And the man bowed down his head and worship the Lord. Genesis twenty four, twenty six. Dear God, as I am on my journey to fulfilling the purpose you have for my life, thank you Lord for partnering me with the right people. I decree and declare that to day is the day that you begin to partner me with kingdom connections. I decree and declare that as I'm moving in obedience and working in alignment with your assignment, that your giving me uncommon favor with uncommon men and women. I want to also thank you in advance for my spouse. Thank you that they are being preserved and protected. I know, like Isaac and Rebecca, my spouse will be your best for my life. I declare that my marriage will be one of purpose and understanding. I declare that we will be in sync as two hearts become one. Lord, I praise you for helping me to become the person I need to be to love them completely. Thank you for partnerships. Thank you for relationships. Then, thank you Lord for placing the right people at the right place at the right time in my life. In Jesus name, Amen, thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time with God by listening to today's Bible story, brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com Isaac and Rebecca. Before this story, we learned how God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. God had finally given Abraham his promise, but now required an act of faith. Abraham, with anguish and sorrow, obeyed, but the Lord provided a ram instead and blessed Abraham for his obedience. Now we will learn about Sarah passing away and Isaac meeting and marrying Rebecca has inspired by the Book of Genesis. Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. Now that God has tested Abraham's faithfulness, which he passed with flying colors, our narrative turns to a time of grieving loss, followed by a preparation for the future. The first thing we'll hear of is the death of Sarah. She had lived long, finally borne a son to Abraham, and now the Lord was calling her to her eternal rest in him. This was to be a time of sorrow and grief for Abraham and a final opportunity for him to demonstrate care for her and honor her memory. But understanding that his work on earth was not yet done. We see that Abraham would turn to future planning, to securing a wife for his son Isaac, so that God's plan to bless and grow his family would continue progressing. Today's passage demonstrates great wisdom on the part of Abraham, both and where he sends his servant to look for a mate for Isaac, and in what he insists Isaac do as the search is happening. Listen to what he commands his servant to do and why he requires that Isaac remain in the land where they were. Notice also how Abraham's servant goes about finding a suitable partner and how he brings the Lord into the process. Watch also as God works through the process to ensure that Isaac is provided with the right mate in Rebecca. You will once again see how God's plans for his people come together, often in unexpected ways and unex affected places. There's God's surprise. Listen now to today's story. Abraham and Sarah lived a long life together together. They braved famines, journeyed to new lands, made mistakes, and experienced the faithfulness of God over their marriage and family. Together, they endured heartache and shared in triumph. Yet time is the cruel thief of life, and Sarah, in her old age, had gone to be with her lord. Abraham ventured to the land of the Hittites and purchased a field and cave there to bury his wife. Filled with sorrow, he said goodbye to Sarah, his truest partner and friend. God had blessed Abraham in all things. He had accumulated wealth, influence, land, and adoration. Yet the death of Sarah reminded him that his life was but a vapor, and soon he would return to the dust from which he came. It was time to consider his son Isaac in securing his future. Abraham desired to find his son a wife as faithful and god fearing as his mother was. This would be a great challenge, since he dwelt in a land where God was not yet known. Canaanites worshiped the gods of the earth, and in vain they pursued no higher purpose besides self pleasure and preservation. Abraham called his most faithful servant to him, the oldest in his household, and his friend, come and swear an oath to me. Abraham said, swear to the Lord, the God of heaven and Earth, that you will find my son a wife among my home country and family. Shall I take your son with me? The servant asked, for a woman might be reluctant to come with me if her potential husband is not there. You shall go to my home country without Isaac. Abraham pressed, God has promised him this land, and he shall not depart from it. If a woman is unwilling to go with you, then I release you from your oath. But I trust God will provide, since he has promised that my son will continue to build a nation with his children. So the servant swore an oath to Abraham by putting his hand on his thigh, which was a form of serious covenant promise. Then the servant departed back to the land of Mesopotamia, to the city of Naor with ten of his master's camels and gifts. After a long journey, the servant had arrived on the outskirts of his master's homeland at the time of evening. He brought his camels to drink from a well. This was the time when women from town came to draw water for their families. The servant looked to God saying, O, Lord, please grant me success to day, show love to my master, and show me who might be the wife of his son. Then the servant, knowing God's faithfulness, prayed a strange prayer, saying, I am standing near this spring, and the young women of the city are coming out to draw water. I will ask them for a drink, and whoever also offers to give my camel's water will be the one you have chosen. It may have seemed like a strange prayer, yet the servant knew that a woman who was willing to go the extra mile to bless a stranger would truly be an excellent wife. As he was speaking to the Lord, Rebecca, the daughter of Abraham's brother, came near the spring to draw water. She had an elegance and beauty that stood out among the rest of the women. The dim light of dusk accentuated her beauty, and the servant prayed again that she might be the one for Isaac. He approached her gently and asked, would you mind drawing me some water. Rebecca, even more young and beautiful, looking up close, smiled with kindness emanating from her eyes. Of course, drink, my lord, she said, while drawing him some cold water. The servant thanked her and took a drink with anticipation. As he was drinking, she put her hands together and said, I will draw some water for your camels. It seems like you have come a long way. So she emptied her own jar into a trough near by, and led each camel to drink from it. Ten times. She drew water and carried it and waited for each camel to have its fill. She did so with diligence and speed. The servant watched her work with excitement welling up inside him. Have you done it? Lord, the servant thought to himself. When Rebecca finished with the camels, the servant ran to her and adorned her with gifts and gratitude. Please tell me who you are and who your family is, He said, would they have any room for me to spend the night. Rebecca replied, my father is Bethuel and my brother is Laban, and we have plenty of room for you and your camels to stay the night. The man bowed his head to God and worshiped with a grin of astoundment. He spoke to the Lord, saying, blessed are you, Lord, God of my Master, Abraham, your steadfast love and faithfulness has orchestrated everything perfectly, and I am simply blessed to watch it unfold. Then the young woman told her household about these things. Laban hurried to the well to assist the servant and gave his warmest welcome by saying, come on in. I've got the house ready for you, and there's also a place for your camels. They all happily settled in the house and prepared to eat a meal together. Before I eat anything, I need to tell you why I am here, the servant said. I am the servant of Abraham. And the Lord has truly blessed Abraham since last time you saw him. He has become great with flocks and herds of thousands. He owns land, silver, gold, servants, and all sorts of treasures. Yet his greatest treasure is Isaac, a son he had with his wife Sarah. He was a son given to them in their old age, and God's favor is on him as well. The family sat at the table, astonished by what he was saying, for they knew Abraham from years ago before he had departed. The servant spoke again, saying, I have come here to find my master's son a wife, and I believe Rebecca is the woman God has chosen for him. He then told them all the things he had prayed to God, and Rebecca's actions confirming all that he had prayed for. Laban and his father answered, this is undoubtedly from God. Take her and go. Let her be the wife of your master's son, as God has made it plain. The servant praised God blessed the entire household with expensive gifts. The thought of Rebecca leaving saddened her family, and they wanted her to stay a little while longer. But Rebecca felt the call of God to go. Similarly as God had beckoned Abraham and Sarah to depart from their homeland into something greater, so Rebecca departed as well. Back home, Isaac went out into the field to meditate. The sun was setting and the warm breeze whistled across the plains. Colors of orange and purple filled the skies, and the clouds moved with the wind. Isaac closed his eyes to pray. He missed his mother. He whispered to God and breathed in the sweet air of the promised land. He then opened his eyes and in the distance, he saw the camels approaching on the horizon. Rebecca, sitting upon the camels, also lifted her eyes to see a distant figure standing among the fields. She saw him drawing nearer and got off her camel. Who is that man walking in the field to meet us, she asked, It is my master, the servant replied, so Rebecca put on her veil to hide her face for the wedding. Isaac came to greet them and was informed about all the things that had taken place. So Isaac brought Rebecca to his home and the two entered a prepared wedding ceremony. He removed her veil and fell madly in love with Rebecca. The two became one as Abraham and Sarah once were. Isaac enjoyed the warm embrace and comfort of his wife, and the two began to build a life with one another. Abraham and Sarah have been through so much together, countless miles of travel, ups and downs in their marriage, and at long last, the joy of a beloved son. Sarah has lived a long life and has fulfilled her purposes. Her time on earth has come to an end, and Abraham grieves her death with great sorrow. Wanting to honor her in her passing, he lavishly provides a resting place for her body, purchasing a field and a cave. But Abraham will not remain stuck in his grief. He understands that there is a time to mourn and a time to grieve, and also a time to look to the future. God has promised to bring him many descendants through Isaac, and for that to happen, he must find a mate for his son. Here we find Abraham acting as a wise father and leader of his family. He could easily have sent his servant to search the region for a young woman for his son, but that could mean a marriage to a pagan woman who knew nothing of his God. That would mean disaster, So he sends his servant out to his homeland far away. His servant makes a suggestion, why don't I bring Isaac along for the journey so the prospective wife can know I am telling the truth. Once again demonstrating great wisdom, Abraham insists Isaac not leave. God had promised that land to him, and Isaac must stay there to protect his claim and be obedient to God. But there was something more at play here. If Isaac had journeyed far away and found a beautiful young woman to marry. The temptation would be to stay right there, abandoning the land God had given him. By now, Abraham has lived long enough to understand the importance of trusting and obeying God, and of staying the course that God has set. So his servant heads out on his quest. It is notable here that when he arrives in Nahor, the servant prays to God and proposes a way to identify the ideal wife. Look what he says in Genesis twenty four, verses twelveth through fourteen. He said, Oh Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show love kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now may it be that the girl to whom I say, please let down your jar so that I may drink, and who answers drink and I will water your camels. Also? May she be the one whom you have appointed for your servant, Isaac. And by this I will know that you have shown loving kindness to my master. Why is this so notable. We already see that it is not only Abraham's direct line that is honoring and following the One True God. This servant, living in the midst of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and their family have seen their master's worship and trust in God, his obedience and dependence upon God, and this influenced him greatly. So he seeks God, also asking him to find the right wife for his master. He doesn't ask for the most beautiful woman, as one might imagine he would, wanting to impress his master with a striking beauty. For Isaac, his test is looking for a kind heart, a compassionate person, something that will far outlast physical beauty. Waiting by the wall, he meets Rebecca. She is beautiful, standing out from all the others, but what wins him over is how she demonstrates great kindness and generosity to a stranger, a foreigner in the land. This is the one, He's sure of it. God is at work in this situation. When the servant tells Rebecca he needs lodging, she welcomes him to her family's house. There, he reveals the purpose of his visit to the astonishment amazement of his host. He is granted favor and Laban, Rebecca's brother, testifies, this is from God, so far be it from them to stand in the way. The family grants their blessing and Rebecca agrees to the long journey to meet her future husband, someone that he has never met or seen. They returned to Canaan and Isaac is amazed. He is overjoyed that God has provided him such a kind and beautiful wife. They are married, and God's plan for his purpose and ultimately the redemption of the world continues to move forward. This is a story of God's divine providence, God orchestrating the meeting at the right time between the right people to provide a right mate for Isaac. It is a reminder that God works and does amazing things in our own lives, sometimes even despite unlikely odds and obstacles. What we need to do is to always trust God, believe his promises, and to obey him whatever he asks us to do. Your Father, thank you for how this story reminds us that you are always at work moving to bless us and provide for our every need. Thank you also for the lesson in grieve and honoring our loved ones that we see from Abraham with Sarah's passing, help us to trust that you will work in our situation, that we will always bring glory to yourself and accomplish your purposes in obedience with our lives in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey dot com app and make prayer a priority in your life. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love and by sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in their life. And if you want more resources on how to tap into God's power to trust in Him and obey Him in all things, be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. This episode is sponsored by Medshare, an innovative healthcare solution for Christians to save money without sacrifice in quality

And the man bowed down his head and worship the Lord. Genesis twenty four, twenty six. Dear God, as I am on my journey to fulfilling the purpose you have for my life, thank you Lord for partnering me with the right people. I decree and declare that to day is the day that you begin to partner me with kingdom connections. I decree and declare that as I'm moving in obedience and working in alignment with your assignment, that your giving me uncommon favor with uncommon men and women. I want to also thank you in advance for my spouse. Thank you that they are being preserved and protected. I know, like Isaac and Rebecca, my spouse will be your best for my life. I declare that my marriage will be one of purpose and understanding. I declare that we will be in sync as two hearts become one. Lord, I praise you for helping me to become the person I need to be to love them completely. Thank you for partnerships. Thank you for relationships. Then, thank you Lord for placing the right people at the right place at the right time in my life. In Jesus name, Amen, thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time with God by listening to today's Bible story, brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com Isaac and Rebecca. Before this story, we learned how God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. God had finally given Abraham his promise, but now required an act of faith. Abraham, with anguish and sorrow, obeyed, but the Lord provided a ram instead and blessed Abraham for his obedience. Now we will learn about Sarah passing away and Isaac meeting and marrying Rebecca has inspired by the Book of Genesis. Hello, I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. Now that God has tested Abraham's faithfulness, which he passed with flying colors, our narrative turns to a time of grieving loss, followed by a preparation for the future. The first thing we'll hear of is the death of Sarah. She had lived long, finally borne a son to Abraham, and now the Lord was calling her to her eternal rest in him. This was to be a time of sorrow and grief for Abraham and a final opportunity for him to demonstrate care for her and honor her memory. But understanding that his work on earth was not yet done. We see that Abraham would turn to future planning, to securing a wife for his son Isaac, so that God's plan to bless and grow his family would continue progressing. Today's passage demonstrates great wisdom on the part of Abraham, both and where he sends his servant to look for a mate for Isaac, and in what he insists Isaac do as the search is happening. Listen to what he commands his servant to do and why he requires that Isaac remain in the land where they were. Notice also how Abraham's servant goes about finding a suitable partner and how he brings the Lord into the process. Watch also as God works through the process to ensure that Isaac is provided with the right mate in Rebecca. You will once again see how God's plans for his people come together, often in unexpected ways and unex affected places. There's God's surprise. Listen now to today's story. Abraham and Sarah lived a long life together together. They braved famines, journeyed to new lands, made mistakes, and experienced the faithfulness of God over their marriage and family. Together, they endured heartache and shared in triumph. Yet time is the cruel thief of life, and Sarah, in her old age, had gone to be with her lord. Abraham ventured to the land of the Hittites and purchased a field and cave there to bury his wife. Filled with sorrow, he said goodbye to Sarah, his truest partner and friend. God had blessed Abraham in all things. He had accumulated wealth, influence, land, and adoration. Yet the death of Sarah reminded him that his life was but a vapor, and soon he would return to the dust from which he came. It was time to consider his son Isaac in securing his future. Abraham desired to find his son a wife as faithful and god fearing as his mother was. This would be a great challenge, since he dwelt in a land where God was not yet known. Canaanites worshiped the gods of the earth, and in vain they pursued no higher purpose besides self pleasure and preservation. Abraham called his most faithful servant to him, the oldest in his household, and his friend, come and swear an oath to me. Abraham said, swear to the Lord, the God of heaven and Earth, that you will find my son a wife among my home country and family. Shall I take your son with me? The servant asked, for a woman might be reluctant to come with me if her potential husband is not there. You shall go to my home country without Isaac. Abraham pressed, God has promised him this land, and he shall not depart from it. If a woman is unwilling to go with you, then I release you from your oath. But I trust God will provide, since he has promised that my son will continue to build a nation with his children. So the servant swore an oath to Abraham by putting his hand on his thigh, which was a form of serious covenant promise. Then the servant departed back to the land of Mesopotamia, to the city of Naor with ten of his master's camels and gifts. After a long journey, the servant had arrived on the outskirts of his master's homeland at the time of evening. He brought his camels to drink from a well. This was the time when women from town came to draw water for their families. The servant looked to God saying, O, Lord, please grant me success to day, show love to my master, and show me who might be the wife of his son. Then the servant, knowing God's faithfulness, prayed a strange prayer, saying, I am standing near this spring, and the young women of the city are coming out to draw water. I will ask them for a drink, and whoever also offers to give my camel's water will be the one you have chosen. It may have seemed like a strange prayer, yet the servant knew that a woman who was willing to go the extra mile to bless a stranger would truly be an excellent wife. As he was speaking to the Lord, Rebecca, the daughter of Abraham's brother, came near the spring to draw water. She had an elegance and beauty that stood out among the rest of the women. The dim light of dusk accentuated her beauty, and the servant prayed again that she might be the one for Isaac. He approached her gently and asked, would you mind drawing me some water. Rebecca, even more young and beautiful, looking up close, smiled with kindness emanating from her eyes. Of course, drink, my lord, she said, while drawing him some cold water. The servant thanked her and took a drink with anticipation. As he was drinking, she put her hands together and said, I will draw some water for your camels. It seems like you have come a long way. So she emptied her own jar into a trough near by, and led each camel to drink from it. Ten times. She drew water and carried it and waited for each camel to have its fill. She did so with diligence and speed. The servant watched her work with excitement welling up inside him. Have you done it? Lord, the servant thought to himself. When Rebecca finished with the camels, the servant ran to her and adorned her with gifts and gratitude. Please tell me who you are and who your family is, He said, would they have any room for me to spend the night. Rebecca replied, my father is Bethuel and my brother is Laban, and we have plenty of room for you and your camels to stay the night. The man bowed his head to God and worshiped with a grin of astoundment. He spoke to the Lord, saying, blessed are you, Lord, God of my Master, Abraham, your steadfast love and faithfulness has orchestrated everything perfectly, and I am simply blessed to watch it unfold. Then the young woman told her household about these things. Laban hurried to the well to assist the servant and gave his warmest welcome by saying, come on in. I've got the house ready for you, and there's also a place for your camels. They all happily settled in the house and prepared to eat a meal together. Before I eat anything, I need to tell you why I am here, the servant said. I am the servant of Abraham. And the Lord has truly blessed Abraham since last time you saw him. He has become great with flocks and herds of thousands. He owns land, silver, gold, servants, and all sorts of treasures. Yet his greatest treasure is Isaac, a son he had with his wife Sarah. He was a son given to them in their old age, and God's favor is on him as well. The family sat at the table, astonished by what he was saying, for they knew Abraham from years ago before he had departed. The servant spoke again, saying, I have come here to find my master's son a wife, and I believe Rebecca is the woman God has chosen for him. He then told them all the things he had prayed to God, and Rebecca's actions confirming all that he had prayed for. Laban and his father answered, this is undoubtedly from God. Take her and go. Let her be the wife of your master's son, as God has made it plain. The servant praised God blessed the entire household with expensive gifts. The thought of Rebecca leaving saddened her family, and they wanted her to stay a little while longer. But Rebecca felt the call of God to go. Similarly as God had beckoned Abraham and Sarah to depart from their homeland into something greater, so Rebecca departed as well. Back home, Isaac went out into the field to meditate. The sun was setting and the warm breeze whistled across the plains. Colors of orange and purple filled the skies, and the clouds moved with the wind. Isaac closed his eyes to pray. He missed his mother. He whispered to God and breathed in the sweet air of the promised land. He then opened his eyes and in the distance, he saw the camels approaching on the horizon. Rebecca, sitting upon the camels, also lifted her eyes to see a distant figure standing among the fields. She saw him drawing nearer and got off her camel. Who is that man walking in the field to meet us, she asked, It is my master, the servant replied, so Rebecca put on her veil to hide her face for the wedding. Isaac came to greet them and was informed about all the things that had taken place. So Isaac brought Rebecca to his home and the two entered a prepared wedding ceremony. He removed her veil and fell madly in love with Rebecca. The two became one as Abraham and Sarah once were. Isaac enjoyed the warm embrace and comfort of his wife, and the two began to build a life with one another. Abraham and Sarah have been through so much together, countless miles of travel, ups and downs in their marriage, and at long last, the joy of a beloved son. Sarah has lived a long life and has fulfilled her purposes. Her time on earth has come to an end, and Abraham grieves her death with great sorrow. Wanting to honor her in her passing, he lavishly provides a resting place for her body, purchasing a field and a cave. But Abraham will not remain stuck in his grief. He understands that there is a time to mourn and a time to grieve, and also a time to look to the future. God has promised to bring him many descendants through Isaac, and for that to happen, he must find a mate for his son. Here we find Abraham acting as a wise father and leader of his family. He could easily have sent his servant to search the region for a young woman for his son, but that could mean a marriage to a pagan woman who knew nothing of his God. That would mean disaster, So he sends his servant out to his homeland far away. His servant makes a suggestion, why don't I bring Isaac along for the journey so the prospective wife can know I am telling the truth. Once again demonstrating great wisdom, Abraham insists Isaac not leave. God had promised that land to him, and Isaac must stay there to protect his claim and be obedient to God. But there was something more at play here. If Isaac had journeyed far away and found a beautiful young woman to marry. The temptation would be to stay right there, abandoning the land God had given him. By now, Abraham has lived long enough to understand the importance of trusting and obeying God, and of staying the course that God has set. So his servant heads out on his quest. It is notable here that when he arrives in Nahor, the servant prays to God and proposes a way to identify the ideal wife. Look what he says in Genesis twenty four, verses twelveth through fourteen. He said, Oh Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show love kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now may it be that the girl to whom I say, please let down your jar so that I may drink, and who answers drink and I will water your camels. Also? May she be the one whom you have appointed for your servant, Isaac. And by this I will know that you have shown loving kindness to my master. Why is this so notable. We already see that it is not only Abraham's direct line that is honoring and following the One True God. This servant, living in the midst of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and their family have seen their master's worship and trust in God, his obedience and dependence upon God, and this influenced him greatly. So he seeks God, also asking him to find the right wife for his master. He doesn't ask for the most beautiful woman, as one might imagine he would, wanting to impress his master with a striking beauty. For Isaac, his test is looking for a kind heart, a compassionate person, something that will far outlast physical beauty. Waiting by the wall, he meets Rebecca. She is beautiful, standing out from all the others, but what wins him over is how she demonstrates great kindness and generosity to a stranger, a foreigner in the land. This is the one, He's sure of it. God is at work in this situation. When the servant tells Rebecca he needs lodging, she welcomes him to her family's house. There, he reveals the purpose of his visit to the astonishment amazement of his host. He is granted favor and Laban, Rebecca's brother, testifies, this is from God, so far be it from them to stand in the way. The family grants their blessing and Rebecca agrees to the long journey to meet her future husband, someone that he has never met or seen. They returned to Canaan and Isaac is amazed. He is overjoyed that God has provided him such a kind and beautiful wife. They are married, and God's plan for his purpose and ultimately the redemption of the world continues to move forward. This is a story of God's divine providence, God orchestrating the meeting at the right time between the right people to provide a right mate for Isaac. It is a reminder that God works and does amazing things in our own lives, sometimes even despite unlikely odds and obstacles. What we need to do is to always trust God, believe his promises, and to obey him whatever he asks us to do. Your Father, thank you for how this story reminds us that you are always at work moving to bless us and provide for our every need. Thank you also for the lesson in grieve and honoring our loved ones that we see from Abraham with Sarah's passing, help us to trust that you will work in our situation, that we will always bring glory to yourself and accomplish your purposes in obedience with our lives in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey dot com app and make prayer a priority in your life. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love and by sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in their life. And if you want more resources on how to tap into God's power to trust in Him and obey Him in all things, be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. This episode is sponsored by Medshare, an innovative healthcare solution for Christians to save money without sacrifice in quality