"Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed."... Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death."
In the Old Testament tradition, it is your father's responsibility to find you a suitable wife. You can pick out one that you want, but ultimately the father has the last say in obtaining a wife for you. Such is the story of Isaac and Rebekah with an interesting twist; It was Abraham's Father in heaven who directed and arranged the marriage.
Notice in v67 that Isaac loved her, despite having just met her. Why? Because the LORD already knows who is compatible because he searches their hearts. If you submit to His will for your wife, you will not be disappointed (and same goes for ladies). Because you know that the LORD has made directed your marriage, you know already that your marriage will stand on a firm foundation for what God has joined together let no man separate. (Mark 10:9)
Be content with where God has you. He knows what you need and when you need it and if he sees fit to give you a wife or a husband it will be not only the right time, but also the right person. Give up the chase and let God give you grace! Hallelujah!
Footnote: Of course this is all contingent on God actually being your Father...
Showing posts with label wife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wife. Show all posts
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Genesis 29:30-31
"Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah... When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren."
Just as Israel cannot serve two masters, he cannot serve two wives. The tension between sisters Rachel and Leah is sibling rivalry to the extreme as they both compete for the love and attention of Jacob.
But even though the situation is complicated, the LORD provides for Leah when Jacob ignores her. She bears him 4 sons in a row (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah) and Rachel is jealous. Rachel gives Jacob another wife, her servant Bilhah, and gains two sons (Dan and Naphtali) in response to Leah's four. Leah in turn retaliates with her own maidservant Zilpah, given her as a wife and gaining two more sons (Gad and Asher) and then has two more sons herself (Issachar and Zebulun) and a daughter (Dinah) after hiring Jacob's "services" with some mandrakes. The LORD finally opens Rachel's womb and she bears Joseph in her old age and dies while giving birth to Benjamin. Final score: Leah 8, Rachel 4, Jacob 4 (wives).
And yet, out of this brokenness came the 12 tribes of Israel (aka Jacob). Even in the complications, God moderates the situation to be fair to both Leah and Rachel. Jacob only wanted Rachel, one wife, but he received two. And take it from him, one is more than enough for anyone.
Just as Israel cannot serve two masters, he cannot serve two wives. The tension between sisters Rachel and Leah is sibling rivalry to the extreme as they both compete for the love and attention of Jacob.
But even though the situation is complicated, the LORD provides for Leah when Jacob ignores her. She bears him 4 sons in a row (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah) and Rachel is jealous. Rachel gives Jacob another wife, her servant Bilhah, and gains two sons (Dan and Naphtali) in response to Leah's four. Leah in turn retaliates with her own maidservant Zilpah, given her as a wife and gaining two more sons (Gad and Asher) and then has two more sons herself (Issachar and Zebulun) and a daughter (Dinah) after hiring Jacob's "services" with some mandrakes. The LORD finally opens Rachel's womb and she bears Joseph in her old age and dies while giving birth to Benjamin. Final score: Leah 8, Rachel 4, Jacob 4 (wives).
And yet, out of this brokenness came the 12 tribes of Israel (aka Jacob). Even in the complications, God moderates the situation to be fair to both Leah and Rachel. Jacob only wanted Rachel, one wife, but he received two. And take it from him, one is more than enough for anyone.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Proverbs 18:22
"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD."
Curiously enough, the Hebrew here could also be translated "He who stumbles upon a wife" or even "He who happens to find a wife finds a good thing." I get a mental image of a man walking along a road stopping to look down at his feet, and behold! A wife is there for him to enjoy. Whether or not that man was looking for a wife or not, the proverb does not say, however I could almost guarantee you if he is completely focused on trying to find a wife, he isn't paying attention to the road signs.
When you are so wrapped up in accomplishing your own will, you will completely miss God's will for your life and all the wonderful things he has for you. Remember it is God who gives "favor" (in wife/husband form). If God has a husband or a wife in store for you, then trust in him and follow him and he will surely lead you the right way. Focus on doing God's will first and learn to be content. You are complete in Christ just the way you are.
Do you want an easy marriage/idolatry self test? Ask yourself this question: If God told you right this second to give up (Fill in Blank:) marriage and to stay single for His kingdom, would you do it? If you answered no or had to think about it for a second, marriage is your idol.
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