Trusting God: The Call to Immediate Obedience

Summary

Genesis 24 brings us to a pivotal moment in God’s unfolding plan—a moment that calls for trust, obedience, and courage. As Abraham nears the end of his life, the promise God made to him hangs in the balance: Isaac, the son through whom the promise will continue, is still unmarried. Abraham’s servant is sent on a mission to find a wife for Isaac, and through a series of divinely orchestrated events, Rebecca is identified as the one God has chosen. The story is not just about ancient customs or family arrangements; it’s about learning to recognize God’s leading and responding with wholehearted obedience, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

Rebecca’s journey is marked by both confirmation and risk. The servant’s prayers are answered in detail, and God’s will becomes clear to all involved. Yet, knowing God’s will is only half the journey; the other half is the willingness to obey, especially when obedience feels uncomfortable or costly. Rebecca’s family initially agrees to God’s plan, but as the reality of her departure sets in, they hesitate, suggesting a delay. This moment of tension is familiar to us all—how often do we know what God wants, but find ourselves tempted to postpone our obedience?

Rebecca’s response is striking in its simplicity and faith. When asked if she will go, she answers without hesitation, “I will go.” She steps into the unknown, leaving behind everything familiar, trusting that God’s purpose is greater than her fears. Her obedience not only leads to personal blessing but also positions her at the center of God’s redemptive plan, becoming a matriarch in the lineage that will one day bring forth Jesus.

This narrative challenges us to examine our own responses to God’s leading. Are we delaying obedience, waiting for more details or a more convenient time? Or are we willing to say “yes” today, trusting that God’s blessing and purpose are found on the other side of our obedience? The invitation is clear: God is calling each of us to trust Him, to step out in faith, and to walk in obedience—right now, not later. In doing so, we align ourselves with His greater plan, experiencing the blessing and purpose He has prepared for us.

Key Takeaways

- Obedience Begins Where Certainty Ends
True obedience often starts when we don’t have all the answers. Rebecca’s willingness to go, despite not knowing Isaac or what awaited her, demonstrates that God rarely gives us the full blueprint before asking for our “yes.” Faith is not the absence of uncertainty, but the resolve to trust God’s character and leading even when the details are unclear. [32:44]

- Delayed Obedience is Disobedience
It’s easy to rationalize waiting—one more day, one more step, one more comfort before we obey. But the story makes it clear: postponing what God has made clear is not obedience at all. The cost of delayed obedience is missing out on the blessing and purpose that come from immediate surrender to God’s will. [36:55]

- God’s Will is Not Up for Debate
When God’s direction is clear—whether through Scripture or the Spirit’s prompting—our role is not to negotiate or debate, but to obey. Rebecca’s family recognized that God had spoken, and their opinions or preferences were secondary. The same is true for us: when God’s will is revealed, our response should be humble submission, not argument or delay. [28:44]

- Obedience Unlocks Generational Blessing
Rebecca’s “yes” was not just about her own life; it positioned her in the flow of God’s redemptive history. Our obedience can have ripple effects far beyond what we see—impacting families, communities, and even generations to come. God’s purposes are bigger than our immediate circumstances, and our faithfulness today can shape destinies tomorrow. [41:44]

- The Invitation is Always for Today
God’s call to obedience is never for “someday.” Whether it’s leaving behind a harmful relationship, stepping into a new ministry, or surrendering an area of sin, the time to respond is now. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we do know that God’s blessing and purpose are found on the other side of a present-tense “yes.” [45:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:12] - Upcoming Events and Announcements
[03:45] - Introduction to Genesis 24
[06:10] - God’s Promise and Abraham’s Concern
[08:30] - Trusting God’s Plan in Uncertainty
[11:55] - The Servant’s Mission and Prayer
[15:55] - The Importance of Worship After Confirmation
[17:28] - Obedience: The Other Half of the Battle
[19:14] - Rebecca’s Family Responds
[23:40] - The Servant’s Focus and Retelling the Story
[28:44] - When God’s Will is Clear: Trust and Obey
[32:44] - The Cost and Tension of Obedience
[36:55] - Delayed Obedience is Disobedience
[41:44] - Obedience Prepares the Way for Blessing
[44:36] - The Call to Immediate Obedience
[45:49] - Saying Yes to Jesus Today
[47:22] - Prayer for Courage and Obedience

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Genesis 24 – “Will You Go?”

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### Bible Reading

Genesis 24:28-67 (ESV)
*(Focus on the story of Rebekah’s response to God’s call and the family’s reaction)*

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### Observation Questions

1. What was Rebekah’s immediate response when asked if she would go with Abraham’s servant to marry Isaac? ([23:40])
2. How did Rebekah’s family initially respond to the servant’s request, and what changed their minds the next morning? ([19:14])
3. What reasons did the sermon give for why Rebekah’s decision was risky and required faith? ([36:55])
4. According to the passage, what blessing did Rebekah’s family speak over her as she left? ([41:44])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Rebekah was able to say “I will go” so quickly, even though she didn’t know all the details about her future? What does this reveal about her trust in God? ([32:44])
2. The sermon says, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” Why is it so tempting to delay obeying God, even when we know what He wants? ([36:55])
3. When Rebekah’s family realized God’s will, they said, “We cannot speak good or bad.” What does this teach us about how we should respond when God’s direction is clear? ([28:44])
4. The sermon mentions that Rebekah’s obedience had an impact far beyond her own life. How does this story help us understand the generational effects of our choices? ([41:44])

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### Application Questions

1. Is there an area in your life right now where you sense God is asking you to obey, but you’re tempted to wait for more details or a more convenient time? What’s holding you back from saying “yes” today? ([45:49])
2. Think about a time when you delayed obeying God. What was the result? How might things have been different if you had responded immediately? ([36:55])
3. The sermon says, “Obedience begins where certainty ends.” Can you share a time when you had to step out in faith without knowing all the answers? What did you learn about God’s character through that experience? ([32:44])
4. Are there any commands or promptings from God that you tend to debate or negotiate instead of simply obeying? What would it look like to humbly submit in those areas? ([28:44])
5. Rebekah’s “yes” positioned her in God’s bigger plan. Who in your life could be impacted by your obedience to God right now? How might your faithfulness today shape someone else’s future? ([41:44])
6. The sermon gave examples like leaving a harmful relationship, starting a new ministry, or surrendering a sin. Is there a specific step of obedience you feel called to take this week? How can the group support you in this? ([45:49])
7. The invitation is always for today, not “someday.” What practical step can you take in the next 24 hours to say “yes” to God’s leading? ([45:49])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God for courage to obey, even when it’s uncomfortable or uncertain. Pray for each other to have faith like Rebekah and to trust God’s purpose in every “yes.” ([47:22])

Devotional

Day 1: Trust and Obey When God Makes His Will Clear
When God reveals His will, our response is not to debate or delay but to trust and obey, even when it challenges our preferences or comfort. The story of Abraham’s servant, Laban, and Bethuel in Genesis 24 shows that when God’s hand is evident, the only faithful response is immediate obedience, not argument or hesitation. This principle applies to every area of our lives—when God’s Word is clear about something, our role is to submit and act, trusting that His ways are higher than ours and that His plans are always for our good. [22:40]

Genesis 24:50-51 (ESV)
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you know God’s will but have been debating or hesitating to obey? What would it look like to trust and obey Him today, without further delay?


Day 2: Delayed Obedience Is Disobedience
It’s easy to want to obey God “eventually,” but delayed obedience is actually disobedience. Like Rebekah’s family, we may agree with God’s direction in theory but then try to postpone action, hoping for more time or comfort. God calls us to act now, not to “kick the can down the road.” True obedience means responding promptly, even when it’s difficult or inconvenient, because every moment of delay is a moment of disobedience. [32:10]

Genesis 24:55-56 (ESV)
Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.”

Reflection: What is one step of obedience you’ve been putting off, telling yourself you’ll do it “later”? What would it take for you to say yes to God today instead of waiting?


Day 3: Obedience Often Requires Stepping Into the Unknown
Obedience to God rarely comes with a full set of instructions; often, it means stepping out in faith without knowing all the details. Rebekah’s willingness to leave everything familiar and go with Abraham’s servant is a powerful example of trusting God’s leading, even when the future is uncertain. God may be calling you to take a step that feels risky or uncomfortable, but He asks for your “yes” today, trusting that He will guide and provide as you go. [39:00]

Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Reflection: Where is God asking you to step out in faith without all the answers? What would it look like to say “I will go” even when you don’t know what’s next?


Day 4: Obedience Prepares the Way for Blessing and Purpose
Saying yes to God’s call not only brings personal blessing but also aligns you with His greater purpose. Rebekah’s obedience positioned her at the center of God’s redemptive plan, becoming a matriarch in the lineage of Christ. Your obedience today may have an impact far beyond what you can see—unlocking blessing, purpose, and even generational change. Trust that your “yes” to God is never wasted and always prepares the way for His promises to unfold. [42:30]

Romans 9:8-10 (ESV)
This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac…

Reflection: Can you think of a time when your obedience to God led to unexpected blessing or purpose? How might your “yes” today impact others in ways you can’t yet see?


Day 5: Say Yes to God—Today, Not Tomorrow
God’s invitation to obedience is always for today, not for some distant future. Whether it’s leaving behind a harmful habit, stepping into a new calling, or surrendering your life to Jesus, the time to respond is now. You don’t know what tomorrow holds, but you do have this moment to say “yes” to God’s will. Don’t let fear, excuses, or the hope for a more convenient time keep you from the blessing and purpose God has for you. [45:49]

2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)
For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Reflection: What is one area where you’ve been waiting for a “better time” to obey God? What would it look like to say “yes” to Him right now, trusting Him with the outcome?

Quotes

Here's what I want us to understand, though, about confirmation and coming to that point where we begin to understand maybe how God is leading us. I just want you to know this morning, as great as that is, it's only half the battle... Knowing is half the battle. Let me tell you what the other half of the battle is. The other half of the battle is obedience. Because once we get confirmation, once we know God's will, the next step is to walk in obedience. And what we need to understand about obedience is sometimes obedience feels risky. Anybody with me? Sometimes it feels uncomfortable. But it's in that moment right there, you just need to know this, in obedience where the blessing and promise of God comes. [00:16:34] (62 seconds)  #ObedienceIsTheNextStep Edit Clip

Sometimes we need to understand this obedience doesn't come with the full set of instructions right obedience doesn't give you all the details sometimes it just gives you the door to walk through but here when god when god works and he wants us to obey him here's what he's asking us will you go will you make that move now will you leave that sinful behavior or habit now will you stop sleeping with your girlfriend or your boyfriend now will you put down the bottle now will you forgive them now will you learn to tithe and trust me for your provision now will you will you share your faith with somebody now will you be baptized now will you take your sabbath now will you read your bible and pray now he just asked will you go rebecca said yes what do you say what do you say your decision is important because it leads us to this final point. [00:35:56] (73 seconds)  #ObedienceWithoutFullInstructions Edit Clip

Here's what obedience teaches us trusting god with the yes always aligns us with his greater plan the fact is god may call you to step into something new could be a job could be some kind of move in your life could be a ministry could be a relationship without giving you all the details and what you need to understand is your yes will have an impact i think greater than you can imagine. [00:40:22] (31 seconds)  #SayingYesAlignsWithGod Edit Clip

I'm just telling you right now that i think we underestimate what god wants to do through our obedience your yes may have an impact you could never imagine. [00:42:14] (15 seconds)  #ObedienceHasUnseenImpact Edit Clip

I want to bring us all back to the one simple question that was asked of rebecca and the question was will you go with this man and without hesitation without even thinking about it she said i will go she didn't know every detail she didn't know she didn't know what the full picture would be all she knew this is all she knew god has made his will clear i know what he wants me to do and now it's time to respond and so she says i will go and i think that's where some of you are today. [00:42:34] (48 seconds)  #IWillGoWithoutHesitation Edit Clip

Maybe you need to say yes to that. And maybe for some of you this morning, you need to say yes to Jesus. Truth is, you've never done that. You've come to church. You've gone through some rituals. You might even have taken communion this morning, and that's okay. But you've never made him Lord of your life. You just keep saying, you know what? I'll do that some other day. I'll do that some other day. Here's the problem with that. You don't even know if you have another day. That's the problem with that. You can only kick the can about two centimeters in front of you, just so you know. Because you don't know what's going to happen in the next five seconds. But I do know what you can do right now in this moment. You can say yes, Jesus, be Lord of my life. Amen? And maybe that's your yes today. [00:45:16] (52 seconds)  #ObedienceLeadsToPurpose Edit Clip