QT 10/1/2025 Gen 24:1-9, Free will and God's Sovereignty

Genesis 24:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

 

NOTE: Abraham is taking prudent steps to protect his son and the inheritance (although God has already unconditionally promised it). His servant is to go back to the land of his relatives, most likely believers in the one God, to secure a wife. Abraham believes that God will send his angel before him to make the trip a success. But, the story also includes "free will." While we will see a miraculous setup, there are obstacles. One is a greedy Laban, and secondly is a desire by the family to keep the girl in Haran and not allow her to go to Canaan. People must choose. Abraham says as much when he tells the servant that if the woman is not willing to follow, he is free from the oath. Fortunately as we will see, Rebekah is as commentator Kenneth Matthews suggests, "independently minded."

 

So what is the conclusion? God is sovereign over the affairs of man. And men have completely free wills. And somehow it all works together. Is it foreknowledge or is it just way beyond our understanding? If Rebekah has said no, what would have happened? God would have provided another way, but God knew the answer "ahead of time" (?or outside of time?) despite giving us perfect free will.

 

PONDER:

1. We do have free wills and with that free will comes the opportunity to be a part of God's grand will. Do we take opportunity to be a part?
2. In Esther, she is told, that if she does not choose to risk her life, God will provide salvation to the people through someone else. If we say no, we are losing out. How do we respond to God?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to be a part of your plan. I don't want to say no to an opportunity from you. Lead me, guide me, and give me clarity of thought as I see you work in my life.