The year after I graduated from high school, I traveled the country with a Christian singing group named Joy, Inc. When I left home to travel with the group, the journey felt both exciting and a little scary. Homesickness parked in my heart the moment I saw my family leave after driving me to Milwaukee where the group would rehearse. But soon I had the thrill of meeting the rest of the band members and the joy of learning new music.
After a month of rehearsing our concert numbers, we had a repertoire of songs ready to perform. We headed out on the road. Every morning we would get up and pack our suitcases and load them on good old Miracle White (a retrofitted school bus painted white that served as our tour bus). Someone would ask, “Where to today?” and the bus would travel to Bradley, Illinois; Louisville, Kentucky; Salt Lake City, Utah…
When we arrived at the church where we would play that evening, we would set up our instruments and sound system. At 7:00 p.m. we would sing our hearts out and visit with concertgoers afterward. Host families from the church generously gave us places to rest our weary heads for the night and the next day we’d start the process all over again.
Every day we each had to agree, “I will go.”
Rebekah’s Journey
The story of Rebekah in the Bible tells of a woman willing to go where God led. It begins with the journey of Abraham’s servant. Abraham gave the significant task of finding a wife for his son, Isaac, to his most trusted helper. Abraham told his servant to travel to Nahor where Abraham’s relatives lived in order to find a suitable wife.
When the servant arrived at Nahor with his ten camels, he prayed that God would show him the right woman for Isaac by having her give him a drink and offer to draw water for all his camels. The Lord graciously answered his prayer. Before he even finished praying, Rebekah came out and drew water for all ten of his thirsty animals.
When Rebekah met Abraham’s servant at the well, she could never have imagined that the very next day she would leave home. In one day, she went from dutiful daughter to betrothed wife. When Abraham’s servant approached Rebekah’s family, the men all agreed: “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken” (Genesis 24:50-51). Take her and go. I wonder if Rebekah felt offended at their seeming eagerness. Was she shocked when her father and brother consented to the marriage so quickly?
The next morning, Abraham’s servant announced, “Send me away to my master” (Genesis 24:54). Now Rebekah’s family tried to stall him, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go” (Genesis 24:55). I can certainly understand this request. If my daughter was moving to a new home and I might never see her again, I’d like to squeeze out a little more time of hugs and goodbyes. And I think I’d like to know this servant-guy a bit better before I handed my precious child over to him. Could I actually trust his story?
But the servant continued to press them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master” (Genesis 24:56). Finally, the family consulted Rebekah and she said, “I will go.” Rebekah bravely said yes. The Lord had opened the way and she agreed to step into His plan.
I Will Go
Rebekah said, “I will go,” even though the journey of 500 miles would have hardship. Even though it meant leaving her family. Even though it certainly meant leaving her current way of life behind.
May we, like Rebekah, say, “I will go” when Jesus asks us to follow Him. May we tell Him every day, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you even if it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. I will follow You even when it means surrendering things dear to me. I will continually step forward with You, even when I’d like to go back to what seems familiar and safe.”
Perhaps one key to hearing God’s divine directions for our lives is our own willingness to follow those directions. Why would anyone offer direction if they knew the other person was not receptive? God loves us enough to not force us to obey. He patiently waits for our hearts to be open to His ways. He waits for us to tell Him, “I will go.”
The journey of following Jesus is not a three-week vacation trip. It’s a lifelong expedition of saying, “Yes, Jesus. I will go.”
The journey of following Jesus is a lifelong expedition of saying, “Yes, Jesus. I will go.”
This post is an excerpt from my book Divine Directions: How God Guides Your Path–a Bible study of eight journeys in the Bible. As you study Abraham’s journey to Canaan, Ruth’s journey from Moab, the path of the Magi, and five others, you will glean principles for your own life journey and decision-making.
Divine Directions: How God Guides Your Path will help you:
- Discover biblical principles for seeking God’s guidance
- Learn about important journeys in the Bible
- Embrace God’s wisdom and timing in your life path
- Use a four-step process when making decisions
Learn more about the book here:
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