Rebekah: I Will Go!

“Then they called Rebekah and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ And she said, ‘I will go’ ” (Genesis 24:58).

Rebekah went! Indeed, she was prepared and willing to “go with God” when her exciting opportunity came. How about you? Have you had your “Eliezer” moment? It’s when God asks you to do the unexpected. Instantly you know what He’s asking is His plan and has a divine purpose. It’s your call! It’s when you know it’s real, and you have no doubt that your “yes” is infinitely bigger than you, your plans, or your preferences. It happens when something in your spirit ignites and your heart perceives that your “yes” has eternity in view.  When we see like this, I call it spiritual eyes.

Ladies, God wants to use us – all believers - and if we are willing as Rebekah was, He will. What made her willing? Of course, God did it, but that’s not as simple as those few words. Her going was not a miracle either. It was God’s plan from the foundation of the world. Rebekah’s willingness  - her yes - resulted from years of preparation. We know this as sanctification. But watch this: God’s sanctifying work is key to success throughout our lives and, most assuredly, in all spiritual endeavors.

If we’re saved, we’re called, and our lives belong to Jesus. How thrilling that God invites us to partner with Him. Incidentally, the call of Christ’s church is found in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Notice the emphasis on partnership, but watch closely. We see the command in Acts, but being God’s faithful witness is not new. Abraham, an Old Testament saint (and Rebekah’s father-in-law), was called to be God’s faithful witness in Genesis 12. Since being called and following God is timeless, we consider Rebekah’s story. What was her part? The same as ours: Believing God, agreeing with His word, and yielding! Rebekah was ready when her moment came. She was living toward righteousness - serving, giving, and making herself available. When we meet Rebekah, she is serving well by doing the next right thing.

We read in Genesis 24:15-18: “And it happened before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet her and said, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.’So she said, ‘Drink, my lord.’ ”

Dr. Warren Wiersbe said if you’re saved, you’re right in God’s eyes - so be right! The key is making choices that honor God. Doing the next right thing impacts every aspect of our lives - and those around us. Lest we forget, no man is an island, and we don’t sin in a vacuum. Neither do we live heavenward without its positive benefits affecting others. Simply said, doing the next right thing means honoring God with our lives. Hold that thought. We will explore that further momentarily. 

In Romans 12:1, Paul says believers should yield their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. But that’s not all! He continues by saying it’s “our reasonable service.” Simply said, that includes saying yes to God – obeying Him – walking through open doors – giving and forgiving, loving and serving with pure hearts that emulate Christ’s humility. As always, His work is kingdom-focused and has a divine purpose! But it’s even more than that. It means doing the next right thing, which comes down to working with God - doing God’s work God’s way - with an attitude or disposition that pleases Him. Did you catch that? Motive matters! Plus, loving in word and deed - with pure hearts and expecting nothing in return. All calls involve preparation, timing, and intentionality. Generally speaking, divine calls demand selfless love and service to all - to whomever God chooses - by His grace and for His glory! We can’t choose who we love or serve.

Pause now and prayerfully review Genesis 24:50-58. As I’ve already mentioned, when Rebekah met Eliezer at the well, she was doing what she always did - serving her family by drawing water from the well. It was no unusual occurrence, either, but a familiar scene, because young women carried water from the well every evening. No doubt, from the time Rebekah was old enough to participate, she was faithful to serve her family. How do we know? She was there at the appointed time, and that’s no coincidence. When Eliezer arrived at the well, he knelt and prayed. He set his petition before God and laid out the fine details. At Rebekah’s appearance, her faithfulness, disposition, servant’s heart, and humility answered all of Eliezer’s “asks.” No detail was left unattended. Indeed, Eliezer was overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness to his mission.

Consequently, in verse 52, Eliezer worshiped God - wholly delighted that God would be so kind to his master Abraham and make the journey successful. But take notice: the entire scene involves both of them doing that next right thing - not only Rebekah, but Eliezer too! They yielded, making themselves available, as God’s sovereignty positioned both of them there at the appointed time. Remember, God’s timing is always perfect. He’s never late or delayed, but right on time! Since Rebekah was an Old Testament saint, you may wonder how she was prepared to go when the time came. Simply said, God had shaped Rebekah’s heart with a longing for something grander than herself. As only He can, God had given her a love for others and a servant’s heart, of which Eliezer took notice. Ideally, God had birthed His missionary spirit in Rebekah, and it would not be denied. Lest we forget, we serve a missional God - He sent us Jesus.

Even still, God calls and sends, and people go! Rebekah’s unique sense of adventure and hope in God guided her willing heart! In the end, she will be uniquely blessed. She was chosen to be a bride. But not just any bride, mind you. Young Rebekah was God’s choice for Isaac, Abraham’s spiritual heir to God’s promise and to all of Abraham’s wealth. Yes, Rebekah would marry Isaac, and their story is the great romance of scripture, spanning more than eight decades. Their devoted love endured until she died. We don’t know the circumstances surrounding her passing, but it’s noted in Genesis 49:31. At her death, Rebekah was laid to rest in the cave of the patriarchs at Machpelah near Mamre in Canaan. 

I know God prepared Rebekah to go with Eliezer, because there’s no way she could have been prepared otherwise. I speak from experience, because I am a seasoned missionary of twenty years. But listen closely! I didn’t know I had it in me until I said, “I will go!” As a result, since our call, I have seen the joy on believers’ faces in six southern states and two foreign countries. No venue, encounter, joy, or discomfort was unplanned. God guided it all and taught us a great deal along the way. He used us mightily, and as unbelievable as it seems, two sinners (the most unlikely candidates) successfully partnered with God. And we still do! I can personally attest that everything God does has eternity in view. I didn’t know I had “going” in me either. Essentially, I thought I was a homebody, but God determined otherwise. He was exacting His plan, and the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus compelled us forward! The call is irrefutable, irrevocable, and undeniable - it’s irresistible. We can’t outrun God! Ultimately, our call has led me here to you! And I’m so glad it did. So, like Rebekah, we said, “Yes, Lord, we will go!” Will that be your heart’s cry, too?

What’s the takeaway? When God calls, will you say with a joyful heart like Rebekah? “Yes, Lord, I will go! Whenever, wherever you call, I’m all in!”

Prayer: Mighty and gracious Lord, fill us, use us, and send us! May we endeavor to do the next right thing to aid the advancement of your kingdom for the benefit of the gospel.  Amen and amen.