“NEVER, NEVER SHOOT YOUR CAMELS”
MERRY MONDAY-
“And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.” Gen. 24:63
The Red head girl named Parris with the birthmark on her hand, glasses and buck teeth wearing handmade clothes. By Parris Bailey
Today I make 56 years old. This past Saturday I had two of my sons over and my grand children. As we were getting ready for the cake, I remembered that we didn’t officially celebrate Caroline’s birthday (my son Nathan’s daughter who just turned 6). As the two of us stood side by side, I realized that there was exactly 50 years difference between us. Here was Caroline with her blonde curly hair a face of innocence and expectation and there stood me-fifty years her senior. As we blew out the 6 candles I would like to think we exchanged each other strengths. My wisdom from past mistakes and her childlike faith. Even though my name is still Parris and the last time I looked my birthmark is still there along with my reddish hair, my teeth seem to look better. But most of all He has made me accepted in the beloved.
There is a great story in the 34th chapter of Genesis. It’s the story of redemption, of Christ meeting his bride, it is the story of Isaac and Rebekah. The chapter starts out with Abraham telling his servant to find a wife for Isaac and in order to do that the servant must go back to Abraham’s distant relatives. We know the OT is full of types and shadows and it becomes quite clear that the servant whose name is never mentioned takes on the role of the Holy Spirit. The servant takes off with 10 camels bearing gifts and says a prayer asking God to lead him to Isaac’s wife. He no sooner finishes when Rebekah comes up and begins to water all his camels. When he finds out that she is related to Abraham he begins to adorn her with all kinds of precious gifts. Gold, which always means divinity, silver for redemption and he gave raiment symbolizing spiritual covering. Little did Rebekah know the day she watered those 10 camels that her life would drastically change. The chapter closes with Rebekah riding the camels to her Isaac. Rebekah goes on to have Jacob who in turn has the 12 sons that create the Jewish nation. Thank God she didn’t shoot those camels!
So today I need to recognize the camels when they come into my life. Camels are nasty, smelly, awkward and have a hellacious appetite for water but in the end those very camels will take me to my Isaac. He is able to make all grace abound in my life giving me sufficiency in all things that I may have abundance for every good work.(2 Cor.9:8) Camels come in all sorts of ways, the families we are raised in, the situations we find ourselves in, and what others bring to us. When I learn to let God have his sovereign sway in my life, I learn to ride the camels that could have offended me.
So Ride em cowboy! Giddy up!