Are you starting to see the lessons coming out of this story? Are you starting to see how this might apply to your life? Abraham was an old man advanced in years, yet his faith in God is at its peak. So many men and women, when their bodies begin to grow weak their faith grows weak as well. We have far too many examples of this in the household of God. Abraham has a task before him to serve God by finding the right woman for Isaac so that the promise would continue. Instead of looking at the long journey back to Mesopotamia and throwing up his hands because he couldn’t make the journey, he sets his servant to the task. He encourages and instructs the servant and then sends him forth. Abraham passes on the faith he has to his servant and commands the servant to walk by faith. You don’t see Abraham take a back seat and say, “well, my time is past. Now it’s time for the younger generation to take over. I’ll just let them take over and I’ll go sit over here and watch from the sidelines. Go ahead, Isaac. Go find a wife.” You don’t see that mentality anywhere in Scripture from God’s people. Those advanced in years continue to advance the gospel, continue to lead, continue to encourage. They are the generals in the war that command those who are in the fray. We must also grapple with the providence of God. Ruth Bryan wrote this, “Deliverance seldom comes in the way we look for it; for “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave Him His counsel? Who did He consult with? Who gave Him understanding and taught Him the paths of justice? Who taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?” Isaiah 40:13-14 Ah, has not the Lord frustrated our purposes over and over again! I cannot tell you with what majesty this passage has often come to my mind — “Who gave Him His counsel?” Not puny, sinful worms! He will counsel for them — but not with them. “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure!” Yet “fear not, worm Jacob, I will help you” — help you to stand still and see My salvation; or help you to walk on in the dark in a rough and unknown path — just as My wisdom sees fit. Spiritual eyesight is not given to look at the outward path — but to look at our Guide; not to look before us at the way we are going to travel — but to look only at Him who will guide us safely through all, who will Himself be our way. Oh, to be kept abiding in Him, and constantly looking unto Him! It is most safe and blessed — but very contrary to flesh and blood! “I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them, and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16. Brothers and sisters, God is on the throne. He is in control. If he can guide a humble servant to a woman he chose 450 miles away, he can also lead to your home with him in heaven. This is the God of the Bible. His name is Providence. Are you in need? Do you have a trial that is burdening you? Are you losing your grip? Trust in his providence and trust in his steadfast love. Here these words from Charles Spurgeon, “The best remedy for affliction, is sweet submission to God’s providence. What can’t be cured, must be endured!”