GOD WILL PROVIDE A WIFE FOR ISAAC

Passage: Genesis 24:1-9

Key verse: 7

NIV

Isaac and Rebekah

24 Abraham was now very old,(A) and the Lord had blessed(B) him in every way.(C) 2 He said to the senior servant(D) in his household, the one in charge of all that he had,(E) “Put your hand under my thigh.(F) 3 I want you to swear(G) by the Lord, the God of heaven(H) and the God of earth,(I) that you will not get a wife for my son(J) from the daughters of the Canaanites,(K) among whom I am living,(L) 4 but will go to my country and my own relatives(M) and get a wife for my son Isaac.(N)”

5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land?(O) Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?(P)”

6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,”(Q) Abraham said. 7 “The Lord, the God of heaven,(R) who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land(S) and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring[a](T) I will give this land’(U)—he will send his angel before you(V) so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath(W) of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”(X) 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh(Y) of his master(Z) Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 24:7 Or seed
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Isaac and Rebekah

24 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord (A)had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, (B)the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, (C)“Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that (D)you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, 4 (E)but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 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?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The Lord, the God of heaven, (F)who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, (G)‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ (H)he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then (I)you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant (J)put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

After a life full of blessing, Abraham focuses his attention on Isaac, who is at least thirty-seven (17:17; 23:1) yet still unmarried, likely due to his mom’s death (24:67). Being too old to journey back to his brother Nahor’s family, Abraham charges his servant under oath to get a wife for his son. The servant realizes the difficulty of the task, “What if she is unwilling to come?” Abraham’s focus is “Do not bring him back there!” Instead, holding again to God’s promise and faithfulness, Abraham puts his trust in God who will provide a way to bring a wife.

Abraham’s assigned task from God was to teach his children the way of the LORD (18:19), and this included marriage. We too pray for our own marriages, those of our children and grandchildren – that we may see God’s vision to lavish love on a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his covenant. Let’s pray and trust God.

Additionally, we see the trusting friendship between Abraham and his servant. He shared his heart, the servant responded with concerns, and this sensitive and intimate matter was discussed frankly. The servant pledges himself to it. Do we have such people in our community? Are we such people? Our future depends on this.

Prayer: Father, we cry out to you to provide for faithful and holy families to be established, particularly among the coming generations.

One Word: Trust God and marry by faith