Living in the Spirit

June 29, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Genesis 24:34-67

Then I bowed my head and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left.’ And they called Rebekah, and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ She said, ‘I will.’ So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,
‘May you, our sister, become
   thousands of myriads;
may your offspring gain possession
   of the gates of their foes.’
Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. –Genesis 24:40-49, 58-61

As a child, I had a little golden book that told this story with pictures and words. It was like a fairy tale, and I enjoyed reading it over and over again. I now know this was a story from an ancient culture that followed customs that are foreign to our society today, although some things never change. No one wants their children to marry the wrong kind of person. Our definition of who that wrong kind of person is has changed markedly.

I am impressed that Rebekah apparently had a choice as to whether she would go. Years ago, I received a telephone call from the state office of the agency where I worked, asking me if I would be interested in transferring to a job in another town. I said, let me think about it. They said we need to know today. I went on a coffee break with a friend, and we tossed around the pros and cons. I returned to the office called them back and said I would take the transfer, and their response was I should report to duty tomorrow and stop by the state office to pick up the name badge I would need, which was apparently already made. I have always wondered if I really had a choice. I wonder if that was the kind of choice Rebekah had. My job change was one of the best decisions I ever made. I think Rebekah probably felt the same about her decision.

I read somewhere recently that the Spirit of God was a wind, not a wall. It flows in and around and through us as it does through all God’s people working to bring the Body of Christ into oneness. We are called to catch the wind and fulfill our contribution to creating a world ruled by love.

Prayer: Lord, give us the discernment to recognize the Spirit’s workings and help us be ready to go where the Spirit leads us. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.