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34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. 35 The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. 36 And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, "You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; 38 but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.'42 "I came today to the spring, and said, "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! 43 I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink," 44 and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also"—let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son.' 45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, "Please let me drink.' 46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, "Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels. 47 Then I asked her, "Whose daughter are you?' She said, "The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. 48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son. 49 Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left." 58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will." 59 So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes." 61 Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62 Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb. 63 Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming. 64 And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel, 65 and said to the servant, "Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. (Genesis 24: 34-38, 42-49, 58-67 NRSV)
Happy Wednesday! May the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and yours is my prayer, dear Friend. COVID-19 is on my list! Several people that I know and care for are on the list of those who are affected by this dreaded virus. A longtime friend of my father's and mine, Mr. Trini Garza, of Dallas, TX, the first Mexican American elected to the Dallas School Board, is hospitalized with it. Mr. Chet Marko, my new mentor in the insurance business, is at home with it and all members of his family has it or has had it. This includes his elderly father. So, please dear friends, prayers for the Garza and Marko family. We continue to pray for the Gibson family as well. We lift up prayers for Rev. Jenna Purdy, daughter of a dear friend The Rev. Steve Purdy and wife, Vicki, who has been diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin Lymphoma. Jenna had been a pastor in various churches then took some time off and it was during the start of this new journey that they diagnosed her with this disease. She is moving in with her parents in Corpus Christi to continue treatment and needs our prayers so that she can defeat this foe. Prayers for each other, dear friends, and make time to pray for yourselves as well.
For those of you married I ask this question: What role did God play in your marriage? Did your courtship resemble in any way the courtship of Isaac and Rebekah? I've shared how I reached a point of simply telling God that my future if it was to be as a married man, was in His hands. I give up, Lord, I remember saying; I've tried on my own, and now, I'm just going to make friends and have fun. And 42 years later I still am madly in love with the woman God gave to me. Yes, the congregation at El Mesias said I stole her, and I'll gladly take that honor, but honestly, it was God and His wisdom and might that made our marriage possible.
As we read the passage for today, we have to remember the cultural and religious importance of this family and their wanting the right woman for Isaac to marry. Remember, Daddy and Mommy were OLD; make that ANCIENT when they had him as their baby boy and now with Daddy being 140 he's old enough to worry about what's next for their son. Abraham did not want just any Canaanite babe, well, not any Canaanite babe at all for his Jewish son! And as was common in those days they sought one among family. And so, Abe sends his eldest and most trusted servant to find the right woman for Isaac. This was done with much prayer and trust in God. And all they set out in their hearts as signs that God was leading them to the perfect woman were met! As were mine! The senior pastor told me that Nellie was a public school teacher, a woman of prayer, and a tither! All boxes checked; I'm ready! What was it like for yours?
Rebekah came at the right time for the sake of all. Isaac had lost his mother, and Daddy was very old, and now the future of all God intended through this chosen couple was in his hands. And to add Rebekah's hands to that future was the crowning touch for Israel's future. God was key in this marriage, as God had been key in all events leading to this marriage; and as God was key in the events that followed. I pray that whatever role God had in your life is still key to you, because in His heart, you still matter much to God!
PRAYER: Loving God, you know us and our needs. I pray for all who read this with me. Bless each person, bless each relationship, bless future relationships and bless each family represented by this person who reads this as their prayer. Heal those we mentioned above, Heavenly Father, restore health and wholeness to them; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be one who shares the key of God's love in the life of someone today!
Receive my blessings of hope and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
