Genesis 24
INTRODUCTION
GOD WRITES LOVE STORIES
She was there in the park, sitting on the bench in the mist, this mysterious beautiful woman in my life, and I realised that I was falling in love. We met with others in that early morning prayer meeting, but I wasn’t aware of them. I listened as she prayed and knew that we were being drawn together by God Himself. Like a window into her soul, her words enabled me to see her faith, intelligence, strength and beauty. I have known and loved this awesome woman twice as long as I was without her. We have been married for 37 years and this morning as I look out on a Autumn day in 2011, I remember being dressed in my school uniform on that cold misty morning when our journey began. I was 17. Years later Julie admitted that she had secretly prayed that if I showed up on that day it would be a sign that this would be the person she would marry.
HIS CHARACTERS ARE TAKEN FROM REAL LIFE
God writes love stories. He is vitally concerned with the actual lives of people as they meet, fall in love, marry. Afterall, the first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding. Our everyday lives and the decisions have bearing upon His purposes for us, especially concerning the one we marry.
Notice I said God writes love stories. Not romance novels and soap operas. "And they all lived happily ever after" was not in our story. There were times when Julie and I had some serious struggles when happiness wasn’t characteristic of our relationship, but God has been merciful and we are here in Sydney, Australia all these years later, with children and grandchildren, amazed at how rich and full and yes, how happy and in love we are.
GOD THINKS GENERATIONALLY
In the advancing years of my life, and I am not even half Abraham’s age in Genesis 24, I watch with prayerful interest the lives of my grandchildren and pray for God’s choice of a marriage partner for each of them. The oldest is not quite marriageable age yet. He is only five!
Sarah’s laughter has disappeared in the mists of time as we look at the love story of Genesis 24:1-67. She has been gone now for many years. Abraham is an old man. Isaac, his promised son, is forty years old (Genesis 25:20). One thing must play upon his mind as Abraham approaches the end of his life. GRANDCHILDREN! God has "blessed Abraham in all things" (Genesis 24:1 NASB), and part of that blessing is the promise of becoming a great nation through the lineage of Isaac (Genesis 12, 15). And so it is about time Isaac got married!
The traumatic events where Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac to test his faith in Genesis 22 conclude with the words "Soon after this, Abraham heard that Milcah, his brother Nahor’s wife, had borne Nahor eight sons" (Genesis 22:20 NLT). Somehow they had some kind of social network happening, e-mails, facebook, or messenger going to and from the relatives he had left behind. It seems he even knew about Rebekah by name (Genesis 22:20, 23 NLT) and perhaps of her faith and beauty as she grew. Perhaps he knew that she would be compatible.
"Abraham said to his servant,... go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac. For the Lord, the God of heaven, ... will send His angel ahead of you, and He will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine." (Genesis 24:5-8 NLT)
DON’T MAKE CREATIVE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STORY LINE!
Looking at this passage it looks like God has a contingency plan B should Rebekah stubbornly refuse to come and wipe Isaac off the e-marriage list. I know, God doesn’t have a plan B but so often WE DO. God writes love stories but so often we try to write our own chapters and do some creative adjustments to the story line. I was speaking recently with a woman who said she didn’t find the right person. He was an alcoholic and verbally and physically abusive.
GOD BASES HIS STORY ON OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
God sees that marriage is a picture of Jesus and the Church. Ephesians 5:22 says that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.
Seeking God’s choice in a marriage partner is important, but even that relationship is not as important as our relationship with Christ. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
God is a generational God. We have a part to play in the lives of our descendents. Are you praying now for your children, your grandchildren and great grandchildren to find the "THE RIGHT ONE" as a marriage partner?
If you are considering marriage are you willing NOT to make your own plan B?" Are you willing NOT TO MARRY AT ALL until you find the RIGHT PERSON? Are you willing to trust God to help you find the THE RIGHT ONE?" Big challenge!
HOW DO WE FIND THE RIGHT PERSON TO MARRY?
1. USE GOD’S ONLINE DATING SERVICE!
"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match..."
The most successful INTERNET DATING SITES today, according to Wikipedia, are very specific concerning those they target. To ensure compatibility many of them are advertised according to RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS. That would have suited Abraham if he had been able to access the internet. Many today would accuse him of being a racist because he did not want his son to marry a Canaanite.
Abraham sent his trusted servant out to find a perfect match for his son Isaac, but he was instructed to go to Abraham’s relatives. He didn’t want a marriage where race or faith in God would be compromised.
Today the servant could have linked into JDate (which is for Jewish singles) while avoiding the local dating sites such as CanaaniteDate.com.
How do you find a person who is COMPATIBLE? Today he could have surveyed Isaac and entered the data online to find the characteristics in a woman he wanted, such as age, gender, what city she was from, height, weight, education, income, sense of humour, her interest in sports, her political persuasion and medical condition. What if she has mental problems or severe disabilities? To go one step further, Abraham’s servant could have linked into a site that used a personality test to ensure compatibility.
It all sounds like a great way to go if you are looking for a marriage partner, but Rebekah takes a huge risk in following this servant of Abraham. She has no idea whether or not she is exposing herself to ruthless predators, only to find herself a victim of fraud or of being stalked or of sexual exploitation and violence. For all she knows she could end up as a victim of human trafficking!
If Rebekah lived today she could have asked for a police check on Abraham’s family. It would have revealed a few cautions against Abraham - abandonment of his son Ishmael and attempted murder of Isaac. God acquitted him as righteous but how would you feel about having a father-in-law like that?
At least two couples I know began their relationship on the internet. Recently Sharyn Cook said "I met my husband on the internet and he is definitely God’s answer to my prayers".
The question the servant had to ask was "How do I find someone who will be compatible?" He decided to use GOD’S ONLINE HELP, the best and most successful dating site of all, accessed by the same password Sharyn used - "PRAYER".
So the oldest and most trusted of servants goes to find a girl willing to go with him, leave her family, come to a totally new land called Canaan, marry and live with a man she has never seen before in her life. This is a big ask. No wonder the servant prays in Genesis 24:12 (NLT), "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham." This servant obviously has a RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD although I think he could have included a desire for a bit of lovingkindness for Isaac too. Afterall, he is the one who is going to be affected the most by this prayer. Prayer voice activates his faith and links him directly to GOD’S INTERNET DATING SITE.
God knows what He is doing as he leads the servant to Rebekah. Imagine if Rebekah was so off-line with God that she had not agreed to come. Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ was to come through the line of Isaac. Her positive response, however, shows that she is a right person for Isaac.
Should this servant give us advice as to finding someone who is compatible for marriage, he would say "Dedicate yourself to the purpose but let that purpose be guided by your prayer." How different might be the results should this kind of online search be conducted today. Connected to God’s wisdom, our choices make so much more sense and have so much greater impact and fruitfulness. The invitation today is to be connected to God in every arena of our lives, especially in the decision of a life partner in marriage.
2. REMEMBER THAT SOME THINGS JUST DON’T GO TOGETHER
The engine of a Fiesta in a Ferrari! Pickles and icecream. There are certain things that definitely DON’T go together. Aluminium foil and microwaves (Julie rediscovered this recently). Children and cancer. Wouldn’t it change the world if honesty and politics went together?
It was dark when I dressed and when I arrived at the Church building we sat around in a small circle of dedicated students learning and reciting Greek declensions with our Pastor. It was about halfway through one of these early morning classes that I noticed my shoes. I was wearing TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF SHOES! Very embarrassing. I wonder if anybody else noticed? Certain things should not be worn together.
Deuteronomy 22:10 (NLT) says "You must not plough with an ox and a donkey harnessed together." The idea here is that there are certain things that are totally INCOMPATIBLE. They were never meant to be placed in the same yoke, never meant to be together in the same equation. Just won’t fit! Won’t make sense! Doesn’t work well!
Abraham wants his son to marry a woman from among his own relatives and insists that he must not marry a Canaanite girl. It almost seems RACIST! Wouldn’t it be better to form an alliance through marriage with the people who are there in the land promised to Abraham? What an easy way of claiming the promised land. You would think that it would HELP THE PROMISE along a little. So far Abraham only owns a burial plot that he bought for Sarah. Why not also form a covenant through a marriage to a Canaanite girl with his son? It was clear that he DOES NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN. Why? Are we to be DISCRIMINATORY when we choose a marriage partner? No, but we are to be DISCRIMINATING.
The Bible speaks of our relationship with God as being the most important relationship we will ever have, even more important than our marriage relationship. When we marry we form a COVENANT. That covenant is used as a picture of our relationship with God. Ephesians 5:25 (NASB) says "Husbands, love your wives, just AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH and gave Himself up for her,..." The Canaanites were idol worshipers and REJECTED THE GOD OF ABRAHAM.
There are certain things that DEFINITELY DON’T GO TOGETHER. Ur and Abraham. Sodom and Lot. Idols and the temple. Christ and the devil. Light and darkness. Righteousness and wickedness. A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST MARRYING AN UNBELIEVER. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT) says "DON’T TEAM UP WITH (be UNEQUALLY YOKED with) those who are unbelievers." It’s like harnessing an ox and an ass together.
Abraham is confident that the Lord will send an ANGEL ahead of the servant to help him find the right girl for Isaac among his relatives. Angels have already played an important part in Abraham’s life (Genesis 18, 19, 22). By the way, he is not talking about A CUPID-LIKE ANGEL, so let’s not go there. It was probably Gabriel or Michael, the fiercest of all angels, sent to protect the promises of God to Abraham.
A GREAT NATION was coming through Abraham. JESUS would one day be born through this family line and it seems God didn’t want anybody or anything, demonic or otherwise, to interfere with the process of finding Rebekah. Abraham’s faith had been tested and he had learned some valuable lessons. He is doing everything he can to make sure that he doesn’t get in the way of God again.
Perhaps it was the archangel Gabriel who was sent. Afterall Gabriel turns up at the birth of Christ to Mary (Luke 1:26) and angels throughout the Bible have a way of protecting people (and I might add of scaring them to death in the process. It seems they always have to reassure people by saying "Do not fear!" so they obviously arent’ the cute, fat baby-like cupid angels that we see on wedding invitations).
In a world where Satan wants to destroy Godly marriages because they are a picture of our relationship with Christ, is this your opportunity to pray for God to SEND AN ANGEL to protect you and that God would lead you to the right person to marry? Some people are just meant to be together. Others are not.
3. COMMIT YOURSELF TO SEEING GOD’S PURPOSES ACCOMPLISHED IN YOUR LIFE
SUBPOENA AD TESTIFICANDUM. Ordered by writ of the court to testify. The maintenance man drove us in his van to the courthouse. Two young women, both relatively new to Australia had been issued with subpoenas. They had never testified before and for them going to court implied that they were going to be convicted, or at least have their reputations ruined by their association with another persons guilt. As their Pastor and Chaplain, I was there to support them. They would make AN OATH ON THE BIBLE and would be constrained by that oath to tell the truth.
In Genesis 24:2-9 (NLT) Abraham subpoenas his oldest and most trusted servant "TAKE AN OATH BY PUTTING YOUR HAND UNDER MY THIGH. Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac." Abraham says "Be careful never to take my son there. For the Lord, the God of heaven, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants." So the servant takes the oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham and swears to follow Abraham’s instructions. He is constrained by that oath to fulfil Abraham’s requests.
Strange way to take an oath. What is this "place your hand under my thigh" business? If someone told me to do this I would say "You want me to place my hand where?" I certainly wouldn’t go telling anyone today to place his hand under my thigh and take an oath. He’d hit me! Perhaps this is why the Bible discourages the making of oaths (James 5:12)!
It is clear that this is not your normal "swear to tell the truth by placing your hand on the Bible" oath. Many commentators agree that the servant probably kneels before Abraham and places his hand between Abraham’s thighs (the thighs symbolise power and strength), under his genitals, because that’s where he bore the MARK OF CIRCUMCISION, the sign of God’s covenant promise concerning a great nation.
This oath to find the right girl for Isaac as a wife is related to the COVENANT PROMISES God has made to Abraham concerning his descendents who would come from the "loins" of Abraham.
The idea of this oath is to have integrity about the things you say you are going to do based on the things that God has said He would do concerning descendents. You will notice this oath even has an escape clause. If the girl didn’t come with the servant he would be free of the oath.
From my point of view as a Westerner it is a repulsive way of making an oath. Imagine if we used this method in court today? I’m glad it’s not a ritual like Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. But if I am not careful I can miss the real emphasis of these verses in the Bible because I am looking at it through the eyes of my culture.
The invitation is to see BEYOND THE METHOD of making the oath to the commitment that is being made to God and the fulfilment of the covenant promises He makes. The servant is to "Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, ..." (Genesis 24:3 NLT) that he will find the right girl for Isaac to marry, so that the promises a great nation through Abraham will be realised.
As I commit my life completely to the Lord Jesus Christ I am saying that God is my Lord and has authority over my life. He is my God, the God of heaven and earth. His authority is well beyond anything that I can imagine. I am asking that Heavens purposes be fulfilled on earth. I am agreeing that His promises and purposes be accomplished and that I am willing to co-operate with Him concerning finding the right person for marriage.
4. TO FIND THE RIGHT PERSON I MUST BE THE RIGHT PERSON
Both have beautiful jewellery, except that one has a sapphire ring on her finger and the other wears a nose ring. One woman arrives to her wedding in a limousine. The other on a camel. One veils her face as she walks the aisle of a huge Church building to her husband whom she has known for 8 years. The other veils her face when she meets her husband for the first time.
Kate Middleton and Rebekah are both beautiful women but what is it that sets Rebekah apart? Perhaps it is that although Kate marries prince William, who in the future will be crowned the king of England, Rebekah marries Isaac from whom will come Jesus, who in the future will be acknowledged as the Prince of Peace and King of Kings.
Genesis 24 brings us to the outskirts of the city of Nahor. A stranger goes to one of the local wells. He knows that this is the local gathering place for the women of the city as they will come to collect water for their households in the cool of the evening. He rests the camels by the well and prays. Abraham has sent this trusted servant to find a wife for Isaac. But the question is "Who is right for Isaac?"
How is he going to find the right girl? He prays a simple, straight forward prayer for a clear sign to lead him. Matthew 21:22 (NLT) says "You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it." What CHARACTERISTICS would you be praying for? In the musical "Annie, Get Your Gun", the lead sings a song called "The Girl That I Marry" and lists off a series of characteristics. What would you sing about concerning a girl for Isaac? Or perhaps for you?
The servant prays that the girl who is right for Isaac will be the girl who comes to the well and gives the servant water to drink at his request, and then shows extra consideration over and above that. She will suggest watering the rest of his camels, which is an enormous amount of work. (Apparently a thirsty camel can drink up to forty gallons of water, and there are ten camels!) This is a big ask. It will take some hours of her time. But it will solve two problems for the servant. A girl like this has to be right for Isaac, and he’ll have his "limousines" looked after in the process.
In the cool evening air she comes with no idea of how her life is to change. Rebekah must have sensed the presence of an angel as she arrives because God answers the servants prayer immediately. As far as she knows she is here to fill her clay jug with water and take it back to her household. The urgency to be first on the scene to draw water did not come from the whining commands of her mother but from the inner RESPONSIBILITY she feels to contribute to the needs of her family. Genesis 24:16 says "Rebekah was very BEAUTIFUL and OLD ENOUGH TO BE MARRIED, but she was STILL A VIRGIN. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again."
The servant makes his request for water and watches to see if this is the right girl. Her beautiful eyes glance briefly into his with curiosity and she is careful to show him courtesy and respect. "Yes, my lord," she answers, "have a drink." CONFIDENT, WARM, FRIENDLY.
And then, as if compelled by an angel, this young woman, who knows what it means to carry a heavy pitcher of water back and forth from the well, immediately offers to draw water for all his camels. She adds the words "until they have finished drinking." The servant is thinking "God answers my prayers even before I have finished asking."
There is no reluctance in the melody of her voice as she makes this man she has never met before feel valued. SERVANT HEART to servant, Rebekah recognises opportunity to invest her time to help others (and get a workout at the same time). The INITIATIVE and RESPONSIBILITY she takes is a good deal for Abraham’s servant. He just stands there and watches.
Blessing so often comes when I take initiative and work hard in the everyday things of life without the expectation of reward. I see in Rebekah that she is a person who doesn’t live just to satisfy her own needs or just the needs of her family. She goes the EXTRA MILE. When you know God personally you will CARE FOR OTHERS. You seek to go a step further. She looks beyond what people want to what they need. She is THOUGHTFUL and CONSIDERATE and looks for ways to make life better for others. SELFLESS. She sees the chance to be GENEROUS and takes it. She is so much like my wife Julie.
Although she didn’t do the work expecting to get paid for it Rebekah is given some valuable jewellery in return for her help. This is the principle of sowing and reaping. Luke 6:38 (NLT) says "Give, and you will receive." She gives over and above what is expected and she will also receive over and above what she expects - a husband. She may not realise it but she has just stepped into the purposes of God.
The invitation for us is to be willing to go the extra mile without thinking "what’s in it for me?" Jesus knew what it meant to go the extra mile for us and die for our sins to bring us the water of eternal life. May God bless you in the random-acts-of-kindness opportunities that He brings along your way today. They could answer someone’s prayer and end up changing your life forever if you are willing to step into the purposes of God. We are blessed to be a blessing.
5. REFUSE TO BE A DOORMAT TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND OTHER PEOPLE’S PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE
The Formula in the 50Œs FOR THE PERFECT WIFE - get your work done, have dinner ready for your husband, look good for him, minimize any noise before he arrives at the door after work, be happy to see him, don’t greet him with problems and complaints, don’t complain if he is late for dinner, make him comfortable, listen to him and make the evening his (Was this designed by the PERFECT WIFE OR A DOMESTICATED DOORMAT?)
Now picture this scene found in Genesis 24. Abraham sends his servant with 10 camels and a sizable fortune in gifts to find THE PERFECT WIFE for Isaac. He asks God for a SIGN so he’ll recognise who is the right girl. The sign? The girl who not only gives him water to drink from her jug but also offers to water his 10 camels will be the one. Rebekah makes such an offer. This is like having someone offer to fill up 10 EMPTY TRUCKS with petrol. It’s going to take a long time. But so far so good. She seems like the perfect wife for Isaac (not to mention that it will save him watering the camels).
He discovers a number of things about Rebekah at the well that day. She is BEAUTIFUL, SINGLE. She is CONFIDENT, WARM AND FRIENDLY despite the fact that he is a stranger. She calls him "lord" which was a way of showing RESPECT. She has a SERVANT HEART. She’s THOUGHTFUL, CARING, CONSIDERATE, SELFLESS, willing to go the EXTRA MILE to help out. She puts the needs of others before her own. She’s a FITNESS FANATIC (Carting all that water would keep anyone fit). She’s STRONG AND HEALTHY. She is definitely NOT AFRAID OF HARD WORK. She’s FLEXIBLE with her time. She is there to get water for her family but she goes out of her way to help someone else first.
Apart from this she has FAITH IN GOD and she is HOSPITABLE. She invites him to stay with her family
Genesis 24:26-28 (NLT) says that the servant "...bowed low and worshiped the Lord." As far as he is concerned, God has answered his prayer. He gives her some EXPENSIVE JEWELLERY including a nose ring and Rebekah runs home "... to tell her family everything that had happened."
What would you do if your DAUGHTER COMES HOME LATE, wearing expensive jewelry and raving on about a man she has just met that evening? I’d be a little suspicious if it was my daughter and I’d want to get rid of the man. Not Rebekah’s brother Laban. He’s the head of the family but he is also a business man so when he SEES THE JEWELLERY that Rebekah is wearing all of a sudden this servant becomes HIS BEST FRIEND. In Genesis 24:31 he says "Come in, blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?"
Just before the evening meal the Servant explains how he asked God for a sign and that he thinks that Rebekah is God’s choice for Isaac. He lays it on the line "Please tell me yes or no, and then I’ll know what to do next." (I knew a girl once who said she knew that it was God’s will that she marry a friend of mine. Strangely, God didn’t tell him too and he ended up marrying another girl). Is this man being EMOTIONALLY MANIPULATIVE or has he really heard from God?
Laban and his father Bethuel believe in God and when they hear of how the servant received a sign from God, they say, "The Lord has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed."
The servant lavishes the family with a FORTUNE IN GIFTS. What is this? Human trafficking, SELLING YOUR DAUGHTER? Rebekah hasn’t had a say in any of this yet! What is she? Some KIND OF DOORMAT OR OBJECT OF EXCHANGE?
By early the next morning, it looks like the deal has changed however. Laban has been talking to Rebekah’s mother and they say "We want Rebekah to stay with us at LEAST TEN DAYS, then she can go." Abraham’s servant is straight with them. He says "Don’t mess me around. This is God’s will and we’ve made a deal." Actually he says "Don’t delay me. The Lord has made my mission successful."
"Well," they say "we’ll call Rebekah and ASK HER what she thinks." IT’S ABOUT TIME that Rebekah actually gets to say something about their plans for her life! Ever felt like God loves you and EVERYONE ELSE has a wonderful plan for your life? So they call Rebekah. Oh, by the way Rebekah, "Are you willing to go with this man?" they ask her.
Rebekah is no doormat. She’s INTELLIGENT enough to make up her OWN MIND. She’s heard everything the servant said and she is ASSERTIVE AND DECISIVE. She makes a decision immediately based on what she has heard. What would you have said? She replies, "Yes, I will go." She is quick to recognise that God is in this and that this is her opportunity to fulfill her GOD GIVEN DESTINY. She doesn’t insist on staying an extra 10 days like her family requests. Just as well! Major spanner in the works if she had said "NO. I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND I’M NOT MARRYING ANYONE!"
Sometimes people say that CHRISTIANS ARE JUST PASSIVE DOORMATS who follow GOD’S RULES AND REGULATIONS MINDLESSLY. I don’t follow Christ because I HAVE TO. I follow Him because I WANT TO. He has won me over with who He is and what He has done for me on the Cross. There’s a difference between CO-OPERATING WITH GOD and being a DOORMAT. I have a CHOICE.
Rebekah is a RISK TAKER. Faith is always a risk. GIVING YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST is always a risk. Some people say "FAITH IS BLIND" because it involves taking a risk. FAITH MAY BE BLIND BUT IT ISN’T DEAF! Faith comes when we HEAR what God has to say for our lives and then we CHOOSE, by an act of our own FREEWILL, after receiving His revelation of Truth, to step out and act upon it without knowing what the future holds. Rebekah courageously takes a step of faith by her willingness to give up her life with her family and go with this man to a land she has never seen, to marry a man she has never met. She is also MODEST. By covering her face when she meets Isaac, she shows that she has SELF RESPECT and although she is beautiful she is NOT SHOWY OR BOASTFUL. I like this woman of faith. It is no wonder that Isaac falls in love with her.
Although everyone else seemed to have a plan for her life, Rebekah listens and responds to what God is saying to her and makes a decision that changes the world. She doesn’t know it but this decision will impact the future as God fulfils His promises. One day Jesus will come from the line of Isaac.
Rebekah encourages me NOT TO BE A DOORMAT to my circumstances or to other people. God bless you as you COOPERATE WITH GOD’S PLAN for your life today and in doing so LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL and make a difference in the world.
CLOSING
Today, according to scientific research, as long as you are five years younger than your husband, from the same cultural background, not a divorcee, and more intelligent, then apparently you too can be THE PERFECT WIFE (You can prove anything with statistics).
There are some wonderful principles that we can take home from this passage about finding and being the right person for marriage.
The story itself parallels our relationship with God Himself. The servant is like God’s Holy Spirit, who seeks a bride for Christ. The Church is His bride made up of those people who have given their lives to Christ. He is their Lord and Saviour, and she is given the wedding garments of Righteousness, clean and spotless so that she can be presented to Him. It is a huge step of faith to take based upon what God has revealed to us about Christ and it will involve leaving everything which is a part of our old life behind, separating ourselves in order to be with Him forever. We are bought with a price, but loved completely.
HOW DO WE FIND THE RIGHT PERSON TO MARRY?
1. USE GOD’S ONLINE DATING SERVICE! Pray
"Dedicate yourself to the purpose but let that purpose be guided by your prayer." How different might be the results should this kind of online search be conducted today. Connected yourself to God’s wisdom in every arena of your lives, especially in the decision of a life partner in marriage.
2. REMEMBER THAT SOME THINGS JUST DON’T GO TOGETHER.
Don’t be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. In a world where Satan wants to destroy Godly marriages because they are a picture of our relationship with Christ, this your opportunity to pray for God to lead you to the right person to marry? Some people are just meant to be together. Others are not.
3. COMMIT YOURSELF TO SEEING GOD’S PURPOSES ACCOMPLISHED IN YOUR LIFE
Commit your life completely to the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him as your Lord and accept His authority over my life. Ask that Heavens purposes be fulfilled on earth. Agree with Him for His promises and purposes be accomplished and be willing to co-operate with Him concerning finding the right person for marriage.
4. TO FIND THE RIGHT PERSON I MUST BE THE RIGHT PERSON
Be willing to go the extra mile without thinking "what’s in it for me?" Jesus knew what it meant to go the extra mile for us and die for our sins to bring us the water of eternal life. Your random-act-of-kindness could answer someone’s prayer and end up changing your life forever if you are willing to step into the purposes of God. We are blessed to be a blessing.
5. REFUSE TO BE A DOORMAT TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND OTHER PEOPLE’S PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE
Don’t BE A DOORMAT to your circumstances or to other people. You can still be happy and fulfilled as a single person while you are looking for the right person to come along. Jesus said "I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly. That means NOW, not just when you find a marriage partner. COOPERATE WITH GOD’S PLAN for your life TODAY and in doing so LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL. Leave the rest to God.
Pastor Ross
