It is time for Isaac to marry. Isaac’s father, Abraham, sends one of his staff back to his ancestral land to choose a wife for Isaac from his kin. The servant gets to the land and prays, O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going. And, then continues with a prayer suggesting to God a sign, so that he knows exactly who Isaac’s wife is to be. Because otherwise how would he choose, how would he know? This was a big deal and not a time to make a poor decision. God’s promise to Abraham, that his ancestors would number as the stars, all depended on this choice- a wife for Abraha’s son, Isaac. The future depended on this one decision.
This
is a good passage for confirmation Sunday, not because I expect that Lina,
Meaghan, or Nakana are choosing spouses and getting married any time soon, but
because it talks about how one makes important decisions. There are many important
decisions -life changing ones- that Nakana, Lina, and Meaghan will make in the
next few years: affirming one’s faith today and committing to relationship with
God and the church community is one; there is deciding what classes to take in
school and later if one will go to university or college, choosing summer jobs
and later careers; and figuring out who to be, how to act, and which people to
hang with. There are choices of where to live, how to dress, what to eat, will
I drive; where will I spend my money? There are decisions about how to use
one’s time: what hobbies to participate in, which skills to hone, and where and
how to give to and serve the community.
I
have organized the teachings into ‘the Three Fs,’ Faith, family, and focus. Each
‘F’ is accompanied by a confirmation verse as chosen by the confirmands.
FAITH
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness -Lam. 3: 22-23
Abraham is an example of faithfulness. Although this scripture was not written at the time of Abraham, it sounds like the song of his heart and the story he lived. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. Abraham’s story recounts a decision to leave his home, taking his household and following God to a different place. Late in years, Abraham is told that he and Sarah will have a son and their descendants will number like the stars. Through the story Abraham has intimate conversations with God and entertains God’s messengers. Not all of Abraham’s choices were solid, sometimes getting himself and his family into sticky situations, but, with a little nudging from the Spirit the situations right themselves through a series of new choices on Abraham’s part. Abraham’s relationship with God is strong and Abraham has faith that God is present, even when he screws up. Abraham has faith, so much so that Abraham sends out his staff person to go find a wife for Isaac. This is a big decision, to not go oneself, but to trust and have faith that the servant is capable of the task. Abraham assures the servant that God goes ahead, so Abraham rests assured that God will aid the servant.
This
kind of faith, one doesn’t grow in a vacuum. It is practiced with others in
community. In Abraham’s day it would have been his whole household: immediate
family, relatives, household managers, servants, hired hands, and their
families. Abraham modeled conversation with God, even argued and bartered with
God, and trusted in God’s faithfulness.
Today we grow faith by practicing with others in community. Here in this place, we wrestle with big picture questions – is there God, what is the meaning of life, what is my purpose, is their life after death? Through sacred texts (Bible) and ritual we hear and are reminded that God’s mercies are new every morning.
This
year in confirmation class we learned about the Bible. There was not time to
read most of the stories written in it. We are all encouraged to continue
reading. Between the covers we will read about people of faith, people figuring
out who God is and what that means for daily living and decision making. We
will note that when it comes to making decisions there can be more than one option
or choice that is a faithful, responsible, good, godly. We will also find that
even God, changes God’s mind from time to time. Don’t be afraid to make
decisions, a decision leads to more options, more decisions. Trust, have faith,
that what you have learned here, and continue to grow and practice here, will
give you confidence in making faithful decisions.
FAMILY
Before
I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated
you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. -Jer. 1: 5
Okay, Meaghan, Lina, and Nakana, you can roll your eyes if you want, because this ‘F’ starts by talking about your parents and families. You have been blessed with families, parents who are involved, who care, who love you, who bring you to church, who sat with you through confirmation classes. Parents help us make decisions.
Family in the story is represented by two separate households. Isaac and his father Abraham, and their household, and Rebekah and her father, brothers, and her maids. Through the interactions the families communicate with each other over this important decision. What I appreciate in the story is that although families -particularly fathers of households- usually made the marriage decisions, Rebekah has voice and agency, she is asked her opinion and it is valued. The family helps in the decision making process.
A
biblical principal through the ages is that it requires two or three to be
present as witnesses to make significant life choices. It is a great cloud of
witnesses that contributes to discerning what option to choose. We are not
alone. It is not unlike the process of the congregation figuring out what this
church’s future looks like.
Church
community is another family, your chosen faith family. This congregation, or wherever
you go and in whatever Christian community you find yourself in, is a
conversation partner; a place to find support, encouragement, and direction. Time
spent together in worship and prayer, coffee conversation, learning, applying
scripture to daily life and the world around us reminds us that God knew us
before we were born, consecrated us and appointed us to be God’s grace in
the world. This colours and aides our decision making.
FOCUS
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1: 6
Abraham’s
servant goes when sent, to find a wife for Isaac. The servant though does not
go on his own, with his own ideas, or under his own power. The servant prays. It
is a big decision after all. The prayer models for us the importance of taking
time to pause when making big decisions. The focus of prayer reminds us that
faith and family and God are the support system and voices to help us make
decisions. Prayer also opens our hearts, ears, and eyes to opportunity and
possibility. Prayer focuses us to pay attention. Abraham’s servant expects to
encounter God, as described by receiving a sign – in this case Rebekah coming
to water the camels.
When
we pray, prayer has us face the day looking for hope and grace; sets a focus of
being loving and caring with self, others, and creation. The focus of prayer is
discipleship – meaning going to live the day faithfully trusting your family is
behind you and God goes ahead. The focus of asking, turning to God, family,
community of faith, frees us and decision making from doubts like a wave of
the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Today,
Nakana, Lina, and Meaghan, you are making a decision that has been in process throughout
your entire lifetime. It has been guided by the Spirit, grown faithfully in
community, encouraged by family, and focused through study and prayer. My
prayer, our prayer for you, is continued conversation and relationship as you
grow and make life changing choices for yourselves and that you actively
participate in making life changing decisions for this congregation and the
church. We support you, we love you, we pray with you.
As
Bonhoeffer prayed, let us pray:
My
courage fails me, but with you there is help; I am restless, but with you there
is peace; in me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience; I do not
understand your ways, but you know the way for me. Amen.
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