Genesis 24:39 “Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
Today I want to focus on the servant’s prayer in verse 42: “Lord, … if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.” “Lord, if you will…” is important phraseology, in my opinion. “If you can” would be inappropriate because God *can* do anything. He is sovereign in heaven and earth. But “if you will” leaves room for God to work.
Genesis 24:40 “He replied, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father’s family.
Don’t get me wrong–praying “Lord, if you will…” is not easy. I could give you two prayers at the moment that are in the forefront of my prayers that I really, really, really hope that the Lord grants. I know that He can. But I also know that His thoughts are not like my thoughts and His ways are far beyond anything I could imagine (Is 55:8). I want what feels like the best path. He wants the right path for me.
Genesis 24:41 You will be released from my oath if, when you go to my clan, they refuse to give her to you—then you will be released from my oath.’
Precious Savior, You want for us dreams that are beyond anything we can imagine. Help us to pray in Your will. And when Your will does not match our own, help us to trust that You love us more than we are capable of loving and Your plan is somehow greater than any plan we could create (even if we cannot yet understand it). Help us, Jesus. Amen.
Genesis 24:42 “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.
Have a blessed day.