Fri.’s Devo - God’s Power Manifested on the Earth

Read: Genesis 23:1-24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 3:1-6 Sarah died at the age of 127, which means Isaac was 28 years old. Abraham owned no land in Canaan so he went to the Hittites to buy a plot of land to bury his wife and future family. He had such favor with them that they offered him their best land for free. Abraham chose the cave and field at Machpelah and insisted on paying 400 pieces of silver for it. It was done legally and fairly and the land was his. *** Abraham was getting old and wanted to find a wife for Isaac before he died. He did not want him to marry one of the local Canaanite women’s he sent his trusted servant to go to back to the land he came from and find a wife from his family. He made him vow to find a wife for Isaac. If she refused to come back with him, he would be released from his vow. He told the servant that an angel would go ahead of him and prepare the way so he would be successful. *** The servant took 10 camels and traveled to the town Nahor, Abraham’s brother had settled in. He prayed that God would give him success that day. He saw the women coming to the well to draw water and asked the Lord to let the one he asked for a drink, not only give him a drink, but offer to draw water for his camels also. *** No sooner than he had finished his prayer, he saw Rebekah coming with her jug. It played out just as he had prayed. When she had finished, he rewarded her with a nose ring and two gold bracelets for her wrists. 
 *** He asked her who her father was and if they had room to put him and his camels up for the night. He was delighted to learn that she was Abraham’s niece and they had plenty of room and food for him and his camels. *** The servant bowed and thanked the Lord while Rebekah ran home to tell her parents what had happened. When her brother, Laban saw the jewelry Rebekah had been given he knew this was no ordinary wanderer. He ran out to meet him and brought him to his house to stay. Laban fed his camels and provided water for the servant and the camel drivers to wash their feet. Then he served them all food. *** The servant said he had something to say, first. He told them the assignment he was on, who had sent him, and how the Lord had led him to Rebekah. Laban and Bethuel, her father both recognized that this was the Lord’s plan and gave Rebekah to the servant to take back with him. *** This is the perfect example of how the Lord guides our steps and wants us to succeed in his purposes. He doesn’t set us up for failure, but success. He works everything for our good, but even in the “working,” it might not be instant like our story today, many times it’s a process that refines us along the way. *** In Matthew, we read that Jesus healed a leper and sent him to be a witness to the priests. Then he met a Roman officer who amazed Jesus with his faith. He understood the authority Jesus had with God and compared it to his own position as an officer in the army. He told Jesus to just command his servant to be healed from where he was and it would go to where the servant was. Jesus made the statement that he hadn’t seen faith like that in all Israel. Then he prophesied that the Gentiles from all over the world would come to the Jewish faith and feast in the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are examples of who he was talking about. Jesus added that many Israelis would not make it into God’s kingdom and would be thrown into outer darkness. *** Jesus told the man to return home; he would find his servant healed. Then Jesus returned to Peter’s house and found Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a high fever. It took one touch and she was healed. So much so, that she rose up to prepare a meal for Jesus. *** That night, many people brought Jesus their sick and demon-possessed and they were all healed. He fulfilled Isaiah’s words, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” *** We are walking into a day when we will put our hands on the sick and they will immediately be healed; when we say the word, people a long way away will be healed. Jesus said we would do greater works than him and I believe that is coming soon. *** Lord, with expectation we look forward to what you have in store for us as the extension of your hand. Your Kingdom is coming to earth and we are privileged to be here to see it and be a part of its manifestation. Glory to your Name!