Faith to Follow: Genesis 24:50-61
God wants followers who are unafraid to step out and follow Him. Following God requires faith because He often asks us to do things for which we cannot know the outcome. He asks us to do things that run counter to expected norms. Frequently, there are logical friends and family who wonder why we make the decision we make. Think of the people who followed Jesus. Think of the people who listened to Paul. Many of these people stepped boldly into their faith.
Upon hearing the steward’s tale, Laban acknowledges it is from the Lord. They are powerless to refuse. He tells the steward Rebekah is welcome to go and marry Isaac. Only after the steward hears Laban’s assertion does he eat and satisfy his own needs.
The following morning, the steward asks to be sent on his way. The journey from Mesopotamia to Canaan could have been done in as little as nine days, but it more likely took two to four weeks. No doubt the steward wanted to complete the journey. He probably wanted to get back home to Abraham and any family he might have in Canaan.
The steward also wants to get on with the journey so he doesn’t get trapped in Mesopotamia. When the steward asks to leave, the family wants them to stay. They want to spend time with Rebekah since they may not see her for a very long time. They also see the wealth Abraham’s steward brought and know there is more to be had. It is good for the steward to get home.
When the family calls Rebekah to decide, she decides without hesitation. Perhaps she wanted to get out from under the family. Perhaps she was eager for her adult life to begin. Perhaps she wanted to see a new part of the world.
Perhaps Rebekah sensed the Lord’s provision and wanted to pursue Him. Choosing to leave the only family one knows to go with a stranger, who arrived into town the prior night, is hard to fathom. Making this decision knowing it means marrying some man sight unseen is harder to fathom. Even if Isaac is wealthy, quite a few unknowns remain in this decision! The only way this decision is made with any confidence is if Rebekah felt the presence of the Lord and responded to His greater calling. Abraham said the angel of the Lord would go before his steward and prepare the way. God does not disappoint and Rebekah certainly responded.
F.W. Boreham is quoted as saying “We make our decisions, and then our decisions turn around and make us.” This is especially true of Rebekah. Rebekah acts boldly. She senses God’s presence with the steward and is unafraid to follow. Rebekah’s initial steps into the family of Abraham set her up as perhaps the greatest matriarch in the Genesis account. Her boldness in faith is remarkable. God wants followers who are unafraid to step out and follow Him when He calls.
