Day 2 of Week 4 The Patriarchs

September 25, 2008
Day Two of Week Four
The Patriarchs
 
This Is from the Lord
 
Today's Treasure: Genesis 24: 50
"Laban and Bethuel answered, 'This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.'"
 
Glancing back at yesterday's test, what was the sign the servant asked God to grant him to affirm the choice for Isaac's bride?
That she would offer him water when he asked and she would also offer to water the camels until they were full.
 
One reason for asking for this sign was that it would be a sure sign of hospitality. Do you remember the hospitality that Abraham showered over the three visitors that came to him in Genesis 18? Apparently the servant understood that hospitality was important to Abraham; therefore, it was an attribute that he wanted in the bride he chose for Isaac.
 
Today's lesson focuses on how much God values excellence. Beth wants us to focus on how busy our lives are and how few things we truly give 100% of ourselves to. We tend to juggle so many things in our society today that we are rarely excellent at anything. How often do we give 150% to a task that we have been entrusted with? We usually have so many small tasks going at the same time that we give exactly what we have to give to each task just to get by. Is that how we treat our relationship with God? As we study this chapter in Genesis, thing of the excellence that both the servant and Rebekah gave in the tasks they were performing.
 
Definition of a minimalist:
One who expends the least possible effort to achieve a desired goal
 
Do you ever feel like a minimalist? Name two ways you could realistically incorporate balance in your life.
Learn to prioritize and say "NO"!!!!
Devote more time to praying about what God wants me to focus on
 
Beth says we are not in danger of becoming minimalists because we want to. We're in danger of becoming minimalists because maximum overload causes minimum effectiveness!!!
What if Rebekah had responded to the servant with a hardy laugh and exclaimed, "which jar would you like for me to pull from my shoulder to give you a drink from? I have so many that are only partially full that I can't balance them all."?
 
 
Proceed by reading Genesis 24: 29 – 51. Who is Laban?
Laban is Rebekah's brother
 
In what ways does Laban express…
Typical big-brother actions?
By running to check things out
Less than typical actions for a big brother?
He was willing to give up his sister to a stranger based on his word
 
Consider how the servant embraced the oath he made to Abraham? If you were given this task, would you have taken it on as if you were doing it for your own child? Could a friend count on you to represent him/her in such a devoted manner?
Please note the added description of the servant's prayer in verse 45. According to the NIV, how did the servant pray?
"Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' "
 
It is imperative to notice the servant's enthusiasm for his master's mission. In our me-centered society, how often do you become this enthusiastic over someone else's mission? Are you only enthusiastic and giving to efforts that will benefit you?  
In what ways has God placed you in a position to move outside "me-ism" and serve unselfishly and enthusiastically like Abraham's servant?
 
For the remainder of the lesson, let's take a good look at Genesis 24: 50. I hope Laban's response caught your attention when you first read it. 
"Laban and Bethuel answered, 'This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.'"
 
Have you ever had a time in your life when God revealed Himself so dramatically that you had no choice but to bow down and honor him? There was no room for opinion or votes…His will was revealed and that was that…
Put into memory Psalm 40: 8
"I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
 
Take a moment to ponder on a Genesis 24: 50 moment in your life.