Hi everyone. Happy Sunday.

I pray you’ll have a restful day today. A time to slow down. A time to reflect.

Last Friday, I shared an email with community praises and prayers, which included a prayer request from Sophia and the spiritual battle she’s fighting.

Thank you to the generosity of a few but mighty, we were able to raise a whopping $3,000 in support of Sophia and her family.

When I told her the news, she exploded with joy and thankfulness. Little did I know, she was in a $2,000 hole to meet urgent needs.

God met her needs and then some.

I’m thankful we have a Father in heaven who meets all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).

I have been encouraged by all the small and big things God has been doing since the launch of this newsletter and the onset of the First Love community. Praise God!

Today’s story about Rebekah is one that moved me and reminded me to be biased towards action when it comes to faith.

Without further ado, let’s get into the Word.

The Word of God

The 1-2-3 of What I Found Encouraging

1. Rebekah obeyed, not knowing where she was going next

Earlier on in Genesis 24, Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for his son, Isaac, from his home country and clan. Later, the servant encounters Rebekah, the very person of Abraham’s wishes and the servant’s prayer.

Things move quickly from there. Soon, the man finds himself retelling the narrative to Rebekah’s family, and they reply, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed” (Gen. 24:50-51).

The next day, as the servant gets ready to leave, the family has a change of heart and asks him to let Rebekah stay for 10 more days.

When the servant insists on moving along, the two parties find themselves at an impasse, leading them to ask Rebekah for her thoughts.

To which she answers, “I will go.”

Taking a step back, it’s important to note that this was not a light commitment by any means.

Rebekah knew what she was getting herself into. She knew that saying yes meant she would have to travel far— away from her family, friends, and home— to marry a stranger.

I can’t even imagine the doubts, the questions, and the fears she must have had to overcome in order to say she’s willing to go.

Her act of faith reminds me of Hebrews 11:1:

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

All she probably knew was that everything was happening under God’s purview. And that was enough. Wow.

2. Rebekah chose to be faithful at the risk of disappointing her family

When Laban and Bethuel— Rekebah’s brother and dad— first heard the man’s story, they were eager to send Rebekah along, saying, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other” (Gen. 24:50).

But the next day, her brother and mom had a change of heart and longed to spend more time with her, which I can completely empathize with. Who wouldn’t? Especially if the send-off could mean you may never see your beloved sibling or child ever again?

The reality is, following God comes at a cost. Jesus says, “those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (Luke 14:33). Everything includes anything that is or may be in the way of our relationship with God. And as odd as this may sound, that includes family.

In faith that is genuine, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Therein, we claim victory over any bondage, for “anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Rom. 6:7).

3. The fruit she bore in obedience

I read this story for the umpteenth time and did not notice until now how dramatic Rebakah and Isaac’s first encounter is.

“He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” (Gen. 24:63-65)

A few months ago, I was kind of forced to watch Pride and Prejudice. Honestly, I think this passage tops the romance level by a mile.

Skipping a few verses ahead, they get married, and the story arc ends with:

“So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death” (Gen. 24:67).

I don’t know why. I find this to be one of the most beautiful things I read in the bible.

Perhaps the story reminds me of my own with Mary a little.

We met at a church community group as friends. No, we didn’t have a romantic eye contact that led straight to a marriage.

I did find Mary a fascinating person from the get-go for various reasons, her fiery faith being the primary one.

But I actually started liking her after my 90-something-year-old grandma visited us from Korea around my birthday and returned shortly after.

I was sad and discouraged, knowing it could very well be the last time I see her before we meet again in heaven.

At the time, I stirred up the courage to open up to Mary, and she forwarded me a poem she’d written when her grandma passed away while she was studying abroad in London.

Then, she created a safe space for me to share my feelings, empathized with me, and encouraged me. She was there for me when I quite frankly did not have anyone else to lean on.

She comforted me.

Moments after— after her 3 unprompted and preemptive rejections to date me, a hilarious story for another time— we began dating. And despite the differences we navigated through in the beginning of our relationship, we knew God was with us.

How? Because our relationship brought us closer to God than ever in our imperfection and the need for help therein.

Over time, she helped me heal, and I in turn, the same for her.

Still to this day, I love Mary with the excitement I had the first day I met her.

Still to this day, she comforts me with the love God has for us.

Rebekah knew not what the future had in store, but perhaps in her confidence in God, she did not need to know the details to know it was going to be good.

My Encouragement for You

I want to leave you with a passage I love on the topic of overcoming fear to walk with God.

The encouragement comes from Isaiah 41:

“I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Even if the picture of the future may not be clear, we can have assurance in knowing it’ll be bright with God alongside us.

So, let’s go out there and spread His goodness with a sense of urgency.

With love, Jae

Got any prayer requests or praises? You’re welcome to share them here.

“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105)