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Genesis 24 begins with Isaac grieving his mother Sarah’s passing and Abraham realizing it was time to seek a wife for him. We see Abraham as a man of faith taking sure steps to make that happen in a Godly way.
The complication was that there were no options locally, among the Canaanites. They were an idolatrous nation and Abraham wanted his son to marry a God-fearing woman. The solution was to send Eliezar, his servant, 400 miles back to Mesopotamia where Abraham had come from, to see if there was a bride to be found for Isaac among their own people.
One question Eliezar had before he left, and he asked Abraham, “If she won’t leave her people and come to Palestine, would Isaac go to her?” Abraham was firm in his reply, no, Isaac must stay in the land of promise that God was giving them. Abraham firmly believed God’s promise of multitudes of descendants and that God would work it out. He had learned from his past mistakes.
Eliezar made the journey and as he neared his destination he struggled with some doubt and anxiety about his mission. But he had seen God’s faithfulness in others and learned from their example. He simply prayed and committed the task to the God of his master Abraham. He prayed that the Lord would reveal His will to him in finding a damsel with a servant’s heart as a wife for Isaac.
The scene played out at the village well, and when Eliezar asked for a drink of water for himself, Rebekah willingly agreed and went the second mile by offering to draw water for his camels, notoriously thirsty animals! Eliezar thanked the Lord for His leading and gave her gifts. After meeting her family, and explaining his mission, the family agreed it was a God thing and Rebekah bravely returned to Palestine to meet Isaac, her new husband who she had never seen, and took her place in the family tree of God’s people.
Our society has seriously devalued marriage in our day. The percentage of married people is down to only 30% of the population from 70% not many years ago. Many folks just live together outside of the commitment of marriage.
The church should demonstrate otherwise, with committed marriages and Godly homes. The church should also make sure that unmarried folks don’t feel like 2nd class citizens! We should encourage them to make the most of singlehood and serve in that important role!
Here are a few suggestions for singles:
- Go to other places and spend time with mixed groups; be yourself, don’t try to be the holiest on the volleyball team! There is not a magic age that you need to be married at.
- Do voluntary service, get more training, do Kingdom work now! You don’t have to be married to do the Lord’s work!
- Do trust God, and don’t press ahead of God….work at becoming the person you need to be.
- Let God work servanthood in your life!
And as we look at potential companions here are a few suggestions again:
- Don’t emphasize wealth or possessions, don’t overvalue conservatism but value the direction someone is headed.
- Value folks who value God and gravitate towards people who want to look like Jesus! Steer clear of those who are unwilling to be instructed, who have poor self-control and addictions, uncontrolled anger, and those who habitually run down others…..you may be perfect in their sight at present…but they will likely get around to you!
John closed with the example of Rosalind Goforth, the wife to be of Jonathan Goforth, who was drawn to him because of his well-worn Bible she happened to look through. Be the person God wants you to be first of all and learn to serve others.