And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Abraham is presented as old and well advanced in age, very old, and the Lord had blessed him in all things and in every respect and in every way. The verse introduces and sets the scene for the account of Abraham arranging a wife for Isaac, belonging to and recorded in Genesis 24:1-67 as the record of Isaac's marriage and Abraham's search. Because he was advanced in age and expected soon to die, while Isaac was still unmarried, he urgently concerned himself with arranging Isaac's marriage.
In arranging the marriage he sought a God-fearing wife who would not turn Isaac toward idolatry, with confidence that God would guide and direct the choice. His course in raising and educating Isaac had trained him to obey God and to love a life of noble obedience. At forty years old, Isaac willingly submitted to his father's judgment, letting his father's God-fearing and experienced servant choose a wife for him, trusting God to direct the matter and the choice.
Isaac trusted his father's guidance and believed God would direct the choice of his wife. Abraham's authority in the matter and Isaac's willingness to follow his father's judgment belonged to a marriage that brought lasting happiness, showing parental guidance in marriage to be care for a child's welfare. The example places responsibility on parents to guide their children's affections and direct them toward suitable marriage companions, and it rebukes parents who leave young people's affections unguided.
Isaac's example is presented to young people and children who profess to fear God, teaching them to seek divine guidance, to trust and respect their parents' judgment in marriage, and to let God direct the choice.
Abraham is presented as old and well advanced in age, very old, and the Lord had blessed him in all things and in every respect and in every way. The verse introduces and sets the scene for the account of Abraham arranging a wife for Isaac, belonging to and recorded in Genesis 24:1-67 as the record of Isaac's marriage and Abraham's search. Because he was advanced in age and expected soon to die, while Isaac was still unmarried, he urgently concerned himself with arranging Isaac's marriage.
In arranging the marriage he sought a God-fearing wife who would not turn Isaac toward idolatry, with confidence that God would guide and direct the choice. His course in raising and educating Isaac had trained him to obey God and to love a life of noble obedience. At forty years old, Isaac willingly submitted to his father's judgment, letting his father's God-fearing and experienced servant choose a wife for him, trusting God to direct the matter and the choice.
Isaac trusted his father's guidance and believed God would direct the choice of his wife. Abraham's authority in the matter and Isaac's willingness to follow his father's judgment belonged to a marriage that brought lasting happiness, showing parental guidance in marriage to be care for a child's welfare. The example places responsibility on parents to guide their children's affections and direct them toward suitable marriage companions, and it rebukes parents who leave young people's affections unguided.
Isaac's example is presented to young people and children who profess to fear God, teaching them to seek divine guidance, to trust and respect their parents' judgment in marriage, and to let God direct the choice.