SUBMISSION TO GOD’S WILL RATHER THAN COMPROMISE (GENESIS 24:5-7)

Dear Members in Christ,

Submission to God’s will rather than compromise (Genesis 24:5-7)

In the previous article, we considered the account of Abraham commissioning his trusted servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Isaac. Earlier, we dwelt upon Abraham’s spiritual quality of perseverance, how Abraham was submissive to the will of God. He was committed to obey and preserve God’s covenant for his son Isaac and the future generations. Therefore, Eliezer asked Abraham what if a woman is sought as Isaac’s wife, but this woman refuses to return with him to Canaan. What shall he do then? And the servant followed on with another question for Abraham.  

“And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?” Genesis 24:5

This is an interesting question, and Abraham’s answer is recorded for us in verses 6 and 7 of the same chapter. We wish to point out Abraham's very resolute and determined reply to Eliezer. The answer if I may paraphrase in plain words is simply, “Eliezer, do not compromise, shun ungodly options!”  What can we learn from Abraham’s response to Eliezer? The lesson is this, that in our Christian walk, sometimes it is better to do our best and leave the results to God rather than to invent solutions by our own imagination.

No compromise to God’s will for His covenant people

There are many reasons a young lady may refuse, or in the context of the ancient times, her father may not grant permission to accept Eliezer’s invitation to go to Canaan. The journey is long and possibly hazardous, and the future of the bride with the new family may be uncertain. These are issues which may weigh against a favorable response. Eliezer had a proposal, “can I bring Isaac there instead?” 

Abraham’s answer short and sharp. “Beware” that is to be in a state of alertness, to keep or guard, look narrowly and “bring not…thither” i.e. do not turn or return. Eliezer must not let slip or compromise.

What is a compromise? It is to make an agreement or settlement by making concessions with the parties in a covenant. Eliezer is a good steward – he knows how to manage a situation with a creative solution. He is considering the heavy burden of the oath laid upon him. But the work of God and the will of God is absolute. Abraham was told specifically to take a wife for Isaac “from thence.” This was recorded in Genesis 24:7,

“The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.” Genesis 24:7

Eliezer can only be discharged from his oath if he does exactly as he had sworn, therefore bringing Isaac to their country of origin is not an option. The Promised land is theirs and their descendants’. The Messianic line is to come through the lineage of Isaac, and the Gospel of salvation for a blessing of all nations must not be compromised.

The lesson for us to discern and obey God’s will 

What is the lesson for us? We must learn to discern and submit to God’s will without compromise. It may be a tempting thought, “If no eligible woman comes to Canaan, then I may have to consider bringing Isaac back to Mesopotamia.”  Brothers and sisters, compromise comes in many guises. It may appear as false neutrality on a doctrinal issue, for example, for a minister to pretend not to take sides in order not to offend. It can happen in relationships, when ministers choose relationship and friendship over the truth. We have seen this happen in the past decades when the BP churches were faced with contention over the doctrine of the preservation of the Bible.

It is so easy to fall into the sin of compromise. A person can be in a business situation, where your Christian values are challenged in alcohol drinking, or in business ethics. Compromise is a sign of lack of commitment to obey the Word of God. The temptation is, “If I cannot succeed according to the straight and narrow way, can I bend the rules a little?” What will happen if Isaac returns to Nahor or Ur and marries a girl from those parts? The covenant people of God will return to the land of idolatry, a land where God commanded Abraham to depart from.

Brothers and sisters, let us be discerning to shun ungodly alternatives when making our life choices. May God give us wisdom to be resolute and determined when making decisions in our lives. To God be the Glory. Amen.

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor