City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

⁵⁷ They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” ⁵⁸ And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” ⁵⁹ So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. ⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“Our sister, may you become
    thousands of ten thousands,
and may your offspring possess
    the gate of those who hate him!”

⁶¹ Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus, the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

Genesis 24:57-61

¹⁸ While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. ²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 4:18-22

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, ⁴⁶ who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:45-46

Reflection

I am impressed with the spirit Rebekah shows in this life changing event but let us take a moment and look at it from her perspective.  She has lived in this town all her life, and she meets a rich stranger.  She shows him hospitality and is rewarded with some very nice jewelry.  Then he offers her the chance to go with him to be married to his master.  When asked, she jumps at the chance.  Did God speak to her, that this would be a chance of a lifetime, or was she just dying to get out of this town?  We don’t know, but it is safe to say that she was all in. It is this “all in” attitude of hers that puts to rest the servant’s concern about the girl not wanting to go.

At the time of this visitation, Rebekah’s relative would have had knowledge of Abraham, and his journey to this far off land. And he probably would have known of the promise that Abraham was acting on. As she goes out, she receives a blessing which speaks of her progeny, that they may may be “thousands of ten thousands,” which sounds a lot like God’s word to Abraham. I think it’s fairly clear that this blessing points to Rebekah participating in that promise.

One other thing to note, from the Matthew Henry Commentary, is that Rebekah has servants. This means that she did not have to draw water. This simple little task was something she took pleasure in. It is this simple pleasure that caused her to be selected for this opportunity. This does not mean that she was a simpleton, rather it means that she was not easily corrupted or distracted by the trappings of riches. Perhaps this simplicity is what was behind her ease as deciding to follow and take part in the story of Abraham.

When Jesus comes across some fishermen, working along the waterside, he tells them to follow and they do, without hesitation.  I think this is the same spirit that Rebekah shows when she agrees to leave her life in Ur.  In both cases they are leaving a life that they know well to pursue a new life, but when they say yes, it is not without reason.  Rebekah has received tokens, which stand as a pledge of good faith in her culture, to set her expectations.  For the disciples, they had heard of Jesus when he tells them to follow.  They plunge into this world of the unknown believing that there is something better on the other side.

In the parable of the Pearl of Great Value, Jesus explains that the merchant is looking for something of great value, and when he finds it, he sells everything.  Does it make sense to sell everything to get a single piece of jewelry?  How will you eat?  Where will you live?  The key to this parable is that the treasure is sufficient to sustain the one who possesses it, one need only take possession.  Mind you though, taking possession of it will take all you have.

Application

The merchant in the parable was an expert in the type of treasure he was looking for, as were Rebekah and the disciples.  They would not just follow any rich person, or just any preacher that came along.  Inwardly, they knew what they were looking for.  As Jesus explained, “my sheep know my voice” (John 10:27).  So, be careful of the treasure you seek.

In 1857 the SS Central America sunk in a hurricane off the coast of South Carolina, with 22 tons of gold on board (Ref. Mike Rowe.)  425 people were killed.  Many of them drowned because of the gold that was sown into their clothes.

What kind of treasure are you looking for?  Is it the kind of treasure that causes you to rise above and brings you into the life that God has planned for you, or is it the kind of treasure that pulls you down?

Prayer

Father in Heaven, knower of all things, and bringer of all joy and fulfillment, I bless Your name.  Jesus said that in Your house there are many mansions, and in Abraham You promised a great treasure in his descendants.  I turn my heart to Your providence and trust in Your ways.  Oh, that I may know them and walk in them all of the days of my lives.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.