A Study In Genesis
Following the Lord’s directions is as simple and complicated as the person following makes it. We tend to mishandle the opportunities provided by God to act. Sometimes we wait too long, and other times we rush in before it is time. Nevertheless, no matter what the challenge provided to us is, we have the same first step. That step is to pray and ask the Lord for His assistance. The Psalmist reminds us that this first step needs to be a blatant recognition that God is in control, He understands, and we should be listening to Him. The Psalmist also makes it crystal clear that God does not cause us to sin; the human race does a great job of that on our own. However, we can ask for the temptation to be taken away. Psalm 119:133“Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Here we see the Psalmist immediately recognize that God is in control, and the Psalmist knows this because he is leaning on the studied word of God. The Psalmist also knows to ask for assistance from the Lord in resisting inequity and the power that sin has in this world.
What does this mean for you and I? It simply means that when God provides an opportunity to serve Him, we need to be ready to do so. This is first done by being in His word so we can draw upon the wisdom sent from above, but also so our steps can be properly directed. Let’s look at this in action. Genesis chapter 24, Abraham sends Eliezer to find Isaac a wife from Abraham’s homeland. While the text does not provide Eliezer’s name, we know from Genesis that Eliezer was the head servant, thus the most trusted servant to send on such an important mission. Genesis 15:2 “But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house [is] Eliezer of Damascus?” We also know from the historical book of Jasher, chapter 24, that Eliezer is actually named as the servant who goes.
Now Eliezer listens to Abraham and does as he is instructed. We can tell a little about Eliezer based on the events that unfold. He loves Abraham and Isaac. He is trying to find Isaac a good wife and obeying Abraham’s wishes. We can see that Eliezer has no problem recognizing the special relationship and blessings that Abraham has with the Lord and how that blessing will follow Isaac down the generations. Eliezer is a gentile who is blessing and helping the origins of the Jewish people. I find it ironic that Eliezer’s name actually means “God is my help.” As we read the events, we find that Eliezer does not give ultimatums to the Lord, but rather requests assistance to find the person that God wants for Isaac. Eliezer wants to find the right wife so as to bless the individuals promised by God to be blessed.
Eliezer is practicing the Psalm 119:133 approach right before our eyes. Read Genesis 24:1-28. God directs the steps, and in turn, Eliezer walks them. What an incredible opportunity for us to see God work. In our own lives, we need to be ready at a moment’s notice to act for the Lord. When in doubt, drive forward, blessing the Lord. If He wants you to slow down, He will let you know. It would be better for us to immediately be like Eliezer and ask God for guidance and push forward than to sit behind and lose an opportunity to glorify the Lord in the steps He has directed us.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL
SUMMER PRAYER FEST
For our Summer prayer fest, let's work on exactly what we just read. We are going to pray that the Lord would direct our steps as we follow Him. Our verse for this is Psalm 17:4, “Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.”