By J.A. Medders
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Today’s reading highlights this reality. When William Cowper wrote the hymn, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” I doubt he was thinking about camels, a watering hole, engagements, and arranging a marriage. But it’s true. God often works in bizarre and beautiful ways.
Isaac finding a wife isn’t just a neat story; it is crucial to God’s promise to Abraham. Grandkids are a part of the plan. For Abraham’s descendants to outnumber the sands, Isaac has to get married. For the Messiah to be born and redeem His wife, the Church, Isaac has to find a wife. Don’t forget to read these narratives with an eye on the meta-narrative of Genesis—of the whole Bible!—that a descendant of Abraham would be born to crush the serpent and save people from the sins and reign forever on the throne (Genesis 3:15). When you see the engagement of Isaac and Rebekah in light of the story of Christ and His Church, it all makes more sense.
The oddness of looking for a wife in watering camels is nothing compared to the faithful foolishness of looking for a Savior with water and blood shooting from His side as He hangs from a Roman cross. “A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD” (Proverbs 18:22). A man who finds an empty tomb obtains salvation from the Lord, too.
Abraham’s servant was looking for God’s kindness (Genesis 24:14). When he saw it in Rebekah, he knelt low and worshiped God. Does God’s kindness lead you to humbly worship Him? When is the last time God’s provision, God looking out for you, God displaying His care for you led you to kneel low? Maybe we need to recover the physical demonstration of our spiritual affections. Perhaps more than a quick prayer of, “Thanks, God,” is in order. The Lord of all deservers more than a spiritual fist bump. Get low. Let’s humble ourselves before the Holy God, whose kindness is poured out on us in mysterious, marvelous, matchless ways.
Written by J.A. Medders
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