God Guides Us to Who He Wills for Us to Marry
God, since ancient time has been placing significance on preserving his people, a people that worships Him, the one true God, Yahweh. God is particularly involved in the destiny of his people. In the past, he led the patriarchs to find who they should marry. He still leads us to find our godly partners today.
Culture plays a big role in arranging marriages for several centuries, but in this present time, the internet, travel and media has changed the way singles find their spouse. Singles do not rely on their parents to find their partner for them anymore. The burgeoning social media apps has made it easy to find a stranger, start conversations, turn into an online relationship, meet personally, and presto, a romantic connection happens. This quick way to find a new relationship with the opposite gender typically absconds from the long process of prayer and seeking God’s guidance in finding His will for our life partner. The absence of God’s leading and parental blessings in matrimonies often causes weak marriages that end up in impulsive divorces.
The bible reminds us that Christians should not conform to the pattern of this world: cultures, customs and trends (Romans 12:1). Whether it is in normal everyday life or in view of finding a spouse, true Christians should not follow what the world accepts that does not glorify God. In Romans 12:2, a renewed mind that is transformed by God is able to learn to know God’s good, pleasing and perfect will for them.
God allowed the love story of Isaac and Rebekah to be preserved and recorded in Genesis 24 for us to learn how God willingly guided the two singles to find their match. In verses 3 and 4 (Genesis 24:3-4), Abraham asked his chief servant to swear an oath that he will not get a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac from among the Canaanite women but only from his own country and relatives. Abraham has set a standard for Isaac’s future spouse that is aligned with the plan of God to preserve a nation that worships Yahweh alone and does not practice wickedness like Canaanites do. What Abraham did to secure a godly spouse for Isaac is an indication of Abraham’s loyalty to Yahweh and he is ensuring that his faith is passed on to the future generations.
Not all of us have a father like Abraham that is so wealthy, he can command his servant to find us a godly spouse. Reality is, most of the parents also did not ask God’s guidance for finding their spouse.
Singles should ask God to guide them particularly how to find the right partner.
The chief servant asked Abraham (Genesis 24:5) what if the woman is not willing to return with him, should he take Isaac to Abraham’s country? Abraham strongly rebuked the servant to never return Isaac to his home country. He recalled God’s oath to him that God will give the land of Canaan to his offspring (Gen. 24:7). Abraham firmly affirmed the servant that God will send His angel to go before him to accomplish his task of finding Isaac a wife.
Abraham had experienced God providing for him before when he was tested by God to offer his son Isaac. Remember in Genesis 22:8-13 how God provided a lamb for burnt offering instead of Isaac and then how God promised His blessings to Abraham and his offspring because of his obedience (Gen. 24:15-18).
God honored Abraham’s willingness to follow His standards for a godly woman, his faith in the provision of God and his intimacy with God by his obedience. We singles ought to learn from what Abraham did. Are we setting God’s standard when we look for a spouse? Do we rely on our physical attributes, family status or connections to find our partner? Do we have a record of walking in obedience with God? Let us examine ourselves where we are in this matter.
Exercising godly wisdom and prayer are the keys to finding God’s will.
Before the journey begun, the chief servant prepared gifts from Abraham and headed to the town of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. With wisdom, he set out to wait near the well at the right time, which is towards evening, for the women go out to draw water at that time. He prayed for God to give him success and show his unfailing love to his master Abraham (Genesis 24:12). The servant allowed God to take part in his quest to find Isaac a wife. He later requested God to confirm his choice through an observation how the girl should show kindness to a stranger like him (Genesis 24:14). Ladies have to remember to behave with kindness and modesty. Someone might be observing your behavior to confirm that you are the right spouse for them.
God ordained the circumstances that confirmed the servant’s prayer and request. Genesis 24:15-21 tells that Rebekah showed up, entertained the servant and showed kindness by giving him water and also his camels. The servant glorified God for his loving kindness and faithfulness to his master Abraham. Proverbs 18:22 tells us that finding a wife is like finding a treasure and receiving favor from God.
God’s favor was upon Abraham and the chief servant as they looked for Isaac’s wife. Both Rebekah’s father Bethuel and her brother Laban recognized that the servant found Rebekah through God’s leading (Genesis 24:50-51). Rebekah’s marriage life was blessed by her family.
Through God’s guidance and confirmation, the servant has found the right woman for Isaac. God faithfully provided a woman named Rebekah that is willing to go right away with the servant to Abraham’s place (Genesis 24:58). Remember Genesis 24:5-7, Abraham did not doubt God’s provision. On the other hand, Rebekah was sure that who she will marry is from God. She veiled herself (Gen. 24:65) before meeting her future husband and before their wedding day signifying her decision to be Isaac’s bride.
Isaac was meditating (praying, AMP) in the fields (Genesis 24:63) before he saw the camel approaching with Rebekah on board. It is a picture of Isaac’s devotion to God even before he got married. Will God also find you devoted to Him in your singleness?
Isaac and Rebekah’s love story is the longest chapter in the book of Genesis having 67 verses. God intervened in their life and blessed them to find each other through Abraham’s faithful servant. The chief servant testified to Rebekah’s family and then to Isaac how God has led him to find Rebekah and to recognize that she is God’s will for Isaac to marry. We could learn from this Biblical account that God faithfully guides singles who pray to Him to be involved in choosing their godly spouse.
