Article July 10, 1965 Issue

Basis for a Happy Marriage

RUSSELL D. ROBINSON

The twenty–fourth chapter of Genesis records the beautiful story of Abraham's seeking a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham sent his servant on the long journey back to his own people in the neighborhood of Haran with the promise, "The Lord God ... shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence."

The servant approached his mission prayerfully. When Rebekah was revealed to him as the right choice, he "bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord." After arrangements had been made with her brother and father according to the custom of the time, Rebekah went off to a strange new land to meet the man she was to marry. And the story concludes, "Isaac ... took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her."

While the Eastern customs described in the story are quite different from those prevailing in the West today, there is much to be learned from this account. Abraham recognized that a happy marriage should be based on similar tastes, backgrounds, interests, motives, aspirations. His servant prayed to be led to select the right wife for his master's son. When Rebekah brought water for his camels, although he had asked her only for a drink for himself, his heart was filled with gratitude to God for her thoughtfulness.

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