But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the GOD of Heaven, and the GOD of the Earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
The LORD GOD of Heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; He shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. (Gen 24:2-4, 7-8, 50-51, 67)
Under oath, the servant seeks the counsel of GOD and is led to Rebekah and her family. They recognize the hand of the Lord and are obedient to proceed with the arrangements. Rebekah is also obedient to the call of GOD to be Isaac's wife, and so she goes to him and becomes his wife.
While not a pattern for arranged marriages, or marriage without courtship and some agreement, this account does tell us that GOD can and does work in the affairs of men. He is not an uncaring and impersonal GOD who created and then ignores His creation. He shows us a little of what He is doing for His own Son, in calling a bride through His servant, and her obedience to trust Him. It also reveals to us something about what we call 'love' and marriage, that when both are following the will of the Lord, and understanding all aspects of love, that marriage is a commitment of one man and one woman for life not an arrangement based on feelings that change.
The Church, GOD's people, have lost sight of this in many ways, and become just like the world. We have based too many of our understandings, not on what GOD's says, but on how we feel, or what we want, or even the ways of the world instead of relying on the Word of GOD for our instructions. We should be trusting GOD for all aspects of our life, for it is no longer ours, but His, so that people will see GOD in us and want what we have. Then we have an opportunity to tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that it is not what, but Who, and the Good News that comes from faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary that provides forgiveness and Salvation to all who believe.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Turn away from your sIn and unrighteousness and trust, as Rebekah and Isaac did, what He has already done on that cruel Roman cross. GOD, the Father has provided forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, and is our Life. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, just as Rebekah responded to the call of Abraham to be the wife of Isaac.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet