Message: Walking with God / Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49 & Matthew 11:25–30

Isaac is now old enough to marry. So, Abraham calls his most trusted servant and asks him to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s hometown. The servant sets out on a journey to the north, and after travelling about 1,000 kilometres, or 620 miles, he eventually arrives at the city of Nahor. Near the city, there is a well where young women gather to draw water.

When the servant comes to the well, he asks a young woman for a drink. Her name is Rebekah. She gives water not only to him but also to his ten camels. This takes quite a while because a thirsty camel can drink a lot. But Rebekah is willing to do it.

As the servant sees her kindness, he asks about her family and whether there is a place for him to stay. He wants to find out if she belongs to Abraham’s family. It turns out that she is the granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Then the servant explains the purpose of his journey to Rebekah and her family. When her family asks whether she is willing to go with him, she answers, “I will go.” The servant and Rebekah then return to Abraham’s household, and she marries Isaac.

From today’s perspective, this story may feel strange or even uncomfortable. The marriage customs, family structures, and the reality of slavery are very different from our own. But the important thing is not simply to dismiss these customs from today's perspective, but to reflect on the truth we can learn from this story.

One of the keywords in today’s passage is the Hebrew word halakh (הלך), which means “to walk,” “to go,” or “to travel.” Abraham and his family were nomads, so walking was directly tied to their survival. They kept moving in search of good pasture and water for their flocks. But they could never be sure what was ahead. At times, they faced uncertainty, danger, conflict, and fear. Nevertheless, they did not lose hope because they experienced God’s care as God walked with them through their journey.

For this reason, in the Bible, the word halakh is also used to describe God’s presence among the people as follows: “The LORD goes in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they may travel by day and by night” (Exodus 13:21); “I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:12).

As Abraham sends his servant on his journey, he says to him, “The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and make your journey successful” (24:40). The servant trusts this promise because he has witnessed God’s care and faithfulness to Abraham. Finally, at the end of the road, he meets Rebekah, a woman of faith, courage, and hospitality.

Rebekah also steps into this movement of halakh. In a patriarchal society that gives women little say over their future, she boldly expresses her decision, saying, “I will go.” Like Abraham, she leaves home and embarks on a journey of blessing.

God called Abraham and walked with him because God intended him to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2). As a blessing, Abraham showed hospitality and compassion, carrying God’s hope into the world. In today’s text, Rebekah is also drawn into that same covenant through her act of kindness toward a thirsty stranger and his camels.

However, this does not mean that everything suddenly becomes easy. Everyone has to carry the weight of the life that is given to them. God did not remove the burdens Abraham and Rebekah had to carry. What changes is not the weight, but that they do not carry it alone. Neither Abraham nor Rebekah complained about the weight of their calling. Instead, they found freedom in joining God’s work in the world, especially for those in need.

It is the same with us. Even if we are not nomads, we all carry our own burdens on life’s journey. These burdens are not light. Some of you have walked a long road. Others have walked a shorter but no less difficult one. There may be moments when you want to lay your burden down, or when you are angry with God because the weight feels too heavy.

But you have not given up and have come this far. It is real courage and strength that have carried you to where you are today. I deeply respect all of you who have made it to this point, as you carry your responsibilities, endure difficult seasons, and still choose to take one more step.

Throwing away our burdens is not the answer. Avoiding our responsibilities does not bring true freedom. Instead, Jesus says to us in today’s Gospel reading: “Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

In Jesus' time, a yoke could also refer to a way of teaching or a way of life. So, Jesus is not saying, “Come to me, and you will have no responsibilities.” He is saying, “Come to me, and learn a different way to carry the burdens of your life.” Jesus invites us to learn what it means to walk with God by following his way of life. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, welcomed those who were excluded, and gave hope to people in despair. 

This way of life is not without weight. But it is a weight we no longer carry alone, and that changes everything. When we rest in God’s presence, we discover that God is holding us, strengthening us, and renewing us. When we share the burdens of others, we often find that our own burdens become lighter as well.

Many of you have experienced this. We become more grounded in God’s love when we turn toward others with love and compassion. We experience it when we help someone who is struggling, sit beside a person who feels alone, or offer a listening ear without judgment. We experience it when we pray for those who are hurting, bring a meal to someone in need, or give our time in service to our community. In giving ourselves for the sake of others, we find a deeper peace and freedom that we cannot find by focusing only on ourselves.

God does not leave us to walk alone. God blesses us so that we may be a blessing. We are called to show hospitality to those who are vulnerable, to strangers, and to those in need. We are invited to join Christ’s ministry so that our lives may be freer and our souls more peaceful. We are people of courage, willing to begin a new journey, not because we are strong enough, but because we know that God never abandons us. The same God who walked with Abraham and Rebekah walks with us today. God goes before us, beside us, and behind us. God holds us when the road feels too heavy to bear. 

May we all experience this wonderful mystery in our lives.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang