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. 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.”
52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord. 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. 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.” 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.” 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.” 57 They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” 58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” – Genesis 24:50-57
GENESIS 24 OBEDIENCE WITHOUT DELAY
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After the servant’s narrative about his journey and purpose
Bethuel and Laban gave the decision for Rebekah to make
The entire family were gifted with much jewelry and garments
Laban and Rebekah’s mother requested for another ten days
But the servant had to insist that they do right away as the Lord prompted
And Rebekah willingly conformed to be Isaac’s wife and go with him.
This account gives us a picture of how it is important to obey the Lord when prompted without delay. When Laban and his mother were convincing the servant to wait another ten days before they leave, the Spirit of the Lord prodded the servant. He reminded them that since the Lord had prospered his journey and led him to Rebekah, there was no reason for them to delay it. I suspect that since his master Abraham was getting very old and also had that urgency to bring home a wife to Isaac, probably before he goes.
Sometimes, when we allow delays with obeying the Lord, we can be tempted to distractions that may change our mind and gear it to disobedience.
REFLECTION
- Why is it important for us to obey without delay when we are prompted by God?
