Please don't tell anyone

True story

Years ago, I invited a pastor friend to speak to our youth group.

He taught on Genesis 24—Abraham’s servant looking for a bride for Isaac.

Nice story but the chapter has 67 verses (you’d think it was in the book of Luke!).

My pastor friend hit all 67 of them,.

We could have walked from Canaan to Mesopotamia with Eleazar

in the time my friend took to finish speaking.

Hence, I confess, (1) I never invited him back,

and (2) I have had a dread of Genesis 24 ever since.

Dumb, I know, but I trust you aren’t going to tell anyone.

So, I suppose I have skimmed this verse a hundred times

but today I paid attention:

And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands,

and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!” 

Gen 24.60

And it jumped out at me,

Because I understood that it has something to what I consider

one of the principal verses in the gospel of Matthew:

I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Matt 16.18

May we, the offspring of Rebecca, possess those gates

for the sake of the Kingdom of God.