Sister Alice Sunday School 4/28/13

Sister Alice Sunday School 4/28/13

A mission that is larger than our life:

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Col 4:8  Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

Col 4:9  With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

We can go from being unprofitable to being a faithful and beloved brother. 

The Lord told Moses, when the people complained, to quit fussing and tell the people to go forward.  We should do the same, go forward.

Gideon said, “Do as I do.”  Are we living so that we can say this?

Jonathan said it is nothing for God to answer with a few or many.  We are just a servant, God is the one that does the work and sends the victory; He carries the boat and brings us through.

David said, when Goliath disesteemed him, “I come to you in the name of the Lord.”

Nehemiah was working on a great work and he said “I cannot come down.” 

We need rest.  Our minds and bodies need rest.  We cannot just keep going and going or we will wear out our resources.

Esther said, “If I perish I perish.”  Mordecai told her, “This is why God put you here.  There is no way that you can sidestep it if you do then God will come through with a victory but you will be lost.”  God has 7,000 that have never bowed their knee to Bail, but we will end up on the scrub pile if we don’t follow His plan for us.

Our pastor when he was too sick to get out of the chair kept coming and preaching to us because he had a mission that he valued more than life.

Sister Faith Stewart and Amy Carmichael valued their missions more than their lives.  When one’s father was sick to death she went before God and God showed her the dear faces there that she was ministering to and asked her if she wanted to lose all this.  She said, “No.”  She faithfully wrote her father and encouraged him that way.  She had a mission larger than her life.

What would God have you to do and what is your mission?

Gen 24:1  And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

If we are serving God with all our heart He will be sure to bless us.

Gen 24:2  And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

Us that are beginning to be elderly we must not allow that to hinder us.  This was Abraham’s eldest servant.

Gen 24:3  And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

The Canaanites were wicked beyond belief.  They did many horrible things in the name of religion.  He wanted his servant to swear to him that he would not take a wife from the Canaanites for his son Isaac.

Gen 24:4  But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

Gen 24:5  And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

Gen 24:6  And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

Abraham’s mission was to leave that land and he didn’t want his mission blotted in any way.  “Beware that you don’t take my son back there.”

Gen 24:7  The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

The servant was swearing with his life. 

Gen 24:8  And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

Gen 24:9  And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

Gen 24:10  And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

Remember this servant is old.  Mesopotamia was at least 500 miles from Canaan.  This is a huge undertaking for a servant that is elderly.  He was going to get this job done and didn’t allow anything to distract him.  He took camels, provisions, gifts, and a few men. 

These camels could cover 25 miles a day and so there was probably at least a month travel going and a month travel coming back.  Abraham and Isaac waited. 

We don’t know how many trials, tribulations, or setbacks that there were on the way.  The servant had it settled to go straight forward no matter how long it took.

Gen 24:11  And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

Gen 24:12  And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

I wonder if along the way he felt the angel that Abraham said would go with him.  Here we see he is acknowledging the God of Abraham.

Gen 24:13  Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

Gen 24:14  And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

We see that he felt that there was one appointed to be Isaac’s wife.  Do we feel that when we pray that there is one appointed for us to be a witness to?

Gen 24:15  And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

This would be maybe Abraham’s great niece.  Bethuel had already probably died, so Rebecca’s brother and mother were helping here.

Gen 24:16  And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

Gen 24:17  And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

This older gentleman wouldn’t let anything hinder and ran to meet her.  It may have startled her a little bit.  Here was this older gentleman running.

Gen 24:18  And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

Gen 24:19  And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

Gen 24:20  And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

Even on a one day’s march a camel will drink five gallons of water.  Here we see she had to draw fifty gallons.  This speaks well of her.  She didn’t say, “I have the pitcher here and your men could use it.”  She drew it herself.

Gen 24:21  And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

Gen 24:22  And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

This took a while and it may be he was no longer astonished at her and what she had done so was able to speak.

Gen 24:23  And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?

Gen 24:24  And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

Gen 24:25  She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

Gen 24:26  And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

Can you see him here; he is absolutely full of worship.

Gen 24:27  And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

It was designed of God, by God, and for God.

She left the fellow out there and ran straight home.

Gen 24:28  And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.

Gen 24:29  And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

Gen 24:30  And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

Gen 24:31  And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

Gen 24:32  And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.

You can see that this is a good man he took care of his camels first, and we can see that there were men with him.  He said, “I will not eat until I have told my errand”.  He had been on the road for a month.

Gen 24:34  And he said, I am Abraham's servant.

Gen 24:35  And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

Gen 24:36  And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

Gen 24:37  And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

Gen 24:38  But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

Gen 24:39  And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

Gen 24:40  And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

He told them the whole story and even that the angel would lead him.  He had taken note of that.

Gen 24:41  Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.

Gen 24:42  And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

Gen 24:43  Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

Gen 24:44  And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.

Gen 24:45  And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

Gen 24:46  And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

Gen 24:47  And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

Gen 24:48  And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

Gen 24:49  And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

Gen 24:50  Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

When we are lead by God others will see that the thing proceeds from the Lord.

Gen 24:51  Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

Gen 24:52  And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

Gen 24:53  And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

Gen 24:54  And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.

Gen 24:55  And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

Here there was plenty of food, provender for his camels and he is old, he probably needed to sit and rest for a while but he said,

Gen 24:56  And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

Gen 24:57  And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.

Gen 24:58  And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

Gen 24:59  And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.

Gen 24:60  And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

Gen 24:61  And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

Abraham’s servant was not waiting for one distraction.  He was not going to wait one day. 

We must be this way in our mission, not push people to get to God but to urge them. 

The mother and Laban probably wondered what whirlwind had hit them.  Here came this man and there went Rebecca right away. 

We need to be this urgent that we let nothing distract us in our mission.