Reading this morning in Genesis 24, about the “finding” of Rebekah as a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac (a wonderful story if you’ve never read it before!), I was struck by the importance of compatibility – and by the remarkable providence of God in bringing together a man and woman to carry out His redemptive purposes.
Abraham had moved away from his hometown, into the land of Canaan – the Promised Land. But he did not want his son to marry one of the local chicks. He sensed that this would be incompatible with God’s purposes, and a bad match for his son. So he sent his servant back to his home country, trusting that God would lead him to just the right woman for Isaac (He did).
It wasn’t enough to find some woman of outward beauty, or of inherited wealth. To be blunt, those are a dime a dozen in any era. No, Isaac was to have a wife with whom he could be one in soul and spirit. And Abraham sent his servant to fish in the most likely waters.
Today marks the birthday of my bride, a New Year’s baby, whom I met in 1979 in a gathering of like-minded people who were seeking to grow in their faith together. While there was certainly physical attraction a-plenty, we connected on a much deeper level, becoming friends first, and later maturing into a sense that each of us was a half, incomplete without the other.
As God brought Rebekah to Isaac, so He brought Sandy to me. What’s the secret to a long and happy marriage? Well, there are many, but today, let’s point to something right at the foundation, something that has to be right at the very beginning.
Compatibility. If your souls are in sync, you can have great hope that your lives will be in sync.
It’s worth being very, very picky. And, like Abraham’s servant, praying that God will direct your steps.
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Recently studied this in our Adult Electives Sunday School class and was struck with the paralleled faith shown in this account to that shown by Abraham when he was told by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac. (Gen 22) When Isaac asks where is the animal to be sacrificed? (paraphrased) Abraham says through his extreme faith that God will provide the sacrifice. In this account, Abraham’s faith was transferred to the servant to know that God would provide a fitting wife. Imagine if our faith was as strong as Abraham’s and if we could lead others to have such faith in God? What’s great is we need not imagine it, but pray and ask God to give it to us.
Well put, Steve. My Rebekah and I are in total agreement that we are halves of the same whole. It’s amazing what you find when you let Him guide you. Have a blessed 2012!
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