Chapter 11 — THE MARRIAGE OF ISAAC

The Canaanites worshiped idols, so the Lord commanded His people not to marry them. If God's people married Canaanites, they might be influenced to serve idols too. Abraham was old and thought he would die soon. He was worried because his son, Isaac, was not married. The evil influences that surrounded them in Canaan made Abraham anxious to provide a wife for Isaac who would not lead him away from God. So he asked his faithful servant, who had been in charge of all his personal and business affairs for many years, to be responsible for finding a wife for Isaac.SRme 1.296

Abraham asked his servant to make a solemn promise before the Lord that he would not select Isaac's wife from among the Canaanites. He made the servant promise that he would go to his relatives who believed in the true God and would select a wife from among them. Abraham told the servant not to take Isaac to the country where Abraham was born, because almost everyone in Abraham's home country worshiped idols. If he could not find a wife for Isaac who was willing to leave her home and come where Isaac lived, the servant would be freed from the promise he made to Abraham.SRme 1.297

The selection of the right wife was an important matter. Isaac was not to make the decision without counsel from his father. Abraham told his servant God would send an angel to help him make the right choice. The servant started on the long journey to fulfill his mission. At last he came to the city where Abraham's relatives lived. The servant prayed earnestly that God would lead him to choose the right wife for Isaac. He asked God to give him a special sign that would keep him from making a mistake in his choice.SRme 1.298

Abraham's servant rested by a well where people gathered to talk. He noticed the kind, helpful, and courteous actions of one woman whose name was Rebekah. The servant recognized that these acts fulfilled the sign he had asked for. He was sure Rebekah was the person God had chosen to become Isaac's wife.SRme 1.299

Rebekah invited the servant to come to her father's house. When the servant arrived, he told Rebekah's father and her brother that God had given him a sign that Rebekah should become the wife of his master's son, Isaac.SRme 1.300

Abraham's servant asked, "Are you planning to permit Rebekah to go to Abraham's home with me? If you will not let her go, tell me now and I will decide what to do."SRme 1.301

Her father, Bethuel, and brother, Laban, answered, "'Since this matter comes from the Lord, it is not for us to make a decision. Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord Himself has said.'SRme 1.302

"When the servant of Abraham heard this, he bowed down and worshiped the Lord" (Gen. 24:50-52).SRme 1.303

After the marriage plans had been approved by Bethuel and Laban, Rebekah was asked if she was willing to go a great distance from her family to become Isaac's wife. When Rebekah learned how God had chosen her to be Isaac's wife, she said, "I will go."SRme 1.304

Marriages in those days were planned by the parents. But children were not forced to marry someone they could not love. But children trusted their parents to make the right choice for them. Following their parents' advice, they gave their love to those whom their parents, who loved and served God, chose for them. Not to obey the advice of the parents was considered a crime.SRme 1.305