Bible Reading
Genesis 24:10-27 (ESV) — 10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.
11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water.
12 And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.
13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”
15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder.
16 The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.”
18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.
19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”
20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels.
21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels,
23 and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”
25 She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.”
26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD
27 and said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.”
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) — For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Psalm 119:36 (ESV) — Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
Observation Questions
- What was the first thing Abraham’s servant did when he arrived at the well, and why is this significant? ([17:40])
- In the servant’s prayer, what specific sign did he ask God for to identify the right woman for Isaac? ([42:24])
- How did Rebekah respond to the servant’s request, and what does her response reveal about her character? ([54:07])
- According to Ephesians 2:10, what does Paul say about God’s plan for believers?
Interpretation Questions
- Why do you think the servant chose to pray before taking any action to find Isaac’s wife, instead of relying on his own wisdom or strategy? ([17:40])
- The servant’s prayer was very specific and aligned with God’s values. How does praying specifically help clarify our motives and invite God’s direction? ([47:46])
- The servant waited and watched to see if God would answer his prayer, rather than rushing to a conclusion. What does this teach us about spiritual attentiveness and patience after we pray? ([58:51])
- The sermon mentioned praying God’s Word, like Psalm 119:36. How can letting Scripture shape our prayers help align our desires with God’s will? ([01:05:01])
Application Questions
- When you face a big decision or uncertainty, what is your usual first step—do you pray, plan, ask others, or something else? How might your approach change after hearing this message? ([17:40])
- Think of a current situation where you need God’s guidance. What would a specific, spirit-aligned prayer look like for that situation? Try to write it down and share with the group if you’re comfortable. ([47:46])
- The servant watched and waited for God’s confirmation before acting. Is there an area in your life where you need to slow down and watch for God’s answer, rather than rushing ahead? What would it look like to practice patience and attentiveness this week? ([58:51])
- The sermon encouraged us to pray God’s Word. Is there a Bible verse or passage that you could use to shape your prayers about a current need or desire? How might this change the way you pray? ([01:05:01])
- The message challenged us to share specific prayer requests with others and pray together as a community. Is there a specific request you need others to pray with you about? How can you invite someone to join you in prayer this week? ([01:03:47])
- The servant’s prayer was not about manipulating God, but about aligning with God’s heart. Are there areas where your prayers have been more about your own convenience or desires? How can you shift your prayers to reflect God’s values? ([47:46])
- The sermon mentioned the practice of 21 days of prayer. What is one way you could commit to a season of focused, specific prayer—either on your own or with others? ([01:03:47])
