 --> 00:07:31.340 I won't look back. 00:07:31.400 --> 00:07:35.519 I won't look back to that land from which I came as we read in Hebrews 11 a few weeks ago. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:42.019 And so Abraham tells the servant in verse 8, hey, if she won't come back with you, that's okay. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:43.259 You're free from your oath. 00:07:43.339 --> 00:07:44.759 You're free from this obligation to me. 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:46.779 Just do not bring Isaac back. 00:07:46.859 --> 00:07:47.919 He has to stay here. 00:07:49.219 --> 00:07:55.319 And so I want to ask us, where are we tempted, in fact, in our lives to compromise? 00:07:55.319 --> 00:08:08.480 Where are we tempted to settle for less, take the shortcut, the easy way, to turn our backs to where God is leading us and what he's promised us? 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.379 How about in relationships? 00:08:11.379 --> 00:08:18.040 We know God wants us to marry someone, to be yoked, to be equally yoked to someone. 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:23.899 Someone who, in Abraham's, for Abraham, it was to find someone in his family. 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:29.620 For us, in our spiritual family, someone who is a follower of Christ within the household of God. 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:34.939 It would be a lot easier for Isaac to marry a Canaanite. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:38.240 There's a lot more Canaanites around than non-Canaanites in that land. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:39.879 It's a long journey to Mesopotamia. 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:43.179 Because that same thing can compromise us. 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:46.559 Let's trust in God's providence. 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:49.740 If a husband or wife is what we need, God will provide. 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:54.519 If waiting is what we need, also, God provided waiting for Abraham. 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:58.759 25 years for Isaac. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:03.379 If not getting what we want in this life is what we need, God will provide also. 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:08.580 And so when we trust God to provide, we don't search, we don't need to search for shortcuts. 00:09:08.580 --> 00:09:12.600 We don't need to compromise to take hold of what he hasn't given us yet. 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:17.740 But also, trusting God doesn't mean we sit back and do nothing. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:22.680 God's providence also leads us to take action, pray expectantly. 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:25.960 So in verse 10, the servant sets off. 00:09:26.420 --> 00:09:28.680 He swears to Abraham, I will do all these things. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.279 And he sets off to Mesopotamia. 00:09:30.580 --> 00:09:33.960 He takes a journey of a few weeks to go to a place he doesn't know. 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:36.139 How is he going to find Isaac's wife there? 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:38.600 How is he going to know who God has provided for Isaac? 00:09:39.780 --> 00:09:40.740 Servant is wise. 00:09:41.180 --> 00:09:43.300 He positions himself in verse 11. 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:48.639 He goes by the well in the evening at the time when women go out to draw water. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:50.180 See, he's smart enough. 00:09:50.280 --> 00:09:52.019 He sets up shop where all the action is. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:56.580 But on top of that, he's wise enough to stop and pray. 00:09:56.580 --> 00:10:03.440 Because out of all the women coming out to get water, how is he going to have any clue who God has prepared? 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:04.980 He wants to know. 00:10:05.460 --> 00:10:06.920 And so he goes and prays. 00:10:07.660 --> 00:10:09.160 And this is what he does. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.879 He asks for a sign in verse 14. 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:13.100 He prays. 00:10:13.400 --> 00:10:17.800 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, please let down your jar that I may drink. 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:20.500 Pretty much, I'll ask a woman to get me water. 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:27.759 And if she says, I'll give you water, but also I'm going to offer to get water for your camels also. 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:32.100 Without him asking, the woman who offers to also get water for his camels. 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:36.700 That, let her be the one that you appointed for your servant Isaac. 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:39.659 That's the sign that she's the one. 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:42.440 Now I want to think about this. 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:45.539 Is a servant right to pray that, to ask for a sign? 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:47.240 I think so. 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:50.480 He's not doing it out of fear and doubt. 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:55.679 We see elsewhere, for example, Gideon's story, where he asks God for a sign with a fleece. 00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:57.179 Make the fleece wet, but the ground dry. 00:10:57.259 --> 00:10:59.320 Make the fleece dry, but the ground wet. 00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:02.720 But Gideon there, he's asking out of fear. 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.100 Again, even after God shows him a sign. 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:13.639 In this case, the servant wasn't trying to force God's hand or rush his timeline or doing it out of fear. 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:18.539 He was on a journey that he knew was blessed by God, that God would send his angel before him. 00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:23.279 And he's praying for God to make clear what the next step is. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:25.779 And notice this. 00:11:25.779 --> 00:11:36.480 The sign that he asked for, it wasn't anything spectacular or supernatural or miraculous in the way we think about it. 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:41.579 He didn't ask God to write her name in the sky with some clouds. 00:11:42.459 --> 00:11:42.539 Right? 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.419 Rebecca in the clouds. 00:11:44.419 --> 00:11:48.599 He didn't ask God to whisper her name in his ear. 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:52.919 He asked for something that was actually really ordinary. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:55.539 It's a specific request. 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:56.519 Specific. 00:11:56.959 --> 00:11:59.179 But also a really ordinary, mundane one. 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:03.379 And actually, it's a sign of good character. 00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:08.899 He's asking for a sign that this is a woman that shows hospitality. 00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:13.179 A sign that she is someone who is kind and compassionate. 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:17.319 Maybe to us, it doesn't sound like much to get water for camels. 00:12:17.939 --> 00:12:21.779 But keep in mind, each camel can drink 100 liters at a time. 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:23.779 He had 10 camels. 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:25.279 That's a lot of work. 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.000 It could take hours. 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:31.559 It's an exhausting, inconvenient act of service for a stranger. 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:33.720 An over-the-top act of hospitality. 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:35.100 That's the sign he's praying for. 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:38.920 Show me someone who's generous, hospitable, servant-hearted. 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:43.580 He's asking God to show him someone like that for Isaac. 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:47.440 And so I think it's okay to ask for signs. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.360 God sometimes answers like he did in this case. 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:51.460 Not always. 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:54.159 He'll guide us. 00:12:54.580 --> 00:13:01.240 The regular way that God guides our decisions is by letting us know what is good through his word. 00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:04.759 He reveals to us his will through his word. 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:06.179 And by giving us wisdom. 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:09.860 Guiding us to know what is good by the spirit. 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:13.340 The servant, we saw, was wise enough to know. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:17.240 Hey, woman, they will come out to the well in the evening. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:19.299 That's the time they come out to draw water. 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:25.379 And he was wise enough to ask God to show a woman of good character for Isaac. 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:28.720 These are traits that we know are pleasing to God. 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:30.480 These are good things to ask for. 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:32.379 It's good to be kind and hospitable. 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:49.100 And personally for me, before I married my wife Jojo, or before I met her, I personally, just on the theme of signs, I didn't feel called to pray for a specific sign on who I should date, who I should marry. 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:51.540 But instead, my prayer was this. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:55.340 That God, could you show me someone who's not, not just a Christian. 00:13:55.800 --> 00:13:57.300 That's not negotiable for me. 00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:59.560 But please also prepare for me. 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:00.220 This is the sign. 00:14:00.920 --> 00:14:04.320 Prepare for me someone who is passionate for missions. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:06.220 Who shares that heart that I have. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:08.139 Who wants to make disciples of all nations. 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.040 Who's willing to go. 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:10.560 If you are calling me to go. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.800 Someone who's heading in the same direction as me. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:15.099 That we can work side by side with together. 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:18.579 Not going in different directions and holding each other back. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.459 Someone like that. 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.219 That's the sign. 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:23.539 That's someone I want you to prepare for me. 00:14:24.339 --> 00:14:25.240 That's what I prayed. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:30.699 And if it's to get married now or later, we trust God will provide. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:34.259 But in any case, won't compromise. 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.579 Let's not compromise. 00:14:36.479 --> 00:14:39.439 I thank God in my case, he provided as I prayed. 00:14:39.939 --> 00:14:40.779 I thank him for that. 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:48.779 And anyways, back at the well in Genesis chapter 24, we see God answered the servant's prayer. 00:14:49.079 --> 00:14:52.240 And as God answered, we see his fingerprints. 00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:57.199 We see several fingerprints that God's hand was orchestrating this whole encounter. 00:14:58.019 --> 00:15:05.399 First, in verse 15, he says, verse 15 says, before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebecca. 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:15.939 So as the servant was praying, as the servant was asking God for the sign, before he even finished his sentence, there, Rebecca appeared instantly. 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.379 Imagine how that servant would have felt. 00:15:19.199 --> 00:15:19.679 It's like, whoa. 00:15:20.579 --> 00:15:22.600 Someone came just as I was praying. 00:15:22.699 --> 00:15:23.379 Could it be her? 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:27.259 And so he runs over to her and asks her for some water. 00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:29.659 Imagine he's thinking, like, could this be? 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:31.779 She's doing the things. 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:33.699 She's looking over at the camels. 00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:34.699 Oh, she's asking. 00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:35.480 She sees the camels. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:37.179 And now she's asking about them. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.459 And now she's getting them water. 00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:41.779 It's exactly what I asked God for. 00:15:42.699 --> 00:15:45.079 And this all happened immediately. 00:15:45.339 --> 00:15:50.039 God answered him immediately before he had even finished asking him. 00:15:50.039 --> 00:16:01.539 And then in verse 22, after the camels had finished drinking, in faith that God brought him to the right woman, he puts jewelry on her. 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:04.299 And that's when he gets more confirmation. 00:16:06.079 --> 00:16:07.699 He asks her who she is. 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:14.519 And it turns out she wasn't just any kind stranger, any kind stranger who offered water for him and the camels. 00:16:14.939 --> 00:16:18.319 Turns out she was actually Abraham's grandniece. 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:23.260 She was the distant relative that Abraham had sent him to find. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.680 And think about it. 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:26.640 What are the odds of that happening? 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:34.040 That the right lady from the right family shows up at the right time doing the exact right thing that he asked for. 00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:36.440 All these things lined up. 00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:39.320 It has to be the hand of God. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:45.180 And notice this, that none of these things are supernatural miracles. 00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:48.060 Like God parting the Red Sea. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:51.040 Or raising Jesus from the dead. 00:16:51.140 --> 00:16:52.520 Things that we don't see every day. 00:16:53.020 --> 00:16:55.940 But it's just ordinary, mundane things. 00:16:56.540 --> 00:17:00.920 And it goes to show that God is in control of the smallest details. 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:04.080 Every details in the ordinary, everyday things of life. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:12.899 Because to arrive while he's praying, she probably left home before he even thought to ask about it. 00:17:13.399 --> 00:17:16.539 God was working even before the servant asked. 00:17:16.939 --> 00:17:19.339 She had that thought to go to the well. 00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:24.339 And what about all the things that had to line up for her to arrive at that exact time? 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:27.720 What if she bumped into a friend and then stopped to chat for a bit? 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:31.459 What if she forgot her water jug at home and then had to turn back and then go get it? 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:38.159 God was taking care of all these variables even before the servant opened his mouth. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:41.320 It's just like what Jesus said in Matthew 6. 00:17:41.320 --> 00:17:45.240 Your father knows what you need before you even ask him. 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:53.580 As John Piper said once, God is always doing 10,000 things in your life. 00:17:54.040 --> 00:17:56.100 And you may be aware of three of them. 00:17:57.080 --> 00:17:58.660 That's the wisdom of God. 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:02.980 He's probably orchestrating 10,000 different details in your life. 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:06.819 But we only have the vision to see three of them. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:10.099 And that's true for Isaac and Rebecca. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.000 It's true for us. 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:13.319 He sees all these details. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.299 He's meticulous. 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:17.299 And his providence extends over all of it. 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:22.559 And so what's the proper response to seeing God do all this? 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:25.180 It is to worship. 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:27.759 That's what the servant does in verse 26. 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:30.660 The man bowed his head and worshipped the Lord. 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:32.700 He bowed and worshipped and said, 00:18:33.080 --> 00:18:34.920 Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, 00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:39.340 who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:45.279 He sees everything God does, gives the glory to God, and bows in worship. 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:50.040 Now I have to admit, sometimes when God answers my prayer, 00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:54.680 I take what he gives me, but I neglect to give him the glory. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.600 Hey, I did well on this test. 00:18:57.040 --> 00:18:58.519 I got the job I prayed for. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.079 Look how smart I am. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:04.019 Rather than thanking God and giving him the glory. 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:09.180 Or, sometimes my mind defaults to saying, 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:11.379 This was a coincidence. 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:14.680 And you guys know, I used to be a stock trader. 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:18.460 I'm trained to thinking statistics, probabilities. 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:20.000 I want to do a statistical test. 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:21.139 Was this the hand of God? 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.859 Was this a coincidence? 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:25.259 Or did God really answer my prayers? 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:31.759 But scripture tells us, scripture reminds us that nothing is left to chance. 00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:34.700 Nothing is outside God's control. 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.099 Proverbs says, 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:42.319 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:47.359 Every time someone throws a dice and it lands a certain way in Macau. 00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:50.639 Even that is under the providence of God. 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:52.179 Under the sovereignty of God. 00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:57.159 Everything that happens, whether we label it coincidence or not, 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:59.099 it is from God. 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.220 Under his providence. 00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:03.899 And we can thank him and give the glory back to him. 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:08.780 And so, Rebecca, hearing that Abraham's servant is in town, 00:20:09.800 --> 00:20:13.019 invites him over, runs back to tell her family everything that happened, 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:14.200 because she knows this is God. 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:16.500 And her family, they offer him food. 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:19.380 They set a table before him, offer him food. 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:25.200 But the servant refuses to eat until he has a chance to speak. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:32.320 He wants, his first priority is to explain what God has done to lead him exactly to Rebecca. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:36.480 And as we read, he tells the story again from the top. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:40.039 The story that we just went through. 00:20:40.159 --> 00:20:42.079 He tells it again from the top. 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:47.419 And as he does, his whole focus is to highlight for us once again, 00:20:48.139 --> 00:20:49.399 the Lord's providence. 00:20:49.899 --> 00:20:53.000 From the Lord blessing Abraham his entire life. 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:59.200 To this confident assurance that the Lord would make his journey a success. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:01.259 to his prayer. 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:06.160 And God answering it at the right time, at the right person, providentially. 00:21:07.080 --> 00:21:11.660 And so, the long and short of his retelling of the story is this. 00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:14.779 That the only reason I'm standing before you guys, 00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:17.580 the only reason I'm standing here, that I met Rebecca, 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:21.180 is because God sovereignly led me to her. 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:23.380 God guided everything. 00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:26.780 And he puts the ball back into their court. 00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:29.860 He tells them, this is what the Lord has done. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.900 This is my testimony. 00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:33.100 This is what I've seen God do. 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:35.320 Will you recognize his hand in it? 00:21:35.780 --> 00:21:37.720 Obey him and let her go. 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:41.320 And go to Isaac and be his wife. 00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:44.040 And so they respond in verse 50. 00:21:44.800 --> 00:21:46.840 Rebecca's brother and dad, Laban and Bethuel, 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:48.780 her brother and dad, 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.840 they answered and said, 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:51.599 the thing has come from the Lord. 00:21:51.659 --> 00:21:53.519 We cannot speak to you bad or good. 00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:57.379 So take her and go and let her be the wife of your master's son, 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.779 as the Lord has spoken. 00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:01.939 In other words, if God has spoken it, 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.139 if he's ordained it, 00:22:03.439 --> 00:22:04.579 then we can't say it otherwise. 00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:05.339 We will let her go. 00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:07.500 And upon hearing that, 00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:09.980 the servant worships the Lord again. 00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:13.319 He doesn't go and thank Laban and Bethuel. 00:22:13.959 --> 00:22:14.839 That's not what he does. 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:16.379 He goes and worships God. 00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:19.920 The glory doesn't go to her family. 00:22:20.760 --> 00:22:21.760 They made the decision, 00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:23.740 but the glory goes to God. 00:22:24.580 --> 00:22:25.760 He's the one who made sure 00:22:25.760 --> 00:22:28.720 that the servant's journey was successful 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.680 and even cleared that last hurdle 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:33.480 of getting Rebecca's family to give permission. 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:37.920 And they say they let Rebecca go. 00:22:38.300 --> 00:22:41.320 The next day, servant prepares to leave. 00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:43.280 But they change their mind. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:46.899 In verse 55, they say, 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:49.539 hey, let the young woman remain with us a while. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:52.079 At least 10 days after that, she may go. 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.319 The servant's set on this mission. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.319 He says, don't delay me. 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.660 The Lord has prospered my way. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.299 Don't delay me. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:00.180 She has to go. 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:02.119 This is what God wants. 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:05.440 And so they call Rebecca over to resolve this, 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:07.079 to resolve this conflict. 00:23:07.379 --> 00:23:08.720 They ask her in verse 58, 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:10.139 she's the one that breaks the tie. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.160 Will you go with this man? 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:15.259 Are you willing to go with him? 00:23:16.060 --> 00:23:19.000 And she settles it with just a simple answer. 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.400 I will go. 00:23:21.040 --> 00:23:22.220 I will go. 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:25.460 Think about the faith that this took. 00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:28.800 Rebecca never met Isaac. 00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:30.600 She's never texted him. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.040 She doesn't have a photo. 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:34.980 She's leaving her family, her home, 00:23:35.080 --> 00:23:36.320 all that she's ever known, 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:39.279 following a stranger she just met the day before 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.740 to a foreign land, 00:23:40.899 --> 00:23:41.980 to marry a man. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:45.059 Yeah, she has no idea who he is. 00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:49.019 Purely because she saw God work, 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:51.420 she saw God's hand, 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:53.019 and she believes his promise. 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.220 As we read this, 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.220 does this remind you of someone else 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:59.299 who was called to leave his country 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:01.299 and his father's land and go? 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:03.419 Who else believed God's promise 00:24:03.419 --> 00:24:04.619 and stepped out in faith? 00:24:05.919 --> 00:24:07.419 Rebecca sounds a lot like Abraham. 00:24:08.159 --> 00:24:10.240 Rebecca trusted the providence of God 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.440 just like Abraham did 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:14.059 and followed the footsteps of his faith. 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.419 And so they go. 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:18.079 Rebecca goes with the servant 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.119 back to Canaan, 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:21.299 and that's where we get this final scene. 00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:22.359 It's romantic. 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:24.759 It almost reminds me of a K-drama 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:26.759 before it cuts to that closing song 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.839 on a cliffhanger. 00:24:28.699 --> 00:24:30.500 Isaac was out in the field. 00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.779 He's meditating. 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.559 He looks up, 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.759 and then he sees camels. 00:24:34.899 --> 00:24:35.519 He sees Rebecca. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.359 At that exact same moment, 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.559 she looks over. 00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:40.099 She sees Isaac. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.839 Their eyes meet, 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:43.879 and then the song begins, 00:24:43.959 --> 00:24:45.000 and it cuts in the cliffhanger. 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:47.639 That's the end to this beautiful love story. 00:24:47.699 --> 00:24:48.519 That's the end of the episode. 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:50.459 It's a match made in heaven. 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.980 It's a match made in heaven. 00:24:52.840 --> 00:24:55.420 This love story is a display 00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.940 of the providence of God. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.579 That's how it ends, 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:00.440 and Isaac was comforted 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:02.019 after the death of Sarah. 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.980 Now, that's the story. 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:07.700 What does it have to do with us? 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:10.319 What does God's providence mean for us? 00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:13.299 And I'd like to point our attention 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.660 back to something that we've 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:16.579 sort of taken for granted 00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:18.840 when it comes to thinking 00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:20.459 about God's sovereignty 00:25:20.459 --> 00:25:22.699 and how his sovereignty 00:25:22.699 --> 00:25:23.939 relates to us. 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:25.220 Okay? 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.359 Throughout this whole story, 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:29.019 we saw that God is clearly in control. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.959 He's orchestrating all the details 00:25:30.959 --> 00:25:31.879 behind the scenes, 00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:35.220 and we say that God is sovereign. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.879 He is absolute control 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:38.459 over everything that happens. 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:40.359 As Psalm 115 says, 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.639 our God is in the heavens. 00:25:42.179 --> 00:25:43.720 He does all that he pleases. 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:46.539 That's his sovereignty. 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:49.940 But let's ask a question. 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:53.000 Why is God's sovereignty 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.779 good news for us? 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.319 We know God is in control. 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:56.960 That's great. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:01.220 But why is that comforting for us? 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:02.339 What's the connection? 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:06.460 Because if we stop and think about it, 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.180 God's sovereignty 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:11.100 could be terrifying to us. 00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:12.740 It could be terrifying. 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.179 For example, 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:15.919 if you went to Satan 00:26:15.919 --> 00:26:17.439 and you told him, 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.359 hey, God is sovereign 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:22.039 and he has a plan for you. 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:24.599 He's in control of everything. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.639 Nothing escapes his control. 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:30.219 That is the worst possible news 00:26:30.219 --> 00:26:31.059 Satan can hear. 00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:33.299 Because he has made 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.939 the almighty God his enemy. 00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:39.480 And God is sovereignly against him. 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:41.980 That's true for Satan. 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:44.900 And it's also true for us, 00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:46.940 for sinners who have rebelled 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:48.099 against the holy God. 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:50.279 It's true for us too. 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.900 But when we think about 00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:53.539 God's sovereignty, 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.259 God's plan, 00:26:54.360 --> 00:26:55.720 we often expect 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:57.960 that God is on our side. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:01.460 And why are we not afraid? 00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:04.799 How can we listen to a story 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.759 about God's sovereignty 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:08.039 and be comforted about it? 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:10.259 How can we celebrate 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.119 God's sovereignty? 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:13.059 That God is sovereign over us. 00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.960 And this is where 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.879 God's sovereignty 00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:18.680 becomes God's providence. 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.420 We have hope 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:22.420 because God is not just, 00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:25.299 is for us. 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.819 God is for us, 00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:27.920 not against us. 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.659 His sovereignty 00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:33.059 is exercised for our good, 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:35.559 for his glory. 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:37.639 that he is not just sovereign, 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:40.259 but he is sovereignly for us. 00:27:40.899 --> 00:27:42.299 That's our hope and comfort. 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:45.000 And we have this hope 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:48.359 because God made a covenant with us. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:51.119 Just as God made a covenant with Abraham, 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:53.159 and Abraham had confidence, 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.240 the Lord will be with me 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:58.220 and bless the servant on the journey. 00:27:58.899 --> 00:28:00.159 We have confidence 00:28:00.159 --> 00:28:02.720 because God made a covenant with us 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.839 through his son Jesus. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:06.379 Jesus went to the cross 00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:09.679 and took the wrath of God upon himself, 00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:11.379 dying in our place 00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:13.459 so that God is no longer our enemy. 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.480 And he rose from the dead. 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.279 Through him, 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.039 through Jesus, 00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:18.899 we can rejoice 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:20.599 in the hope of the glory of God. 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.879 Not by anything that we do, 00:28:23.199 --> 00:28:25.220 but only if we put our faith in him. 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:27.039 Because of Jesus, 00:28:27.199 --> 00:28:28.500 we have God's promise 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:30.299 that for those who love him, 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:32.119 all things work together for good 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:33.539 for those who are called 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.639 according to his purpose. 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.740 That's the only reason 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.559 we can read a chapter like this 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:40.399 and be comforted 00:28:40.399 --> 00:28:41.579 rather than terrified. 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.720 That because of Jesus, 00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:45.740 God is not merely sovereign, 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:48.339 but he is sovereignly for you. 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:50.859 He is sovereignly on your side. 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.599 He is, 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:54.299 just as he was covenantally committed 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:56.279 to finding Isaac a wife, 00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:58.740 he is covenantally committed 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.779 to your good 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:01.279 for his glory 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:04.119 because you are united with Christ. 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.859 And our lives 00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:08.099 are not just left to chance 00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:09.119 or luck 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.359 or coincidence. 00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:12.220 The same God 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.059 who orchestrated 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:14.139 800 kilometers 00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:14.960 walking 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.919 to bring Rebecca, 00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:16.779 to bring the servant 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.220 and Rebecca 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:17.720 to the well 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.759 at the exact same time, 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.799 the exact second. 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:21.779 That same God, 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.399 he knows what you need 00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:24.879 before you even ask him. 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:26.720 He might not give you 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.619 everything you want, 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.799 but he knows what you need. 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.460 He knows what is best for you. 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.899 He knows the 10,000 things 00:29:31.899 --> 00:29:33.480 when we only see three. 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.480 And he is orchestrating 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:36.940 our lives right now 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.680 for our good, 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.579 for his glory. 00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:40.500 So if there's one thing 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.339 you can remember today, 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:41.799 remember this. 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:44.039 God is not just sovereign. 00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:44.859 He's not just God 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.940 on high and in control, 00:29:46.159 --> 00:29:48.399 but he is sovereignly for you 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:50.460 if you are in Christ, 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:53.100 if you believe in Christ. 00:29:54.540 --> 00:29:55.700 And so in light of this, 00:29:56.040 --> 00:29:56.920 how should we live? 00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.560 I'll leave us 00:29:58.560 --> 00:29:59.480 with three quick things 00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:01.340 that we see 00:30:01.340 --> 00:30:02.040 from this passage. 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.120 First, 00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:04.420 we fight compromise 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:06.440 because if the sovereign God 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.200 is for us, 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:09.680 who can be against us? 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:11.480 We don't need to take shortcuts 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.740 in our relationships. 00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:14.120 We don't have to compromise 00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:15.140 our integrity 00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:15.940 for that promotion. 00:30:16.280 --> 00:30:17.500 We don't have to compromise 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:18.460 our time with God 00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.779 to study for that test. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.240 God's providence 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.299 prevents compromise. 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:23.900 Let's do it God's way. 00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.180 And second, 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.359 we pray to him 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:27.440 and we praise him. 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.740 We make our requests 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.400 known to God, 00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:31.700 cast all our anxiety 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.519 upon him 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.559 because he cares for us. 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.200 He knows what we need 00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:36.660 before we even ask. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:39.339 And whenever God answers, 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.019 in big things, 00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:40.579 small things, 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.859 everyday coincidence, 00:30:41.859 --> 00:30:43.160 if you want to use that word, 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.259 don't just give the glory 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.400 to random chance and luck. 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:47.280 It's all under his providence. 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.160 Bow before him, 00:30:48.540 --> 00:30:49.259 give him the glory. 00:30:50.800 --> 00:30:51.240 Finally, 00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.340 we step out in faith. 00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:55.080 Stepping out in faith 00:30:55.080 --> 00:30:56.620 for Rebecca 00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:58.720 meant 800 kilometers 00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.400 of walking 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.440 to meet a stranger. 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.280 But today, 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.200 stepping out for faith 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:03.960 for us could mean 00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:04.960 trusting God 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.820 with our children 00:31:05.820 --> 00:31:06.840 and for their future. 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.460 It could be believing 00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.860 that God orchestrates 00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:12.300 just as he's sovereign 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:13.180 at the well. 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:14.720 He's sovereign 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:16.359 over our hospital visits too. 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:17.740 He's sovereign 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.619 over our family, 00:31:19.159 --> 00:31:19.859 over our life. 00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:22.059 Have the faith of Rebecca. 00:31:22.419 --> 00:31:23.000 She didn't know 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.819 what the future held, 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:25.559 but she knew the God 00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.680 who held the future. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:28.099 And so she could say, 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.299 I will go. 00:31:30.659 --> 00:31:31.759 And I shared that quote 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.919 from Hudson Taylor earlier, 00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:34.339 that God's work 00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.740 done in God's way 00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:37.579 will never lack God's supply. 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:42.480 He'll never lack God's supply. 00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:44.679 We saw that in Genesis 24. 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.679 Abraham, 00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:47.199 he did it God's way. 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:48.399 The servant did it God's way. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.279 We saw before. 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.019 He compromised 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.759 and it didn't work. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:54.019 But in this chapter, 00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:54.819 we see him 00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:57.099 trusting his life 00:31:57.099 --> 00:31:58.359 to the sovereign God. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:31:59.859 And God answered, 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:01.519 arranging every single detail, 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.579 every single thing 00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:03.740 down to the very second. 00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:06.799 And if we belong to Jesus, 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.319 if we are in Christ, 00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.879 he will do the same for us. 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.359 So let's trust him, 00:32:11.899 --> 00:32:12.839 refuse to compromise, 00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:14.460 and do it God's way. 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.139 Let's pray. 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.879 God, we bow before you 00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:24.220 and give you glory. 00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:27.200 I remember, 00:32:27.419 --> 00:32:28.919 we read earlier in Psalm 8, 00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:31.019 what is man 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.519 that you're mindful of us, 00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:33.200 the son of man 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:34.119 that you care for us? 00:32:34.659 --> 00:32:36.539 We are on earth. 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.359 You are in heaven. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:41.039 What right do we have 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.059 to come before you 00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:43.599 and ask you anything 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.980 and pray? 00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:47.240 God, we thank you 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.659 that you are for us, 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.680 that you love us, 00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.779 that we have boldness, 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:53.059 access with confidence 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:53.980 through our faith in you, 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:55.059 and we can bow our knees 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:55.619 before you 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:57.180 and make our request 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.680 known to you. 00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.399 Thank you, God, 00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:59.339 that you care for us, 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:01.539 that you have bound yourself 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.599 through the blood of Jesus 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:04.539 to glorify your name 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:05.699 in doing us good. 00:33:07.919 --> 00:33:09.059 God, we pray that 00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:11.799 you strengthen our faith. 00:33:12.459 --> 00:33:13.500 We believe in you. 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:14.480 Help our unbelief. 00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:16.079 Help us when we waver. 00:33:17.719 --> 00:33:18.819 Help us to cast 00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:20.179 all our anxieties on you 00:33:20.179 --> 00:33:21.819 because you care for us. 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:23.399 Thank you. 00:33:23.459 --> 00:33:24.059 We have this hope 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.619 and assurance 00:33:24.619 --> 00:33:27.799 because of the cross, 00:33:27.919 --> 00:33:28.679 because of your son. 00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:30.900 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.640 Amen.