Finding A Wife For Isaac

Finding a Wife for Isaac

Q: How did Abraham find a wife for Isaac?

• a. He didn’t. Isaac found one himself.
• b. He sent his servant to his homeland to find a wife.
• c. He threw dice.

Isaac, the promised son, had grown up and was ready to be married. Marriage worked differently back then. Often marriages were arranged. When it was time for Isaac to get married, Abraham didn’t want him to marry a woman from Canaan, where they lived. The Canaanites didn’t believe in God, and Abraham wanted Isaac to have a wife who shared his faith.

Abraham sent his trusted servant, Eliezer, back to Abraham’s homeland to find a bride for Isaac. This was a big responsibility for Eliezer, so he asked God for help: “This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”

Before Eliezer had even finished praying, Rebekah arrived at the well with her jug. She not only gave the servant water to drink, but she gave his camels water to drink too. A marriage was arranged, and Rebekah traveled with the servant back to Canaan.

One day Rebekah was getting water from the well for her family, and the next she was on her way to a new land to marry Isaac. God knew she would be the perfect wife for Isaac.

God’s plans are always best because he knows each of us and what we are capable of. He works things out to bring the right people together to accomplish the plans he has.

For You

God knows what your future holds. You might make your own plans, but he already has the perfect plan worked out for you. Be open to his leading so you don’t miss the adventure.

Answer: b

[Abraham said to his servant,] “Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”   Genesis 24:3-4

(The Whole Story: Genesis 24)