Abraham – who believed God would fulfill his covenant promises and sent Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac.  Isaac – who did not marry a local girl but waited (40 years!) for the right one.  Eliezer – who went about his master’s business, loaded up camels, trekked across the desert for weeks, arrived at a well, prayed specific prayers, and waited patiently as God provided the exactly the right woman for Isaac.  Laban and clan – who saw God’s hand and agreed to let Rebekah leave.

And Rebekah – who was nice to a dusty guy with a bunch of camels at a well and had her life turned upside down overnight.  Rebekah who said “I will go” and willingly entered into the marriage covenant, seeing it as a gift from the Lord.  She bravely set out for a land she had never seen, to be permanently linked to a man she had never met.  The Lord blessed her.  She trusted God and when she followed His plan for her life, she discovered that He had chosen perfectly.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see… And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:1,6

This story, told in Genesis 24, is a perfect picture of God’s lovingkindness, His hesed (covenant faithfulness and love) toward us.  His perfect plan unfolds, piece by piece, in perfect timing.  He has provided everything we need for life and godliness.  We have only to trust Him, wait patiently, pray specifically, embrace what He has revealed, and be faithful (like Eliezer) to carry out the master’s plan.

Oh Lord, help me to trust in Your plan and purpose for my life.  as I seek to be the woman you have called me to be, give me the strength to wait patiently on You and the revelation of your plan.

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the new year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”  And he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.  That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.” -M. Louise Haskins, The Desert, 1908