Faith Over Perfectionنموونە

Read: Genesis 24:1–60 

SOAP: Genesis 24:7–8

“The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and the land of my relatives, promised me with a solemn oath, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ He will send his angel before you so that you may find a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to come back with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. But you must not take my son back there!”

As the narrative of Genesis continues to transition from the life and faith of Abraham to the life and faith of Isaac, Abraham’s faith in God’s promise is further confirmed. By purchasing a burial plot for Sarah and for his family, Abraham confirmed his faith in God’s promise to give his descendants the land. As Abraham sent his servant to Paddan Aram to find a wife for Isaac, we see his faith again.

Abraham needed to find a wife for Isaac in order for the promise to be fulfilled. God could not make Isaac into a great nation if he remained a bachelor (Isaac was about forty years old when he married). Abraham needed to find a wife for Isaac among his own people, so he sent his servant to Paddan Aram. We see Abraham’s faith in his insistence that Isaac not be brought to the home of his bride, but that she must be brought to Isaac. He was convinced God could not only bring Isaac a wife but that God could bring a wife to Isaac in their new ancestral home, in the land of Canaan, so his descendants could inhabit the land God promised to give them.

As the servant set out he asked God to show His covenant faithfulness, His hesed, to Abraham. The Hebrew word hesed is often translated as “faithful love” but it has a deeper meaning than the word “love” in English. God’s hesed is tied to His covenant. The servant asked God to show His covenant faithfulness to Abraham. The servant was as convinced of the promise God made to Abraham and his family as much as Abraham was. He knew God would prove faithful to His promise and covenant with Abraham because he had seen it happen many times. Here, as he was tasked with finding a wife to continue God’s promise, he trusted God to act in His covenant faithfulness to His servant Abraham.

Prayer

Lord God, You are always faithful. Thank You for showing me Your faithfulness to Your promises and Your covenant through the story of Abraham. Help me have faith like Abraham and his servant, believing You will always act in accordance with Your covenant, no matter what. Amen.