Sunday’s sermon was a ‘sweet spot’ for me. I struggled with anxiety for much of my early Christian life. I wanted to please God and do His will, but I was always worried I was missing it. I was taught about God’s ‘perfect’ will and that, if I missed it, I would not be in the ‘center’ of God’s will. It created tons of anxiety. Things started to change one night when Major Ian Thomas spoke at our church on that topic. He talked about how God actively led His people and that God’s goodness met them as they obeyed Him. After his sermon, I asked, “Major, I want to be led by God. How can I be sure I’m in the ‘center’ of His will?” His reply stunned me. He said in a wonderful British accent, “My dear son, God is already leading you. You don’t have to worry about that.” That began to help me see God’s good hand in my life and understand His providential care. And then, as mentioned Sunday, Mickey Moriarty’s counsel was the nail in the coffin on this for me. If your heart is before the Lord, He will meet you wherever you go.
Kevin DeYoung’s book on this topic is the best I’ve read. It’s called Just Do Something. You’ll love the subtitle. It’s “How to make a decision without dreams, visions, fleeces, impressions, open doors, random bible verses, casting lots, liver shivers, writing in the sky, etc.” I love it.
Greedy Laban
One of the funny ironies of Genesis 24 is the first glimpse of Laban, Rebekah’s brother. We’ll meet him again in Genesis 28-30 and the story of Jacob, Isaac’s son. He comes off as a greedy, worthless fellow who swindles Jacob for 14 years.
Well, in Genesis 24, we get our first glance at him. When he noticed that Rebekah had met a rich man’s servant, he ran to him to impress him. Kenneth Mathews wrote, “Laban’s fondness for such riches is a characteristic that later motivates his mistreatment of Jacob (29:25–27; 30:27–36; 31:2, 6–8, 28–29, 38–42).”
Dating Principles from Genesis 24?
Well, sort of. Some have looked at these Old Testament passages fondly for parental oversight of marriage. While I’m a fan of parental supervision in marriage, I don’t think that’s the big idea of these texts. But I think a few things from this need to be stated.
- Abraham’s servant wisely went to where the ladies went to get water. Too often, it’s said that ‘God will provide a spouse,’ which is true, but it’s spoken of in a way that says that we have no obligation and someone will turn up at the doorstep. That’s not what we see in Genesis 24. He went where the young ladies were. Singles, if you desire to meet a godly marriage candidate, are you putting yourself in situations where they are?
- Rebekah’s family is heavily involved in this process. I often say that the gatekeeper to a young lady’s heart is her dad. In the Ancient Middle East, the older brother took on much of the business negotiations and communicated for the dad’s approval. That’s what happened in Genesis 24. Dads, have you invested in and communicated this truth with your daughters? Do they know what to say when a potential suitor approaches them?
- The desire does not rest solely on the parents. Notice that they ask for Rebekah’s thoughts and desires. The daughter’s desires should be considered. While I’m a fan of the dad being the gatekeeper, I’m also concerned about dads not listening to or being concerned with their daughters’ desires. If my daughter is interested in a particular guy, it behooves me to get to know that guy. Further, I want this to be an open dialogue with my daughter. Her desires matter deeply.
These are just a couple of things we see from Genesis 24. I could add more, but they’re not from Genesis 24:).
Looking Ahead
This Sunday, we have a special guest. Doug Hayes, who leads Covenant Mercies, will be with us. Doug is a friend of Sovereign Grace and an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA. Here’s the link to the ministry he leads: https://covenantmercies.org.
From the Cheap Seats
- Many veterans are getting released in the NFL, and the free-agent market is crazy.
- Liverpool vs. Man City was as intense of a game as expected. Ederson, the goalkeeper for City, makes too many sloppy plays for my liking.
- Baseball season is upon us! UVC opens Tuesday night at 7:00 against Blanchet Catholic. High School baseball games begin this week.
- If you want some good college baseball, watch the UCC Riverhawks. Coach Robbins has a great group of guys, some of whom are attending CLF. They’re fun to watch.
To watch or listen to the sermon described in this post, please click here.
Have a great week! Christ is King!
In Christ,
Dave York
