Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:06.839
Comes from Genesis Twenty Four. While
you're turning there, I want for us
2
00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:11.390
to just a moment. So my
custom is I'll read and then I'll pray
3
00:00:11.429 --> 00:00:16.350
afterwards. As you're turning there,
though, I want us to reflect for
4
00:00:16.550 --> 00:00:22.539
just a moment on what we do
and worship every week. Every week we
5
00:00:23.339 --> 00:00:26.579
as Christians, and if you're a
visitor among us who's not quite convinced of
6
00:00:26.660 --> 00:00:30.539
the Christian faith, this is what
Christians do every week in worship. We're
7
00:00:30.579 --> 00:00:36.170
not coming just to make ourselves better. We're coming to rehearse God's promises,
8
00:00:37.289 --> 00:00:41.969
to see in the table, to
hear in the word preached, through the
9
00:00:42.009 --> 00:00:47.090
hymns that we sing, through the
prayers that we pray, to remember that
10
00:00:47.250 --> 00:00:52.159
God is faithful, that God is
a promise keeping God, and that is
11
00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:58.320
what shapes us as his people.
This morning, in the text that we
12
00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:03.439
are about to read that will reflect
on, there's a man who is being
13
00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:11.150
forced to do that as he goes
about his mission. You See, God
14
00:01:11.310 --> 00:01:15.230
has called Abraham and promise to bless
him and the world through his family,
15
00:01:17.870 --> 00:01:21.939
but not all of those promises have
been carried out. His promised son,
16
00:01:22.099 --> 00:01:25.900
who has been born in his old
age, is not married and therefore does
17
00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:29.299
not have any children to bring it
got the descendants that God has promised.
18
00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:34.489
So eyes. So Abraham Commissions a
servant to go on a quest to find
19
00:01:36.849 --> 00:01:44.849
God's provided wife for Isaac. So
we're going to read the first fourteen verses
20
00:01:45.129 --> 00:01:49.359
and then throughout the rest of the
sermon I'll refer to others. So will
21
00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:56.519
you read along with me as I
read? Not. Abraham was old,
22
00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:00.469
well advanced in years, and the
Lord had blessed Abraham and all things.
23
00:02:01.430 --> 00:02:06.189
And Abraham said to his servant,
the oldest of his household, who had
24
00:02:06.269 --> 00:02:09.789
charge of all that he had put
your hand under my thigh, that I
25
00:02:09.909 --> 00:02:14.430
may make you swear by the Lord, the God of Heaven, the God
26
00:02:14.469 --> 00:02:17.020
of Earth, that you will not
take a wife for my son from the
27
00:02:17.060 --> 00:02:22.580
daughters of the Canaanites, among whom
m I dwell, but will go to
28
00:02:22.699 --> 00:02:27.180
my country and my kindred and take
a wife from my son Isaac. The
29
00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:30.689
Servant said to him, perhaps the
woman may not be willing to follow me
30
00:02:30.129 --> 00:02:34.650
to this land. Must I then
take your son back to the land from
31
00:02:34.650 --> 00:02:38.849
which you came? Abraham said to
him, see to that you do,
32
00:02:39.129 --> 00:02:44.289
that you do not take my son
back there, the Lord, the God
33
00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:46.800
of Heaven, who took me from
my father's house and from the land of
34
00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:52.199
my kindred and who spoke to me
and swore to me, to your offspring,
35
00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:55.439
I will give this land. He
will send his angel before you and
36
00:02:55.599 --> 00:03:00.349
you shall take a wife for my
son from there. But if the woman
37
00:03:00.430 --> 00:03:04.110
is not willing to follow you,
then you will be free from this oath
38
00:03:04.150 --> 00:03:08.550
of mine. Only you must not
take my son back there. So the
39
00:03:08.629 --> 00:03:13.300
servant put his hand under the thigh
of Abraham, his master, and swore
40
00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:17.979
to him concerning this matter. Then
the servant took ten of his master's camels
41
00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:23.780
and departed, taking all sorts of
choice gifts from his master, and he
42
00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:28.530
arose and went to Mesopotamia, to
the city of Nahore, and he made
43
00:03:28.530 --> 00:03:30.770
the camels and kneel down outside the
city by the well of water, at
44
00:03:30.810 --> 00:03:34.810
the time of evening, the time
when women go out to draw water,
45
00:03:35.810 --> 00:03:40.050
and he said, Oh, Lord, God of my master Abraham, please
46
00:03:40.129 --> 00:03:46.400
grant me success today and show steadfast
love to my master Abraham. Behold,
47
00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:51.560
I am standing by the spring of
water and the daughters of men of the
48
00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:54.680
city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I
49
00:03:54.710 --> 00:03:59.990
shall say, please let down your
jar that I may drink, and who
50
00:03:59.990 --> 00:04:03.830
shall say drink, and I will
water your camels. Let her be the
51
00:04:03.949 --> 00:04:09.069
one whom you have appointed for your
servant, Isaac. By this I shall
52
00:04:09.150 --> 00:04:14.539
know that you have shown steadfast love
to my master. Will you pray with
53
00:04:14.659 --> 00:04:25.290
me? Father, you indeed are
God of stead best love, so much
54
00:04:25.410 --> 00:04:30.610
so that, though you are so
much higher than us as the Holy Creator
55
00:04:30.689 --> 00:04:32.850
God, and we are your creatures, you have not left us alone.
56
00:04:34.490 --> 00:04:41.959
You've spoken to us through the Prophets, through your holy word, and ultimately,
57
00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:45.959
you have come and spoken to us
as the word made flesh. So
58
00:04:46.120 --> 00:04:50.639
this morning we asked that, through
your Holy Spirit that inspired these words on
59
00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:58.069
this page, that lives in Christians, that you would shape our minds and
60
00:04:58.230 --> 00:05:02.110
our hearts and help us to hear
you speak about your son, the word
61
00:05:02.189 --> 00:05:06.860
made flesh, Jesus. It's in
his name that we pray. Amen.
62
00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:15.339
You may be seated. I had
been in a hurry one particular afternoon.
63
00:05:15.420 --> 00:05:19.540
I had waited in a long,
slow moving line, then I was shuffled
64
00:05:19.579 --> 00:05:25.410
like a cow among cattle, through
different other corridors and finally onto a tram
65
00:05:26.449 --> 00:05:30.449
that took me to a different place
where I got off in a hall and
66
00:05:30.649 --> 00:05:35.439
drug my suitcase, stopped and got
some fast food and then got to my
67
00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:41.920
terminal to got to my gate where
I was about to experience for the First
68
00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:47.920
Time Spirit Airlines. Two Spirit me
away to my family, who was vacationing
69
00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:54.709
in California. You See, two
times a year with our UF are you
70
00:05:54.790 --> 00:05:59.589
of staff and campus ministers have training
for a week, which is great,
71
00:05:59.589 --> 00:06:01.870
continuing education. It's always great.
It's one of the best things that I
72
00:06:01.949 --> 00:06:05.939
think are you F does, which
is the organization I work for in the
73
00:06:06.019 --> 00:06:11.220
PCA. But this at the end
of this week, though it had been
74
00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:14.939
good, I was ready to see
my family, to see Brittany and our
75
00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:21.810
kids, and so I was waiting
and expecting. I had been promised that
76
00:06:21.889 --> 00:06:29.209
an airplane would arrive. I was
expecting it to show up. I was
77
00:06:29.370 --> 00:06:31.529
eating, I was waiting, I
was watching, I was trying to relate
78
00:06:31.610 --> 00:06:39.439
to other people who are there in
the terminal. The expected time drew near,
79
00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:45.720
but I saw no plane on the
tarmac. I was at the right
80
00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:49.829
terminal because I had checked and double
checked and triple checked. We are supposed
81
00:06:49.829 --> 00:06:54.110
to be boarding right then, and
there was no plane. And then and
82
00:06:54.430 --> 00:06:57.709
a fellow passenger leaned over to a
group of us that were sitting there and
83
00:06:57.790 --> 00:07:00.750
said, hell yeah, when I
checked in, they told me that the
84
00:07:00.910 --> 00:07:05.100
plane was delayed getting out of South
America. So I thought that's not uncommon,
85
00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:10.779
that happens. Delays happened. Planes
are a little bit slow on arrival.
86
00:07:13.939 --> 00:07:21.569
So I waited more and then an
hour went by and nothing. Then
87
00:07:21.970 --> 00:07:30.079
the host for the next airline got
up and nothing. The spirit airline had
88
00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:34.399
not shown up. No announcement,
no host, no nothing. I was
89
00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:40.079
living in the reality where a promise
had been made but it had not yet
90
00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:47.230
been delivered. Isn't that how we
often experience God? We live on this
91
00:07:47.629 --> 00:07:54.829
side of the Cross. God has
become a human being. God, through
92
00:07:54.870 --> 00:07:58.470
Jesus, made promises to you.
If you're a Christian here this morning,
93
00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:03.500
we live in a time where we
cannot see God's fulfilled promises with our own
94
00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:07.660
eyes. We can see many of
the ways that God has been faithful in
95
00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:11.060
the past, but we live in
a time which is promises are yet to
96
00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:16.889
come. If you're a Christian here
this morning, you have been promised that
97
00:08:18.009 --> 00:08:20.970
you are justified. The means you
don't have to prove yourself to anyone else
98
00:08:22.050 --> 00:08:24.689
in the world. Approve yourself to
God, because you have been made right
99
00:08:24.209 --> 00:08:31.080
with God. God has promised to
sanctify you and be at work sanctifying you,
100
00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.759
that he is causing you to die
to sin and more look like Jesus's
101
00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:43.149
perfection. He's promised to work everything
out for your good and for your salvation.
102
00:08:46.470 --> 00:08:50.309
He's promised to be at work in
the world through his church, through
103
00:08:50.350 --> 00:08:54.750
Covenant Presbyterian Church here into son.
He's promised to be at work through his
104
00:08:54.830 --> 00:09:01.379
word and through his people, drawing
people to his son. God has promised
105
00:09:01.419 --> 00:09:05.259
to you that he is bringing you
and all of creation to glory, that
106
00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:09.580
one day all the sadness and the
pain and the brokenness that you feel will
107
00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:13.049
be wiped clean and will be made
new and there will be no more tears.
108
00:09:16.090 --> 00:09:20.529
But we can't see those things.
So how do we live when we
109
00:09:20.690 --> 00:09:26.399
can't see them? How do we
live faithfully while we wait? But we
110
00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:31.399
journey on. That's where we find
this story this morning. Earlier in Genesis,
111
00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:37.480
God called Abraham and made an eternally
binding relationship with him, a covenant,
112
00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:41.549
the namesake of this church. God
promised to give him a land,
113
00:09:41.750 --> 00:09:45.750
give him descendance more than he could
count to bless him and bless all the
114
00:09:45.830 --> 00:09:48.830
families of the earth through one of
his descendants, one of his offspring.
115
00:09:50.590 --> 00:09:56.100
Now God has been faithful to Abraham. Abraham has clearly been blessed. He
116
00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:58.659
is wealthy, more wealthy than most
of the people in the AREAA. He
117
00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:05.620
has lived to a good old age, showing his that he has been blessed.
118
00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:09.370
And even in his old age God
has provided a son when earlier in
119
00:10:09.450 --> 00:10:16.129
their life they had been declared to
be barren. And now Abraham has just
120
00:10:16.370 --> 00:10:20.519
recently purchased a piece of property in
the Promised Land. He doesn't have the
121
00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:26.240
promised land yet for his descendants,
but his wife has recently deceased. It
122
00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:28.240
recently died, and so he bought
a burial plot for her. So at
123
00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:33.480
least he is a little bit of
a steak in the promised land. But
124
00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:39.950
the promise for filling the earth like
the sands of the sea and the stars
125
00:10:39.990 --> 00:10:43.990
of the sky with his descendants,
it seems to be at a stall because
126
00:10:45.029 --> 00:10:50.179
the promised son, Isaac, doesn't
have a wife. Therefore he doesn't have
127
00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:52.860
any children. Therefore Abraham doesn't have
any grandchildren. And he doesn't have any
128
00:10:52.860 --> 00:11:03.139
descendants. So Abraham Commissions his most
trusted servant to go and retrieve a wife
129
00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:09.370
for Isaac from Abraham's relatives. Now
that's not very uncommon. That'd be uncommon
130
00:11:09.450 --> 00:11:13.889
for us if one of you since
a servant or friend of yours back east
131
00:11:13.929 --> 00:11:16.730
or up to the West Coast to
find a spouse for your child from your
132
00:11:16.730 --> 00:11:22.159
relatives. That'd be a little weird
today, but that wasn't uncommon back in
133
00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:28.519
Abraham's Day. A lot of great
marriages were started that way. But what
134
00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:35.190
question does the servant ask? Look
at verse five. The Servant said to
135
00:11:35.230 --> 00:11:39.269
him perhaps the woman may not be
willing to follow any back to this land.
136
00:11:39.830 --> 00:11:43.429
Must I didn't take your son back
to the land from which you came.
137
00:11:45.509 --> 00:11:50.460
I think the deeper question that the
servant is asking is, what if
138
00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:56.299
she says no, what shall I
do? I think this is really a
139
00:11:56.379 --> 00:12:01.340
question that we often ask, if
not out loud then in our hearts.
140
00:12:01.690 --> 00:12:07.570
What if someone gets in the way
of God's promises? What if God's promises
141
00:12:07.129 --> 00:12:13.649
don't come true? How do we
live in a reality where we cannot control
142
00:12:13.690 --> 00:12:20.080
other people or we can't control God? So how does that Abraham answer his
143
00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:24.919
servants? He answers him by reminding
him of God's promise. Look at verse
144
00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:28.600
seven. The Lord, the God
of Heaven, who took me from my
145
00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:33.350
father's house and from the land of
my kindred and who spoke to me and
146
00:12:33.470 --> 00:12:37.789
swore to me, to your offspring, I will give this land, he
147
00:12:37.870 --> 00:12:43.389
will send an angel before you and
you shall take a wife from my son
148
00:12:43.590 --> 00:12:52.700
from there. Abraham hasn't always been
this trusting. Abraham has grown from his
149
00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:58.500
early days of giving his wife away
as a sister to a more powerful man
150
00:12:58.490 --> 00:13:05.090
twice. He's grown from the days
where he tried to bring about the promise
151
00:13:05.730 --> 00:13:11.129
with his wife's servant role and bring
a son that way. He's grown to
152
00:13:11.250 --> 00:13:16.360
realize that God is faithful, that
God is steadfast in his love for his
153
00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:22.399
people. Abraham is saying he has
sworn and he has kept his promises.
154
00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:26.600
He is loyal and his love.
He will keep his promises again. He
155
00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:28.909
will go before you, he will
show up. You might not see him,
156
00:13:28.909 --> 00:13:33.710
but he will show up and he
will provide. The same is still
157
00:13:33.710 --> 00:13:37.149
true for God's people today. If
you're a Christian, you're one of those
158
00:13:37.149 --> 00:13:43.700
people. God has always been in
steadfast love for his people, because that's
159
00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:50.299
true. We must live expecting God
to show up, even if we don't
160
00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:54.059
see him. This morning. I
want for us to look at what living
161
00:13:54.179 --> 00:14:01.129
expectantly might look like through the Lens
of Abraham's Servant on a quest for a
162
00:14:01.289 --> 00:14:09.450
wife for Isaac, the promised some
so Abraham's servant, his trusted servant,
163
00:14:09.690 --> 00:14:13.919
takes ten camels, a whole statue
of precious gifts and multiple other servants that
164
00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:18.519
we read about in a little bit. They travel the twenty one day,
165
00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:24.080
a long journey on foot and camel, and he rides outside of this village.
166
00:14:24.590 --> 00:14:26.710
It's the evening when the young woman
would come out to the well and
167
00:14:26.830 --> 00:14:31.070
the cool of the day to gather
water for the family's evening needs. In
168
00:14:31.230 --> 00:14:37.149
the morning, the needs the next
morning. The servant causes his camel to
169
00:14:37.190 --> 00:14:43.100
kneel down and he thinks about the
mission before him and he begins to pray.
170
00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:48.620
How does he pray? Look?
How he starts laugh, how he
171
00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:54.250
anchors his prayer in verse twelve.
He says, oh Lord, God of
172
00:14:54.330 --> 00:15:00.889
my master Abraham, please grant me
success today and show steadfast love to my
173
00:15:01.009 --> 00:15:07.759
master Abraham. As he's praying,
he is reminding himself of God's steadfast love
174
00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:11.480
to God's people. The Servant is
among those people. He is a believer
175
00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:16.679
in the Lord. But what does
he look like? What does he look
176
00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:22.509
at? He looks at God's covenant
that he has made with Abraham as the
177
00:15:22.669 --> 00:15:28.710
representative of God's people. The Servant
Clings to God's steadfast love by asking God
178
00:15:28.070 --> 00:15:33.070
to bring about his promises to Abraham
that he would bring about success through his
179
00:15:33.190 --> 00:15:39.500
own mission. And because he clings
to God's steadfast love, he expects God
180
00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:45.620
to show up and bring about success
to the mission. He says, let
181
00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:48.059
the woman who offers me and my
camels a drink when I ask for water
182
00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:54.370
just for myself, let her be
the one. He's praying, expecting God
183
00:15:54.490 --> 00:15:58.370
to show up, expecting that,
five hundred and fifty miles from his master,
184
00:15:58.330 --> 00:16:02.850
of all the villages in the area, in this one ticular village,
185
00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:08.919
that one particular woman who will say
these things will be the one that God
186
00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:15.559
will show up and provide. So
how is he living out his faith?
187
00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:22.110
He's praying, expecting God to work. Praying. If you're a Christian,
188
00:16:22.149 --> 00:16:27.789
if you're even pseudo spiritual, you
understand that praying is part of being in
189
00:16:27.830 --> 00:16:30.789
a relationship with God. Even if
you don't do it all the time,
190
00:16:32.149 --> 00:16:36.620
you at least cognitively know in your
brain you know the praying is part of
191
00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:40.740
being in relationship. God is personal. He invites us to pray to him
192
00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:42.980
and even though we can't see him, he still invites us to pray,
193
00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:48.970
even teaches us to pray. As
we seek to live while we can't see
194
00:16:48.330 --> 00:16:55.330
the fulfillment of God's promises, we
must pray expecting God to work, expecting
195
00:16:55.409 --> 00:17:00.129
God to show up. Now I'm
not saying we should make deals with God
196
00:17:00.370 --> 00:17:06.759
like this servant saying, Oh,
if this young man or this young woman
197
00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:11.359
comes into the classroom, that that's
the one I'm going to marry. We
198
00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:15.269
probably shouldn't do that. I don't
think this is prescriptive of how we should
199
00:17:15.269 --> 00:17:19.710
pray, but I think it gives
a good example of praying with expectancy.
200
00:17:22.349 --> 00:17:27.470
So what does it look like to
pray expectantly? Let's start by looking at
201
00:17:27.509 --> 00:17:34.940
at this way. be seeing the
musical Annie, whatever whatever version, the
202
00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:45.049
Broadway version or the movie version.
What's the musical Annie about? It's about
203
00:17:45.049 --> 00:17:51.289
a little orphan who starts out living
in a selfish woman's orphanage Missus Hannigan.
204
00:17:52.250 --> 00:17:56.930
Missus Hannagan is extremely selfish and all
the orphans in her orphanage do not expect
205
00:17:57.130 --> 00:18:02.200
Mrs Hannigan to provide good things for
them. To provide what they need,
206
00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:06.640
they have to fight for it.
They even sing a song about it and
207
00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:14.069
seeing it's a heart knock life for
us, because for them to get anything
208
00:18:14.430 --> 00:18:18.990
you have to fight for it,
not just ask for it. They don't
209
00:18:18.990 --> 00:18:26.420
trust Miss Hannagan. But in a
publicity stunt, a wealthy bachelor takes an
210
00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:32.579
orphan for a week in. Annie
works her way through her charm and through
211
00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:37.019
her manipulation to become that orphan for
the week. And how does she relate
212
00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:41.130
to daddy warbucks that that week,
whilst she's kind of his pseudo daughter,
213
00:18:42.849 --> 00:18:47.130
the young girl that he's taken in? She tries to use her charm,
214
00:18:47.250 --> 00:18:51.650
she tries to use her demeanor,
her precociousness to win over his affection and
215
00:18:51.730 --> 00:18:56.039
get good things. She even says
awkward things. When he's looking at hanging
216
00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:59.200
a picture of a famous painting in
the bathroom. She says you can hang
217
00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:07.119
me in the bathroom and see if
I grow on you. But how might
218
00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:11.910
her and how does her relationship and
the way she interacts with him and relates
219
00:19:11.950 --> 00:19:18.150
with him change once he fully adopts
her as his daughter? It should change
220
00:19:18.269 --> 00:19:22.029
to one expecting him to provide.
He delights to provide for her and fulfill
221
00:19:22.150 --> 00:19:26.940
his promise as her father to care
for her. I think that one of
222
00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:32.220
the ways that we can pray expectantly
is by reminding ourselves as we pray,
223
00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:37.299
that God is a god of steadfast
love for his people and that he is
224
00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:41.809
true to his promises. I think
it's good and okay for us to pray
225
00:19:41.890 --> 00:19:45.529
to God and say things like God, you are steadfast in love for your
226
00:19:45.609 --> 00:19:49.730
people. I'm one of your people. Will you show steadfast love in this
227
00:19:49.849 --> 00:19:56.480
way by granting success in your mission? I'm not going to go into it
228
00:19:56.680 --> 00:20:03.839
too deeply this morning, but Jesus
has replaced Abraham as our representative. Jesus
229
00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:10.109
represents you to the father and,
just like Abraham, servant who believed in
230
00:20:10.150 --> 00:20:12.670
the Lord, he was a believer. Prayed that God would show his faithfulness
231
00:20:12.710 --> 00:20:18.269
to Abraham, we can pray to
God that he would show his faithfulness to
232
00:20:18.390 --> 00:20:26.900
Jesus, our representative. That's why
we pray in Jesus. His name Jesus
233
00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:30.259
represents us and we ask God to
honor Jesus as we pray. We can
234
00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:33.779
pray to God saying, God,
you were faithful to Jesus. Be Faithful
235
00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:37.289
to Jesus to bring about your promises
in the world, your promises through me,
236
00:20:38.569 --> 00:20:42.450
because I'm one of your people and
I'm on mission as your person in
237
00:20:42.609 --> 00:20:47.329
the world. Now, we can't
manipulate God, but we can pray with
238
00:20:47.369 --> 00:20:52.279
a dependence. So how would your
prayer life change if you prayed expecting God
239
00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:57.720
to remain faithful? How would your
response to unanswered prayers change if you trusted
240
00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:03.750
that God would steadfast in his love
for Jesus and therefore steadfast in his love
241
00:21:03.829 --> 00:21:08.589
for you? How would you pray
more comfort would you pray more confidently that
242
00:21:08.710 --> 00:21:14.230
God would convert your family members and
your friends who aren't Christian, because God
243
00:21:14.430 --> 00:21:22.900
has promised to draw people to himself
through all people's and tongues and places in
244
00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:30.500
the world? Would you pray more
expectantly that God would help you overcome some
245
00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:33.730
of the sins that have plagued you
for a long time, because God has
246
00:21:33.809 --> 00:21:38.450
promised to be at work in you
until the day of completion at Christ Jesus.
247
00:21:40.609 --> 00:21:44.809
Would you pray more earnestly for God
to end the Justice in the brokenness
248
00:21:44.890 --> 00:21:49.519
in your life and the lives of
people around you in the city of Tucson?
249
00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:56.599
Would you pray more expectantly for him
to heal broken relationships in your life
250
00:21:56.720 --> 00:22:03.190
and sustain you as you struggle with
them? Would I pray more expectantly for
251
00:22:03.390 --> 00:22:07.710
God to connect me and us are
little? Are you F to other students,
252
00:22:07.750 --> 00:22:12.710
but also to financially provide for him
to do his work of building this
253
00:22:12.789 --> 00:22:18.819
kingdom on campus? What might you
pray for expectantly right now in your life?
254
00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:29.299
The Servant Prays expectantly, but then
he watches expectantly for God to faithfully
255
00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:37.009
provide. Look of Hers Fifteen before
he had finished speaking, behold Rebecca,
256
00:22:37.609 --> 00:22:40.809
who was born to Bethuel, the
son of Milka, the wife of Nahor,
257
00:22:41.569 --> 00:22:45.799
Abraham's brother, came out with her
water jar on her shoulder. The
258
00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:49.599
young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known.
259
00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:53.640
She went down to the spring and
filled her jar and came up.
260
00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:59.309
Then the servant ran to meet her
and said, please give me a little
261
00:22:59.309 --> 00:23:02.589
water to drink from your jar,
and she said, drink, my Lord,
262
00:23:03.029 --> 00:23:06.230
and she quickly let down her jar
upon his hand. Her hand then
263
00:23:06.309 --> 00:23:10.190
gave him a drink. When she
had finished giving him a drink, she
264
00:23:10.349 --> 00:23:14.940
said, I will draw water for
your camels also until they have finished drinking.
265
00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:18.980
So she quickly emptied her jar into
the trough and ran to the well
266
00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:23.420
to draw more water. She drew
for all of his camels. The man
267
00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:30.089
gazed at her in silence to learn
whether the Lord had prospered her journey or
268
00:23:30.210 --> 00:23:37.130
not. The Servant is actively watching
and considering if God is at work like
269
00:23:37.289 --> 00:23:41.480
he has promised to be. The
Servant Asks Her in Verse Twenty Three What
270
00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:45.480
family she belongs to, and sure
enough, she's a relative of Abraham.
271
00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:51.799
God is showing that he is fulfilling
the promise that she meets the criteria for
272
00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:59.789
being marriable for Isaac. She's a
relative and she's not already married. Check
273
00:24:00.390 --> 00:24:07.549
she meets the criteria. And when
God appears to be at work, showing
274
00:24:07.710 --> 00:24:14.420
up, how does the Servant Respond? He responds by Worshiping. Verse Twenty
275
00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:18.299
Six, The man bowed his head
and worshiped the Lord and said blessed be
276
00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:22.900
the Lord, the God of my
master Abraham, who has not forsaken his
277
00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:27.569
steadfast love in his faithfulness toward my
master. As from me, the Lord
278
00:24:27.650 --> 00:24:33.970
has led me in the way to
the House of my master's kinsmen. So
279
00:24:33.089 --> 00:24:37.329
what does it look like for you
to watch expectantly for God to show up,
280
00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:42.000
to watch for God to work?
Let's think of it like this.
281
00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:49.799
Kids, what's it like when your
grandparents or some favorite friends is coming into
282
00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:55.910
town and you haven't seen them for
a long time? Maybe it's Christmas several
283
00:24:55.950 --> 00:25:02.869
weeks ago or another holiday? What
do you do? You're listening and every
284
00:25:02.990 --> 00:25:07.069
car door you hear, every stop
that you hear squeaky breaks, you're running
285
00:25:07.109 --> 00:25:11.660
to the window to peer out,
every glimmer of sunlight that bounces off of
286
00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:15.299
the top of a car into your
window. You're running to the door and
287
00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:19.380
looking. Is Grandma here, is
pop out here? And as you hear
288
00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:22.609
a closer car door shut and you
check and you see the window, you
289
00:25:22.730 --> 00:25:26.289
run to the door, you open
the door and you begin to run out
290
00:25:26.369 --> 00:25:32.890
to them in the driveway. I
think this is a little picture of how
291
00:25:33.009 --> 00:25:36.559
we ought to watch expectantly for God
to show up. First, you have
292
00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:40.039
to believe that God will be true
to his promises. And show up in
293
00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:45.880
hard situations, in troubled and broken
relationships or in your struggle with sin.
294
00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:51.150
Secondly, I think we have to
consider and watch, keep looking out the
295
00:25:51.230 --> 00:25:55.750
window, asking the question how is
God showing up? How is God at
296
00:25:55.789 --> 00:26:00.390
work in the situation? How will
or how should watching expectantly affect you?
297
00:26:00.549 --> 00:26:04.180
How should it affect me? For
some of us, it maybe means that
298
00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:11.740
we actually start watching, we actually
put on the glasses of watching through God's
299
00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:15.900
promises that he's going to show up, because of so often we struggle to
300
00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:22.329
believe the God will actually work in
our situation, in our life. For
301
00:26:22.450 --> 00:26:26.170
some of us it means opening the
door of hope just a little bit because
302
00:26:26.529 --> 00:26:33.440
we've been so afraid to hope in
the past. For some of us it
303
00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:37.200
might mean pain, more tension of
how God is already at work, even
304
00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:44.480
in small ways, in conversations that
you have with people, in the fruit,
305
00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:48.990
even if it's small fruit, in
someone's life, and the people that
306
00:26:49.150 --> 00:26:56.390
you randomly encounter throughout your day.
Where areas in your life where you might
307
00:26:56.509 --> 00:27:02.380
need to watch expectantly for God to
show up? Is it in your relationship
308
00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:06.859
with your child, who seems so
defiant right now? Is it in your
309
00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:11.500
relationship with your spouse or your roommates, who seems so stubborn and hardhearted?
310
00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:18.890
Is it in potential friendships, in
the midst of your loneliness after a hard
311
00:27:19.009 --> 00:27:26.890
first semester of college? Watching expectantly
for God to work is not a passive
312
00:27:26.970 --> 00:27:30.200
excuse of I don't have to do
anything, and it's not an I need
313
00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:34.200
to make all this happen. It's
watching where God is at work and moving
314
00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:37.880
towards where he is at work,
running to the door when he pulls up
315
00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:47.430
in the drive, participating in where
he seems to be working. Let's see
316
00:27:47.470 --> 00:27:56.069
how the servant does that. The
servant gifts, gives gifts to Rebecca,
317
00:27:56.470 --> 00:28:02.819
expectant that she is the one.
She runs away back to her father's house,
318
00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:07.539
maybe a little bit overwhelmed because this
man is showing her with gifts and
319
00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:11.819
worshiping right in front of her.
And then her brother Laban, who has
320
00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:19.450
been watching from a distance, runs
to the well and he because he's seen
321
00:28:19.609 --> 00:28:25.369
what has happened, and he invites
the servants and the servants men and their
322
00:28:25.410 --> 00:28:29.799
camels to come to his father's house
to provide sleep for them and food for
323
00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:37.039
the animals. And for the men
after their long journey in Laban and his
324
00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:41.750
father Bethel a lay food in front
of the servant, but before the servant
325
00:28:41.789 --> 00:28:45.950
will eat, he says to them, I have to tell you why I
326
00:28:45.069 --> 00:28:51.470
came and I have to tell you
everything that has happened. So he proceeds
327
00:28:51.509 --> 00:28:55.670
to tell them how God has called
Abraham, how God has deeply blessed Abraham
328
00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:59.779
and has given him a son in
his old age. He tells them the
329
00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:03.779
Abraham sent the servant back to his
homeland to take a daughter for the promised
330
00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:08.700
son of Abraham's old age, trusting
that the Lord will provide. Then he
331
00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:15.809
tells them everything that he's prayed and
how God seems to be answering that prayer
332
00:29:15.890 --> 00:29:19.769
by having rebecca come to the well. And then he ends his report in
333
00:29:19.849 --> 00:29:25.759
this way, in verse forty eight
forty nine. Then I bowed my head
334
00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:29.559
and worship the Lord and bless the
Lord, the God of my master Abraham,
335
00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:32.880
who had led me by the right
way to take the daughter of my
336
00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:37.839
master's kinsman for his son. Now, then, if you're going to show
337
00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:41.869
steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me, and if not,
338
00:29:42.869 --> 00:29:47.109
tell me that I may turn to
the right hand or to the left.
339
00:29:48.190 --> 00:29:52.259
The Servant reports to them and then
he invites them to respond. He's trusting
340
00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:57.779
God to show up and provide.
He's expectant in his hope, but he
341
00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:03.660
does not force them, he does
not manipulate them. He doesn't play a
342
00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:08.130
God card that say you have to
decide what I think is going to happen.
343
00:30:11.369 --> 00:30:18.089
He asks for an answer and waits. As we seek to live faithfully
344
00:30:18.369 --> 00:30:25.599
in this world, in Tucson,
we will have to relate to other people.
345
00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:29.720
Those of us who are introverts,
sorry, he got to relate to
346
00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:36.069
other people. We can't force people
to do what we think God is up
347
00:30:36.069 --> 00:30:41.990
to. We can't manipulate people in
to the path we think God is calling
348
00:30:41.069 --> 00:30:45.950
them to. We have to relate
to other people expecting that God is the
349
00:30:47.029 --> 00:30:51.900
one who works, that God will
be the one who provides. We can't
350
00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:56.859
be the one who provides by controlling
someone else. We have to relate to
351
00:30:56.900 --> 00:31:00.019
others expecting and trusting that God's going
to work like he says he's going to
352
00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:06.690
work. So who are people in
your life and what are situations in your
353
00:31:06.769 --> 00:31:11.210
life where God is calling you to
relate to someone, expecting God to show
354
00:31:11.250 --> 00:31:21.079
up expecting God to work. Maybe
it's your parents with whom you're in a
355
00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:26.440
difficult relationship, whether you're thirteen or
whether you are sixty and they are aged.
356
00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:33.430
Maybe it's your significant other, maybe
it's the friend you have been trying
357
00:31:33.470 --> 00:31:37.829
to share the gospel with and lead
them to know Christ. For me right
358
00:31:37.869 --> 00:31:41.470
now I'm having to think about as
we meet students on campus, as we
359
00:31:41.869 --> 00:31:48.259
try to meet donors and ask God
to provide through donors. By expecting God
360
00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:51.740
to show up as we relate to
other people, we are giving up control
361
00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:55.819
and we can actually begin to relate
to other people as human beings rather than
362
00:31:55.940 --> 00:32:00.849
objects that we have to control.
We take the pressure off of ourselves and
363
00:32:00.970 --> 00:32:06.650
other people expecting, of hope that
God's going to show up. So how
364
00:32:06.650 --> 00:32:13.049
would that attitude change family gatherings,
Sunday lunches? How would it change the
365
00:32:13.130 --> 00:32:19.200
workplace environment? How would it change
the homeschool classroom? My guess is that
366
00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:23.559
would drop the anxiety and bring a
breath of fresh air into the room.
367
00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:31.269
So the servant has reported all the
ways that God seems to be at work,
368
00:32:31.829 --> 00:32:36.829
then ask the family. Will you
send Rebecca with me to marry Isaac
369
00:32:37.710 --> 00:32:43.470
and we can imagine this deep,
Long, pregnant pause. Laban and Bethuel
370
00:32:43.670 --> 00:32:50.220
take a deep breath, they look
at each other, they consider this bold
371
00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:55.819
and amazing request. Hopefully, they
consult with Rebecca, who seems to be
372
00:32:55.859 --> 00:33:00.009
in the room, and with Rebecca's
mother, who seems to be in the
373
00:33:00.049 --> 00:33:04.849
room too. And then, at
some point, we don't know how long
374
00:33:05.410 --> 00:33:09.650
in the text is very brief,
but it's probably longer, Laban and Bethuel
375
00:33:09.769 --> 00:33:15.839
give their consent to Rebecca going to
marry Isaac. You can imagine the weight
376
00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:22.960
being lifted up from the servant.
The Servant Bows Down in deep gratitude for
377
00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:30.549
God showing up and providing. And
then out of gratitude the servant gives,
378
00:33:30.269 --> 00:33:36.269
give gifts at a gratitude for Rebecca
and for her faith and for her family's
379
00:33:36.269 --> 00:33:40.819
consent. He overflows with generosity,
giving gifts to Rebecca and her mother and
380
00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:45.500
to Laban and Bethewell into other people
in the room. God's provision leads him
381
00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:50.900
to generosity. Everyone eats and drinks
and sleeps in the next morning the servant
382
00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:57.250
boldly ask another question. Can we
leave today so that I can get back
383
00:33:57.289 --> 00:34:01.410
and tell my master, maybe before
he passes away. He wants to share
384
00:34:01.450 --> 00:34:08.849
the good news with Abraham. So
the family asks Rebecca if she minds leaving
385
00:34:08.969 --> 00:34:13.880
that day and with, I think, some of the profoundest, deepest faith
386
00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:21.880
in all of scripture, Rebecca converts
in that moment and says yes, I
387
00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:27.590
believe in the God Yah Way,
I believe in his promises. I believe
388
00:34:27.710 --> 00:34:30.389
that he is at work in the
world and some of you this morning might
389
00:34:30.429 --> 00:34:36.550
be there. You might not be
convinced, but this woman, who knew
390
00:34:36.550 --> 00:34:43.059
nothing before, who heard of God's
promises, said Yes, I will trust
391
00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:51.860
God's promises. So Rebecca, with
great faith, takes several of her servants
392
00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:57.849
and joins the servants and his servants
and the journey, the whole twenty one
393
00:34:57.889 --> 00:35:00.849
days, back to Abraham am back
to his camp, where they meet Isaac
394
00:35:01.289 --> 00:35:07.079
and Isaac and Rebecca Mary, and
God continues to slowly bring about fulfilling the
395
00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:15.159
promise to give to Abraham an offspring
who will number as the stars and as
396
00:35:15.239 --> 00:35:19.519
the sands, and then one particular
offspring who will being blessings to all the
397
00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:29.789
families of the earth. So I
was sitting and I was waiting and waiting
398
00:35:29.829 --> 00:35:34.429
and I couldn't control people. I
couldn't control the workers for the airline company,
399
00:35:34.469 --> 00:35:37.699
partly because they had left and there
was no one there. I couldn't
400
00:35:37.699 --> 00:35:44.099
control the situation. I was completely
powerless. But at the end of the
401
00:35:44.219 --> 00:35:50.650
day the plane did show up.
About seven or eight hours after it was
402
00:35:50.730 --> 00:35:54.010
promised to leave, it showed up
and took me where it promised to take
403
00:35:54.050 --> 00:36:00.090
me. Some airlines are better than
others, are more reliable than others,
404
00:36:00.170 --> 00:36:05.280
but all airlines will let you down
at some points. Mechanical Parts will fail,
405
00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:08.079
employees will quit, employees will go
on strike, pilots will log too
406
00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:14.840
many hours without enough sleep and be
will be forced to be grounded. Something
407
00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:19.590
will be out of their control,
like weather or a disaster. And at
408
00:36:19.670 --> 00:36:22.630
some point, if you travel enough, you will be left stranded with broken
409
00:36:22.670 --> 00:36:29.789
promises. If you rely on people
enough, if you rely on yourself enough,
410
00:36:30.030 --> 00:36:37.940
you will be left stranded with broken
promises. But God is not like
411
00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:43.059
airline companies. God is not like
other people. God is not like you,
412
00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:50.530
God is not like me. God
is eternally more reliable and though it
413
00:36:50.690 --> 00:36:53.610
seems like sometimes he delays, it
does not mean that he has not shown
414
00:36:53.650 --> 00:36:57.889
up and that he's not at work. God is at work, even in
415
00:36:58.050 --> 00:37:01.559
the darkest circumstances, when it seems
like he does not hear your praying,
416
00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:08.599
even when you watch and it seems
like he's not present, even when you
417
00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:12.719
relate to others and it seems like
there's no hope that he's going to work.
418
00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:20.389
We know this because God has shown
up truly and physically. God showed
419
00:37:20.429 --> 00:37:24.429
up in creation as a human being, as a man, Jesus. God
420
00:37:24.670 --> 00:37:29.309
showed up to faithfully rescue his people. But he didn't just show up as
421
00:37:29.389 --> 00:37:31.179
God. He showed up for you
and me. He showed up as the
422
00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:36.860
truest human being to ever live,
to represent God's people to God and to
423
00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:39.340
represent God to God's people. And
then, on a Friday, on the
424
00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:44.369
darkest day in history, Jesus prayed
for God the father to show up,
425
00:37:44.570 --> 00:37:47.889
knowing that God the father would not
show up for him. Jesus Watch for
426
00:37:49.010 --> 00:37:52.329
God to show up and to rescue
him from death. He prayed in the
427
00:37:52.449 --> 00:37:54.530
garden, he watched in the guard
and he cried out from the cross,
428
00:37:54.769 --> 00:38:00.039
but God did not show up.
God turned his face away, forsaking his
429
00:38:00.199 --> 00:38:09.280
only son. But in a deeper
way, Jesus entered death expecting, expecting
430
00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:16.110
God to show up for power over
death, to conquer sin and death through
431
00:38:16.150 --> 00:38:21.909
this resurrection, to show up to
bring about his ultimate promise of to faithfully
432
00:38:22.309 --> 00:38:27.780
bless all the families of the Earth, to bring rebellious orphans home as his
433
00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:31.260
daughters and as his son's. God
showed up in history as a man and
434
00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:38.539
abandon that man so that he might
bring you home. Then he sent his
435
00:38:38.659 --> 00:38:44.489
spirit so that he would show up
in your heart and in my heart that
436
00:38:44.610 --> 00:38:47.929
through his life and his death and
his resurrection and his ascension, in his
437
00:38:49.050 --> 00:38:52.050
sending of the spirit, we might
know that he has, he is and
438
00:38:52.170 --> 00:38:57.280
he will show up, that he
will be at work in you and through
439
00:38:57.360 --> 00:39:00.280
you in the world until the day
when he shows up in all of his
440
00:39:00.360 --> 00:39:06.440
glory to wipe away all your tears
and undo all the brokenness and make all
441
00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:10.429
things new. This is the hope
that we have. This is the hope
442
00:39:10.510 --> 00:39:15.510
that we have in the God who
shows up. Will you hope expectantly with
443
00:39:15.630 --> 00:39:17.630
me? We pray with me,
