A Faith That Says “Yes”

Genesis 24:50-67

⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good. ⁵¹ Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.”

⁵² When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD. ⁵³ And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. ⁵⁴ 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.” ⁵⁵ Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” ⁵⁶ 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.” ⁵⁷ They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” ⁵⁸ And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” ⁵⁹ So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. ⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah 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!”

⁶¹ Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

⁶² Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. ⁶³ 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. ⁶⁴ And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel ⁶⁵ 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. ⁶⁶ And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. ⁶⁷ Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

(ESV)

This servant of Abraham has headed off into the unknown, with no knowledge of how he is to find this wife that Abraham so eagerly desires for his son. So what does any God-fearing person do? They do the most sensible and wise thing one can do, they bring their request and troubles to God.

He puts his request to God, and before he is even finished praying, Rebekah emerges, and responds in direct accordance to the servant’s prayer and she coincidentally happens to be Isaac’s cousin.

What is this, a coincidence? a chance encounter? No it was the hand of God. Do we have any record of Rebekah receiving a word from God to go and water this man’s camels? What was it that compelled her to go down at that time? Was it the normal time she went down? Maybe her father told her to get some water?

Rebekah was already walking before this man prayed, God already has the answer to his prayer heading his way. God is working all the time preparing the encounters for our prayers to be answered. He works unceasingly, brings chance coincidences together to show his masterful hand in working all things together for our good.

Let this be an encouragement. Pray and you shall receive, our God hears us and he does answer prayers. Also be encouraged when he may not answer them in that moment, he is getting something ready, things you do not yet see, But know that the answer to your prayer is on its way. It might just be in a shape or form you do not expect.

Just know that when you so often feel stuck, it is often not some problem or obstacle in your way, but simply the fact that you have not prayed to him on whom you depend for everything.

Reflection:
Where do you need to trust that God is already working behind the scenes, preparing the answer before you even ask?

Prayer:
Father, thank You that You hear me before I speak and work long before I see. Strengthen my faith to pray boldly and trust Your timing. Amen.