…. The Tempter ….

Genesis 24:6 “And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

Eliezer, the unsung hero barely graces the biblical writ. Eliezer was the loyal servant, administrator, and overall caretaker of Abraham’s estate. In the waning years of the patriarch’s life, the concern was that Isaac had not found a wife. To ensure that Isaac would marry rightly, Abraham sent his most trusted servant, Eliezer, to find her.

Abraham made a single yet distinct requirement: “Make sure that you do not take my son back to the place where I came from.” Under the commandment of God, a new life and a new covenant was established. The last thing Abraham wanted was for his son to be introduced to the place God brought him from.

We cannot determine Isaac’s spiritual state; whether he was vulnerable or weak. It is not for us to make such a determination about his character that was largely left out of the scripture. We do know that Abraham was not taking a chance. He was so emphatic that he repeated his command again in Genesis 24:8. Abraham said, “Even if you cannot find a wife, only do not bring my son back there!

There are some places that should never be revisited again. Some testimonies need not repeated in detail; some stories and memories should stay buried beneath the blood. The saints should take precaution. God brought us out!

The Tempter is well aware of the power of environment. His power is in the temptation made possible by exposure. In the drug culture it’s called “gateway drugs.” In crime it’s called ‘petty theft.” In relationships it’s called dating worldly people. The list includes people and places not suitable for the children of the Kingdom. We are called for a higher purpose. We are keepers of the new covenant, the Holy Ghost. We are called to be holy, set apart, and examples to a lost world. We cannot go back; not to last year or wherever God brought us from.

The next generation should never know addictions of secularism, subjectivism, humanism, greed, fleshly pleasures, sexual permissiveness, etc. You are holy nation and a royal priesthood. You’ve come to far to turn back now!

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole