Sarah had died, and Abraham was now really old! Abraham wanted to make sure that Isaac was taken care of. He wanted Isaac to get a good wife.
Isaac is now 37 years old, much older than most people today when they get married. We can learn a good bit about how to find a good spouse when we look at Isaac's example!
First off, Abraham is the one who works out finding a wife for Isaac. We should let our Heavenly Father bring our spouse to us. Many times, Christians get impatient with waiting on God to bring their spouse and they decide to "help" him out. The problem is that the devil will put his will for a spouse in our path- this may not be a bad person, but it will hinder you from fulfilling God's will for your life.
Genesis 24:1-4, 7- And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 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: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 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.
Abraham asked his servant to go find a wife for his son in his homeland. The Bible says in II Corinthians 6:14- Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Abraham knew that the women in Canaan didn't believe in the God of Heaven. He wanted to make sure that the wife Isaac got was willing to follow God.
Many times, people pretend to be Christians so they can get a good spouse, but they don't really want to serve Christ. That's why you must pray and let God choose, because God knows the heart.
So, the servant got ready and went to find Isaac a good wife.
Genesis 24:10-12- And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
Here, we learn something very important. The servant also had faith in God. He was praying that God would lead him to the right person for Isaac. He asked God to show him who she was.
Genesis 24:13-14- 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.
You know what God wants? He wants you to pray for His will! When you are willing to do His will, He will guide you!
Genesis 24:15,17- And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
Remember, the servant was a stranger! He was speaking to someone who didn't know him. But, he had a God who knew everthing!
Genesis 24:18-20- 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. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
Rebekah was a hard worker. She was kind and thoughtful! God had led the servant to the very person He had in mind for Isaac.
Genesis 24:26-28- 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. And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
The servant thanked God! That should always be our response to answered prayer. We should remember that it's God who answered.
Now, the servant has found the woman that God wanted for Isaac. But there was one little thing left. The woman must be willing!
The servant went back to Rebekah's house and explained everything that had happened with Abraham. He told about Sarah's death, and about Isaac's need for a wife.
Genesis 24:56-58- And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
Rebekah was willing to go to a strange country to marry a man that she had never met. When God shows you His will for your life, it may be something that you have never done before. But, you will have complete peace about it. If you don't have peace about something, then God doesn't want you to do it! It's that simple.
Psalms 119:165- Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
So, Rebekah and the servant made the long journey back to Canaan.
But, what was Isaac doing while all this was going on?
Genesis 24:63- 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.
He was praying for God's will and doing his father's work. That's what we should do. When we do what God wants first; He will send us the desires of our hearts.
Matthew 6:33- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
When we do our will first; the devil will send us the desires of our hearts. The question is, do you want God's will or your own?
Genesis 24:66-67- And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 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.
Isaac loved her. She was what he needed for a help meet. She was God's will for his life, and because he waited for God's will he found all his desires were met.
How long did he have to wait? Well, he was 37 when Sarah died. Remember?
Genesis 25:20- And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
He was 40 when he married Rebekah. That's 3 years! For 3 years he waited for God's will.
Are you willing to wait for God's will? Or do you want your way NOW! God's way takes time. He has to prepare you and your spouse for His will. The devil's way is quick and will keep you from God's will. Which will you choose?
