Silence

Today, Miley isn't feeling so good.  She has pink eye, and if that wasn't enough, an ear infection too.  She's taking a nap right now, and I'm enjoying the silence.  I was thinking: had she not spent the day with me, I'd be busy doing something else somewhere else and would have totally missed out on some prime God time.  Some days it's nice just to enjoy the silence.  I've been doing a Beth Moore bible study (The Patriarchs) in my spare time.  I am so thankful for the quiet time because today had to be one of the best days so far.  

We are reading through Genesis 24 when Abraham sent his unnamed servant to find a bride for his son Isaac.  A couple of things stood out to me...although it was an arranged marriage, LOTS of prayer was put into the process.  The servant spent much time in prayer and worshiping God.  I am a firm believer that if God (and He did, it's not really an "if") created every intimate detail about us, He also created someone to compliment every one of those details He created within us.  With prayer, God lead Abraham's trusted servant straight to Rebekah.  After a long journey there and back and many details in between, I find myself at the first time Isaac and Rebekah laid eyes on one another.  This is by far one of my favorite parts: (Gen 24:63-65 NLT)

One evening as he (Isaac) was taking a walk out in the fields, meditating, he looked up and saw the camels coming.  When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted.  "Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?" she asked the servant.

My guess is he was praying about the servants journey.  I wonder if Abraham and Isaac had been talking about the vow that Abraham and his servant made about finding Isaac a wife.  I imagine so.  I have a teen daughter and we talk about lots of things.  I don't think that would have not been discussed at our house.  I wonder what Isaac was "meditating"?  

My version would be something like this:  'God, I believe that You are my provider.  I've watched You do amazing things in my dad's life.  My mom tells me that I am a miracle straight from You.  If I can ask one thing; if I can boldly ask Your help... God, please let her be amazing.'  As those words probably flowed through his mind, my thoughts turn to his future bride approaching.  God is more than creative having her arrive while he's meditating.  Can you imagine the excitement as Isaac saw them coming?!  

Then, the story moves to Rebekah's view.  As she looks up, she must have liked what she saw.  It was enough to make her dismount quickly.  It stopped her in her tracks.  I imagine (as Beth mentioned) that she must have passed many travelers along the way.  My guess is she didn't "quickly dismount" every time she saw someone coming.  I think it was love at first sight.  When God is in the details, I believe it is love that cannot be explained or justified.  Even though it was arranged, I believe God did the arranging way before the servant made this vow.  I also believe that God can and does the same today when we allow Him to do so.  When we go searching out on our own, we come up with the wrong catch.  

I am watching a generation like no other.  I am privileged to see a passionate group of students unwilling to compromise for what God has to offer them.  I believe in my heart that God is up to something.  I am wide eyed with anticipation of what He's doing.  Well, naps over so I'll have to share more on that thought later...