Genesis 24:51,67

"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...

Psalms 68:6 revisted

"God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."

Are you alone?  Do you feel abandoned, forgotten, or empty?  Waiting on that special someone to knock on your door and take you away?  No surprise there, you were not made to be alone (Gen 1:18).  You were made to be in a relationship and in community, both with yourself and with God, else why would he give you a mouth to speak and ears to hear?  By your very nature you were made to interact.

However it is God who sets the lonely in families.  It is God who is the only cure for that empty feeling you feel.  People are mortal and friendships may come and go, but God is the Eternal One, unchanging and unyielding in steadfast love.  We know that whoever has given up "home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields" for Christ's sake and for the gospel "will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age" (Mk 10:29-30)

Do you seek to satisfy these needs God has placed in you alone?  Do you rob God of a chance to bless you?  Do you forfeit the grace you could have had?  Seek out God and he will provide for you the rest.  God alone knows if you need to be married, and if he knows your needs he will fill them, but seek God first!

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.