"And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren." (Genesis 24:27)

The remarkable, providential leading of Abraham's servant to the maiden who was to be the bride of Isaac has been a source of inspiration to every generation of believers.

One very important principle can be gleaned from this wonderful journey: Before the Lord could lead the servant to the object of his quest, he had to start out on his way. "I being in the way, the LORD led me," he testified.

Abraham himself knew this by experience: "By faith Abraham, when he was called . . . obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went" (Hebrews 11:8). God first led him from Ur to Haran, thence to Bethel in the land of Canaan, on to Mamre, and finally to Beersheba. He had no certain home, but because he was "in the way," the Lord assured him that "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 22:18).

Consider also the apostle Paul, who carried the saving gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. He did not, however, dawdle around waiting for this call. "After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. . . . And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us" (Acts 16:7, 9).

The principle is this: Those who truly desire to be called to some special field of service should first be doing what they can where they are. Then the Lord will redirect them, if it is His will. "Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21). When we are actively "in the way," then the Lord can lead us. HMM