God Provides a Wife for Isaac

Background Scripture: Genesis 24
Lesson Scripture: Genesis 24:37-48; Matthew 19:5

Introduction

A wedding uplifts and inspires all of us. It brings family and friends together and is cause for gladness and joy. It also brings tears, as many times it closes a chapter in the lives of the parents. Parents, by God’s design, are to raise, nurture, and guide their children until they start a home of their own.

Youth is an enjoyable time of making healthy relationships with other young people, a time of developing the traits that shape their characters as men and women, and a time to prepare them for life. Natural attraction coupled with being mindful of the Lord’s leading has brought many fine, Christian, young people together in marriage. Let us examine the life of Isaac at the time when God brought him a wife and study how it applies to our day.

Key Verse

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass (Ps. 37:5).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Isaac was the miraculous son of Abraham and Sarah’s old age. Isaac was a child of promise; God had promised Abraham his descendants would become a great nation (the Israelites), and Isaac was its fulfillment. Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah (Gen. 25:20).

As Isaac grew older and still had no wife, Abraham became concerned about ensuring that his son would marry someone who was not from the Canaanite nations, which were considered to have pagan practices that could lead Isaac away from the true faith. Abraham sent his trusted servant back to his homeland in Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham made the servant swear he would not choose a Canaanite woman but one from Abraham’s own relatives.

As the servant reached the well outside the city, he prayed for a sign. He asked God to show him the woman who would be Isaac’s wife by having her offer him water when he asked and then offer to water his camels as well. This was a very specific request, and it demonstrated the servant’s faith and reliance on God’s guidance. Immediately Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel and the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor, appeared at the well. She not only offered to give him water but also drew water for all ten of his camels, which would have been a significant amount of work. This act of kindness and generosity was seen as a divine confirmation that she was the one chosen for Isaac.

After confirming Rebekah’s identity and background, the servant presented her with gifts and explained his mission. Rebekah’s family was initially hesitant, but upon hearing the story of how God had led the servant to her, they agreed to the marriage. Interestingly, Rebekah’s family gave her the choice to go with the servant to marry Isaac. She chose to go without hesitation, displaying faith in the divine plan. Leaving her family and home to marry a man she had never met demonstrated her trust in God’s guidance.

When Rebekah first met Isaac she saw him in the distance and, upon learning that he was her future husband, she quickly covered her face with a veil—likely a sign of modesty or respect. Isaac and Rebekah were married, and Isaac loved her deeply. Genesis 24:67 says, “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her.”

Practical Truths for Today

At creation God had Adam sleeping while He prepared a wife. In this lesson’s account, Isaac had been out at the well called Lahairoi, suggesting he was carrying out his work and duties, later coming in for thoughtful repose, no doubt wondering when his father’s servant would return. These are two instructive examples of how God guided the futures of these men.

The Lord is very much interested in marriage. Two people coming together in love as one flesh wonderfully illustrates Christ’s love for his church and the oneness shared between the Lord and his beloved children. “Marriage is honourable in all” (Heb. 13:4). God has made marriage a beautiful plan, but his way must be closely followed if it is to retain its original pattern for the happiness of mankind and the integrity of the human race. First Corinthians 7:39 states a clarification regarding the marriages of believers: “only in the Lord.”

Young people may grow apprehensive, wondering how they will find someone to love and cherish for life. God has instilled a natural desire to want our own home, to spread our wings, to leave our parental home, and fly away. Because we try to envision how it will be and how it will come together, we tend to take this matter into our own hands. It is much better and safer in the hands of God. We leave it there by prayerful commitment.

Young people are tempted to take a carnal approach to this life-changing step in life by following what feels good to the flesh, often imagining married life to be “happily ever after.” Too many relationships begun in a carnal way have yielded disappointment and broken expectations. Courtship after marriage is a much safer plan than engaging in carnal courtship and going beyond the boundaries set forth by the Lord and the church.

A sincere, Christian, young person will anticipate this step in life with the long look of faith, realizing that good things come to those who wait. They realize there is some preparation to be made, consecration is important, worship and devotion to God is priority, and service in God’s kingdom is rewarding. For young men, establishing the ability to provide for a home and developing the masculine traits that God has granted gives men their God-given role in life. For young women, developing the feminine traits that God naturally bestows will complement virtue, womanly grace, and that hidden, spiritual beauty. A youth life spent learning to serve others rather than self is tremendous preparation for marriage. Young people so engaged will see life in the context of making others happy rather than what others can do for them. In this condition a young person may be attracted to someone with character and values they admire. They will then take it to prayer and meditation and possibly share it with their staff or parents, wanting to prove the Lord’s will. Carefulness brings security and confidence into the hearts of parents, pastors, and those who care about them. This method provides a foundation that will stand the tests of life and lays the groundwork for love to spark and begin a marriage that will last a lifetime.

Let us study the example of Isaac and Rebekah and let the Holy Spirit teach us the principles of the Word so that our homes will have good, solid, and sure foundations.

Questions

1. Discuss the relationship between Isaac and Abraham his father. How might it have influenced his direction in marriage?
2. What are healthy boy/girl relationships in the years of youth life preceding marriage?
3. What are some of the more important things to teach our children that will fit and prepare them for marriage?
4. How can youth overcome their apprehensions regarding their future?

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).