Year 4, Day 23: Genesis 24

Theological Commentary: Click Here 

Discipleship Focus: Calling, Capacity, Character, Chemistry, Competency

• Calling asks whether or not God has called the person to the particular work at this point in their life.
• Capacity asks whether or not the person has the time in their life to obey God.  
• Character asks whether or not a person have the interior spiritual life needed to be obedient to God.
• Chemistry asks whether the person in question can work with the other people that God has called.
• Competency asks whether or not the person has the readiness to be obedient to God’s will.

Whenever I read Genesis 24 I am struck by Rebekah.  Here is a woman that is put together.  She has been raised well.  Her faith in God is strong.  She is a leader, but one who is humble about her leadership.  She is willing to do as God asks of her.  I believe the presentation of Rebekah in this chapter is one of the great examples in God’s Word.

We can use the 5 C’s to evaluate leadership potential.  If we look at this story of Rebekah through the lens of the 5 C’s we can also get at what it is that God really sees in Rebekah.

Certainly Rebekah displays calling when she listens to God as he asks her to be hospitable and draw water for Abraham’s servant and his camels and in so doing answer his prayer.  Certain Rebekah displays calling when she agrees to go with this man and be a wife for a man she’s never met.  Rebekah displays capacity in taking the time to serve Abraham’s servant thoroughly enough to also water his camels.  Rebekah displays character in her hospitality.  She also displays character when she meets Isaac for the first time and she covers herself up in modesty.  Rebekah displays chemistry with Abraham’s servant at the well in addition to displaying chemistry with Isaac, enough so that the Bible notes that Isaac loved her all his days.  Finally, Rebekah displays competency in both her discernment about what God is asking her to do as well as in her hospitality at the well.

In this story we see a leader who is clearly demonstrating all five of the leadership dynamics at a very high level.  Rebekah was the full package.  She was a great choice for Isaac as God continues to unfold his plan for humanity through the descendants of Abraham.

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