Sermon No. 3459: More and More
Exposition: GENESIS 24:1-16; 1 SAMUEL 30:1-13; 1 JOHN 1:1-3.
Our subject is the value of Divine Guidance, and we shall, therefore, read two passages of Scripture illustrating the Truth of God which we hope to enforce.
Verse 1. And Abraham was old, and well advanced in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. Happy man that can say that, who has a blessing everywhere! And yet Abraham had his, "but," for as yet Isaac was unmarried and, perhaps, he little dreamed that for 20 years afterwards, he who was to build the house of Abraham was to remain childless. Yet so it was. There was always a trial for Abraham's faith, but even his trials were blessed, for "God blessed Abraham in all things."
2. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, Ipray you, your hand under my thigh—According to the Eastern manner of swearing.
3. And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of Heaven, and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife unto my son ofthe daughters of the Canaanites, among whom Idwell. This holy man was careful of the purity of his family—he knew what an ill effect a Canaanite wife might have upon his son, and also upon his offspring. He was, therefore, particularly careful here. I would that all parents were the same.
4, 5. But you shall go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. And the servant said unto him, Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I bring your son again unto the land from where you came?The servant was very careful. Those that swear too readily they know not what, will, before long, swear till they care not what. Better still is it for the Christian to remember the Words of Christ, "Swear not at all, neither by Heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other oath." Doubtless the Doctrine of the Savior is that all oaths of every sort are lawful to the Christian, but if they ever are taken, it should be with deep circumspection and with earnest prayerful-ness—that there be no mistake about the matter.
6. And Abraham said unto him, Beware you that you bring not my son there again. He knew that God had called him and his kindred to inherit the land of Canaan and, therefore, he was not willing that they should go back to their former dwelling places.
7. The LORD God of Heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spoke unto me, and that swore unto me, saying, Unto your seed will I give this land; He shall send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife unto my son from there. What simple faith! This was the very glory of Abraham's faith—it was so simple, so childlike. It might be many miles to Padan-aram, but it does not matter to faith. "My God will send His angel." Oh, we are always making difficulties and suggesting hardships, but if our faith were in lively exercise, we Would do God's will far more readily! "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain." Brothers and Sisters, let us be of good heart and of good courage in all matters, for doubtless the angel of God will go before us!
8-11. And' if the woman will not be willing to followyou, then you shall be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son there again. And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his master, and swore to him concerning that matter And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made his camels to kneel down outside the city, by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.Now I think I may freely say that this looks something like what we call "a wild goose chase." He was to go and find a wife for a young man left at home. He knew nothing of the people among whom he was to sojourn, but he believed that the angel of God would guide him aright. What ought he to do, now he had come near to the time when the decision must be made? He should seek counsel of God—and observe that he did so!
12-14. And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, Ipray You, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, Istandhere by the well ofwater, and the daughters ofthe men ofthe city come out to draw water And let it come to pass that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down your pitcher, I pray you, that I may drink, and she shall say, Drink, and I will give your camels drink, also; let the same be she that you have appointed for Your servant Isaac and, thereby, shall Iknnow that You have showed kindness unto my master I do not know that he is to be imitated in setting a sign to God. Perhaps not, but he did his best—he left the matter with God, and a thing is always in good hands when it is left with Him. There is a deal of wisdom in this sign, however. Why did he not say, "The damsel that shall first offer me a drink"? No, she might be a little too forward, and a forward woman was not a fit spouse for the good and meditative Isaac. He himself was to address her, first, and then she must be ready, with all cheerfulness, to do far more than he asks! She was to offer him a drink, and draw water for his camels. She would thus not be afraid of work, she would be courteous, she would be kind and all these meeting in one might show him! And by this test he might very wisely discover that she was a fitting woman for Isaac, and might become his spouse.
15. And it came to pass, before he had done speaking No, he did not know that promise, "While they are yet speaking I will hear," but God keeps His promises before He makes them and, therefore, I am sure He will keep them after He has made them!
15, 16. That, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her And she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. And so on—I need not read the rest of the story, because we now find that, through earnest prayer, the good servant has been rightly led. We will now turn to another passage where we shall have another instance of a difficult case—where another person put his case before the Lord—sought guidance and found it.
1SAMUUEL 30:1-13.
Verses 1, 2. And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire. And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. What a singular Providence! There was a blood-feud between Amalek and Israel since Israel endeavored to exterminate the Amalekites, and it is written, "The Lord shall have war with Amalek forever and ever." Yet God holds in these tigers and will not let the lions devour their prey!
3, 4. So David and his men came to the city, and behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.They were tired and weary after a long march with Achish, and then another long march home. Oh, how they longed for their couches! How they desired to sit down and converse with their wives and their little ones! Tears did not seem a sufficient expression for their sorrow, and yet when a strong man weeps—a burly warrior like Joab, a rough, coarse man like Abishai, or a strong young man like Asahel—there must be deep grief. They wept till they had no more power to weep.
5, 6. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. AndDavid was greatly distressed; for thepeople spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all thepeople was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters. But David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. He had not only his own personal sorrow, but that of all his people. And then, instead of comforting him, every friend had turned into a foe! His house was a heap of ashes—he might have said—"Ahinoam is not, and Abigail is not, and my children have You taken away. All these things are against me!" But he had more faith than Job, and so he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
7. And David said to Abiathar, the priest, Ahimelech's son, Ipray you, bring me here the ephod. And Abiathar brought there the ephod to David. Ah, that's the thing! Bring here the old family Bible! Let us go to prayer about it! Down on our knees and tell the Lord the case.
8. And David inquired ofthe LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And He answered him, Pursue: for you shall surely overtake them, and without fail recover all But it is easier said than done! Where are they? How shall they find these fleet Amalekites who fly away so rapidly?
9. 10. So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred stayed behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the Brook Besor. Worse and worse you see! But the case is in God's hands and no matter what the circumstances may be, all's well that ends well, and God always has the enemy in His hands!
11-13. And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water. And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights. AndDavid said unto him, To whom do you belong? And from where didyou come? Andhe said, Iam a young man ofEgypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick Shame on his master, I say, and yet there are some who stop their men's wages as soon as they get a little ill! Shame on them, I say! It might be fit for an Amalekite to do this, but certainly not for an Israelite! So this young Egyptian tells David all about what they had done. And David follows them, kills them with the sword, takes away their plunder and, moreover, gets a great spoil to himself, and so the Lord hears the voice of David. Now Abraham's servant and David were men in like difficulties with us, but they asked guidance of God and received it! Let us be sure in every time of difficulty to do the same.
1 JOHN 1:1-3
Verse 1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of life—The fact that Christ was really in the flesh, that He was no phantom, no shadow mocking the eyes that looked upon Him, is exceedingly important, and hence John (whose style, by the way, in this Epistle is precisely like the style which he uses in his Gospel)—John begins by declaring that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who in His eternity was from the beginning, was really a substantial Man, for he says, "We have heard Him"—hearing is good evidence. "Which we have seen with our eyes"—eyesight is good, clear evidence certainly. "Which we have looked upon"—this is better still, for this imports a deliberate, careful, circumspect gaze. But better still, "Which our hands have handled"—for John had leaned his head on Jesus Christ's bosom, and his hands had often met the real flesh and blood of the living Savior. We need have no doubt about the reality of Christ's Incarnation when we have these open eyes and hands to give us evidence!
2. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. That same eternal Being who is Very God of Very God, and is worthy to be called essentially Life, was made flesh and dwelt among us, and the Apostles could say, "We beheld His Glory."
3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. See how he hammers this nail as if he will drive it fast! How he rings this bell that it may toll the death-knell of every doubt!
3. That you also may have fellowship with us. But John, what is the value of fellowship with you, you and your brethren, a parcel of poor fishermen? Who wants fellowship with you—hooted, despised, mocked and persecuted in every city—who wants fellowship with you?
3. And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ. What a leap from the fisherman to the Father's Throne, from the poor, despised son of Zebedee up to the King of Kings! Oh, John, we would have fellowship with you now! We will have fellowship with your scorn and spitting, that we may have fellowship with you, and with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.