Series Introduction:

In our journey through the book of Genesis, we have witnessed the unfolding of God's, His covenant with Abraham, and the miraculous birth of Isaac, the promised son. With Isaac's birth, a long-awaited dream became a reality, and the lineage through which God's blessings would flow began to take shape. God's promise to Abraham was not only about the birth of a son. It was about the multiplication of his descendants, as numerous as the stars in the sky, destined to bring light and life to the world. One of those descendants would shine brighter than any other because he would be the Son of God, the Messiah, and the Savior of the world. However, more than just one birth was needed for this promise to come to fruition. If Abraham's descendants were to multiply and fill the earth, Isaac would need a partner, a spouse, to walk alongside him on this sacred journey.

Genesis 24 unveils a tale of love, faith, and divine providence. We witness the lengths to which Abraham, a father of faith, secures a wife for his son, Isaac. It's an account that magnifies the importance of seeking God's guidance, stepping out in faith, and recognizing that every aspect of our lives, including marriage, is a crucial thread woven into the tapestry of God's purpose.

Scripture Reading: 

Genesis 24:1-29 (ESV): Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac." The servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?" Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, 'To your offspring I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there." So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor. And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. And he said, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, 'Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels'—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."

Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a little water to drink from your jar." She said, "Drink, my lord." And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking." So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.

When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, and said, "Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?" She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." She added, "We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night." The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen." Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things. Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring.

Genesis 24:50-67 (ESV): Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken."

When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord. And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, "Send me away to my master." Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go." But he said to them, "Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master." They said, "Let us call the young woman and ask her." And they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go." So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

"Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!"

Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel and said to the servant, "Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we are grateful to study Your Word in Genesis 24, which reveals Your redemptive plan for humanity. We see Your guiding hand in every detail, leading us to eternal union with our Savior. Holy Spirit, open our hearts and minds to Your teaching. May this message inspire us to trust Your guidance and live in joyful expectation of our union with Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Introduction:

Choosing a spouse is a big decision. God values marriage and desires it to be filled with love, joy, and peace. However, being single is also a valuable calling and should not be looked down upon. Whether married or single, we are all called to serve the Lord and contribute to His Kingdom. Married couples are expected to demonstrate the gospel through their love and care for each other and their children. Meanwhile, singles can use their freedom and independence to serve the Lord in unique ways. Both roles are important in God's plan.

This message, however, will focus on marriage. Having the right partner in life can truly be a wonderful thing, but on the other hand, having the wrong partner can cause immense pain and turmoil. An important question to consider is: how do we determine who is the right partner for us? The answer to this question cannot be found by creating a list of personal preferences and searching for someone who satisfies all of them. Rather, it requires a prayerful search for a partner in accordance with God's will and standards. Regardless of whether you are happily married, happily single, or prayerfully seeking God's will in your next relationship, I hope you listen closely because these truths desperately need to be remembered and passed on to the coming generations. 

Following God's Timing and Guidance in Marriage:

Our passage this morning begins by telling us that "Abraham was old, well advanced in years" (Genesis 24:1), which is a bit of an understatement in my opinion. Abraham had been one hundred years old when Isaac was born, and we learn in the next chapter that Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebeckah (Genesis 25:20). This means Abraham was nearing one hundred and forty years old in the passage we read this morning! While God had blessed him with many years of life, he knew he would not live forever. Sarah, Abraham's wife, had recently passed away at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven. While I am sure that Abraham had complete confidence that God would keep his promises, he was concerned that Isaac would not find a wife in the land where he was dwelling. This is why we read: 

"...Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac." - Genesis 24:1-4, ESV

Abraham recognized the importance of guiding Isaac in seeking a wife to carry on the promises of God, and Abraham wanted to ensure that this woman would be like-minded on matters of faith, someone who would share Isaac's commitment to follow God and to raise children in the Lord. For this reason, Abraham charged to his most trusted servant and placed him under oath to ensure to find the right woman for Isaac to marry, a woman who would share Isaac's faith and devotion to God.

How many men in this room would feel comfortable if, during your bachelor years, you father hired someone to go to a distant land and bring back a wife for you? That's not how things tend to happen in America, but it was not unheard of to arrange a marriage in this way back in this time. Thankfully Abraham had learned to be wise in his many years of walking with God. He understood that a marriage rooted in shared faith and values stands strong in facing life's challenges and joys. However, a marriage not bound by a shared faith can result in much heartache and strife.

Thousands of years later, the Apostle Paul would write to the church in Corinth: 

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, ESV

As followers of Jesus, it is our duty to distinguish ourselves from the world and its principles. Selecting a partner who shares our faith and devotion to the Lord is crucial to ensure our bond is not divided on mattrers of faith but rather represents a mutual pledge to follow God's design. Our marriages must serve as a declaration of our solidarity in faith and loyalty to God.

But what if the person I married walked away from the faith during our marriage? Or what if I came to faith after we were married but my spouse is still an unbeliever? The scripture addresses this as well: 

"If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy." - 1 Corinthians 7:13, ESV

What Paul is saying in these two verses is that, as a believer, you should not knowingly enter into a marriage with an unbeliever. Still, if you find yourself in such a relationship, you should not abandon your spouse or your family for your faith. Instead, you should see your family as your mission field and try your best by word and action to point them to Jesus. It would be better not to go into a marriage relationship with an unbeliever, but if you already are in one, then you are called to serve the Lord even as it relates to your unbelieving spouse. 

Abraham did not want Isaac to begin life as a husband and father with an uphill battle. He adamantly insisted that a partner for Isaac should not be chosen from the Canaanites, a people notorious for their devotion to worldly pleasures and idolatry. Throughout his faith journey, Abraham faced numerous challenges and recognized the crucial need for a partner who could aid in his spiritual growth. He understood that the worth of a godly wife was immeasurable, but marrying someone who could lead him astray from God's promises posed a significant risk.

While we do not do arranged marriages in our culture, godly parents still need to counsel and guide their children in how they date and who they marry. Just as Abraham was concerned about finding a godly wife for Isaac, we should seek God's will and guidance for our children and grandchildren as they start dating or as they begin to think about marriage. We should encourage them to seek partners who share their faith and values. We need to help them establish homes that bring glory to God and pass on His promises to future generations. 

Seeking a Godly Partner

In Genesis 24:10-14, we read about Abraham's servant who got up, made arrangements, and journeyed to Nahor, hoping to find a young woman who was a believer in the true God. He went to the city's well, a popular spot for women to gather, knowing he might encounter a pious lady there. Sometimes, in God's good providence, He arranges the perfect partner to show up just when you least expect it. Juli and I were lucky enough to have met on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend. But more often than not, if you want to find the right partner, you have to look in the right places. 

The servant did not go to the local brothel to find a wife for Isaac. He did not go to a pagan temple. He did not seek out a wild party to find a good time girl for his master's son. No, he went to the well where hard-working women would draw water and take care of household business. For those of us who might still be looking for a spouse, are you looking for them in the places where a good man or woman would be found? Parents, are you teaching your children to be wise in where they look for potential partners? I have sadly known people in my life who constantly complain that they cannot find a good man or a good woman, but considering the places they meet their boyfriends and girlfriends, I'm not surprised. I can't spend all my time in Mcdonald's and hope one day I will get a fillet mignon. 

You may or may not know that I recently had the honor and privilege of performing the wedding ceremony for my sister and her now husband. By my sister's own admission, her dating life before meeting her now husband was less than spectacular. Needing a change of pace and desiring to do some good in the world, my sister journeyed on a season of self-discovery and soul-searching while on an extended medical mission trip to West Africa. The journey was both demanding and rewarding. During her time in Africa, she wrote in her journal, "God should you put another man in my life, let it be my husband." Little did she know that God already had a young man in mind for her. 

While God was working on my sister in Africa, He was also leading her husband through a season of change and transformation here in America. Coming out of a long-term relationship, he had taken an extended break from dating, allowing him the chance to focus on his walk with the Lord. During these overlapping seasons of growth and renewal, their stories converged on what seemed to be a chance encounter at a Monday night prayer meeting just two days after my sister returned from Africa. Little did either know that this chance meeting turned out to be a divine appointment.  

I bring this up because I feel it is a wonderful testimony to the very thing I am preaching on this morning. Both of them had been looking for love in the wrong places, but when they surrendered their lives to God and refocused their lives on Him, God brought them together in a prayer meeting. I am not saying to come to prayer meetings to meet women, but I would love to hear more stories about couples who were brought together because they were seeking and serving the Lord.  

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD." - Proverbs 18:22

The servant did more than just go to the right places, he also prayed for guidance from the Lord.

And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” - Genesis 24:12-14, ESV. 

 As we seek a godly partner or help others in their seeking, we must always remember to pray for and seek after God's will. God is interested in our marriages and desires to lead us to the right person who will complement and support our walk with Him. 

The servant sought a clear confirmation that would leave no doubt about God's choice for Isaac's wife. This prayer demonstrated great faith and child-like trust in God's ability to answer. While the author of proverbs did not specifically have marriage in mind, I think the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6 still applies: 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV

The servant's request for a sign was specific and designed to reveal God's chosen woman clearly. He wanted to be absolutely sure that he had God's guidance. Likewise, we should seek God's clear guidance when considering dating and marriage, not relying on just feelings or emotions. I have no problem praying “God make your will so obvious that it would be impossible for me to miss it.”

And sure enough, we read in that the Lord answered the servants prayer before he even finished speaking: 

Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not.

When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?” She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen.” - Genesis 24:15-26

I believe that God is honored when we pray fervently and specifically, especially when we pray for good things that God desires to give. If you feel called to marriage but have not found the right person, I hope you continue praying for God to bring the right person into your life at the right time. Parents, it is never too early to start praying for your children and their future spouse. Shortly after my daughter was born I made a habit of praying that if it is God’s will for her to marry, that he would prepare a good and godly man for her who would love her and cherish her as Christ loves and cherishes his church. I believe that when when we actively seek and follow God's will, we can have confidence that He will lead us to the right person, according to His perfect timing and plan.

The True and Greater Marriage

Much more could be said, but I want to conclude our time together by showing how the story of Isaac and Rebekah's marriage is more than just a historical account. This story, and indeed all godly marriages, are a beautiful analogy of God's unwavering commitment to bring humanity back into a loving relationship with Him. Just as the servant went to great lengths to seek out a bride for Isaac, the Holy Spirit relentlessly pursues our hearts, offering the invitation to be united with Christ. And just as Rebekah willingly followed the servant to meet her betrothed, we are called to respond to the Holy Spirit's prompting and invitation. Through Rebekah's acceptance of Isaac's proposal, we see a reflection of our own response to the gospel. As sinners, we accept the invitation to be united with Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom.

If you have never responded to Christ's proposal, I will invite you to do so this morning. Consider me a servant of the Lord, asking you to be forever united in love with our Savior and Lord. He has made all the necessary preparations to bring you into His fold. You do not have to be worthy because he will make you worthy. He will take your sin and make you pure as snow. He will adorn you with his righteousness and splendor. Will you come and receive Him this day?

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for reminding us that Your will and plan are perfect for each of us. Help us to seek You diligently, just as the servant sought a wife for Isaac, so that we may find Your perfect will in every aspect of our lives, including our relationships and marriages. We pray for marriages that are founded on the gospel, built on the Rock of Your Word, and strengthened by the power of Your Holy Spirit. May our lives and relationships testify to Your transformative grace, drawing others closer to You. In all things, Lord, may Your name be glorified. We thank You for the hope and assurance we have in Your promises. Guide us as we leave this place, and may we apply these truths to our lives and relationships. We pray all these things in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.