Today we are still in Genesis chapter 24 where our word for today is used for the first time in the Bible. קָרָה meet, encounter, happen to, befall, cause or help to attain success. It is used 22 times in the Old Testament. A good example of how this word is used is when God promises to provide meat for the people and Moses is astonished with this because there are 600,000 men. Numbers 11:23 The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say קָרָה will come true for you.” So we are talking about what God said would happen is going to be successful. We also see this in Genesis 27:20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God קָרָה granted me success.” Another example is how God sets up his plans to succeed is in Ruth. Ruth 2:1-3 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she קָרָה happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. And we eventually see Gods plan become successful because Boaz meets Ruth and they become married and have a son. This is the family line that God brings his son Jesus into the world to save it.
So back to our chapter where we see our word. Genesis 24:12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me קָרָה success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. This idea of God’s plan being successful is also seen throughout this event in four other verses with a different word than our word for today that the NIV translates as success or successful. The word is צָלֵחַ to prosper. We will save this word for another day. But let’s look how it helps us understand our word for today in our chapter. Genesis 24:21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey צָלֵחַ successful. Genesis 24:40 He replied, “The Lord, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a צָלֵחַ success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father’s family.” Genesis 24:42 When I came to the spring today, I said, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please צָלֵחַ grant success to the journey on which I have come.” Genesis 24:56 But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has צָלֵחַ granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.”
We see this idea of God moving events so his plan will be successful or profitable in the sense of his will. God is for us and his will for us can be overwhelming to think about. So thankfully he keeps it simple for us.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
