WEBVTT 00:00:09.869 --> 00:00:12.810 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, 00:00:12.849 --> 00:00:17.329 and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring, 00:00:17.530 --> 00:00:22.030 referring to the servant that has come looking 00:00:22.030 --> 00:00:25.910 for a wife for Isaac. When he saw the ring and 00:00:25.910 --> 00:00:29.949 the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when 00:00:29.949 --> 00:00:33.030 he heard the words of Rebekah, his sister, saying, 00:00:33.229 --> 00:00:37.109 This is what the man said to me. He went to the 00:00:37.109 --> 00:00:39.850 man, and behold, he was standing by the camels 00:00:39.850 --> 00:00:43.189 at the spring, and he said, Come in, blessed 00:00:43.189 --> 00:00:46.469 of the Lord. Why do you stand outside, since 00:00:46.469 --> 00:00:49.409 I have prepared the house and a place for the 00:00:49.409 --> 00:00:54.009 camels? So the man entered the house. Then Laban 00:00:54.009 --> 00:00:56.929 unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed 00:00:56.929 --> 00:01:00.890 to the camels, and water to wash his feet, and 00:01:00.890 --> 00:01:04.209 the feet of the man who were with him. But when 00:01:04.209 --> 00:01:08.209 food was set before him to eat, speaking of the 00:01:08.209 --> 00:01:12.409 servants, he said, I will not eat until I have 00:01:12.409 --> 00:01:17.209 told my business. And he said, Speak on. So he 00:01:17.209 --> 00:01:20.730 said, I am Abraham's servant. The Lord has greatly 00:01:20.730 --> 00:01:25.469 blessed my master so that he's become rich. And 00:01:25.469 --> 00:01:27.909 he has given him flocks and herds and silver 00:01:27.909 --> 00:01:31.310 and gold and servants and maids and camels and 00:01:31.310 --> 00:01:34.909 donkeys. Now Sarah, my master's wife, bore a 00:01:34.909 --> 00:01:38.849 son to my master in her old age, and he has given 00:01:38.849 --> 00:01:42.909 him all that he has. My master made me swear, 00:01:43.170 --> 00:01:46.450 saying, You shall not take a wife for my son 00:01:46.450 --> 00:01:49.349 from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose 00:01:49.349 --> 00:01:54.069 land I live, but you shall go to my father's 00:01:54.069 --> 00:01:58.090 house and my relatives and take a wife for my 00:01:58.090 --> 00:02:02.640 son. I said to my master, Suppose the woman does 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:06.819 not follow me. He said to me, The Lord, before 00:02:06.819 --> 00:02:10.219 whom I have walked, will send his angel with 00:02:10.219 --> 00:02:14.360 you and make your journey successful. And you 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:17.360 will take a wife for my son from my relatives 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.379 and from my father's house. Then you will be 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:24.639 free from my oath when you come to my relatives. 00:02:25.099 --> 00:02:27.539 And if they do not give her to you, you will 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:32.620 be free from my oath. So, I came today to the 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:36.500 spring, and said, O Lord, the God of my master 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:40.939 Abraham, if now you will make my journey on which 00:02:40.939 --> 00:02:45.139 I go successful, behold, I am standing by the 00:02:45.139 --> 00:02:48.340 spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:52.340 out to draw, and to whom I say, Please, let me 00:02:52.340 --> 00:02:55.280 drink a little water from your jar, and she will 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.960 say to me, You drink, and I will draw from your 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:03.069 camels also. Let her be the woman whom the Lord 00:03:03.069 --> 00:03:07.689 has appointed for my master's son. Before I had 00:03:07.689 --> 00:03:10.789 finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebecca 00:03:10.789 --> 00:03:14.189 came out with her jar on her shoulder and went 00:03:14.189 --> 00:03:17.090 down to the spring and drew, and I said to her, 00:03:17.210 --> 00:03:21.530 Please, let me drink. She quickly lowered her 00:03:21.530 --> 00:03:25.509 jar from her shoulder and said, Drink, and I 00:03:25.509 --> 00:03:28.969 will water your camels also. So I drank, and 00:03:28.969 --> 00:03:32.409 she watered the camels also. Then I asked her 00:03:32.409 --> 00:03:36.469 and said, Whose daughter are you? And she said, 00:03:36.530 --> 00:03:40.710 The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah 00:03:40.710 --> 00:03:43.969 bore to him. And I put the ring on her nose and 00:03:43.969 --> 00:03:46.689 the bracelets on her wrists. And I bowed low 00:03:46.689 --> 00:03:50.169 and worshipped the Lord and blessed the Lord, 00:03:50.289 --> 00:03:54.460 the God of my master Abraham. who had guided 00:03:54.460 --> 00:03:57.060 me in the right way to take the daughter of my 00:03:57.060 --> 00:04:01.180 master's kinsman for his son. So now, if you 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:04.099 are going to deal kindly and truly with my master, 00:04:04.259 --> 00:04:08.840 tell me, and if not, let me know, that I may 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:12.879 turn to the right or the left. Then Laban and 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:16.560 Bethuel replied, The matter comes from the Lord, 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:20.699 so we cannot speak to you good or bad. Here is 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:24.230 Rebekah before you. Take her and go, and let 00:04:24.230 --> 00:04:27.149 her be the wife of your master's son, as the 00:04:27.149 --> 00:04:30.509 Lord has spoken. When Abraham's servant heard 00:04:30.509 --> 00:04:34.069 their words, he bowed himself to the ground before 00:04:34.069 --> 00:04:37.129 the Lord. The servant brought out articles of 00:04:37.129 --> 00:04:39.709 silver and articles of gold and garments and 00:04:39.709 --> 00:04:43.069 gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things 00:04:43.069 --> 00:04:46.490 to her brother and to her mother. Then he and 00:04:46.490 --> 00:04:50.290 the men who were with him ate and drank and spent 00:04:50.290 --> 00:04:53.930 the night. When they arose in the morning, he 00:04:53.930 --> 00:04:58.730 said, Send me away to my master. But her brother 00:04:58.730 --> 00:05:02.930 and her mother said, Let the girl stay with us 00:05:02.930 --> 00:05:09.889 a few days, say ten. Afterward, she may go. He 00:05:09.889 --> 00:05:13.370 said to them, Do not delay me since the Lord 00:05:13.370 --> 00:05:17.629 has prospered my way. Send me away that I may 00:05:17.629 --> 00:05:21.259 go to my master. And they said, We will call 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:24.980 the girl and consult her wishes. Then they called 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:28.180 Rebekah and said to her, Will you go with this 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:34.139 man? And she said, I will go. Thus they sent 00:05:34.139 --> 00:05:37.800 away their sister Rebekah and her nurse with 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:41.459 Abraham's servants and his men. They blessed 00:05:41.459 --> 00:05:44.759 Rebekah and said to her, May you, our sister, 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:50.810 become thousands of ten thousands, the gate of 00:05:50.810 --> 00:05:54.310 those who hate them. Then Rebekah arose with 00:05:54.310 --> 00:05:57.410 her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed 00:05:57.410 --> 00:06:01.350 the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed. 00:06:02.230 --> 00:06:07.170 Now Isaac had come from going to bear Laharoi, 00:06:07.269 --> 00:06:12.310 for he was living in the Negev. Isaac went out 00:06:12.310 --> 00:06:16.990 to meditate or pray in the field toward evening. 00:06:17.930 --> 00:06:21.449 And he lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, 00:06:21.810 --> 00:06:26.310 camels were coming. Rebekah lifted up her eyes. 00:06:26.629 --> 00:06:30.670 And when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the 00:06:30.670 --> 00:06:35.009 camel. She said to the servant, Who is that man 00:06:35.009 --> 00:06:38.389 walking in the field to meet us? And the servant 00:06:38.389 --> 00:06:42.449 said, He is my master. Then she took her veil 00:06:42.449 --> 00:06:46.100 and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:49.459 all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:53.620 her into his mother Sarah's tent and took Rebecca, 00:06:54.139 --> 00:06:57.560 and she became his wife, and he loved her. Thus 00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:01.300 Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. 00:07:01.819 --> 00:07:07.240 When we think about all the many blessings that 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:12.769 we have and we enjoy as believers, When we think 00:07:12.769 --> 00:07:19.290 about the cross of Christ, the heartbeat of Christianity, 00:07:19.370 --> 00:07:24.870 and the work that the Lord Jesus Christ has done, 00:07:25.089 --> 00:07:28.850 when we think about the reality that God sent 00:07:28.850 --> 00:07:32.470 His Son into the world to take on flesh and dwell 00:07:32.470 --> 00:07:37.029 among us, to obey the law of God on our behalf, 00:07:37.870 --> 00:07:40.069 Brothers and sisters, when we think about the 00:07:40.069 --> 00:07:43.589 reality that Christ died willingly on the cross 00:07:43.589 --> 00:07:49.089 as a substitute and a sacrifice for undeserving 00:07:49.089 --> 00:07:53.569 sinners, when we meditate and we dwell on the 00:07:53.569 --> 00:07:58.410 fact that Christ burst forth out of death, that 00:07:58.410 --> 00:08:01.730 He conquered the grave, and that He rose again 00:08:01.730 --> 00:08:06.370 on the third day, that that same Christ, who 00:08:06.370 --> 00:08:10.069 ascended to the right hand of the Father, will 00:08:10.069 --> 00:08:15.389 return one day to consummate all of salvation 00:08:15.389 --> 00:08:19.470 and all of His promises and to judge humanity. 00:08:20.629 --> 00:08:24.269 When we think about the glorious reality of the 00:08:24.269 --> 00:08:27.129 Gospel and how we enjoy it and the blessings 00:08:27.129 --> 00:08:34.419 in our lives, why is that true for us? Why do 00:08:34.419 --> 00:08:37.059 you as a believer enjoy the things that you enjoy 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:41.299 in Christ? Why will those glorious realities 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:45.960 in the future come about that we will enjoy one 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:53.259 day? It's all because God has been faithful in 00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:57.980 the past to bring about His redemptive purposes 00:08:57.980 --> 00:09:04.399 in the future for His people. Christ came into 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:07.799 the world and suffered and died and rose and 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:11.440 ascended and he will return because God has been 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:16.519 faithful in the past. And he continues to be 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.980 faithful to us in the present and he will continue 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:24.720 to be faithful in the future to bring about all 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:31.360 of his promises. We see this in our text today. 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:36.200 The faithfulness of God to accomplish His own 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:40.960 purposes and His own plans in redemption, in 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:44.179 the gospel, and ultimately in the life of every 00:09:44.179 --> 00:09:48.559 single person that professes faith in the Lord 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:51.940 Jesus Christ. There's two things I want us to 00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:55.840 consider from this text today. First, there's 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:59.179 the servant's diligence in accomplishing the 00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:05.990 mission. We really see this in verses 33 through 00:10:05.990 --> 00:10:13.769 the end of verse 61. This will be mostly an explanatory 00:10:13.769 --> 00:10:16.230 section. We'll just walk through and touch base 00:10:16.230 --> 00:10:19.230 on it and explain it and make sure that we understand 00:10:19.230 --> 00:10:23.870 what the author is saying. And then the second 00:10:23.870 --> 00:10:27.169 portion of the message is going to be the success 00:10:27.169 --> 00:10:31.769 of the servant's mission. We see this in verses 00:10:31.769 --> 00:10:37.549 62 through 67, where Rebekah returns to the promised 00:10:37.549 --> 00:10:39.870 land, where she returns home with the servant, 00:10:39.950 --> 00:10:43.889 and the gays of Rebekah and Isaac come together 00:10:43.889 --> 00:10:49.049 providentially. And we see the two being married 00:10:49.049 --> 00:10:52.730 and coming into union together, and we see this 00:10:52.730 --> 00:10:57.590 mission being fulfilled and accomplished, realized 00:10:57.590 --> 00:11:03.740 in their marriage. So first, the servant's diligence 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:07.519 in accomplishing the mission. Observe several 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:12.820 things about this section. In verse 33, observe 00:11:12.820 --> 00:11:17.200 his earnestness after Laban has approached him 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:23.379 with somewhat questionable motives. He sees the 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:26.899 ring and he sees the... the bracelets that his 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:31.340 sister has been given, has received from this 00:11:31.340 --> 00:11:35.279 servant. And that piques his interest in who 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:38.519 this man is. And we know a little bit later, 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:44.039 because of Jacob's story, the character of Laban. 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:46.960 So we're getting a little bit of insight, even 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:52.600 now, into the character of this man who supposedly... 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:56.879 Commends the blessing of God. But also we know 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:00.620 worships idols later because Rachel steals his 00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:04.600 household idols. So this man comes out and greets 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:08.779 him. And I think even in that culture, in that 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:12.399 day, there was great hospitality for caravans 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:15.500 and visitors that were traveling. But I think 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:19.840 what we see is a bit of flattery with Laban in 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:23.350 this text. And the servant sees right through 00:12:23.350 --> 00:12:29.850 it. The servant's like, hey, I'm here with a 00:12:29.850 --> 00:12:35.669 task. I'm here with purpose. I'm here with a 00:12:35.669 --> 00:12:39.370 mission. He says in verse 33, I will not eat 00:12:39.370 --> 00:12:43.169 until I have told my business. And Laban said, 00:12:43.350 --> 00:12:49.680 speak on. He was earnest. He was diligent. His 00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:53.019 face set in the direction he was going, and he 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:56.779 was determined to accomplish the task that God 00:12:56.779 --> 00:13:02.000 had given to him, that his master had entrusted 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:06.559 to him to bring about. He was determined to be 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:10.899 faithful to his master's wishes, to the God of 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:14.399 his master, and to the promise that he himself 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:19.549 loved and believed. And looked forward to. But 00:13:19.549 --> 00:13:25.870 also notice. In verses 34 through 49. That after 00:13:25.870 --> 00:13:30.169 Laban says speak on. The servant gives a discourse. 00:13:30.450 --> 00:13:35.509 Where he basically recounts. Everything he's 00:13:35.509 --> 00:13:40.169 done up until this point. The whole situation. 00:13:42.370 --> 00:13:46.309 When we think about this. It's really a retelling. 00:13:46.970 --> 00:13:52.629 of the entire story. It's a retelling of the 00:13:52.629 --> 00:13:56.809 events. Now, in the Old Testament literature, 00:13:57.110 --> 00:14:02.029 they didn't use a highlighter in the sense that 00:14:02.029 --> 00:14:05.289 we have a highlighter. They didn't use bold to 00:14:05.289 --> 00:14:09.350 emphasize things. But what the Old Testament 00:14:09.350 --> 00:14:12.629 authors did, and we see this a lot throughout 00:14:12.629 --> 00:14:16.759 the book of Genesis, What they did was when there's 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:18.759 something significant, when there's something 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:24.899 important, they repeat the story. They double 00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:29.860 it to make sure you don't miss it. To make sure 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:33.320 that the readers say, there's something important 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:38.980 taking place here because it was just said again. 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:42.759 So he does this, but what's the essence of what 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:47.519 he does in this? This recounting of the events. 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:54.539 Well, he makes sure to assure Laban and his family 00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:59.500 that Rachel would be marrying somebody who's 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:06.100 a good suitor. He says, listen, Abraham, he's 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:11.299 rich. He's very, very wealthy. And then he makes 00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:18.409 sure to say that Isaac is the sole heir of all 00:15:18.409 --> 00:15:24.049 that wealth. That Isaac is the sole heir of everything 00:15:24.049 --> 00:15:29.070 that Abraham possesses. And he even demonstrates 00:15:29.070 --> 00:15:33.129 this whenever he thanks them and he gives them 00:15:33.129 --> 00:15:36.830 gifts and garments and he celebrates and he just 00:15:36.830 --> 00:15:41.960 lavishes them with blessings. He proves this. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:48.039 But ultimately, in this discourse, the author 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:52.320 or the servant is showing Laban and Bethuel and 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:59.080 the household that this thing is of God. This 00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:03.320 thing is from God. It is His will. It is His 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:07.860 purpose. He is pleased in these things. He is 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:11.200 working for these things. He is working in and 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:15.200 through these things. God is favorably disposed 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:19.259 toward these things. He's demonstrating that 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:23.960 it is the will of God for Rebekah to marry Isaac. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:30.259 He wants them to know this is from God and this 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:33.639 is of the Lord. He's been observing and watching. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:37.379 He's been walking in the midst of providence 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:41.179 in this whole situation. He's confident of it. 00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:48.179 And so he shows this to Laban. It's interesting 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:51.600 that as we see the servant doing this and we 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:55.740 read this discourse, it's almost as though the 00:16:55.740 --> 00:17:01.919 servant has a rational knowledge of God's work 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:07.329 in his life. At this time. Because he's been 00:17:07.329 --> 00:17:13.589 watching. Observing. And looking. For what God 00:17:13.589 --> 00:17:18.049 is doing. In the situation. He's walking. Before 00:17:18.049 --> 00:17:23.210 the Lord. Seeking. To know what God is doing. 00:17:23.309 --> 00:17:29.589 In his midst. He takes time. To consider the 00:17:29.589 --> 00:17:33.279 divine purposes. that are at work in his circumstances 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:39.539 and around him at this time in his life. I think 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:42.839 that's important for us to recognize and to know. 00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:46.940 In many ways, I believe that this is a lost art, 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:50.940 something that men of old and men throughout 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:54.539 the ages have given themselves to, looking for 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:58.920 the work of God in their life. Looking for the 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:01.859 work of God around their life. Looking for the 00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:05.480 work of God in their circumstances. Watching 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:10.420 providence. Looking and seeing and trying to 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:16.559 figure out what God is trying to do in the circumstances 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:21.859 that He has placed us providentially and sovereignly 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:27.200 in our own lives. This is something that's very, 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:31.460 very commendable for the servant. Again, I think 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:37.259 one of the reasons that Abraham so astutely chooses 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:43.319 this servant for this task. Abraham knows that 00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:48.640 this servant is a spiritually minded man. That 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:52.400 he looks for the hand of God in all that he does. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.859 That he looks for the hand of God in everything 00:18:55.859 --> 00:19:02.160 that's taking place. So we see this servant gives 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:05.259 this discourse and seeks to convince them that 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:09.859 this is of the Lord. How does Laban and the household 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:13.640 respond? We see this in verses 50 through 51. 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:19.140 They recognize and they say, the matter comes 00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:23.250 from the Lord. So he cannot speak. to you good 00:19:23.250 --> 00:19:29.529 or bad. And then they say, here's Rebecca. Take 00:19:29.529 --> 00:19:34.910 her. She's yours. She can go and be married to 00:19:34.910 --> 00:19:39.549 your master. Now what's interesting about this 00:19:39.549 --> 00:19:43.690 is that a little bit later, there's a different 00:19:43.690 --> 00:19:47.490 kind of response when it's actually time for 00:19:47.490 --> 00:19:53.849 them to leave. Now, we know that Laban was an 00:19:53.849 --> 00:19:57.430 idol worshiper because of the later chapters 00:19:57.430 --> 00:20:01.849 of Genesis with Rachel and Jacob. But we also 00:20:01.849 --> 00:20:05.069 think that he probably, in some way, shape, or 00:20:05.069 --> 00:20:09.670 form, worshipped the God of Israel, Abraham's 00:20:09.670 --> 00:20:13.309 God. We don't know for sure. But he worshipped 00:20:13.309 --> 00:20:18.089 the true God and he worshipped idols. We don't 00:20:18.089 --> 00:20:23.099 know for certain. But even this man who was an 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:27.279 idol worshiper recognized the hand of God in 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:33.079 this situation in some way. He saw that this 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:38.480 was of the Lord in some capacity and that it 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:42.180 was a commendable thing and that they weren't 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:45.240 someone to go against that providence and that 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:49.509 divine purpose. The servant responds as he did 00:20:49.509 --> 00:20:53.470 previously when Rebekah told him who he was. 00:20:53.630 --> 00:20:56.670 He falls to the ground. He thanks God. And he 00:20:56.670 --> 00:21:01.329 worships the Lord. He gives them gifts. And then 00:21:01.329 --> 00:21:05.329 he pays the dowry price most likely. Meaning 00:21:05.329 --> 00:21:09.690 he pays for any services that Rebekah would have 00:21:09.690 --> 00:21:12.730 rendered to Laban in the household during that 00:21:12.730 --> 00:21:16.170 time or in the future. So probably a good... 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:21.319 Amount of money. Then we see. That they fellowship. 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:26.380 They break bread. And then he wakes up the next 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:29.160 day. Or a little bit longer. A little bit later. 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:35.039 And he says. I'm ready. To return to my master. 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:38.839 We've celebrated. We've thanked God. We've worshipped 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:45.099 him. Back to my purpose. Back to the mission. 00:21:45.710 --> 00:21:54.230 Back to the task at hand. The servant is very, 00:21:54.269 --> 00:22:04.890 very diligent. Even though we see that Laban 00:22:04.890 --> 00:22:11.130 hesitates. Even though Laban has second guesses 00:22:11.130 --> 00:22:15.799 with regards to what? He had already previously 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:21.259 said. Why is he going back on his word now? We 00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:26.259 see that he does this in verse 55. Listen to 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:29.240 what he says. But her brother, meaning Laban, 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:33.059 and her mother said, Let the girl stay with us 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:40.430 a few days. Say ten. Afterward she may go. The 00:22:40.430 --> 00:22:43.829 language in this verse is very, very broad, very, 00:22:44.009 --> 00:22:48.250 very vague, and very, very general. It's basically 00:22:48.250 --> 00:22:53.190 like he's saying, let her stay a couple days 00:22:53.190 --> 00:22:58.950 or much longer. Why is he saying this all of 00:22:58.950 --> 00:23:01.509 a sudden now when he already said, we can't say 00:23:01.509 --> 00:23:06.390 good or bad, take her. He's going back on what 00:23:06.390 --> 00:23:13.430 he previously said. we see Laban's character 00:23:13.430 --> 00:23:21.150 again revealing itself in some way. The mother 00:23:21.150 --> 00:23:25.869 probably just wanted the daughter to remain because 00:23:25.869 --> 00:23:30.269 this is a sudden thing. It's come on them suddenly. 00:23:30.390 --> 00:23:33.990 She's not going to see her daughter again. She 00:23:33.990 --> 00:23:41.160 wants time. But Laban most likely is trying to 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:45.839 get something out of the situation. He's trying 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:48.960 to milk it for what it's worth. He knows that 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:52.720 the servant has wealth. He knows that the servant 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:56.960 has money. And he wants to get as much as he 00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:01.759 can possibly get from Abraham's household and 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.539 the servant. But the servant says, no, no, no, 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:08.299 no. That's not what we said. That's not what 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:11.740 we're doing. I have a purpose here. He says in 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:17.019 verse 56, Do not delay me since the Lord has 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:21.059 prospered my way. Send me a way that I may go 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:27.920 to my master. Don't go against providence. Don't 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:30.799 go against the divine purpose of God in this 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:34.720 situation. Don't set yourself in opposition to 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:38.019 the divine purposes of God that he's accomplishing 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:43.380 through these things. It's a subtle warning to 00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:47.500 Laban and his family. He diligently perseveres 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:52.240 and stays on track and focuses on his mission. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:56.119 And then we come to the big moment in verse 58. 00:24:56.680 --> 00:25:01.339 They leave it up to Rebekah. Will she stay or 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:05.259 will she go? Will she go to this foreign land 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:08.400 she's never been? Will she marry this foreign 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:10.920 man she's never met, she's never known about? 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:14.660 Will she travel with this servant that she's 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:18.759 never met before this period of time in her life? 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:26.279 She will. She willingly goes. It's almost like 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:30.369 this is the culminating point. where she decides 00:25:30.369 --> 00:25:35.349 to go with the man and to marry Isaac. She steps 00:25:35.349 --> 00:25:40.210 out into the unknown in this situation by faith, 00:25:40.269 --> 00:25:47.029 I believe. Then she's blessed by the household. 00:25:47.170 --> 00:25:51.990 They depart and they return and they start back 00:25:51.990 --> 00:25:57.859 on their return to the promised land. So we see 00:25:57.859 --> 00:26:02.319 the diligence and the labor and the commitment 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:08.980 of this servant to the task that Abraham has 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:11.799 entrusted to him. And I think it's important 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:14.180 for us to understand and remember at this point 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:19.359 the reason the servant was doing this. It's because 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:23.880 Abraham was concerned about the future of the 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:29.609 gospel or the promise. Abraham is concerned about 00:26:29.609 --> 00:26:35.049 preserving and continuing the blessing and the 00:26:35.049 --> 00:26:37.809 promise and having heirs in that blessing and 00:26:37.809 --> 00:26:42.549 that promise. So he wants his son to have a wife. 00:26:43.430 --> 00:26:47.349 Now this leads us to the second thing. The second 00:26:47.349 --> 00:26:50.829 part of this that we see. The success of the 00:26:50.829 --> 00:26:54.130 servant's mission. We see this in that last section. 00:26:54.990 --> 00:27:01.000 In verses... 62 through 67, where she returns 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:05.519 home and she finally comes together with her 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:10.200 husband. They're married. They're united. Now, 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:16.839 it's interesting in this text that there's a 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:22.200 providential moment in it that confirms this 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:26.579 is of the Lord's will. The language of the text 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:31.759 wants us to recognize this. It carries this idea 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:34.900 that Isaac is walking around, wandering around, 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:39.099 praying or meditating. He's walking around. Maybe 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:42.339 he's expecting them to return home. Maybe he's 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:44.839 looking and watching for them. But he's meditating. 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:48.720 He's praying. Probably, most likely, with his 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:54.369 eyes closed. And as he's walking around, He opens 00:27:54.369 --> 00:27:58.410 his eyes and he sees the caravan coming towards 00:27:58.410 --> 00:28:04.670 him. And his eyes look out and they lock with 00:28:04.670 --> 00:28:08.990 this woman that's on her way toward him. But 00:28:08.990 --> 00:28:12.890 it's not just that his eyes lock with her eyes. 00:28:13.250 --> 00:28:16.869 The text wants us to know and recognize that 00:28:16.869 --> 00:28:20.509 at the exact same moment that Isaac looks up 00:28:20.509 --> 00:28:24.200 and sees and locks eyes with Rebekah, Rebekah's 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:29.240 eyes look up and they see. And they lock in with 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:35.599 Isaac's eyes. It's not happenstance. It's not 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:39.640 luck, brothers and sisters. It's the divine hand 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:43.400 of God orchestrating, blessing, and bringing 00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:46.440 about His divine purposes. And He gives us this 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:49.480 providential scenario to confirm the reality 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:55.539 that this really is a marriage of God. But there's 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:58.819 more than just a marriage taking place, isn't 00:28:58.819 --> 00:29:04.640 there? There's more than just a wedding happening 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:09.660 in this situation. We don't come to this section 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:14.359 of Scripture looking for marriage principles 00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:18.529 for soulmates. Brothers and sisters, there's 00:29:18.529 --> 00:29:22.529 something much, much deeper taking place in this 00:29:22.529 --> 00:29:26.490 text. And that is the preservation and the perpetuity 00:29:26.490 --> 00:29:29.910 and the continuance of the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:29:29.910 --> 00:29:35.430 in the world. God is making preservation for 00:29:35.430 --> 00:29:39.509 the gospel in future generations and future ages. 00:29:39.890 --> 00:29:43.390 Ultimately, so that the gospel can come about 00:29:43.390 --> 00:29:47.160 in time. and history, and the person of Jesus 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:50.839 Christ, and all the nations can be blessed by 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:57.019 Him. There's something much deeper taking place 00:29:57.019 --> 00:30:04.980 than just a marriage. And it's all of the Lord. 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:09.440 We see this in a couple different ways. The providential 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:14.329 meeting, but we also see it And if you remember, 00:30:14.390 --> 00:30:19.430 when the servant left, he was referring to Abraham 00:30:19.430 --> 00:30:24.369 as his master. That Abraham was his master. When 00:30:24.369 --> 00:30:27.390 he gets back to the promised land, now who is 00:30:27.390 --> 00:30:32.390 he referencing as his master? Isaac. There's 00:30:32.390 --> 00:30:36.269 been a transfer of leadership in the home. There's 00:30:36.269 --> 00:30:39.700 been a transfer of the headship. From Abraham 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:43.480 as the patriarch of God's people to Isaac as 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:46.539 the patriarch of God's people. And then we see 00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:49.920 that Rebekah is being taken into the tent of 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:54.079 the former matriarch. And now she's replacing 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:58.000 Sarah as the matriarch of God's people. What's 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:00.559 happening here, brothers and sisters? God is 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:03.519 preserving His people throughout the ages to 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:06.420 bring about Jesus Christ that sinners might be 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:08.900 forgiven and redemption might be accomplished. 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:14.819 More than a marriage is taking place here. More 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:17.940 than a relationship is present in this text. 00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:22.460 The gospel is being accomplished. God is taking 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:28.339 one step. He's bringing the gospel in history 00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:34.579 one step closer by progressing his redemptive 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:40.359 purposes in the world. The author wants us to 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:45.140 know that the future of the promise is secured. 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:50.000 It is safe. And it is guaranteed. It is sure. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:54.069 And it is steady. And it's been brought about 00:31:54.069 --> 00:31:59.569 and supported by divine providence and divine 00:31:59.569 --> 00:32:05.509 power. Divine superintendence. He wants us to 00:32:05.509 --> 00:32:11.930 know that redemption is a little bit closer because 00:32:11.930 --> 00:32:16.849 God has faithfully been bringing about his purposes 00:32:16.849 --> 00:32:23.630 through these people. We must recognize in this 00:32:23.630 --> 00:32:29.329 text, and we have to recognize it, we have to 00:32:29.329 --> 00:32:33.170 recognize the instrumentality of men in God's 00:32:33.170 --> 00:32:36.390 purposes and His plans. We can't come to this 00:32:36.390 --> 00:32:41.329 text and not recognize that God used the servant. 00:32:41.690 --> 00:32:45.970 He did, brothers and sisters. God, in His mysterious, 00:32:45.990 --> 00:32:48.430 sovereign purposes, and according to His good 00:32:48.430 --> 00:32:53.259 pleasure, Chooses to use sinful men. To bring 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:56.559 about his purposes in the world. And I think 00:32:56.559 --> 00:33:00.859 in the servant. We have a wonderful picture. 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:06.039 Of what those people are like. That God uses 00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:10.180 in this world. They are spiritually minded. They 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:13.859 look for the hand of God. They are prayerful. 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:17.920 They are grateful. They are thankful. They are 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:21.829 diligent. They set their face and they stay on 00:33:21.829 --> 00:33:24.690 task with the mission of the Gospel in their 00:33:24.690 --> 00:33:28.609 lives, just like the servant did. They walk in 00:33:28.609 --> 00:33:33.410 reverence and fear before the living God. I think 00:33:33.410 --> 00:33:36.289 that's the greatest commendation of this servant. 00:33:36.990 --> 00:33:41.809 He walked before the face of God the whole time. 00:33:43.009 --> 00:33:48.960 He was conscious and aware. of God's working 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:51.859 and God's protection and God's provision and 00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:56.619 God's providence in his life and in the situation. 00:33:57.380 --> 00:34:04.420 He is an important and a vital part of God bringing 00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:09.440 about his purposes. God uses men as instruments, 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:14.599 but we have to recognize that though men are 00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:20.619 instrumental, The ultimate source of success 00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:25.960 for any redemptive work is the Lord himself. 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:36.400 Men are but instruments in God's hands. An instrument 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:43.000 is only as good as the person that picks it up 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:49.039 and uses it. A wrench is only good if someone 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:53.159 picks it up and fixes something in a car or twists 00:34:53.159 --> 00:35:00.980 the bolt. An instrument is useless if a sovereign, 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:08.000 mighty, powerful being does not use the instrument. 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:13.579 The same is true here. The ultimate source of 00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:20.159 success for any redemptive work is the Lord himself. 00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:26.179 God is the grand designer of all of redemption. 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:30.300 But brothers and sisters, he's not just the grand 00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:36.059 designer. He's the supreme worker of redemption. 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:42.420 He is the supreme mover of redemption. He is 00:35:42.420 --> 00:35:45.679 the grand orchestrator of all things Christ. 00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:49.639 He is the grand orchestrator of all things in 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:52.320 the life of the church. He is the grand orchestrator 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:55.880 of the beautiful, wonderful work of redemption 00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:59.559 that every single believer enjoys and takes part 00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:02.900 in. He is the grand orchestrator of your sanctification 00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:06.940 and your godliness in your life. He's not just 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:10.550 a designer. He's the orchestrator and the accomplisher 00:36:10.550 --> 00:36:14.590 and the worker of those things. He didn't just 00:36:14.590 --> 00:36:17.670 bring about the gospel in the person of Christ 00:36:17.670 --> 00:36:20.489 and secure it in Christ and through the promises 00:36:20.489 --> 00:36:24.590 in the Old Testament. But listen, He accomplishes 00:36:24.590 --> 00:36:30.210 it in your life as redemption is applied. He's 00:36:30.210 --> 00:36:33.389 still the grand worker. He's still the grand 00:36:33.389 --> 00:36:38.289 designer. But He is the grand mover. In all things, 00:36:38.449 --> 00:36:43.989 redemption. In every single aspect. Notice in 00:36:43.989 --> 00:36:47.550 this text, just the portion that we read today. 00:36:48.429 --> 00:36:53.449 How often a reference to the Lord takes place. 00:36:53.710 --> 00:36:59.809 We see it in verse 31. Come in, blessed of the 00:36:59.809 --> 00:37:04.690 Lord. Verse 35. The Lord has greatly blessed. 00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:09.260 We see it in verse 40. He said to me, the Lord 00:37:09.260 --> 00:37:15.280 before whom I have walked. Verse 42. Oh Lord, 00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:22.719 the God of my master. Verse 44. Whom the Lord 00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:26.880 has appointed for my master's son. Verse 48. 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:30.679 And I bowed low and worshipped the Lord and blessed 00:37:30.679 --> 00:37:33.960 the Lord, the God of my master. Three references 00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:38.760 in that one verse. Verse 50. Then Laban and Bethuel 00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:41.599 replied, the matter comes from the Lord. Then 00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:45.019 we see it again in verse 51, as the Lord. Then 00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:47.599 we see it in verse 52, himself to the ground 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:52.940 before the Lord. We see it in verse 56. He said 00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:56.460 to them, do not delay me. Since the Lord has 00:37:56.460 --> 00:37:58.940 prospered my way, send me a way that I may go 00:37:58.940 --> 00:38:03.199 to my master. And surely, whenever we read in 00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:06.260 verse 66, and the servant told Isaac all the 00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:08.739 things that had happened, how many times do you 00:38:08.739 --> 00:38:13.760 think he referenced the Lord in recounting the 00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:19.079 situation to his master himself? Brothers and 00:38:19.079 --> 00:38:24.559 sisters, the servant was faithful. But listen. 00:38:25.099 --> 00:38:29.599 We must never get this confused. It was God who 00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:35.119 accomplished the divine work. It was God who 00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:41.179 efficaciously brought about His purposes in this 00:38:41.179 --> 00:38:50.239 situation. Because the Lord is the ultimate source 00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:57.800 of success, For all his gospel purposes. All 00:38:57.800 --> 00:39:03.280 of them have come about. And all of them will 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:06.679 come about. And they will be brought to their 00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:12.559 appointed ends. He has been faithful in the past. 00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:17.980 He is faithful now. And he will be faithful in 00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:20.380 the future. Will he not brothers and sisters? 00:39:23.690 --> 00:39:29.190 That means that he will be faithful to build 00:39:29.190 --> 00:39:34.690 his church and to call in all those lost, dying, 00:39:34.769 --> 00:39:37.570 unregenerate men who don't know Christ and to 00:39:37.570 --> 00:39:41.710 gather them into his people. That means, brothers 00:39:41.710 --> 00:39:44.530 and sisters, that he will sustain and preserve 00:39:44.530 --> 00:39:48.250 his church throughout the ages until the return 00:39:48.250 --> 00:39:51.949 of Christ. That means, brothers and sisters, 00:39:51.989 --> 00:39:54.789 that He will accomplish and bring every single 00:39:54.789 --> 00:40:00.590 gospel purpose in your life to its appointed 00:40:00.590 --> 00:40:07.230 ends. Every single one. That's why the cross 00:40:07.230 --> 00:40:12.369 came about. Because God was faithful to bring 00:40:12.369 --> 00:40:18.400 it about. Just as certain. As God accomplished 00:40:18.400 --> 00:40:22.280 the work in Genesis 24, God accomplished the 00:40:22.280 --> 00:40:26.780 work with Christ in the Gospel, just as certain 00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:31.460 is His accomplishment of His work in our lives 00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:37.539 today, and just as certain, as those are true 00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:41.300 and a reality and have come about and are being 00:40:41.300 --> 00:40:44.659 brought about, He will bring about every future 00:40:44.659 --> 00:40:50.000 purpose He has. For his people. But there is 00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:54.340 another thing. That we have to recognize. Just 00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:59.980 as sure. And just as certain. As redemption is. 00:41:02.039 --> 00:41:05.599 Just as sure. And just as certain. As the cross. 00:41:06.619 --> 00:41:14.320 Will be judgment. Every single person who does 00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:17.119 not know Jesus Christ by faith and repentance 00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:22.539 will certainly be judged for their rebellion 00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:28.239 against the living God. Just as sure as God has 00:41:28.239 --> 00:41:31.280 brought about every gracious design that he has 00:41:31.280 --> 00:41:36.199 in Christ, he will bring about judgment upon 00:41:36.199 --> 00:41:39.880 the head of those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:41:43.789 --> 00:41:46.530 He has accomplished redemption in the Lord Jesus. 00:41:47.590 --> 00:41:51.730 It has been proclaimed throughout the ages. The 00:41:51.730 --> 00:41:56.969 gospel has been made known. Don't cast that off 00:41:56.969 --> 00:42:01.409 because of the fickle desires of your heart for 00:42:01.409 --> 00:42:04.610 iniquity and for sin and for worldliness and 00:42:04.610 --> 00:42:10.909 carnality. Forsake those things and look to the 00:42:10.909 --> 00:42:15.659 Lord Jesus Christ by faith. And find safety and 00:42:15.659 --> 00:42:20.340 refuge and hope and eternal life and joy in the 00:42:20.340 --> 00:42:23.659 person and in the work of Christ. Be changed 00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:26.960 and be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:42:27.079 --> 00:42:32.639 And have your future guaranteed and certain because 00:42:32.639 --> 00:42:40.119 of the cross. God is a faithful God, brothers 00:42:40.119 --> 00:42:47.659 and sisters. And He is faithful to all His purposes. 00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:53.739 So the plea is to look at the faithfulness of 00:42:53.739 --> 00:42:58.099 God to bring about His redemptive purposes. And 00:42:58.099 --> 00:43:02.280 be compelled to run to the Lord Jesus Christ 00:43:02.280 --> 00:43:08.400 because you know that He will judge those outside 00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:13.199 of Christ just as certainly. He has accomplished 00:43:13.199 --> 00:43:15.940 redemption for those in Christ.