Relevance?–Intro question:

Humming: “I Love You, Lord!” –“Oh, Good morning!--

Have you ever faced a situation where you didn’t know what to do?

        –you couldn’t figure out which way to turn?

            –so you had to call out to God o show you the way?

–and He actually ANSWERED?

–He actually showed you what you should do?

    Well, I did!–and I was invited to come tell you my story this morning.”

Pagan witness introduces himself to PVBC

    Eliezer– my story is recorded in Genesis 24

     Syrian from Damascus

    Chief servant–in charge of everything Abraham owned

    Had chance to observe Abraham from closeup

Pagan witness observes Abraham’s practical confidence in his God

Pagan witness has never known anyone who walked with God as Abraham did

Pagan witness has never observed trust in God like Abraham’s practical day-to-day confidence in his God

Pagan witness knew about God’s promise to bless Abraham, give him a son and make from him a great nation

Pagan witness couldn’t understand Sarah’s offer and Abraham’s attempt to help God out

    Pagan witness observes the “laughter” over Isaac’s birth

Abraham commissions his pagan servant to get a wife for the chosen son 1-9

    God blesses Abraham in every way 1

Abraham made his pagan servant swear to find him a wife among his own family 2-9

        He isn’t to take a wife from among the pagans 2-3

        He’s to find a wife among Abraham’s people 4

“I asked him what I should do if the woman wouldn’t come with me–should I take him to her country?”

Since God’s promise to Abraham was centered in the new land, the servant isn’t to take Isaac back to the old country 5-9

If the woman wouldn’t come with him, the servant was free from his commitment.

(“It seemed pretty obvious to me that Abraham knew God’s chosen woman wasn’t going to say no to God’s plan!

In fact, he said that to me: ‘Yahweh, before Whom I have walked, will send His angel with you, and make your journey a success!’”}

After traveling to Haran, the pagan servant calls out to Abraham’s God for help 10-14

    He loads up a caravan of camels and goods to take with him 10-11

He asks God to make his trip successful 12

“I didn’t know what else to do, so I called out to Abraham’s God: ‘Help! O Yahweh, God of my master, Abraham, give me success today! Show kindness to my master Abraham!’”

“As I began to think about how to state my request, I realized how hard it was going to be to be absolutely sure that Abraham’s God was really in this–not just my own wishful thinking! Then I got it! It was the kind of thing that only God could do. If this actually came about–it would have to be because God did it–not that any god I ever heard of could do such a thing–but if God did THIS, I would know for sure it was HIM–not just my desire!”

“So here’s the plan: I would look for just the right girl–a girl WORTHY of my master’s son–and then I’d ask her for a drink. If she responds, SURE! And let me get water for all your camels too, then I’ll know GOD DID IT! No one’s going to VOLUNTEER to do that –especially not these days! These modern girls don’t come like they used to, you know!”

He proposes an impossible test to discover whom GOD has chosen 13-14

God guides the pagan servant to Rebekah by accomplishing the impossible 15-25

“I looked up–and there she was! --the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life. This had to be the one!”

Then the test began. I couldn’t believe it! Everything happened just the way it was supposed to! Can you believe it?!!!

    I asked this total stranger for a drink–and she quickly and graciously responded to my request.

    Then, when I was done, she volunteered: ‘Let me draw water for your camels too!”

    What kind of woman was this?

She gave them water, ‘til her jar was empty; then she ran back for more–and more–and more, until they were all satisfied.

I’d never seen anything like it! By the time she was done, I could hardly get out the words to ask about her family.

Without letting her answer the first question, I was already asking the second. It was as if I already knew the answers:

            ‘Whose daughter are you? –Is there room to spend the night in your father’s house?’

        Sure enough–SHE WAS FAMILY!

            God had answered my prayer!

            There was only one thing I could do: I bowed down and worshiped my master’s God.

                 My old pagan gods never did anything like that for me!!!

                 Any God who could do this was worthy of my praise!

“Praise be to Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, who hasn’t abandoned His loyal loving kindness and faithfulness to my master.

And to ME TOO! He has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s people!” => I Worship You, Almighty God (28–G)

                                      We Worship and Adore You (103–G-Ab)

                                      I Love You, Lord (72–F)

The pagan servant worships Abraham’s God 26-27

“Oh, I’m sorry! I just get so excited every time I think about what my Abraham’s God did for me, that I just have to worship Him again. What a GOD!”

The pagan interacts with Abraham’s family 28-61

    The whole family receives the servant graciously 28-33

They prepared lodging for me and my men; they cared for my camels.

        They set a feast before us.

But I couldn’t eat! I had to find out for sure if God had really done what it looked like He’d done!

    The pagan servant tells what God has done

    He tells his story: 34-41

God has richly blessed his master and given him great riches 34-36

The greatest blessing God has given Abraham is a son, to whom Abraham has given everything he owns

The pagan servant was charged with finding a worthy wife for his son 37-41

Abraham was confident God would make his journey successful

If God doesn’t do what Abraham is trusting Him to do, he’d be free of his oath

The pagan servant describes the plan he followed to determine God’s guidance in leading him to them 42-48

“When I realized what God had done, I bowed down and worshiped Him for leading me on the right road to fulfill His plan.”

    Abraham’s family is convinced by the servant’s story 49-61

        They are willing to allow Rebekah to go with the servant 49-60

        Rebekah was willing to go with him 61

When Isaac meets Rebekah, God unites them as one, in love at first sight 62-66

It was unbelievable! When we were nearly home, Isaac was out in the field thinking about things. He looked up and saw the caravan, and he came running. She looked up and saw him coming and her heart started to flutter. Yahweh, Abraham’s God gave them a love for one another from that first glimpse of each other. I’d never seen anything like it. Surely my master’s God is a great God. HE did this!

God causes them to love one another–because HE is in this relationship.

    They both desire to follow Him.

Have YOU ever seen a god who could actually do such a thing?

    Does YOUR God actually love you enough to guide you when you call out to Him for help?

–When you have to make a decision that will affect the rest of your life,

            does He actually show you what to do?

ABRAHAM’S GOD IS STILL ABLE TO LEAD A PAGAN SERVANT

TO DISCOVER HIS PLAN FOR THE LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN!

I don’t know what kind of decisions you’re facing this week, . . .

    Or what kind of problem you’re dealing with, . . .

    Or what you need to ask God to do for you, . . .

        But, after seeing what God did for my master Abraham,

            I’m convinced He can handle anything you hav to deal with!

                 You can trust Him!

ABRAHAM’S GOD IS STILL ABLE TO LEAD A PAGAN SERVANT

TO DISCOVER HIS PLAN FOR THE LIFE OF HIS CHILDREN!