#DailyDevotion Don’t Look Back With Longing On Your Past Life
Lent Day 14 Thursday
Read 24:1–31
Gen 24:2-5 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, (3) that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, (4) but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” …6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there.
Why doesn’t Abraham want his servant to take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites? Is Abraham racist, xenophobic? Not exactly. The Canaanites were of the son of Canaan whom Noah cursed. On top of that they worshipped other gods who are not gods. This often leads to the other spouse being led away from the true worship of the Lord. The Canaanites would have no part in the land that God was given to Abraham and his descendents. Indeed because of their sins, the Lord would one day use the descendants of the Abraham, the Israelites to wipe out the Canaanites and the people who lived there who worshipped other gods.
Abraham would prefer that Isaac get a wife from his own people which is why he sends his servant there. But we see that he wasn’t completely opposed to a wife from somewhere else, just not from Canaan.
But there was something else. He did not want Isaac to return to his family homeland. Why was that? Because the Lord God had promised him the land where he was. If Isaac would have returned and stayed in Haran, that would be tantamount to rejecting the Lord’s covenant with him.
What shall we say to this then as Christians? Perhaps one, we should not be unequally yoked to unbelievers. Marriage is a heavy yoke. If you are a Christian then if you are not married yet, do not marry an unbeliever. If you are already married pray for the conversion of your spouse and live a life worthy of a Christian. Secondly, do not return or look back at you former life with longing. If you have always been a Christian, don’t look to the lives of unbelievers as something desirable. For that would be turning back on the promises the Lord has made to you, a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness reigns.
If you are not currently a believer, hear this, the Lord Jesus Christ has been given as a covenant the Lord God has made with you. On account of Christ’s work the Lord no longer holds your trespasses against you. Be repentant and be baptized into the household of God, even as Abraham’s servants were circumcised and you will have an inheritance as one of the people of God.
Heavenly Father, you call us to leave this world and to join ourselves with your Son Jesus Christ to gain your kingdom. Grant us such faith that we may not look back at our old lives but live joyfully in the promise of everlasting life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.