Embracing the Abundance of God's Kindness" A Look at Genesis 24 By Catherine Brown Web: www.gatekeepers.org.uk Email: catherine@... RELEASING HEAVEN'S RESOURCES - THE ABUNDANCE OF KINDNESS Kindness is a subject that has been much on my heart of late and I feel it is something the Lord wants to stir in each one of us...learning to be kind to others and learning (or re-learning ) how to be kind to ourselves. During the last couple of months, we've looked at prioritizing relationship with Christ, flowing out of intimacy with Him into fruitfulness (John 15) and waiting patiently until the word of the Lord comes with release and fulfillment of our Kingdom destiny (Philippians). Today's teaching from Genesis 24 is a continuation of this journey through Scripture and encourages us to embrace God's kindness. THE COMMISSIONING "Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the Lord has blessed him in every way. He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all he had...go to my country and my relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac." Genesis 24:1-2, 4 The story of Abraham's servant is a wonderful encouragement to us today as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just like Abraham's servant was, we are entrusted with an ambassadorial anointing from heaven to step out and fulfill the Great Commission. When it's time to move on a faith promise, the Lord lets us know by His Spirit. BUT "WHAT IF...?" Abraham's servant was an obedient man, but nonetheless still had questions and some doubts and anxieties as to the success of his mission. He asked his master, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me?" (Genesis 24:5) but quickly received a profound word of holy hope. Abraham gave his servant an incredible promise of success for the journey he was about to undertake in faith - he was to have angelic accompaniment! An unseen protector, one sent from heaven, would assist this mere mortal to complete the task set before him. "He will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there." Genesis 24:7 Likewise today, the Lord releases his ministering angels to assist those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). Having questions is ok! It's what you do with them that counts. Holy people are honest people. Holy people have a whole and healed heart. The remedy to worry is to put God at the center of whatever concerns you. Once He is rightly established at the core of the issue, all our anxieties melt away in His loving embrace. Abraham's servant did just that and was able to move on to the next stage of his journey. THE BLESSING OF COVENANT RELATIONSHIP Buoyed up in his faith, the servant then entered into a covenant agreement with his master and swore an oath to him concerning this matter (v. 9). As New Testament believers, we have entered into a covenant relationship of grace with our Lord Jesus Christ. He is faithful to provide for us and to protect us. Covenant brings many benefits including grace, mercy, forgiveness, and a renewed relationship with God. Through Holy Spirit we may experience an inward transformation and walk in the freedom of those who have been released from condemnation through Christ's sacrifice (Romans 8:1-2). Christ is our mediator and sanctifies us through His blood. Content and securely anchored in his covenant relationship, the servant then left to fulfill his mission, taking with him all kinds of good things (v. 11). As his master's representative, he was entrusted with considerable wealth and resources. We, likewise, have been given every good gift in God (Ephesians 1). Heaven's resources are poured into us and through us by God's kindness in order that we might be a blessing. God longs for his bride to take up her royal inheritance. Perhaps you need to ask the Lord today for your inheritance? TRUSTING IN GOD'S FAVOR AND HIS KINDNESS "Then he prayed, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too' - let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master." Genesis 24:12-15 Trusting and believing in God's kindness, the servant laid a prayer fleece before the Lord and God moved in power. "Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder." (v. 15) God responded with a Kingdom "suddenly" and gave the servant the God-given desire of his heart. Similarly, we too may believe for God's "suddenly" in our lives as we learn to trust and obey Him and rejoice as we see our hopes and dreams fulfilled in Christ. I have found that God's "suddenlies" are usually preceded by much soul searching, patient waiting, and pursuing Him in prayer. Then comes the breakthrough, bringing with it much joy and favor. Waiting, then.whoosh! Obedience to God brings blessing and favor. Being in favor with God often means we are shown favor with man. This is not favoritism, nor is it manipulation. Rather, it is the outworking of God looking kindly upon a person and treating them with tender regard. BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART Rebekah, the bride-to-be, is described as being very beautiful and she was a virgin (v. 16). Her beauty, purity, and virtue of heart reflect a picture of the Bride of Christ perfected by our Lord's sacrifice at Calvary. Jesus taught his disciples that only the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). We can rest in the truth that the Righteousness the Kingdom demands is the same Righteousness that God gifts in grace to every believer. Holiness is not about striving or legalism. We are holy because Christ is holy. We are a chosen people, a royal nation and a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9). Hurrying to meet Rebekah, the servant requested that she give him a little water from her jar. It takes humility to know when and how to make a request and make your needs known. It also requires humility to receive another's act of servant hood on our behalf. Jesus graciously washed His disciples feet, setting an example both for them and us as believers. It was because of His security in relationship with His Father that Christ was able to be perform such a meek act of service. Christ came as the Servant-King and taught us to model perfect love and compassion. Moreover, Jesus also taught that if we do this (i.e. live lives of humility and show kindness) that we will be blessed (John 13:17). We are encouraged to be like Christ, who made Himself nothing that we might have life eternal (Philippians 2:7). Sometimes our pride may get in the way of our needs being met and we may not ask for help at all. At other times we may ask for help, but perhaps we ask with wrong intent in our hearts. The apostle James teaches: "You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:2-3 God wants to bless His children. He especially wants to gift us with Holy Spirit and He has already seeded the heavenly places with every blessing as our inheritance. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need, because the Lord knows every hair on your head and cares infinitely more for you than you can ever ask or imagine. He longs to pour out Holy Spirit on every single believer (Luke 11:13). CHILD OF GOD - DRINK FROM HIS PRESENCE! Rebekah responded to the servant thus: "'Drink, my lord,' she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, 'I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.' So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels." Genesis 24:18-20 God is gracious to refresh His children and to give us His life-giving water, meeting all our spiritual, emotional, physical, and practical needs. Jesus Himself, stood up on the last and greatest day of the feast and proclaimed that if anyone was thirsty they should come to Him and drink from the life-giving waters of Holy Spirit. Beloved, if you are feeling worn out, wounded, weary or dry, drink from the well of joy and salvation of Jesus Christ today. Rebekah displayed a willingness to serve, and in her humility was used by God. All the Lord is looking for is our availability. We don't have to qualify. Jesus qualified us in Grace when He poured Himself out as a love offering on the Cross, canceling the power and the penalty of sin and death. Take Christ's kindness to your own heart and don't be afraid to ask for a double portion. God wants to tenderly bless YOU His child. Catherine Brown Web: www.gatekeepers.org.uk Email: catherine@... Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. 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