What does "come, you who are blessed by the LORD" teach about blessings? The Setting: Genesis 24 Snapshot • Abraham sends his chief servant to Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac. • The servant prays, God answers, and Rebekah appears at the well. • Rebekah runs home, and her brother Laban greets the servant with the words: “He said, ‘Come, you who are blessed by the LORD! Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.’” (Genesis 24:31) Immediate Insights from the Greeting • “Come” – blessing draws people in, not away. • “you who are blessed” – others can discern God’s favor on a life. • “by the LORD” – the source of every blessing is explicitly God, not chance. • Provision follows the greeting—house ready, camels cared for—showing that recognition of blessing leads to tangible hospitality. What This Teaches About Blessings • Blessing is visible: God’s work in someone becomes evident even to those outside the covenant community (cf. Genesis 26:28; Psalm 67:1-2). • Blessing invites relationship: God-given favor opens doors and hearts (“Come”). • Blessing motivates generosity: Laban’s immediate offer of lodging and care reflects Deuteronomy 15:10–11 and Hebrews 13:2. • Blessing is tied to mission: the servant is in the middle of obeying Abraham’s commission; obedience and blessing walk together (Deuteronomy 28:1-6). Blessings Flow Through Faithful Obedience • The servant’s prayerful dependence (Genesis 24:12-15) shows blessing rests on those who align with God’s will. • Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.” Obedience positions us for that enrichment. Hospitality: A Key Expression of Blessing • Laban’s open door mirrors 1 Peter 4:9, “Show hospitality to one another without complaining.” • Recognizing God’s blessing on others spurs us to acts of service, echoing Romans 12:13. Blessing as Covenant Evidence • Genesis 12:2-3 promised Abraham that others would recognize and respond to his blessing. Laban’s words fulfill that prophecy in real time. • Psalm 115:12-15 reminds Israel that “The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us…”; the same covenant faithfulness is on display here. Witness to Those Outside • Laban, likely not a worshiper of Yahweh at this point, still confesses “the LORD.” Blessing becomes evangelistic (Matthew 5:16). Foreshadowing the Ultimate Invitation • Jesus echoes the phrase in Matthew 25:34: “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you…” The Genesis greeting previews the final, eternal welcome. • Ephesians 1:3 roots every spiritual blessing in Christ; Genesis 24 supplies an early picture of that grace in action. Living Out the Lesson Today • Walk in obedient faith; blessings accompany the path God prescribes. • Expect God’s favor to be recognizable—even unbelievers will notice. • Use your resources to welcome and serve others promptly and generously. • Let the blessings you receive become invitations that point people to the ultimate “Come” of Christ and His kingdom. |
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