Never Destitute

“And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” (Ge 24:27 AV)

 

We are talking about Abraham here.  We are no Abraham.  However, what is said of him concerning the mercy and truth of God does apply to the child of God in any dispensation and of any status.  We know this because of the definition of the word ‘destitute’.  The word means to totally abandon.  It is not depravity where some mercy and truth might still be available.  To be destitute of mercy and truth means there is absolutely none.  Considering of who this servant is speaking, the word ‘destitute’ is an interesting choice of words.  The implication is if Rebekah had not said ‘yes’ to the proposal of marriage from Isaac, then Isaac would have been destitute.  At least of the promise of a wife.  In other words, in the sight of God, there was no other choice as to who was prepared for whom.  In a more general sense, we can apply the principle to our situations other than marriage.  God never leaves His children destitute of the truth and His mercy.  No matter how we might feel at the moment.

At times, we all feel as though God might have forgotten us, or worse, abandoned us.  We feel though it is a trial of faith or a period of correction, that mercy and truth are nowhere to be found.  We need answers.  We need strength.  We need hope.  We need direction.  We need the still small voice of a God who loves us more than we can comprehend.  Yet, it seems as though heaven is silent.  We feel all alone.  We feel as though we have done something, or failed to do something, that has resulted in such a response from God that we no longer feel His presence.  Sometimes, these feelings can be a result of our ever-changing physical conditions.  Our body is out of whack and we cannot feel like we once feel.  Or we are going through such deep waters we have used up all emotional reserves and we cannot feel anything.  No matter what we think we sense, the LORD has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.  Mercy and truth are always there.  Sometimes they abound more times than others, but they are always there. 

Abraham’s servant was in the way.  This is why he was able to see the LORD had not left Isaac destitute of mercy and truth.  He was looking for a specific manifestation of God’s mercy and truth.  The truth was that God called Abraham and his descendants from the land of Ur and forbade them to return for any reason.  In response, the LORD would give Abraham and his seed through Isaac the land of Canaan.  All they had to do was to trust Him to meet their needs.  The mercy came in the form of a humble orphan named Rebekah who had lost her parents, dwelt with her brother Laban, and sought the will of God for her life.  She had faith to return to Isaac.  She had humility and a servant’s heart.  The mercy came in supplying the perfect wife for his master.  This would not have happened if the servant was not in the way.  As he was in the way, the LORD led him.  Mercy and truth are never completely gone.  Even if we stray from the way, mercy and truth are still there.  Perhaps a little strained from the distance we have strayed from the way, but they are still there.  We have a hard time seeing them because the further we get from the way, the harder it is to see them.  But they are still there.  We will never be left destitute of God’s mercy and truth.  That is a promise.