Pastor Stephen Gibson
May 2022
When Rebekah left her village with Eleazer on the trip to meet and marry Isaac, Genesis 24 tells us she was sent off with these words ringing in her ears: May you be the mother of thousands of thousands (verse 60). So somehow I don’t picture Isaac and Rebekah sitting up late evenings around the fire debating how long to wait until starting their family. If she was going to be the mother of thousands upon thousands, she had better get started.
But she didn’t get pregnant that first year of marriage, or the next year or the next or the next or the next or the next or the next or the next…
It must have seemed like God was silent. She had been so sure God had worked it out for her to be chosen to marry Isaac. Had she misunderstood God’s plan? Was God upset with her? Why wasn’t her plan working out as she’d thought?
Probably those passing through brought greetings from home which was likely 450 miles or so away. And they would take greetings back to Nahor where her relatives lived. Her family must have been shocked to learn that their precious Rebekah who had gone to marry the rich man’s son and become the mother of thousands of thousands wasn’t even pregnant after a decade. What had gone wrong? They had believed she was taken away for some grand purpose. Apparently not?
Genesis 25 tells us Rebekah waited twenty years for a baby, but when he came, the silence was broken by the cry of twins.
Could it be you have struggled at times wondering if you missed God’s call, made an unforgivable choice, or have been forgotten by God? Rebekah might suggest to us: Don’t decide too quickly that God is asleep at the wheel. Keep on claiming His promise in spite of not seeing an immediate answer. Enjoy the quiet today because tomorrow may bring a handful — or even two handfuls of God’s answer.
As you anticipate the conclusion of school and the routines of summer this season, keep in mind several opportunities to involve your children in positive activities. Just next month is our annual camp meeting adventure near Prescott at Camp Yavapines. June 14-18 will be a time to enjoy the higher elevation and a change of pace. There are daily classes and activities for children of various ages. Go to AZconference.org/campmeeting for more details. July is often our Vacation Bible Experience for children at our Wickenburg Church, as well as the summer camp season at Camp Yavapines for school age children. Of course each week at our church there is Sabbath School at 9:30 Saturday morning for children and adults. That’s a school program that goes all year round with abundant opportunities to learn. Don’t miss out!