There ain’t no way of getting’ to the knowin’ without doin’ the tryin’.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Buttercup Meets Cain)
“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.”
–James 3:13 (NLT)
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The next thing we see in the life of Isaac is the death of his mother, Sarah. Sarah is 127 years old when she died, that would, according to most theologians, that Isaac was around 35. There is little said regarding Isaac with the death of his mother. He must have been distraught, for soon afterward, Abraham wanted him to marry. There are words to confirm that Isaac must have missed his mother greatly, for after his marriage we read, “…So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death (Genesis 24:67, NKJV).
With the death of Isaac’s mother, Abraham began in earnest to search for a wife for Isaac. Talk of arranged marriages, this one is the ideal. Upon reading it was not only arranged by Abraham, his most trusted servant, but most importantly by the Lord Himself. Abraham understood the dangers of marrying someone not of the faith. The Canaanites were heathens and practiced evil; he wanted Isaac to marry someone from his homeland, but he did not want Isaac to live there. Abraham understood the issues that could come from marrying a pagan long before Paul wrote, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14, NKJV)
One of the ways that brought about the downfall of Israel was intermarrying, or we could say marrying outside the faith. It was the tool that Balaam suggested to Balak; it is something that is seen over and over again in the history of Israel–the yoking together with unbelievers. Abraham wanted his line to be pure; he did not want Isaac to leave the land that the Lord had given him, on no account was he to go back.
Isaac seemed happy with what Abraham had said. We see in this his passive and quiet attitude. Too passive? It is hard for us in this day and age to fathom arranged marriages. No matter, Isaac seemed to be content to have a wife not of his choosing. There is no mention of any input at all from him. As with the sacrifice, Isaac is obedient to the will of his father.
Notice, it is the servant, not Abraham, certainly not Isaac that is sent to find a wife for Isaac. Many thoughts must have passed through his mind, but we know for sure that he was concerned that the woman he found might not be willing to come back with him. A wise man, this servant, and he prayed. The Lord had to have been involved, for the prayer of the servant was answered in the way that he requested. The woman, Rebekah, was hospitable, and then we read of a prophecy over her. She agrees with the proposal. Get this, she has not even seen Isaac. When she agrees the servant bowed down worshipping the Lord (Genesis 24:52) then he gave gifts to her father, Laban, and her brothers and mother.
Here is another type that is shown from the Old Testament. Rebekah, the bride, is a type of the Church, the Bride of Christ. He is waiting for her to come to Him. One day, He will be in the clouds and she will rise to meet Him. She was chosen from the world, redemption if you will from the life she was living. She will travel with the servant (Holy Spirit) to her groom (Christ) who awaits her. This is not the love of a couple, but as someone wrote, “The choice of the father to secure a bride for his beloved son.”
Look at what Isaac was doing when the servant came bringing his bride. “Now Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening…” (Genesis 24:63, NKJV) Isaac may have a passive spirit, but he was involved in seeking and meditating upon the Lord. The servant went to Isaac, before introducing Rebekah, and told him all the things that he had done. There was no refusal on the part of either Isaac or Rebekah. They had to have known that the hand of the Lord was involved. “Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her…” (Genesis 24:67, NKJV)
We see here that Isaac loved Rebekah, however, there is no mention of Rebekah loving Isaac, she carried out her duties. We read that Isaac was forty years old when he married and he pleaded with the Lord for a child. Remember, Isaac was the son of promise, therefore that promise must be carried out through his line. Two other side notes that we see: first, Isaac is the only patriarch to have one wife; and second, before the children of Isaac were born Abraham sent away his last wife, Keturah and her children, providing gifts for him. There was to be no competition or strife with Isaac’s children (or so he thought).
————————————-
The next thing we see in the life of Isaac is the death of his mother, Sarah. Sarah is 127 years old when she died, that would, according to most theologians, that Isaac was around 35. There is little said regarding Isaac with the death of his mother. He must have been distraught, for soon afterward, Abraham wanted him to marry. There are words to confirm that Isaac must have missed his mother greatly, for after his marriage we read, “…So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death (Genesis 24:67, NKJV).
With the death of Isaac’s mother, Abraham began in earnest to search for a wife for Isaac. Talk of arranged marriages, this one is the ideal. Upon reading it was not only arranged by Abraham, his most trusted servant, but most importantly by the Lord Himself. Abraham understood the dangers of marrying someone not of the faith. The Canaanites were heathens and practiced evil; he wanted Isaac to marry someone from his homeland, but he did not want Isaac to live there. Abraham understood the issues that could come from marrying a pagan long before Paul wrote, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14, NKJV)
One of the ways that brought about the downfall of Israel was intermarrying, or we could say marrying outside the faith. It was the tool that Balaam suggested to Balak; it is something that is seen over and over again in the history of Israel–the yoking together with unbelievers. Abraham wanted his line to be pure; he did not want Isaac to leave the land that the Lord had given him, on no account was he to go back.
Isaac seemed happy with what Abraham had said. We see in this his passive and quiet attitude. Too passive? It is hard for us in this day and age to fathom arranged marriages. No matter, Isaac seemed to be content to have a wife not of his choosing. There is no mention of any input at all from him. As with the sacrifice, Isaac is obedient to the will of his father.
Notice, it is the servant, not Abraham, certainly not Isaac that is sent to find a wife for Isaac. Many thoughts must have passed through his mind, but we know for sure that he was concerned that the woman he found might not be willing to come back with him. A wise man, this servant, and he prayed. The Lord had to have been involved, for the prayer of the servant was answered in the way that he requested. The woman, Rebekah, was hospitable, and then we read of a prophecy over her. She agrees with the proposal. Get this, she has not even seen Isaac. When she agrees the servant bowed down worshipping the Lord (Genesis 24:52) then he gave gifts to her father, Laban, and her brothers and mother.
Here is another type that is shown from the Old Testament. Rebekah, the bride, is a type of the Church, the Bride of Christ. He is waiting for her to come to Him. One day, He will be in the clouds and she will rise to meet Him. She was chosen from the world, redemption if you will from the life she was living. She will travel with the servant (Holy Spirit) to her groom (Christ) who awaits her. This is not the love of a couple, but as someone wrote, “The choice of the father to secure a bride for his beloved son.”
Look at what Isaac was doing when the servant came bringing his bride. “Now Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening…” (Genesis 24:63, NKJV) Isaac may have a passive spirit, but he was involved in seeking and meditating upon the Lord. The servant went to Isaac, before introducing Rebekah, and told him all the things that he had done. There was no refusal on the part of either Isaac or Rebekah. They had to have known that the hand of the Lord was involved. “Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her…” (Genesis 24:67, NKJV)
We see here that Isaac loved Rebekah, however, there is no mention of Rebekah loving Isaac, she carried out her duties. We read that Isaac was forty years old when he married and he pleaded with the Lord for a child. Remember, Isaac was the son of promise, therefore that promise must be carried out through his line. Two other side notes that we see: first, Isaac is the only patriarch to have one wife; and second, before the children of Isaac were born Abraham sent away his last wife, Keturah and her children, providing gifts for him. There was to be no competition or strife with Isaac’s children (or so he thought).