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Yesterday, I saw a post that seemed like a dream job. Everyone was sharing it and thinking, “Hey, this is the chance of a lifetime!”

The job needed two people to move to Ireland and run their coffee shop. Uhm, let me think about that for a second… OK, Sign me up!

Of course, it sounds like a dream.

Who wouldn’t want to sign up? The beauty of the land, the sites you would get to see, the people you would meet, and the coffee you would drink would all be a wonderful experience.

But what about the sacrifices that would have to be made to move there?

They are only looking for two people, so what about the rest of your family? You would have to move away from your friends, find a new church, hope that being a barista would make enough money to support you and your family…

You couldn’t come home quickly if someone was sick or hurt and needed you to be with them. Or even if you got hurt there, what kind of medical facilities are available and how would you pay for the treatment if needed? So much to consider.

In the end, you probably wouldn’t apply for it because the cost is too much.

In the Book of Genesis, Rebekah, a simple, kind-hearted girl, was faced with a similar decision.

Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, has journeyed to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac, and he couldn’t bring home just any girl. He knew she had to be a relative of Abraham to ensure she believed in God.

Furthermore, the Lord himself revealed the exact girl he was to bring home for Isaac – Rebekah.

As Eliezer explained his story to her family, they were amazed at what happened and that the Lord was with him. He told of the riches of Abraham and that all he possessed he would leave to his son when he died. It was a dream come true for the family that their daughter could marry someone of that stature – and that the Lord was leading it.

They agreed to let her marry Isaac. Eliezer is excited to return, but the family wanted them to wait. He urges them to let him return to his master, but they say no, we will keep her here at least ten more days.

I can imagine their reluctance to let her go, they loved her, and they wanted more time. Even if the Lord was orchestrating this, couldn’t Eliezer wait just a little longer?

But Eliezer was adamant about returning so they decided to ask Rebekah if she was ready to travel and marry a stranger in a strange land.

“And they called Rebekah and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’

She said, ‘I will go.’” (Genesis 24:58)

Can you imagine? She was willing to leave her family, her hometown, and all of her friends. She said, “I will go,” because she knew the Lord was leading her. She gathered her things, and left her home with Eliezer.

People do this very thing still today. They hear the calling of God to the mission field and they too must respond – “I will go.”

I think of some of our friends who are serving in our association in Africa, China, Peru and Papua New Guinea. They too had to give it all up in the States for what the Lord has planned for them there. They had to learn of the culture who they would be serving, their language, their customs, and their beliefs so they in turn can reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I’m amazed as missionaries acclimate to their new home and progress in their efforts.

God truly is doing incredible things! People are coming to the Lord and disciples are being made so that one day, they too can lead others to Christ.

Each person who said, “I will go,” had to first weigh the cost.

Today, you must also weigh the cost.

God is calling you to follow Him.

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:28-33)

There are things we must give up in order to follow Jesus.

He has called us. Are we willing to go?

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