Happy Easter

 

 

 

 

                  

 

                                               

                       HE  IS    RISEN!!      

 

                 HE IS RISEN INDEED!!              

 

 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: AN ALL IMORTANT DECISION P/10

 

                                                           Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                   AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISON

                                       PART X                     

"I, Abraham's servant, Eliezer, feel so refreshed this morning.... And now wonder, for I have had such a good sleep at the home of Rebakah's family here in Nahor....It has been the best sleep I have had such I left Canaan some weeks ago...You may well think that I might like to stay here for a few more days to enjoy the hospitality of my master's relatives.... It is tempting I have to say... Especially, because everyone has been so kind and welcoming to me...However, I know I need to return to my master... For he will have been eagerly waiting for my return since the day I left him....I will, therefore, not postpone my return to Canaan... But I will leave this very day... For I am very excited to be able to tell my master how the Lord has led me all the way to the home of his relatives to find a bride for his son Isaac... That news will, no doubt, set his heart at ease."..... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Abraham's servant Eliezer's decision to return to Canaan the next morning...

                      ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                   AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                                                      PART X

We would have expected Abraham's servant, Eliezer, to take a few days off before travelling back home to Canaan. But the text tells us that the next day he is ready to go back home for he has finished his task and is eager to tell his master Abraham what has happened to him as you can read in Genesis 24:54

Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master."

Even the wonderful hospitality enjoyed by him the evening before by Rebekah's family, when he was given such a delicious meal, does not prevent Abraham's servant from wanting to return to his master Abraham in Canaan.

Read Part Eleven HERE

                      

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION P/9

 

                                                           Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                 AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION 

                                        PART IX

"I, Abraham's servant, had shared with Rebekah's family here in Nahor, who I am and why I have come here.... I then waited.... I looked at their faces to see how they felt about what I had shared with them... I could see they were very carefully considering everything I had said... Rebekah's father, Bethuel, and her brother Laban then spoke up... I was very grateful for their response... For they understood that it was the Lord Himself who had led me to come to Nahor...And that He has chosen for Rebekah to become the wife of my master's son Isaac....All I could do was to bow down before the Lord... It was then time to give all the gifts my master Abraham had given me for Rebekah, her brother and her mother."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn how Rebekah's family responds to Abraham's servant Eliezer's account of his reason for coming to Nahor...

 

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                                                   PART IX 

After Abraham's servant Eliezer, who has met Rebekah at the well just outside the town of Nahor, has given Rebekah's relatives all the details of his meeting with her, their response is very positive as you can read in Genesis 24:50-53

Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed." When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord. Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewellery and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and her mother.

Abraham's servant gives a very detailed account of what has happened for he knows it is extremely important that Rebekah's relatives know exactly how God has led him to Rebekah. After he has shared his story, they are completely convinced that only God can have organised the events. Consequently her father and her brother give their blessings to Rebekah becoming the wifee of Abraham's son. In response, Abraham's servant thanks the Lord. Then it is time to present gifts to Rebekah and her family.

Read Part Ten HERE

           

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION P/8

 

                                                           Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                 AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION 

                                     PART VIII

"I, Abraham's servant, Eliezer, am so thankful to the Lord for leading me to the home of my master's relatives here in Nahor...They have been so kind to me.... For they have welcomed me into their home... And they have made sure all the camels were well fed... Moreover, they cooked a delicious meal for my men and me... I knew too that I would not be able to enjoy that delicious meal until I had done something else... I had to tell them who I was... Where I had come from.... And why I had come.... So I told them that I am the servant of their relative Abraham... I told them as well that he had gone to live in Canaan... And I told them that my master is very wealthy....I then told them that my master and his wife Sarah have a son named Isaac... And that my master had send me to them to find a wife for his son Isaac...Lastly, I shared with them my enounter with Rebekah... I then waited for their response.".. Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Eliezer, Abraham's servant shares with Rebekah's family who he is and why he has come....

 

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                              AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                                           PART VIII                                                                                        

Abraham's servant, who has travelled from Canaan to Nahor, is well received in Rebekah's home, but he is not yet ready to eat as you you can read in Genesis 24:33-49

Then the food was set before him, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say, "Then tell us," Laban said. So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. My master's wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. And my master made me swear an oath, and said, "You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, but go to my father's family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son." Then I asked my master, "What if the woman will not come back with me?" He replied, "The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father's family. Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you. - you will be released from my oath." When I came to the spring today, I said, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if You will please grant success to the journey on which I have come. See I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar, " and if she says to me, "Drink, and I will draw water for your camels too," let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master's son. Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water and I said to her, "Please give me a drink." She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder, and said, "Drink, and I'll water your camels too." So I drank and she watered the camels also. I asked her, "Whose daughter are you?" She said, "The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Micah bore to him." Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms and I bowed down and worshipped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son. Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn."

Eliezer, Abraham's servant, tells Rebekah's family in details who he is, who has sent him and why he has come to Nahor. All he can do now is wait for their response.

Read Part Nine HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION P/7

 

                                                          Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                      PART VII

"I, Eliezer, Abraham's servant, am so grateful to the Lord.... For He has answered my prayer... He sent a young woman to help me water all my camels here at the well outside the town of Nahor... I introduced myself after she had done that... She then told me about her family...And to my delight I learned that she is the granddaughter of my master's brother... She told me as well that her name is Rebekah...She then went  home to tell her family of her encounter with me... In the meantime I waited at the well... It did not take too long before Rebekah's brother Laban came to see me....And he invited me to spend the night with them... How very kind of Rebekah's family... I have now gone there.... And I have settled all the animals...They are now all fed... I know that my men and I are all very tired... But I must do something first before we can have that well deserved rest."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Rebekah's brother goes to the well where Eliezer, Abraham's servant is waiting...

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                                                PART VII

Has the Lord prepared Rebekah's family to receive Abraham's servant who has come to Nahor all the way from Canaan? Let's read Genesis 24:28-32

The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things. Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring. As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and he had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. "Come, you who are blessed by the Lord," he said. "Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels." So the man went to the house and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.

After Laban, Rebekah's brother, has heard Rebekah's story, he first of all, instructs the servants to get everything ready for their guests from Canaan. He then goes to the well outside the town and invites Abraham's servant, Eliezer, to their home. Eliezer is very grateful for the warm welcome he and his men receive at the home of Rebekah's family.

Read Part Eight HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION P/6

                                                          Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                 AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION 

                                       PART VI

"I, Eliezer, Abraham's servant, kept watching this young woman as she watered the ten camels I had brought with me from Canaan.... I was so pleased to see her not give up taking care of them until they all had had enough water to drink...I decided that the moment had come to give her some of the gifts my master had given me for the young woman who, God willing, may become the wife of my master's son Isaac...As I presented her with these gifts I asked her who she was.... I was so delighted to hear that she is part of my master's family...Only God could have arranged that... And he had done so in answer to my prayer to him....She told me as well that she will arrange for me to stay at their home that night... Rebekah, for that is the name of the young woman, has now gone home to tell her family about me....I went back on my knees to thank the Lord for His goodness."... Please read the typed out attachment when Abraham's servant learns that the young woman who has kindly watered his camels is part of Abraham's family....

              ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                            AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                                             PART VII

It seems God may have answered Abraham's servant's prayer, which he prayed while at the well just outside the town of Nahor. However, he still needs to know who the young woman is who has been so kind to him so let's read Genesis 24:22-27

When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?" She answered him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor." And she added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night." Then the man bowed down and worshipped the Lord, saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned His kindness and faithfullness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

God has answered Abraham's servant's prayer to the smallest details. The first thing he does is to thank God by bowing down and worshipping the Lord. He knows this would not have happened without the Lord's help. Only the Lord can have made this encounter with the young woman Rebekah possible.

Read Part Seven HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION P/5

Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

              AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                       PART V

"I, Eliezer, Abrahams servant. am so grateful to God.... For He answered my prayer... A young woman came to the well.... It is located just outside the town Nahor... She carried a jar on her shoulder...I got up from my knees... And I approached her... I asked her for a little water... She very kindly gave me something to drink.... I waited if she would say more... To my delight she told me she would be happy to water my camels as well.... I did not say anything... I just watched her as she patiently watered all of my ten camels until they had finished drinking.... Would she be the one the Lord had chosen as the future wife for my master's son?.... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about a young woman who came to the well at the town of Nahor...

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                    AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                                              PART V

Does God answer Abraham's servant's prayer, which he prayed while at the well just outside the town of Nahor? Let's read Genesis 24:15-22 to begin to find out

Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. The girl was very beautful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. The servant hurried to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water from your jar." "Drink my lord," she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking."So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water; and drew enough for all his camels. Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.

No doubt, the servant is very grateful that this young woman, whose name he does not yet know, has not only given him some water, but has begun to give his camels water as well. Nevertheless, he knows that it is too early to be sure that this young woman is the one the Lord has chosen for his master's son Isaac.

Read Part Six HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION P/4

  

                                                          Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                  AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                    PART FOUR

"I, Eliezer, Abraham's servant, have arrived at the well of the town Nahor where my master is from originally... I am quite tired as you can well imagine... However, I am here on a mission to find a wife for my master's son Isaac... So I cannot rest as yet.... I know too that it will be impossible for me to find her by myself.... I need help from the God of my master Abraham...That is why I knelt down and began to pray to Him... I was very specific in my prayers to Him... I told him my exact location... I told Him as well that at this time of the day the woung women of the town come to the well to draw water...After all, God is in heaven.... And I am here on earth... Things are done differently in heaven... So I thought I better explain to God not only where exactly I am... But how things are done over here... I then asked Him if He would be kind enough to help me know which woman He has selected to become the wife of my master's son Isaac...I suggested she could offer to give water to my camels as a sign of His choice... I am now waiting to see if God will answer my prayer."

 

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                              AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                                               PART FOUR

Abraham's servant, Eliezer, who is at the well just outside the town of Nahor, knows that in a practical sense he has done everything he possibly can. But he knows too that it is not enough for her needs to prepare spiritually for this very important task his master has given him. So after he had made the camels kneel down, he himself kneels down as well and prays that God will help his choose the right wife for his master's son Isaac as you can read in Genesis 24:13-14

Then he prayed, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring and the daughters of the towns people are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, "Please let down your jar that I may have a drink," and she says, "Drink, and I'll water your camels too," - let her be the one You have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master."

The servant is very specific in the way he asks the Lord to answer his prayer giving God full details as to where he is at the moment and that at this time of the day the young women of the town will come to the well to fetch water. Abraham's servant may have felt the need to be so specific because God resides in heaven where, no doubt, things are done differently than here on earth. However, God does know everything what happens on earth even while he is in heaven so He will have known that Abraham's servant is at the spring and that the young women are about to go to the spring to fetch water. I think that we can sometimes be like that, can't we? Thinking we have to tell God how it is, not realising He knows better than we how things really are for God is all-knowing.

Read Part Five HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION P/3

  

                                                          Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                 AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                  PART THREE

"I am Abraham servant, Eliezer... I have been with Abraham and his wife Sarah for many, many years... He trusts me completely... A while ago he called me into his tent.... He spoke to me about his son Isaac... It is time for his son Isaac to be married....However, Abraham does not want his son to marry a local young woman.... I can understand his concerns... That is why he asked me to travel to the country he is from originally....So I could find a wife for his son from amon his relatives... I left for Aram Naharaim very soon after our conversation... Of course, I did not just go by myself.... I took with me ten of my master's camels... And all kinds of good things... For my master is very wealthy...I have now arrived in the town of Nahor....I am at the well just outside the town... It is towards evening.... The time that the young women come to the well to draw water.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Eliezer's arrival in Nahor, the town Abraham is from originally."....

                    ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                 AN ALL IMPORTANT DECISION

                                                                   PART THREE

And so the servant Eliezer, being faithful to his master Abraham, sets off on his trip to find a wife for Abraham's son Isaac as you can read in Genesis 24:10-14

Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things. He set off for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. He made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was towards evening, the time the women go out to draw water.

After a long journey, Abraham's servant Eliezer, finds himself in Nahor where he has strategically placed himself at the well just outside the town. And he has brought with him all kinds of gifts to help make his offer of marriage more acceptable to the young woman of his choice.

Read Part Four HERE