Hoisting the water jar onto her shoulder, Rebekah headed down to the spring to complete her daily chore. Lowering the water jar down, Rebekah heard a voice asking her for a drink. Quickly drawing the water out of the spring and turning to offer the cup, she noticed this man’s ten camels. Surely they needed water too? Without hesitating, Rebekah informed the man she would also draw water for his camels. From the looks of it, this man and his caravan had been travelling for a distance. They must be in need of rest.

As the stranger enjoyed the refreshing drink, he looked on, not only observing Rebekah’s outward beauty, but the beauty of her heart as she displayed kindness, generosity, and humility, performing incredible acts of service for him. Could she be the one?

As they entered into conversation, the man, Abraham’s servant, was more firmly convinced Rebekah was the answer to his prayer. Abraham called for him to travel to the land of his kindred to find a wife for Isaac. Knowing he needed God’s direction, he prayed,

 “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.  See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” (Genesis 24:12-14)

Even before his prayer came to an end, Rebekah stood before him, fulfilling everything he had requested from the Lord. Hearing she was of Abraham’s family, he gave Rebekah a gold ring and placed gold bracelets on her arms. The hospitality continued as she offered lodging for himself and the camels.

Can you imagine how Rebekah felt upon hearing the servant’s story? Knowing she was the answer to the servant’s prayer must have brought excitement to her heart to hear she was a part of God’s plan. With confident trust, she left the next morning to become the bride of Isaac.

Years down the road after the birth of her twin sons, Rebekah’s trust in God wavered. Still knowing God was at work in their family story, she felt an injustice was about to come about as Isaac prepared to give Esau God’s blessing upon their family. She knew from their birth that Jacob, though second born, was the son God chose to receive the family blessing. If Isaac offered his blessing, he would convey God’s holy promises to Esau, a man who neither wanted nor would bring honor to the family blessing passed on through Abraham and Isaac.

Rather than confronting Isaac, Rebekah plotted with Jacob and together they fooled Isaac into bestowing the blessing on Jacob rather than Esau. Their deception brought bitter consequences as Rebekah never saw her favorite son again and lived the rest of her life with a family divided.

Though Rebekah trusted God had a plan, she did not trust Him to fulfill His promises in the same way she had when she left everything she knew to become Isaac’s bride. Instead, she used deception to ensure God’s promises were fulfilled. She trusted God, but not enough when she could not see through the mess.

Sometimes trust comes easier when we clearly see God’s work and His purpose for us. We have no doubt the direction we must go because it is so clear before our eyes. Trusting God’s plan becomes difficult when the path is unclear and we cannot understand our role in His plan. Even when barriers block our view, God calls us to trust.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

While God did not withhold His promises from Jacob because of their deceitfulness, there were consequences. The path was not straight. Years passed, both Rebekah and Isaac died, and Jacob eventually returned home with fear, hoping Esau would receive him and his family. Failing to trust God through the messiness brought turmoil and heartache. Rebekah trusted God but not in the extraordinary messiness of life.

Trusting God in the ordinary can lead to the extraordinary. Trusting God in the extraordinary builds confident trust as you follow Him. Whether your day ends up ordinary or messy, you will come to a place of peace and joy as you confidently trust Him.