Faithfulness to G-D

What does it mean to be faithful to G-D? Have you ever even thought of that idea? We all know what faith means, by definition, but what about  faithfulness? I imagine that most of us who have been to church have sung songs about G-D's faithfulness to us, but how much time has been spent on us being faithful to Him?
He is G-D after all so shouldn't we be the ones showing our faithfulness to Him rather then the other way around?

I have been reading in Genesis about Abraham, Issac and Jacob and I have been struck by their faithfulness to G-D.  What really caught my attention has been how their faithfulness to G-D not only blessed them but how it affected others around them, both at that present time and in the future.

In Genesis chapter 24 we find that Abraham is now getting old and has decided that he needs to find a wife for Issac. The simple thing to do would have been to get a wife from the local people, but Abraham, I am assuming that this came from G-D, decided to send his "servant" back to his homeland ,to his family, to find a suitable wife for Issac.

Abraham has his servant make a vow to find Issac a wife amongst his own people and off the man goes.
We know nothing about this man, not even his name. All we really know is that he was a "servant" to Abraham, but he must have been a man of great faith. When he arrived at the town of Nahor, the very first thing that he did was pray to G-D for guidance. Now where would he have learned that from? Abraham. If you go back  to chapter 14 you will find where Lot and all that he had was taken into captivity. Abraham mounted a rescue consisting of himself and " 318 men born and trained in his house" to rescue Lot. I am guessing here, but I would humbly submit to you that part of the training must have consisted of teaching them about the One G-D. He must have been witness to G-D's faithfulness to Abraham,in saving Lot without losing anyone or anything in the process, but also must have witnessed as well Abraham's faithfulness to G-D. In turn that gave him great faith, so much so that before his prayer was even finished, Rebekah  was there. Again the man shows his faithfulness to G-D by thanking G-D for His guidance; " Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, saying, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.” Gen 24: 26-27.


He didn't take any credit for himself. He didn't strut and talk trash. If he hadn't believed in the G-D of Abraham he might have taken all the credit for himself, but instead he recognized the leading of G-D and showed his faithfulness to Him by praying and giving Him all the glory. Abraham's faithfulness to G-d led to his servants faithfulness to Him and as a result Rebekah enters the story. The servants faithfulness doesn't end there either. Now he gets to tell his story of G-D's blessing both to Abraham and Issac , but also of G-D blessing his mission to find a wife for Issac. By the time he is done telling the story to Laban and Bethuel their only comment is "This is from the Lord; We can say nothing one way or the other" (VS 50 ).  Rebekah herself shows much faithfulness because she was willing to go with this man, essentially based on what she had witnessed and heard. Chances are she was young and likely an Idol worshiper, yet even she saw something in what had happened to start her down the path to faithfulness to G-D. As a result she became a direct ancestor to many nations but in particular, the Hebrew people.


The idea is simply this; Be faithful to G-D in all that you do, because you are being watched . If Abraham had been unfaithful to G-D, his servant might not have been faithful to him and as a result Rebekah might not have entered the picture, thus not having Jacob and no Hebrew people. Yes G-D could have made this happen in some other way but look how much better and simpler it is when His people are faithful to Him and are obedient. Abraham obeys G-D, The servant obeys G-D and his master Abraham and Rebekah gets to see the one true G-D in action and as a result she believes and obeys as well.


Faithfulness to G-D, those three words can move nations, literally.


Shalom,
Ignacio