The Servant

Robert Gillis

Genesis • Sermon • Submitted 18 days ago • Presented 22 days ago

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The Servant

Introduction: Amen.

Turn in your Bibles with me to Genesis 24.

Now, this is a long chapter. It is actually the longest chapter in the book of Genesis, and but an extended story, about how God brought Isaac and Rebecca together using a servant.

Now, Monday in the office, as I always do, I try to just sit down, read through the text over and over, and create a rough outline.

but when I read this text, although long, I struggled which direction to go, so I actually made two outlines.

One being - finding a godly mate.

the other - simply the servant.

So although, the title and theme of the message is the servant, I want us to pay close attention as we read this about how God brought this man (Isaac) and this woman (rebecca) together, for his purpose.

And how did God do this, he used a servant.

but let’s begin in prayer and asking the Lord’s blessings.

Prayer: Father, we thank you for every blessing. And we pray now that you will bless us even more. Bless our church, bless each one here today. Father, help us to be servants. Humble, lowly, and willing, to go and do what you desire. Teach us now Lord. I pray you will save anyone lost in this place. Forgive me of my sins, In Jesus name, Amen.

Introduction:

WHAT DOES A SERVANT LOOK LIKE: Well, Rick Warren recently told a story about Dan Cathy, the President and CEO of Chick-fil-A. Cathy was in southern California checking on some new Chick-fil-A restaurants their company was building near Saddleback Church, where Rick was pastor. They stopped at a construction site of a new Chick-fil-A. And Here's how Rick Warren told the story. We were looking at the building. While we were there we were hungry so we went next door to, I think it was a Taco Bell. It was some other fast food in competition with Chick-fil-A. We'd been out, our hands were all sweaty and dirty and we went in the restroom and washed our hands. Then I watched Dan take out extra sheets of napkins … This is the CEO of a chain of restaurants. I watched him pull them out and I watched him hand clean the sinks of the Taco Bell bathroom we were just in. I looked at him and said, "Thank you for doing that Dan." He said, "Rick, we teach our staff to always leave any place they are at better than it was when they found it, whether it's our place or not." And Nobody at Taco Bell and nobody at Taco Bell Corporate knew that the CEO of their competition just cleaned their bathroom … for free.

Now, I’m not sure what you think about Chikfila. There food is good. But what makes them special is they are considered, I guess you could say, a Christian company. Their owners are commmitted souther baptists, and you see this in them being closed on Sundays. But especially in their service. They by far have the best service of any restraunt and go above and beyond, but that is also seen in their president and CEO Dan Cathy.

We see the word servant used often in the New Testament. Paul called himself a doulos, servant or slave, of Jesus Christ. James, the brother of Jesus, said something similar.

The word Diakonos, greek word servant, but also deacon, but also minister.

You can see who is really a servant when you ask them to serve.

You can also see who is really a servant when they serve in ways that are not their preference.

That’s because it’s easy to serve when we want to serve, who want to serve, and how we want to serve.

It’s another thing, to have no preference at all.

That’s what I love about Bo Carr.

This is what he says, “What ever you need, pastor.”

As a pastor, I don’t get that often, that broad of a statement, but it’s one thing to say it, and another to do it.

And that is what’s at the heart of being a servant.

Well, let’s jump into our story, and first notice Abraham’s commission.

Abraham’s commission

Genesis 24:1 “Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.”

Genesis 24:2 “And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh,”

Genesis 24:3 “that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell,”

Genesis 24:4 “but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.””

So here’s Father Abraham, right before his death. Blessed by God.

And he calls his servant. Now, in this story, the servant is unnamed.

That’s because service is not about the servant. Service to God, is not about the servant, it’s about God.

But it’s commonly believed this servant is named Eliezer. Around 85 years old.

He was the chief servant of Abraham. And he had a great amount of authority.

Genesis 15:2 says, to God “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?””

So this servant would inherit all of Abrham’s wealth, if he had not had a son, but this inheriance went to Isaace when he was born.

But he was committed to Abraham and dispite this, he faithfully served.

Eliezer mans - God is my help.

So when Abraham, wanted to get a bride for his son.

He gets his most loyal and trusted servant.

I ask you, would you allow someone to choose a mate for your child.

Well, I’d say if you did, you would want someone very close to you, someone you trust.

Think, parents, if you had to choose the spouse for you child, wouldn’t you choose the best.

So here we have Abraham’s commission to this servant.

Go find my son a wife.

Not from the canaanaites, but from my kindred, from his kindred.

This is about being equally yoked, same kinds. Like Christians should marry Christians.

So we have the servant being faithful.

And in terms of finding a godly mate.

I’d say this,

Step one; YOU MUST PLACE GOD FIRST.

If God is not first, then the marriage will not work out.

It’s not the spouse first or kids first or work first.

God must be placed first, and then he will bless.

The servant’s clarification

Genesis 24:5 “The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?””

Genesis 24:6 “Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there.”

Genesis 24:7 “The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.”

Genesis 24:8 “But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.””

so the servant has a question. A valid question.

Hypothetically, what if she won’t come back? Now, don’t we do that with God or think of that in our minds. God says something, and we come up with hypostheticals. Well, I understand that, and god may clarify, like Abraham does here. But sometimes, we just need to step out in faith. Ok God, here I am.

And Abraham had heard from God, and he said an Angel will go ahead of him.

Now, Abraham made sure the servant knew not to take Isaace.

It seems odd to us that they had arranged marriages.

I remember being in Africa, there was this celebration of marriage, the bride and groom were carried in.

And then the dowlry was presented for the bride.

This is foreign to us.

In these days, committment came before romance.

today, romance comes brefore committemnet.

We will date, and see if a person is to our liking.

Then, we commit.

there’s something to say about that, a marriage not founded on a covenant, a committment, is doomed to fail.

But is God is first, And God remains first, it will endure.

Yet, Abraham had confidence, he said, God said. And he trusted God’s word. He knew God would provide a wife.

Yet, If she’s not willing, your free from this oath.

The servant’s submission

Genesis 24:9 “So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.”

Genesis 24:10 “Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.”

Genesis 24:11 “And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.”

So he puts his hand under his thigh.

That’s weird.

but that was cultural.

it’s a promise. It’s like a pinky promise.

Or placeing your hand on the Bible, do you promise to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

But hand under thigh. The strongest muscle of body. But thight and loins are conencted and interchangeable, and the loins is what bring life.

The servant makes a promise.

He submits to Abraham and departs on his mission.

He goes to Nahor, 450 miles, and he is by a well, with his camels.

The servant’s petition

Genesis 24:12 “And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.”

Genesis 24:13 “Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.”

Genesis 24:14 “Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.””

So what is the first thing the servant does when he arrives, he prays.

He prays for success, He prays that God will show steadfast love. He prays that a woman would come to the well.

That she will get water, and water his camels. Once again he says in your steadfast love.

His prayer points to his trust in God, but also that God would intervene in his situation.

The servant of God, is committed to prayer.

Prayer in the morning prayer in the evening.

Prayer before during and after. Praying unceasingly.

Why? Because, our service to God is dependent, not on our own strength and provision, but on God’s strength and his provission.

The servant’s observation

Genesis 24:15 “Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder.”

If it could always be that way. Before he finished praying, God was answering his prayer.

Genesis 24:16 “The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.”

So he observes this woman and the well with a jar, but he noticed she is beautiful.

She was attractive.

But what’s more than outer beauty. Inner character.

She was beautiful on the outside, but more so on the inside. LOOK. VS 17.

Genesis 24:17 “Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.””

Genesis 24:18 “She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.”

Genesis 24:19 “When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.””

Genesis 24:20 “So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels.”

Genesis 24:21 “The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.”

Wow. What a woman. That waters the camels.

Now, one camel can drink up to 25 gallons and she had 10. That’s up to 250 gallons.

Just think. When I carry a 5 gallon bucket of water, that’s heavy. That can be messy.

This was no small task.

But this woman, was a servant at heart, also.

Her inner character and her service, that’s what is most attractive.

Genesis 24:22 “When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels,”

Genesis 24:23 “and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?””

Genesis 24:24 “She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.””

Genesis 24:25 “She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.””

So the servant observes here service, and then takes a chance and gives her gold. and inquires about her family.

Nahor, would be Abraham’s brother.

So all of this is coming together, God’s plan, and God’s servant.

The servant’s adoration

Genesis 24:26 “The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord”

Genesis 24:27 “and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.””

Don’t you lvoe this. In this middle of the story, the servant bows and worships God.

Of course he would, before he finished praying, God is answering it.

And it unfolds, and this is truly a God thing.

God answers his prayer. God brings him this woman.

And He praises God for his love and faithfulness.

Oh, that we servants of God would do the same.

how often do we praise God for his working in our lives, when he answers our prayers?

Praise the Lord, for who he is, but also for waht he has done.

The servant’s devotion

Genesis 24:28 “Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.”

Genesis 24:29 “Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring.”

Genesis 24:30 “As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “Thus the man spoke to me,” he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.”

Genesis 24:31 “He said, “Come in, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.””

Genesis 24:32 “So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.”

Genesis 24:33 “Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.””

Genesis 24:34 “So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.”

Genesis 24:35 “The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.”

Genesis 24:36 “And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has.”

Genesis 24:37 “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 dwell,”

Genesis 24:38 “but you shall go to my father’s house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’”

Genesis 24:39 “I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’”

Genesis 24:40 “But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house.”

Genesis 24:41 “Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’”

Genesis 24:42 ““I came today to the spring and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go,”

Genesis 24:43 “behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,””

Genesis 24:44 “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.’”

Genesis 24:45 ““Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’”

Genesis 24:46 “She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also.”

Genesis 24:47 “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.”

Genesis 24:48 “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 take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son.”

Genesis 24:49 “Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.””

Genesis 24:50 “Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good.”

Genesis 24:51 “Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.””

Genesis 24:52 “When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord.”

Genesis 24:53 “And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments.”

Genesis 24:54 “And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.””

Genesis 24:55 “Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.””

Genesis 24:56 “But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.””

Genesis 24:57 “They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.””

Genesis 24:58 “And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.””

Genesis 24:59 “So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men.”

Genesis 24:60 “And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!””

So this servant is brought to Rebeccas brother, and later mother.

He retells about what God has done.

This servant is telling others, of the good things that God has done for him and how God brought him to Rebeccah.

And Laban and Rebecca understand, this is from God .

And what does rebecca say abotu going with him.

I will go.

She was committed before she was married.

She said I do.

And in a sense that’s how we should be as servants of God.

I will go Lord. Here I am Lord, send me.

Not, well Lord, I’ll go here but not there. I’ll do this but not that.

A true servant can be seen when they are asked to serve.

The mission’s completion

Genesis 24:61 “Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.”

Genesis 24:62 “Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb.”

Genesis 24:63 “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming.”

Genesis 24:64 “And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel”

Genesis 24:65 “and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself.”

Genesis 24:66 “And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.”

Genesis 24:67 “Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”

So the servant brings her to her to be husband.

And like a movie, they see each other off in the distance.

After seeing it’s Isaac, she veils her faice. Which is a sign of purity. Sexual purity until marriage.

The servant now, is telling Isaac all the things God has done. Proclaiming God’s work in this sotry.

And so it says, Isaac marries Rebecca and he loved her.

The servants mission is completed.

mission, clarification, submission, petition.observation, adoration, devotion, and mission completion.

We must place God first.

We must consider godly counseling.

We must understand the difficulty of the task.

We must be in a position to see God’s will.

We must pray for a godly mate.

We must seek a mate with godly character.

We must observe the mate’s life.

We must seek a mate who obeys God.

We must seek purity before marriage.

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