DEEPER LIF SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE by Pastor Kumuyi of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry for today is here. Digest the word of the lord and pray believing.
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LESSON 15
TOPIC: ISAAC MARRIES REBEKAH
MEMORY VERSE: "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" (Genesis 24:67).
TEXT: Genesis 24:1-67
The text presents
Abraham as a concerned father who showed godly care for his son, Isaac, in the
area of marriage. He instructed his servant, Eliezer, to seek out a wife for
Isaac in consonance with divine instruction regarding separation from the
people of Canaan. The faithful and prayerful conduct of Eliezer in carrying out
this assignment brought Rebekah into the life of Isaac. This account of
marriage contracted in Abraham's family after he was called by God presents
useful lessons for singles, intending couples and married believers today.
ABRAHAM'S GODLY CONCERN FOR ISAAC'S MARRIAGE (Genesis 24:1-9; Deuteronomy 7:3,4; Nehemiah
13:25-27; Leviticus 21:7,14; Judges 14:3,20; 16:21,30; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
The chapter opens
with the summary of God's goodness to Abraham. He was blessed by God "in
all things". His was a rare combination of prosperity and piety from the
time he knew God until his old age. His attributes of love, obedience and faith
in God were displayed in his concern to perpetuate a godly heritage and
posterity. He was not only concerned about the fact that Isaac needed to marry
but also to do so according to the will of God. Christian bachelors and
spinsters should be rest assured that, beyond the concern of earthly parents,
our heavenly Father is ever mindful of who they marry and every of their needs.
He saw the need in Adam's life and gave him help meet" (Genesis
2:18,20-24). This and other divine interventions in marriages in Scripture,
especially Christ's presence at a marriage ceremony in cana of Galilee, reveal
God's desire, plan and programme for Godly and spiritual parents have a great
responsibility of ensuring that marriages of children of God under their care
are patterned according to the word of God as Abraham did. He insisted that
Isaac's spouse must not be chosen from the Canaanites on the one hand and that
Isaac should not on the other hand go back to the land from which he was called
out in his bid to marry. "And I will make thee swear by the LORD...that
thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites,
among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and
take a wife unto my son Isaac... Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither
again" (Genesis 24:3-6). This is a solemn rebuke for Christian parents
who, in their efforts to care for their children, forsake biblical instructions
earlier imbibed. God's irrevocable command and guiding principle for believers
who seek to know God's will in marriage is: "be ye not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?"
(2 Corinthians 6:14). God forbids a believer from marrying an unbeliever, a
divorcee (whose spouse is still alive), a relative and one who is of the same
gender (Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Leviticus 18:16-29; 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1
Timothy 1:10; Matthew 19:4-6). Abraham's action should not be taken as basis
for racial, ethnic and tribal prejudice being practised by carnal Christians
today. God has one "tribe"; every believer should marry from the
"tribe" of Jesus — those who are washed by His blood (Mark 3:32-34;
Ephesians 3: 14, 15; Revelation 7:9). God's instructions on marriage are for
our peaceful and fulfilled life on earth and successful pilgrimage to heaven.
Samson disobeyed divine precept on marriage to his own peril. Everyone who is
saved has received grace to obey God's commands. However, we must be cautious
not to follow the example of Abraham who made his servant swear to secure his
loyalty and faithfulness to the given instruction. We are now under a new and
better dispensation of grace in the New Testament. Thus, Christ's command is,
"Swear not at all... But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay:
for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (Matthew 5:34,37).
Though parents should guide their children on the scriptural principles of
making the right choice, they should avoid playing the role of God, our
Matchmaker.
ACCEPTABLE SCRIPTURAL PROCESSES FOR BELIEVERS' MARRIAGE (Genesis 24:10-58; Psalm 37:5; Hebrews
10:36; Luke 18: 1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Psalm 119: 105; Romans 8: 14; Proverbs
20:27; Acts 16:6-9; 10:10-17; Job 33: 15; Isaiah 30:21; Song of Solomon 8:6,7)
Realising the
enormity of his assignment as well as the importance of choosing the right
partner for Isaac, Eliezer committed his mission unto God in prayer. Choosing a
marriage partner is one of the most critical decisions in life. Our happiness,
fulfilment and even possibility of making heaven at last are all impacted by
our marrying the right person. Thus, the right choice is always the outcome of
earnest prayer, faith and sensitivity to the Spirit of God. Choice of a
marriage partner borne out of pressures and carnal considerations underpin
instabilities being experienced in homes globally today. Approaching the choice
of a partner casually undermines the seriousness and purpose of marriage.
Eliezer prayed, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me
good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand
here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to
draw water: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let
down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and
I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed
for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness
unto my master" (Genesis 24:12-14). Seeking God's face for His
intervention and guidance in the choice of a life partner is indispensable.
However, New Testament Christians do not cast lot or set fleece as means of
divine guidance. What Eliezer did was acceptable for his dispensation. For
present-day believers, the Scripture says, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13). Thus,
believers can know the will of God in marriage through the word of God, inner
voice of the indwelling Christ, intuitive perception, inward witness of the
Holy Spirit, the Spirit's confirmation or restraint, direct revelation, dream,
vision, audible voice of the Spirit and divinely-imparted love (Psalm 119: 105;
Romans 8: 14; Proverbs 20:27; Acts 16:6-9; 10:10-17; Job 33: 15; Isaiah 30:21;
Song of Solomon 8:6,7). The answer to Eliezer's prayers came almost
immediately, but we know that this might not be the situation in all cases.
Thus, the Scripture enjoins us to "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently
for him" (Psalm 37:7). Even when Eliezer perceived that his prayers had
been answered, he waited a little to prove or confirm the leading. "And
the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his
journey prosperous or not" (Genesis 24:21). The actions and the utterances
that followed showed that Eliezer had conviction that Rebekah was God's choice
for Isaac: "And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. 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 24:26,27). Believers
who are seeking the will of God in marriage should pray and wait until they
receive the needed conviction and confirmation. It is also important to note
that Rebekah's parents' consent was sought and obtained. "And the damsel
ran, and told them of her mother's house these things. Then Laban and Bethuel
answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto
thee bad or good" (Genesis 24:28,50). The procedure is still the same in
the New Testament Church: spiritual and physical parents have critical roles to
play in the marriage of their children. Moreover, marriage is not by coercion.
Rebekah was not forced to marry Isaac. She was asked, "Wilt thou go with
this man? And she said, I will go" (Genesis 24:58). Times and
dispensations have changed. Finally, the marriage process was not concluded
until Eliezer gave precious things to the family of Rebekah and received
parental blessings. Payment of bride price today seals every marital
transaction. It is sinful to elope or take someone's daughter without their
consent and bride price. Every marriage contract must be consummated with the
blessings of spiritual and physical parents.
APPROVED CHRISTIAN CONDUCT: REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL
CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE (Genesis
24:15-20, 59-67; Isaiah 54:5; Ephesians 5:22-32; Revelation 19:7-9)
Rebekah exemplified
the characteristics of a virtuous damsel. Seeking the right person starts with
being the right person. The Scripture describes her as being "very fair to
look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her". Aside beauty and
chastity, she was obedient in running errands for the family, which brought her
into contact with Eliezer. Young persons who are disobedient to their parents
always miss this kind of blessing that dot the path of the obedient. Rebekah's
virtues of hospitality and charity were on full display by her willingness to
give Eliezer and the camels water to drink. Though she had never seen Eliezer,
she served him with cheerfulness and respect. "And she said, Drink, my
lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him
drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for
thy camels also, until they have done drinking" (Genesis 24: 18, 19). She
was not the lazy type of damsel who prides self only on beauty and what it can
bring. As a hardworking lady, she went the extra mile to fetch water for all
ten camels. The typical one-bumped camel common in the Middle East can drink
between 25 and 40 gallons (100-150 litres) of water at once. To have gone all
the way to satisfy ten camels and further provide water for all the men to wash
their feet was proof of her diligence and hospitality. This makes her compare
favourably with the biblical virtuous woman (Proverbs 31:10-27). When they
approached Isaac's abode, Rebekah alighted from the camel when she saw him and
covered herself with a veil. These signify honour and respect for her husband.
Wives are commanded in Scripture to respect and submit to their husbands.
Gender equality of women with men, promoted by the unregenerate that is
trending globally is unscriptural and account for high rate of divorce and
broken homes today. Partners in marriage have complimentary roles in the home
and the common denominators are mutual love, respect and submission (Ephesians
5:21-30). Though the lifestyle of Isaac has been somewhat obscured in this
study, the closing verses give us a glimpse of it. "And Isaac went out to
meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and,
behold, the camels were coming. 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" (Genesis 24:63,67). Successful
marriages are made with husbands who cultivate the habit of scriptural praying,
meditation and daily devotion. It is expected that the man should secure a
suitable apartment that is devoid of interference for his family. He is
commanded to show Christlike love to his wife. "Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Ephesians
5:25).
Questions for review:
1. Why should we
show concern for our children's marriage?
2. Mention
categories of people a Christian cannot marry and the consequences of doing so.
3. Mention things to
avoid while seeking God's will in marriage.
4. Highlight some
ways God leads His children to know His will in marriage.
5. How can the New
Testament Christian explain Abraham's instruction to his servant to go to his
people to pick a wife for Isaac?
6. What are the
attributes of a godly husband and a virtuous wife?
7. What are the
requirements for successful Christian marriage?