A marriage made in heaven

October 9, 2016

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Sunday service, Erlo Stegen, 09 Oct 2016

Engagement Service-Joshua Ludwig and Regina Wey

Genesis 24: 1-8
This is an amazing story for the one who walks with God. Few walk with God and are led by Him. God spoke to him and He led him. God wants you to live for Him, walk with Him and lead your neighbor into this relationship. Abraham spoke to his servant and said he wanted him to have a relationship with the Lord like he (Abraham) had.

When the Lord called me, it was difficult for me. I said, “I am willing for everything except to leave my father’s house.” I said, “I will work hard and give money.” But the Lord said, “I don’t want your money, I want you.” I know the cost of disobedience is very high. It is better to follow Him. Whether you are old or young, God wants you yourself.

The story of Abraham is amazing. It is no wonder that Abraham has a special place in heaven. Our Lord Jesus said that many will come from the east and west and sit with Him at the table. I wanted us to look at the lives of Abraham and Jacob and how they lived. People like Abraham who listen to God and obey what He says, are rare. God said that He would make a great nation of Abraham. God said, ”You can never number the stars but your offspring I will make like the stars in the sky.” Abraham had to wait a very long time for that promise to come into fulfillment. Finally he only received one child. I don’t mention Hagar where Sarah made a mistake. She said, “I am old. Take Hagar or we will die childless.” You women can be wonderful but you can also be evil. She comes to Abraham with this wrong suggestion. Women, be very careful that you don’t put a wrong spirit into your husband. Hagar had a child and the whole Muslim/Arab nation exists because of that. His name was Ishmael which means the offspring of a donkey or a mule. A mule can be extremely stubborn. It can hurt you. Look today at what the Muslim nation has become. If you divert from God’s plan- woe to you. It was said that one out of three children don’t have a parent to live with. In South Africa, girls have children and the granny must bring them up. Many children never know their father. It is not good. It is a disgrace.

A Swiss young man went to India to be a missionary. It was the practice that marriages were arranged. The pastors would choose the wife for the young man. He was told that he needed a wife. He said that Jesus was enough but the committee decided that he needed a wife. They chose a wife for him and he had to meet her at the harbour. He prayed that they would choose the right girl and not the girl that he disliked with red hair. When the ship came, who was it? The red haired girl. He took it from the Lord and there wasn’t another girl as blessed as this girl. We don’t arrange marriages today. We leave it over to them that they are led by the Lord. You might choose for yourself and then there is a worm inside. She’s pretty but rotten. God had told Abraham to leave his land and go to the land that God had chosen. Abraham did what God commanded and then when they were old, they had Isaac. Isaac was 40 before he got married. Abraham said to his chief servant that he must go and get a wife for Isaac but not a girl from Canaan. The Canaanite girls painted their fingernails and lips. Abraham insisted that he didn’t want a Canaanite girl. We should want someone chosen by the Lord. The servant had to make an oath that he would get the right girl and that the Lord would help him to do so. He was not to take a girl from the Gentiles. So he was resolute that he only wanted what God had chosen. Not like Solomon who had girl after girl that he chose for himself.

Many marriages end up on the rocks. Why? They don’t consult with God. They do their own thing. If she is attractive but she is a Canaanite, then you shouldn’t get involved with her. It would be like Sodom and Gomorrah. The servant asked, “If the girl is unwilling, must I take Isaac to her?” Abraham said, ”No, never.” I don’t want something of the world. If you want to get engaged, be totally united with the Lord so that He will show you. How will you manage your children if you just get married to anyone?

What did this servant do? He went to a far-off country where Abraham had come from. Today relatives don’t get married but in ancient days they did get married to relatives. Today children can be deformed if you do so. The servant travelled a long distance to the area where Abraham came from. Astonishingly, the servant had no idea which girl it would be. He arrived at the well and the first thing he did was to pray. He said, “Lead me to the one chosen by You.” Then he prayed, “Lord please give me a sign. Lord, may I know who you have chosen. If the girl gives me water and also to my camels, then I will see it as a sign that you have chosen that one.” He didn’t ask for one who was pretty. A camel can drink 100l of water. He had many camels. She couldn’t have been a lazy girl. Maybe you decide on a pretty girl, but she is lazy. Then the girl arrived. The servant asked for water and she immediately said she would also give to his many camels. She ran to the well and drew water and gave it to the servant and the camels. The servant was quiet to see if the Lord would fulfill his promise and if she would complete the task. When she did complete the task, he called her and put a ring on her finger. She took him to her home. The brother asked who the servant was and she said it was the servant of Abraham. She put her veil on. The servant said that he would take her back to Abraham. The next morning she packed and went with the servant. The bridal price was handed over. As they approached Abraham’s home, they saw a man. She asked who it was and the servant said that it was Isaac. When she heard that she veiled herself and he took her into his mother’s home. Their marriage was heaven made. There was no arguing or anger. It was like heaven for them and he received the person the Lord gave him. Jesus said many will come and sit at the table of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Can you say these are my people? Are you living a life with the Lord? Is God absent? Blessed are those who have children who belong to the Lord.