God Provides
SESSION 13
God Provides God provides for the needs of His people in a way that is consistent with His eternal plan.
DAT E OF M Y B I BL E S T U DY:
© 2015 LifeWay
131
HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO ASK SOMEONE FOR DIRECTIONS?
CONFIDENCE IN THE DIRECTIONS DEPENDED ON CONFIDENCE IN THE PERSON GIVING THOSE DIRECTIONS.
132
In the days before navigational assistance, when someone was lost, they either drove around or asked for help. Sometimes that assistance was great. The person that was asked for help knew where to go and gave clear and simple directions. But there might have been other times when a confusing, rambling discussion about ways to get to the intended location happened. Confidence in the directions depended on confidence in the person giving those directions. God gave Abraham directions about his future and the future of his family. But there were still details left to work through—such as finding a wife for Isaac. Abraham and the servant he entrusted to find Isaac’s wife turned to God for directions. They had followed God’s directions in the past, and now they sought His guidance for the future. We can trust God to lead us down the right paths.
E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E | YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
GENESIS 24:1-17 1 Abraham was now old, getting on in years, and the Lord had blessed him in everything. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven
and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live, 4 but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?” 6 Abraham answered him, “Make sure that you don’t take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your offspring’—He will send His angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don’t let my son go back there.” 9 So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. 10 The servant took 10 of his master’s camels and departed with all kinds of his master’s goods in hand. Then he set out for Nahor’s town Aram-naharaim. 11 He made the camels kneel beside a well of water outside the town at evening. This was the time when the women went out to draw water. 12 “Lord, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 I am standing here at the spring where the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels also’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” 15 Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah—daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor—coming with a jug on her shoulder. 16 Now the girl was very beautiful, a young woman who had not known a man intimately. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jug.”
Think About It Observe the ways Abraham expressed faith that God would provide a wife for Isaac. What do these expressions suggest about the maturity of Abraham’s faith in God over the years?
© 2015 LifeWay
S ession 1 3: G od Provides
133
UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT Genesis 24:1–25:19 Abraham instructed a servant to go back to Haran to find a wife for Isaac (Gen. 24:1-9). This servant was probably Eliezer (see 15:2). Arriving in Haran, the servant paused at a well and prayed for success (24:10-14). God answered his prayer and led him to Rebekah, Abraham’s brother’s granddaughter (24:15-21). The servant lavished her with gold jewelry, and her brother Laban invited the servant to dine with the family (24:22-32). Before accepting the invitation, the servant shared in detail his mission. After hearing his story, Rebekah’s father and brother consented to betrothing her to Isaac. Upon their arrival back in Canaan, Rebekah and Isaac were married (24:33-67). After Sarah’s death Abraham remarried. His second wife gave birth to six more sons. These children, however, were not granted a portion of Abraham’s inheritance. Like his first son, Ishmael, they too were sent away before Abraham’s death. Isaac would remain his sole heir (see 25:1-6). In God’s plan, salvation would come through Isaac’s descendants. Abraham died at the age of 175 years. After his death, Isaac received God’s unique blessing (see 25:7-11). Ishmael had 12 sons, and these sons became the founders of 12 clans that roamed the region between today’s Suez Canal and the northwestern area of the Arabian Peninsula (25:7-19).
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E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E| YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
EXPLORE THE TEXT THE ASSIGNMENT (Genesis 24:1-9) Abraham was now old, getting on in years, and the Lord had blessed him in everything. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live, 4 but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac.” 1
As Abraham aged he began to consider the future for his son, Isaac. Sarah had already died, and Abraham began to think about the kind of woman his son would marry. Abraham chose not to take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites. Undoubtedly, this decision was affected by the immorality and pagan worship practices common among the Canaanites. Abraham called for the elder of his household and gave him instructions. He asked the man to swear by the Lord. Placing his hand under his thigh was a cultural signifier that the promise was serious in nature. The promise was that the servant would not allow Isaac to marry a woman from the region. Instead, he was to go to Abraham’s relatives in his former land. What is the significance of the notation that God had blessed Abraham in everything? What concerns might Abraham have harbored about the kind of person his son would marry?
The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?” 6 Abraham answered him, “Make sure that you don’t take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your offspring’—He will send His angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don’t let my son go back there.” 9 So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. 5
Abraham’s servant asked what was he to do if he was unable to find a woman from Abraham’s ancestral home who was willing to leave her family and journey with him back to the land of promise? He asked if he should bring Isaac to her home if she was unwilling to come to his. Abraham’s answer was clear. “Make sure that you don’t take my son back there,” he insisted.
© 2015 LifeWay
S ession 1 3: G od Provides
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KEY DOCTRINE: Stewardship God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him.
Isaac was not to leave the land God had promised to his descendants. Abraham was unwavering in his commitment to follow God’s plan. Abraham told his servant that God would send His angel ahead of him to prepare the way. God had provided in the past, and Abraham was confident about God’s continued provision for the future. If, however, he had misread God’s intentions and the woman would not return with the servant, Abraham would absolve the servant of his oath. Abraham had absolute confidence in God’s ability to provide, but he recognized his own imperfect ability to read God’s plan. So, with a mixture of humility and confidence in God, Abraham made his plans for the future of his son and future offspring. What concerns might have prompted Abraham to tell the servant not to take Isaac back to Abraham’s native land? What does his directive imply about the promises made to Abraham?
ABRAHAM HAD ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S ABILITY TO PROVIDE, BUT HE RECOGNIZED HIS OWN IMPERFECT ABILITY TO READ GOD’S PLAN.
THE PRAYER (Genesis 24:10-14) The servant took of his master’s camels and departed with all kinds of his master’s goods in hand. Then he set out for Nahor’s town Aram-naharaim. 11 He made the camels kneel beside a well of water outside the town at evening. This was the time when the women went out to draw water.
10
The servant set out for •Aram-naharaim (see p. 6), the town where Nahor, Abraham’s brother, lived. Of course, having been gone for such an extended time, it would have been impossible to know for certain where, or even if, the family lived. A well was an essential provision for any ancient town in the Middle East. The servant had his camels kneel there as it was the time when the women of the town would come out to draw water for the needs of the evening and next morning. God had led the servant to the right place at the right moment. God orchestrated the travel and the timing to accomplish His purposes. God knows our needs and is greater than our problems.
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E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E | YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
He will direct our paths to accomplish His purposes as we trust and follow Him. God provided for Abraham in dramatic ways. We can trust His provision in our lives as we follow His path. What are some of the difficulties the servant would have encountered on such a journey? What does God’s provision in this story teach us about His sovereignty?
“Lord, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 I am standing here at the spring where the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels also’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” 12
The first thing the servant did after reaching his destination was to pray. Prayer wasn’t a last resort; it was a first response. The servant prayed a very specific prayer. How was he to know whom the Lord had chosen to be the bride of Isaac? The servant asked the Lord to reveal the chosen woman by having her respond to his request for water. If this was the woman chosen by God, the servant asked that she would not only answer his request but that she also would offer to water the camels. Providing water for one man would be an act of kindness, but watering 10 thirsty camels would be above and beyond simple courtesy. It would require a woman with a servant’s heart, a helpful attitude, and a willingness to do hard work. The servant knew it would demonstrate two things. First, it would demonstrate the woman’s willingness to do a kind but hard thing. Certainly it would be a hard thing for a young woman to leave her family behind and travel to a distant country to marry the man God intended for her. Second, it would be clear evidence that God had chosen this particular woman to be the wife of Isaac. The servant wanted to be sure the woman was God’s choice and not his. How would you characterize the prayer of the servant? What lessons concerning prayer can be learned from the servant?
© 2015 LifeWay
S ession 1 3: G od Provides
137
BIBLE SKILL: Identify names and titles for God in the text and meditate on their significance. Review Genesis 24:1-17 to identify designations for God. Reflect on each designation. What is its significance in the storyline? What does each designation reveal about God? What is the significance of that revelation to your own life? How can you apply your answers to your daily life?
THE ANSWER (Genesis 24:15-17) Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah— daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor—coming with a jug on her shoulder.
15
The appointed girl, Rebekah, showed up before the prayer was completed. She was the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother, Nahor. This fit perfectly with Abraham’s desire that a wife be found from within his family. God always meets our needs at the right time. His timing might be slower or more immediate than we expect, but God is always on time. When we become aware of God providing for our needs, how do we typically respond? How do our reactions compare to the reaction of the servant?
Now the girl was very beautiful, a young woman who had not known a man intimately. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jug.” 16
Rebekah is described as very beautiful. While this was not mentioned as a requirement by Abraham or in the servant’s prayer, it might well have been considered an extra blessing to the future groom. She was further described as a young woman who had not known a man intimately, suggesting her strong character and spiritual compatibility for marriage to Isaac. As Rebekah drew water from the well, the servant asked her for some water. Subsequent verses tell of Rebekah’s answer to meet his need for water (v. 18) and her willingness to water the camels in fulfillment of his specific prayer (vv. 19-20). God had indeed answered the prayers of the servant. He had provided for the needs of Isaac and planned for the future of Abraham’s offspring. Just as God met the need for Isaac’s future in accordance to His will, He will meet our needs as we follow His guidance. In what ways can our needs and our wants be different? How can believers today express trust in God for their needs as Abraham and his servant did?
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E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E | YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
OBEY THE TEXT Through prayer, we can seek God’s direction and understand His purposes. God answers honest and sincere prayer in ways that are consistent with His planand purpose. List decisions you are facing today. Take time to ask for God’s direction, committing to follow what He tells you to do.
Discuss actions that can be taken to strengthen the prayer ministry within your Bible study group. Record actions the group will take as a result of this discussion.
Discuss with your Bible study group ways you can encourage one another to follow God’s will fully. Identify specific needs within the group. Spend time thanking God for ways He has blessed those in your group in the past and ask Him to guide you towards fully following Him in the future.
MEMORIZE And said, “Praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master.”—Genesis 24:27a
© 2015 LifeWay
S ession 1 3: G od Provides
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Use the space provided to make observations and record prayer requests during the group experience for this session.
MY THOUGHTS Record insights gained and questions to discuss during the group experience.
MY PRAYERS List specific prayer needs and answers to remember this week.
MY MISSION Acknowledge ways you will obey God’s Word this week.
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E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E | YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
God Provides God provides for the needs of His people in a way that is consistent with His eternal plan.
DAT E OF M Y B I BL E S T U DY:
© 2015 LifeWay
131
HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO ASK SOMEONE FOR DIRECTIONS?
CONFIDENCE IN THE DIRECTIONS DEPENDED ON CONFIDENCE IN THE PERSON GIVING THOSE DIRECTIONS.
132
In the days before navigational assistance, when someone was lost, they either drove around or asked for help. Sometimes that assistance was great. The person that was asked for help knew where to go and gave clear and simple directions. But there might have been other times when a confusing, rambling discussion about ways to get to the intended location happened. Confidence in the directions depended on confidence in the person giving those directions. God gave Abraham directions about his future and the future of his family. But there were still details left to work through—such as finding a wife for Isaac. Abraham and the servant he entrusted to find Isaac’s wife turned to God for directions. They had followed God’s directions in the past, and now they sought His guidance for the future. We can trust God to lead us down the right paths.
E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E | YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
GENESIS 24:1-17 1 Abraham was now old, getting on in years, and the Lord had blessed him in everything. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven
and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live, 4 but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?” 6 Abraham answered him, “Make sure that you don’t take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your offspring’—He will send His angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don’t let my son go back there.” 9 So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. 10 The servant took 10 of his master’s camels and departed with all kinds of his master’s goods in hand. Then he set out for Nahor’s town Aram-naharaim. 11 He made the camels kneel beside a well of water outside the town at evening. This was the time when the women went out to draw water. 12 “Lord, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 I am standing here at the spring where the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels also’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” 15 Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah—daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor—coming with a jug on her shoulder. 16 Now the girl was very beautiful, a young woman who had not known a man intimately. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jug.”
Think About It Observe the ways Abraham expressed faith that God would provide a wife for Isaac. What do these expressions suggest about the maturity of Abraham’s faith in God over the years?
© 2015 LifeWay
S ession 1 3: G od Provides
133
UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT Genesis 24:1–25:19 Abraham instructed a servant to go back to Haran to find a wife for Isaac (Gen. 24:1-9). This servant was probably Eliezer (see 15:2). Arriving in Haran, the servant paused at a well and prayed for success (24:10-14). God answered his prayer and led him to Rebekah, Abraham’s brother’s granddaughter (24:15-21). The servant lavished her with gold jewelry, and her brother Laban invited the servant to dine with the family (24:22-32). Before accepting the invitation, the servant shared in detail his mission. After hearing his story, Rebekah’s father and brother consented to betrothing her to Isaac. Upon their arrival back in Canaan, Rebekah and Isaac were married (24:33-67). After Sarah’s death Abraham remarried. His second wife gave birth to six more sons. These children, however, were not granted a portion of Abraham’s inheritance. Like his first son, Ishmael, they too were sent away before Abraham’s death. Isaac would remain his sole heir (see 25:1-6). In God’s plan, salvation would come through Isaac’s descendants. Abraham died at the age of 175 years. After his death, Isaac received God’s unique blessing (see 25:7-11). Ishmael had 12 sons, and these sons became the founders of 12 clans that roamed the region between today’s Suez Canal and the northwestern area of the Arabian Peninsula (25:7-19).
134
E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E| YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
EXPLORE THE TEXT THE ASSIGNMENT (Genesis 24:1-9) Abraham was now old, getting on in years, and the Lord had blessed him in everything. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh, 3 and I will have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live, 4 but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac.” 1
As Abraham aged he began to consider the future for his son, Isaac. Sarah had already died, and Abraham began to think about the kind of woman his son would marry. Abraham chose not to take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites. Undoubtedly, this decision was affected by the immorality and pagan worship practices common among the Canaanites. Abraham called for the elder of his household and gave him instructions. He asked the man to swear by the Lord. Placing his hand under his thigh was a cultural signifier that the promise was serious in nature. The promise was that the servant would not allow Isaac to marry a woman from the region. Instead, he was to go to Abraham’s relatives in his former land. What is the significance of the notation that God had blessed Abraham in everything? What concerns might Abraham have harbored about the kind of person his son would marry?
The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?” 6 Abraham answered him, “Make sure that you don’t take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your offspring’—He will send His angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don’t let my son go back there.” 9 So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. 5
Abraham’s servant asked what was he to do if he was unable to find a woman from Abraham’s ancestral home who was willing to leave her family and journey with him back to the land of promise? He asked if he should bring Isaac to her home if she was unwilling to come to his. Abraham’s answer was clear. “Make sure that you don’t take my son back there,” he insisted.
© 2015 LifeWay
S ession 1 3: G od Provides
135
KEY DOCTRINE: Stewardship God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him.
Isaac was not to leave the land God had promised to his descendants. Abraham was unwavering in his commitment to follow God’s plan. Abraham told his servant that God would send His angel ahead of him to prepare the way. God had provided in the past, and Abraham was confident about God’s continued provision for the future. If, however, he had misread God’s intentions and the woman would not return with the servant, Abraham would absolve the servant of his oath. Abraham had absolute confidence in God’s ability to provide, but he recognized his own imperfect ability to read God’s plan. So, with a mixture of humility and confidence in God, Abraham made his plans for the future of his son and future offspring. What concerns might have prompted Abraham to tell the servant not to take Isaac back to Abraham’s native land? What does his directive imply about the promises made to Abraham?
ABRAHAM HAD ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S ABILITY TO PROVIDE, BUT HE RECOGNIZED HIS OWN IMPERFECT ABILITY TO READ GOD’S PLAN.
THE PRAYER (Genesis 24:10-14) The servant took of his master’s camels and departed with all kinds of his master’s goods in hand. Then he set out for Nahor’s town Aram-naharaim. 11 He made the camels kneel beside a well of water outside the town at evening. This was the time when the women went out to draw water.
10
The servant set out for •Aram-naharaim (see p. 6), the town where Nahor, Abraham’s brother, lived. Of course, having been gone for such an extended time, it would have been impossible to know for certain where, or even if, the family lived. A well was an essential provision for any ancient town in the Middle East. The servant had his camels kneel there as it was the time when the women of the town would come out to draw water for the needs of the evening and next morning. God had led the servant to the right place at the right moment. God orchestrated the travel and the timing to accomplish His purposes. God knows our needs and is greater than our problems.
136
E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E | YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
He will direct our paths to accomplish His purposes as we trust and follow Him. God provided for Abraham in dramatic ways. We can trust His provision in our lives as we follow His path. What are some of the difficulties the servant would have encountered on such a journey? What does God’s provision in this story teach us about His sovereignty?
“Lord, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 I am standing here at the spring where the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels also’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” 12
The first thing the servant did after reaching his destination was to pray. Prayer wasn’t a last resort; it was a first response. The servant prayed a very specific prayer. How was he to know whom the Lord had chosen to be the bride of Isaac? The servant asked the Lord to reveal the chosen woman by having her respond to his request for water. If this was the woman chosen by God, the servant asked that she would not only answer his request but that she also would offer to water the camels. Providing water for one man would be an act of kindness, but watering 10 thirsty camels would be above and beyond simple courtesy. It would require a woman with a servant’s heart, a helpful attitude, and a willingness to do hard work. The servant knew it would demonstrate two things. First, it would demonstrate the woman’s willingness to do a kind but hard thing. Certainly it would be a hard thing for a young woman to leave her family behind and travel to a distant country to marry the man God intended for her. Second, it would be clear evidence that God had chosen this particular woman to be the wife of Isaac. The servant wanted to be sure the woman was God’s choice and not his. How would you characterize the prayer of the servant? What lessons concerning prayer can be learned from the servant?
© 2015 LifeWay
S ession 1 3: G od Provides
137
BIBLE SKILL: Identify names and titles for God in the text and meditate on their significance. Review Genesis 24:1-17 to identify designations for God. Reflect on each designation. What is its significance in the storyline? What does each designation reveal about God? What is the significance of that revelation to your own life? How can you apply your answers to your daily life?
THE ANSWER (Genesis 24:15-17) Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah— daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor—coming with a jug on her shoulder.
15
The appointed girl, Rebekah, showed up before the prayer was completed. She was the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother, Nahor. This fit perfectly with Abraham’s desire that a wife be found from within his family. God always meets our needs at the right time. His timing might be slower or more immediate than we expect, but God is always on time. When we become aware of God providing for our needs, how do we typically respond? How do our reactions compare to the reaction of the servant?
Now the girl was very beautiful, a young woman who had not known a man intimately. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jug.” 16
Rebekah is described as very beautiful. While this was not mentioned as a requirement by Abraham or in the servant’s prayer, it might well have been considered an extra blessing to the future groom. She was further described as a young woman who had not known a man intimately, suggesting her strong character and spiritual compatibility for marriage to Isaac. As Rebekah drew water from the well, the servant asked her for some water. Subsequent verses tell of Rebekah’s answer to meet his need for water (v. 18) and her willingness to water the camels in fulfillment of his specific prayer (vv. 19-20). God had indeed answered the prayers of the servant. He had provided for the needs of Isaac and planned for the future of Abraham’s offspring. Just as God met the need for Isaac’s future in accordance to His will, He will meet our needs as we follow His guidance. In what ways can our needs and our wants be different? How can believers today express trust in God for their needs as Abraham and his servant did?
138
E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E | YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
OBEY THE TEXT Through prayer, we can seek God’s direction and understand His purposes. God answers honest and sincere prayer in ways that are consistent with His planand purpose. List decisions you are facing today. Take time to ask for God’s direction, committing to follow what He tells you to do.
Discuss actions that can be taken to strengthen the prayer ministry within your Bible study group. Record actions the group will take as a result of this discussion.
Discuss with your Bible study group ways you can encourage one another to follow God’s will fully. Identify specific needs within the group. Spend time thanking God for ways He has blessed those in your group in the past and ask Him to guide you towards fully following Him in the future.
MEMORIZE And said, “Praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master.”—Genesis 24:27a
© 2015 LifeWay
S ession 1 3: G od Provides
139
Use the space provided to make observations and record prayer requests during the group experience for this session.
MY THOUGHTS Record insights gained and questions to discuss during the group experience.
MY PRAYERS List specific prayer needs and answers to remember this week.
MY MISSION Acknowledge ways you will obey God’s Word this week.
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E X PL OR E T H E B I BL E | YOU NG A DU LT S
© 2015 LifeWay
