Texts: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-51, 58-67; Matthew 11:25-30
Date: Sunday, July 7, 2002
Author: Rev. Jonathan K. Twitchell
I couldn’t believe my ears. It was the fall of 2000, almost 2 years ago. Melody and I were sitting in the dining room at 471 Old Ocean House Road , with boxes piled all around us. We had just finished revival services that night, and I had gone up to the Pizza Hut in Millcreek to get pizza for all of us. Steve Estep and his friend were there, Jeff and Stacey were there, and Emily had just gone to bed. Like I said, I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard Jeff say, “It’s too bad the two of you don’t have clones.” I looked at him quizzically, and he said, “You know, someone with skills in music and youth, would really help us out here in Cape Elizabeth .” I thanked him for his kind compliment, and dismissed the statement -- or at least I tried to. In the back of my mind, I was perplexed. He couldn’t possibly have known that finances were tight at our current church, and there was discussion as to whether or not they would be able to keep Melody and I on staff there. He couldn’t possibly have known that I wasn’t sure how secure my current job was, because I hadn’t told anybody that, except for a few people in my family.
Two evenings later, I was sitting down there in the front row. Melody and I had led worship for the evening, and Steve preached a wonderful revival service about the men sitting outside the gates after the city had been plundered. Going back into the city meant certain death, sitting still at the gates meant starvation, and so their only option was to press forward to scavenge for food. Steve made the application that in our lives, we might wish to go back to the past, but we can’t. We might be tempted to sit still and stagnate where we are, but the only way we can continue to grow is to move forward, sometimes into the unknown. Do you remember what Steve said during that service? I know I couldn’t believe my ears... He stepped out of the pulpit, to make it clear that he wasn’t speaking from God’s Word, or speaking as a prophet, but he said that he had a strong sense that as the church had made some money on the sale of the parsonage, it was like the men in the story. You would never be able to go back again, and while you could sit at the gate and simply maintain what was happening and use up the resources until you starve, it was important to move forward into the unknown. And then...I couldn’t believe my ears. Steve stood down there and said, “I’m not attempting to be a prophet or anything, but I wonder if you might be able to take some of that money and use it to subsidize the salary of a staff person. Someone like Jon and Melody here...someone who could help your pastor with music and with his passion to reach this community and the youth in Cape Elizabeth .” Steve couldn’t possibly have known what was going on in my life. I certainly hadn’t told him. But, I went home that night with a nagging feeling that God was about to close one chapter in my life and begin a new one.
It was only two days later, that I sat in the office of my Senior Pastor, who sat across his desk from me and told me that finances were tight, and we might need to reevaluate whether or not the church could afford to keep staff or not. We agreed that we would reevaluate this issue in February, in order to make a decision for the new church year. I went back into my office, and closed the door, and immediately called Jeff on the phone. I remember my exact words, “You may not have to look for clones, because Melody and I may be available in the near future.” After I explained to him what was going on, I was in for yet another shocking surprise. As you know, Jeff keeps a spiritual journal. He told me something that probably changed my life forever. He told me that he had been praying and journaling the night before and had written that he was going to call me to see how things were going in my current assignment, and whether or not I was looking to move. It was one of those “holy moments” when you know that God is orchestrating and coordinating something far bigger than you could possibly imagine. Through these series of strange, providential occurrences, all of us were clear that God was working behind the scenes to direct the course of the future. There was no doubt in my mind but that God would take care of us and provide for us in the months ahead.
I bet she couldn’t believe her ears either. There she was, simply going to the well to retrieve a jar of water. There was a stranger sitting next to the well, and he asked for water from the well. I’m sure she didn’t understand the shocked and excited look on his face when she offered him water for his camels too. And, I’m positive she wasn’t prepared for this total stranger to put a ring in her nose and bracelets on her arms, but that’s exactly what happened.
I wonder what it must have been like for people in the Old Testament, when God broke in upon their routines and gave them clear, divine direction for their lives. Our Scripture text today gives us some insight into the lives of a simple maiden and one of Abraham ’s servants as they sought God’s guidance. Hear these selected texts from Genesis chapter 24:
34 So he said, “I am Abraham ’s servant. 35 The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. 37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, ‘You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 but go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.’
42 “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘O Lord, God of my master Abraham , if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from you jar,” 44 and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’
45 “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.’
46 “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also.
47 “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’
“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’
“Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham , who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”
50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.”
58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, Will you go with this man?”
“I will go,” she said.
59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham ’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”
61 “Then Rebekah and her maids got ready and mounted their camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev . 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac . She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”
“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah , and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
I’m pretty sure that Rebekah couldn’t believe her eyes and ears. I imagine that even the servant couldn’t believe his ears either. Even though he had prayed for divine direction, I imagine he was slightly stunned when Rebekah approached the well even before he was finished praying. I imagine that his jaw dropped when the conversation proceeded exactly as he had prayed it would. Oh, he shouldn’t have been surprised, God often answers prayers in precise, crystal clear ways. But, I like to imagine that he was caught surprised by divine intervention in his life. I have to confess that I probably would have been surprised.
Unfortunately, we have grown unaccustomed to hearing His voice and being aware of His guiding hand upon our lives. We shouldn’t be caught surprised when He directs us, but we often are. We shouldn’t be surprised when He answers prayer in precise, specific ways, but we often are. We serve a God who is not simply distant and uninvolved, but One who wishes to be present with us, interacting with us and guiding us.
Rebekah was forever changed by her encounter that morning. Forever after, she would submit to Isaac ’s leadership in their family. Never having met him before, she willingly left her family and land, to follow the servant who put the bracelets on her arms and the ring in her nose. But, she sensed God’s leading in this matter, and agreed to go at once to be married to the rich young man. Her faithful obedience challenges us. She certainly seems to drop everything and run, because she knows that God is leading her and so she can’t go wrong.
Perhaps Laban and Bethuel couldn’t believe their ears either. Confronted by the story of God’s guidance, they seem to be caught speechless. Recognizing that God was orchestrating the events of the morning, Laban and Bethuel allowed Rebekah to leave with the unknown servant without delay. The servant left the gifts, and spent a night under their hospitality, but was on his way with Rebekah in the morning.
There are times in our lives when God’s guidance is crystal clear to us, and there is no need to debate what our next step should be. We are unable to mistake His voice and prodding in our lives. There are other times when, like the servant, we must pray and ask God to make His ways clear to us. We should not be afraid to pray in specific ways asking God’s specific guidance. God wants to guide our footsteps and direct our paths, if only we will delight ourselves in Him and ask for His leading. Whether God provides us clear direction, or if we have to ask for His leading one step at a time, there is no better way to live than in God’s service, faithfully following His leading.
In our Gospel lesson this morning, we hear Jesus offering his yoke to his listeners. “Taking a yoke,” indicates entering into someone’s service. Yokes are placed on oxen to allow the farmer to drive the oxen and achieve the desired goal. The oxen driver can direct their paths by pulling ropes connected to the yoke. Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We can truly be in no better place than with Jesus ’ yoke on our shoulders, and with Him pulling the reins. Rebekah doesn’t hesitate to follow the servant, because she senses divine leading in her life. Like Rebekah, we will do well to remember that God will never lead us astray, and that as we follow Him faithfully, allowing Him to direct our paths, we will be happy in His service.
Once again, I couldn’t believe my ears. I was sitting at my desk, working on the bulletin. Jeff had come and sat down in one of the chairs in my office...not too uncommon, except that he wasn’t saying anything, which was extremely unusual. He was fidgeting with one of my toys on my bookshelf. Since he didn’t seem interested in talking at the moment, I ignored him and went about my work. Finally, he cleared his throat and said, “Jon, there’s no good way to tell you this...” and proceeded to tell me how Stacey had accepted an offer to serve on the faculty of Eastern Nazarene College, and that they would be moving to Quincy to further their education and follow God’s guiding in this direction. Once I was sure of what he had said, I began to ponder how this would impact me. Jeff might be feeling called to go elsewhere, but I have to confess that I had heard no such divine call which would end my service here at Cape Elizabeth . I considered if I would be able to stay on staff with a new pastor coming in. I contemplated looking at seminary and even received some phone calls from other pastors across the country who had heard of my situation and were looking for staff. But, God hadn’t seemed to release me from the ministries that I had begun here, and I wasn’t clear how I would complete them. But, within myself there was a growing sense of confidence--not in me, or in this church, but in the God who had led me so far. I had no reason to believe that the God who had led me up until this point would stop directing my paths. And so, patiently we waited for God’s direction together.
During the past few weeks and months since you have called me to serve as your pastor, a number of people have asked me some interesting questions. Perhaps the most commonly asked question is some variation of, “How are you feeling? Do you feel overwhelmed?” After all, 1 year ago, I would never have imagined that I would be standing here today, beginning my service as your pastor. While there may be a level of apprehension, I know that the God who led me here will continue to watch over me and guide my footsteps in the days to come. Like Rebekah, there is no place I’d rather be than in the center of God’s will. Like Laban and Bethuel felt when God’s will was made clear to them, together we have sensed His guiding in our journey thus far.
How about you? Have you allowed God to put a ring in your nose or a yoke on your shoulders? Like the servant, are you praying for God to make His guidance crystal clear? You may not know what life will look like 5, 10, or even 20 years down the road. You may not even know what life will look like tomorrow, or next week. But it always seems that God provides just enough guidance and light for us to see the next step in front of us. As long as we continue to trust and faithfully follow one step at a time, we will end up where He wants us, serving Him in the way He desires.
We are reminded this morning that we serve a God who is entirely in control. He gently leads us along in His service. We have seen His guiding hand during the 35 years of this church’s ministry in Cape Elizabeth. We have watched as He has turned lives around, enabling us to live our lives to His greater glory. We have seen His hand at work in the sale and purchase of the parsonage. We have seen His healing hand move among us and touch us. He has brought physical and spiritual healing to our broken bodies and souls. Indeed, the evidence is clear that God has been with us over the past 35 years.
I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I do know this: the God who has led us thus far will continue to lead us in the future. As we continue to faithfully follow Him, we will impact our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This morning, let us affirm our faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who loves us and sent His son Jesus the Christ to die for us, the God who has led us thus far, and the God who will lead us tomorrow. Please stand and turn to number 8 in your hymnals, as we affirm our faith by reading together The Apostles’ Creed.
Benediction: The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.
