“A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” Psalm 68:5 KJV
My husband died suddenly and unexpectedly on December 24, 2021.
The past few months have presented many challenges, but the Lord has sustained me. Please pray that the Lord would guide me regarding my blogs. You can learn about them in the “about” section of this blog.
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Please also pray that my children and I will listen carefully and bravely follow Him. Thank you. ❤
Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry.Just click here:www.biblegateway.comThey have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!
“Months ago I read the twenty-fourth chapter of Genesis a number of times. I read commentaries, too. I really struggled as I considered all the people mentioned and all that took place. I couldn’t get over how soon after reconciling with Esau that Jacob would face another crisis. Over and over in Jacob’s life he was either deceiving someone, or being deceived by someone. Now he must witness his own sons’ use of deception in order to take vengeance…”
“I just love happy reunions! I also love it whenever a heavy burden of guilt and fear is lifted. I know Jacob was so relieved at that moment when Esau ran to meet him, fell on his neck, and kissed him. He was relieved that he and his wives, servants, and children were safe from harm. However, that wasn’t all. There was a huge bonus. Esau poured out his love on Jacob. I keep bringing up the fact that these men were not only twins, but at this chapter of their lives they were about 100 years old, and it just amazes me. Jacob was hobbling along because of his hip.”
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” Psalm 32:1-5 KJV
“1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
“The Lord had called Jacob, and then He had brought him to this place; this geographical location, and also to another place…a place known as ‘contrition’. It’s the kind of place where one suddenly realizes that he or she is lacking, and in turn, begins to ‘hunger and thirst after righteousness’. The words of someone else come to my mind at this moment…”
“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV
” 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Should I attempt to write five more paragraphs and use three point enumeration? I am stumped. How do I take the glimpses of light that flickered as I read those chapters, and explain the impact they made on my heart?
I believe a brief overview would be helpful today…”
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Numbers 23:19 KJV
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 KJV
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 KJV
“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” Hebrews 11:20 KJV
There is so much in Genesis chapters 25-35 that deeply touches me. I am thinking about the human race, believers, sins, feelings, reputation, and age. I am thinking about sons and fathers, mothers and daughters, hearts, wonder, intrigue, romantic love, lust, passion, violation, and anguish. I am thinking about pride, anger, resentment, hate, vengeance/revenge, deception, treachery, violence, destruction, fear…
“If I had to narrow it all down to the one subject that means the most to me it would have to be the subject of God’s Sovereign Grace regarding transformation and (carts and horses). Look again at this:
‘And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.’
It was the Lord who initiated this wrestling match.
Jacob kept holding on, even after the Lord (referred to as “a man”) touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh causing it to be out of joint (for the rest of his life). They conversed as they wrestled, and Jacob had to tell him his name. The meaning would indicate his character, and it wasn’t flattering. The name “Jacob” meant ‘supplanter’ or ‘schemer’.
It was also the Lord who gave Jacob a new name and identity. His new name would be “Israel” which means ‘Contender With God’”:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 KJV
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV
” 1And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus…
“…His children sometimes read into His promises, and see things that really don’t exist. We so easily set our hearts on earthly things such as material possessions, relationships, and roles. Our hearts cause us to map out a course, and set time tables. We set ourselves up for a world of hurt when we do that. Let’s pause and consider the last words Rebekah, one of the great matriarchs of Israel, spoke to her son Jacob:…”
“6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”Isaiah 55:6-9 KJV
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“41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
“17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” Psalm139:17-18 KJV
“
O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And You are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken], Behold, O Lord, You know it all. 5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And [You have] placed Your hand upon me. 6 Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, And the night will be the only light around me,” 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You, But the night shines as bright as the day; Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was being formed in secret, And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:1-18 AMP
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10 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[a] to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 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[b] I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”
15 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. 16 The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden[c] whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” 18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” 20 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. 21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel,[d] and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, 23 and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” 24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25 She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” 26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord 27 and said, “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 kinsmen.” 28 Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. Genesis: 24:1-28 ESV
When I wrote the post in this series that precedes this one the focus was on the servant.
Now…..years later, I am finally getting around to continuing in this series from the book of Genesis.
I am re-posting the posts I had written so far, and intend to take up where I left off and write part 32. However, as I have been re-posting I have noticed some characters that I originally skipped. I have decided to share glimpses I hope to capture of God’s “loving pursuit” of them, too. That is why you will see letters such as “b” and “c” added to the titles of these recent posts.
Today I want to look at Rebekah.
A maiden of both outward and inward beauty, made her way to the well that evening. She wasn’t alone. A number of other women were on the same errand. How many young and attractive ladies were there among them? I would imagine quite a few.
However, the servant’s prayer reveals that there was criteria of greater value that would be required in his selection of his master’s daughter-in-law. He didn’t have to look far. The answer to his petition was already being delivered to him before he even began to pray and had arrived before that prayer was concluded!
Who was this maiden? The above passage of scripture tells us a little. But who was she? What were her habits? Her quirks? Her personality and temperament? Her hopes and dreams?
The upcoming chapters of the book of Genesis will provide some clues for us, but much will still remain a mystery….a mystery to us but not to the Lord. He allowed Rebekah to choose whether she would become Isaac’s wife. Yet He also knew beforehand what her decision would be, and in His unsurpassed loving and gracious manner mapped out her life accordingly.
Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just click here: www.biblegateway.com They have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!
” 8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Psalm 25:8-10 KJV
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” 1Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.2 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,3 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,4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”5 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?”6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there.7 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.8 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.”9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 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[a] to the city of Nahor.11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
12And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.14 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[b] I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”
15 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.16 The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden[c] whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.”18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”20 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.21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel,[d] and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels,23 and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”25 She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.”26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord27 and said, “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 kinsmen.”28 Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. Genesis: 24:1-28 ESV
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Today I want to look at Abraham’s servant. He just touches my heart! Did you notice the love? I’m sure he must have had his own moments when he sinned, because the scripture tells us that all people (even people of faith) sin:
“12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[e] because all sinned—13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.” Romans 5:12-14 ESV
However, He knew Abraham, his master, well, and he loved him. It says he was the oldest of his household. That would be pretty old. Just think of all he had witnessed…all of the happy times, all of the sad times..all of his master’s habits, and weaknesses……..and all of his master’s endearing qualities, and his great faith. He also knew his master’s Lord and had faith in Him and Love for Him. Can’t you tell? How else could he speak like that?
Just think about that man.
Wouldn’t you like to spend a day on the job with him, and then sit around the fire with him later on towards bedtime, and listen to the stories he could tell? Just think how privileged you would be if you allowed him to share the wisdom he had gleaned! He is one of my favorite characters in the Bible.
The Lord cared for him, too, and was his guide. He cares for all that he has created, and leads all who trust in Him and in turn, call on Him. He gives them so much cause for rejoicing.
Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just click here:www.biblegateway.comThey have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!
“17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[d]18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:17-18 ESV
“12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 KJV
“23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24 KJV
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The Sacrifice of Isaac
22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you.”6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”;[b] as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”[c]
15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his[d] enemies,18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.
20 Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor:21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.”23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
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Do I even dare to comment on Genesis 22?
The Lord calls His Children, and they hear Him (He bestows on them the gift of Faith.). When they hear Him calling they not only answer with their lips, but they follow Him. They walk closely with Him. They stumble (sin), the Lord forgives them, chastises (disciplines and corrects) them, and they in turn repent and continue to follow Him. The Lord also protects them and delivers them from all kinds of evil.
This cycle repeats itself over and over in the lives of His children. As a result, their Faith in Him grows. They become increasingly more confident in His power. They suffer loss, too, but each time they witness the Lord fulfill one of His promises they become more fully persuaded that He will keep His word.
This continuously growing Faith is so powerful. It empowers the Lord’s children to become more and more willing……….more and more able to do things that under any other conditions would be impossible. The Bible tells us that without Faith it is impossible to please God.
But where does this Faith come from? Do we muster it up for ourselves? No. The Lord provides it:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 KJV
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
Then those times come when we who believe will be tested. We will not fail. Sometimes the tests will be administered in solitary places where few, if any, will be aware of it. At other times there will be many who will witness it and the Lord will be magnified in their eyes. It is a beautiful thing!
Do you have a Bible? If you don’t have one, you need not worry. Just click here:www.biblegateway.comThey have many versions and translations of the Bible that you can read. Some of the best things in life are free!
Scripture reference;
Moore to Ponder 