Burden Bearer

Jul 2
3 min read

A casually dressed Black man standing peacefully on a busy city sidewalk, eyes lifted to the sky, hands open in prayer, completely bathed in warm, golden sunlight. The blurred motion of the bustling crowd around him contrasts beautifully with his calm, focused presence, creating a powerful sense of peace and divine connection in the midst of the everyday rush. — Created using Canva

42 "I came today to the spring and said, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! 43 I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink," 44 and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also" --let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.' 45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'" (Genesis 24:42-45)

When Abraham knew he was nearing the end of his life, he sent a servant to return to Abraham's homeland in search of a wife for his son, Isaac. The unnamed servant's questions reveal that he felt extremely overwhelmed by this assignment. Yet, when he arrived at a well in the town of Abraham's family, the servant paused and prayed - asking, essentially, for clarity and discernment. God answered his prayer - not audibly, but with revelation. The servant responded to God's gracious provision with praise, and shared his testimony with Abraham's family. In the midst of his testimony - or perhaps even before the servant's journey had begun - God prepared the hearts and minds of Abraham's relatives. Rebekah was willing, and possibly excited, to journey to an unknown place (much like Sarah, Isaac's mother) to marry a man she had never met (though, it seems likely that she would have heard tales of her uncle and aunt's life together). Rebekah's father and brother accepted her decision and

acknowledged the hand of God in this exchange.

After Jesus was questioned by the disciples of John the baptizer, who had asked if he was the one for whom they'd been waiting, Jesus, first, lauded John and his ministry, then lamented the fact that the people did not accept the will of God no matter how it had been presented to them. Jesus likened John to Elijah, with a message of: repent, or you will not have the joy of salvation. While Jesus proclaimed, more welcomingly: repent so that you will have the joy of salvation. Same message, different tone, both rejected. Yet Jesus kept his arms open to receive all who are tired of the world's burdensome attempts at salvation through rule-following or material gain.

When Jesus declared his yoke to be easy and his burden light, he wasn't promising a life without difficulty. Jesus offers us the grace to, like Abraham's servant, lay everything honestly before God. When we unburden ourselves we can be free to receive the guidance we need to accomplish God's will. Then, we can respond with praise and thanksgiving, sharing our testimony of God's goodness with all who will listen - that their hearts may

also be opened to God.

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28--30)

Enjoy this original song by yours truly!