Don’t Drift Through Life

“This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife.” Genesis 24:14 (NLT)

In Genesis 24, Eleazar provides an example for how to be successful as you pursue the dreams God has given you.

I need to —

• Determine my present position
• Describe exactly what I want
• Find a promise from God
• Ask God for help

I must also identify the barriers between myself and my goal. Ask , “Why don’t I have it already? Why am I not who I want to be? What’s between me and this goal?” 

Write down the roadblocks. Are the obstacles—financial, educational, emotional, relational, or something else? 

Look at the roadblocks honestly. Faith does not deny reality. Faith says, “Yes, I see the problem, but I believe God is bigger than the problem.”

Once you identify the barriers, create a step-by-step plan. That’s what Eleazar did.

The Bible says, “Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master. . . . He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water. . . . ‘O LORD, God of my master Abraham,’ he prayed. ‘. . . This is my request. I will ask one of them, “Please give me a drink from your jug.” If she says, “Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!”—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife’” (Genesis 24:10-12, 14 NLT.)

What is Eleazar doing? He’s looking for a woman of character, and he’s got a plan:

1. Go to the watering well where the women hang out.
2. Set up the test to see if she will offer water to his camels too.
3. If she passes the test, give her expensive gifts.
4. Ask about her family.
5. Get invited to her home.
6. At her home, share his purpose.
7. Pop the question. 

He had a simple, step-by-step-by-step plan that he thought out in advance. 

I need to do this too. I need to think through a course of action to address the roadblocks I wrote down. If my obstacles are educational, how can I get the training I need to reach my goal? If my obstacles are relational, how can I heal a relationship to achieve my goal?

Achieving a goal is a lot of work, but the alternative is to drift through life. If you drift, life will be determined by other people—it will be done to me rather than having me direct it. So create a plan today to reach the godly goal God has given me.

In summary:

In Genesis 24:14, Eleazar provides a model for achieving God-given dreams through prayer, planning, and action.

To succeed, I must:

✅ Determine my current position

✅ Clearly define my goal

✅ Find a promise from God

✅ Pray and seek God’s guidance

✅ Identify and address roadblocks (financial, educational, emotional, etc.)

Faith acknowledges obstacles but trusts God is bigger than them.

Eleazar followed a step-by-step plan to find a wife for Isaac, ensuring he was intentional and prepared. Similarly, I need a structured plan to overcome barriers and achieve my goal, rather than drifting through life.

Take Action: Write down challenges, create a plan, and move forward with faith and diligence.