Bible Study Blog for Friday, March 9, 2012
Genesis 23-24; Matthew 7
I still can’t figure out arranged marriages – Letting somebody ELSE pick your husband or wife FOR you? No thanks. But – that question aside, it obviously was a BIG decision for Abraham. So Abe (knowing that God wanted Isaac to marry someone from his own clan) sends his servant to the old neighborhood to pick a wife for Isaac. Talk about FAITH. And talk about a NERVOUS servant. The servant PRAYS like mad – and to everybody’s surprise – he brings home the gracious – and gorgeous – Rebecca. How’d it work out for Isaac? Way better than most arranged marriages. It says “He loved her very much.” BINGO!
Abraham’s family acted in faith, and proceeded with prayer – and God met their need.
WOW – so much in Matthew 7 – but what struck me is we can trust God for OUR needs – just like Abraham. When I act in faith and proceed with prayer – God provides? Verse 11 hit me – “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.” Cool. Have a GREAT day!
John:
Matthew 7:7; Ask, Seek, Knock… That ties so much into the Servent asking the Lord of Abraham for specifics about Rebekah (Gen 24:11). It’s so hard for us to fathom asking for specifics, but here is an example of what and how and WHY.
I agree….I love that GOD will provide for us what we need. It would be scary traveling to meet your new husband but putting our trust in GOD is the main message i got out of this.
What stuck out to me the most was in Matthew 7. I love this chapter. I am a recovering addict and must guard myself against blaming and examining the lives of others. There will be time in the future for helping others after i have taken responsibility for my own life.
Matt 8 has a similar story about the centurion who told Jesus to just say the word and it would be done. He understood how authority works and was able to translate his understanding to practical faith in Christ. Christ gave him kudos for his faith just as Hebrews tells us that Abraham’s faith was enough to cause God to call him righteous.
I always think about Rebekah as she left her family and her home with a servant she didn’t even know – going to a place she’d never been. Such fearlessness and faith God gave to Rebekah as she went to meet her husband! AND how much reckless love and faith Rebekah had in God as she would become the “mother of millions!”Scripture says that “he loved her very much”; Rebekah, I think, returned his love. Not too bad for an arranged marriage.
Matthew 7 is like cleaning my glasses so I can see clearly what is in front of me. Being judgemental – taught to me young and it’s a hard habit to shake; God’s been working on me quite diligently this past year in this area, and as always He’s making some headway. I am secure knowing that I am walking the narrow way and learning to obey Him through Him. I am always concerned about the false teachers who lead others astray, having seen how they have worked in my own family, and how they use portions of scripture to do it. It is a frightening thing to witness.
Thank you Thank you Thank you. This is cool and we are enjoying it together!!!
Kimberly, You do take responsibility for your own life; you do it every day that you don’t slide back to your old life. And as for helping people, you do it every day just by your example.