Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
The verse belongs to the account of finding a wife for Isaac, in which Abraham entrusted the choice to his faithful, experienced, God-fearing servant Eliezer. The servant was to seek a woman from Nahor's family who would be willing to leave her home and help maintain the worship of the true God, with trust that God would guide and prosper the mission.
It is the reply of Rebekah's family after the servant told his errand, his prayer at the well, and its answer with all the circumstances. Her father and brother and relatives recognized that the events at the well leading him to her had proceeded from and were directed by the Lord, so they could not speak against it. In the verse the family gives its consent to the marriage God had selected, giving Rebekah to Abraham's servant Eliezer to take and go with him to become Isaac's wife, as the Lord had spoken and directed. The verse thus presents Rebekah as accepted as the suitable wife for Abraham's son, in keeping with what the Lord had spoken.
Isaac trusted that God would direct the choice of his wife and submitted to his father's judgment, accepting his father's servant choosing for him, a deference grown from training in loving obedience. His example of trusting God's direction and honoring family guidance is held up for children who profess to fear God to follow. The resulting marriage is presented as tender and happy, in which he loved Rebekah and was comforted after his mother's death.
Abraham's arranging of the marriage teaches that parents have a duty and authority to guide their children's affections toward companions their own judgment finds suitable and to train them in obedient respect for parental authority. The account teaches that young people should seek God's guidance and the counsel of parents and experienced people before marriage.
The verse belongs to the account of finding a wife for Isaac, in which Abraham entrusted the choice to his faithful, experienced, God-fearing servant Eliezer. The servant was to seek a woman from Nahor's family who would be willing to leave her home and help maintain the worship of the true God, with trust that God would guide and prosper the mission.
It is the reply of Rebekah's family after the servant told his errand, his prayer at the well, and its answer with all the circumstances. Her father and brother and relatives recognized that the events at the well leading him to her had proceeded from and were directed by the Lord, so they could not speak against it. In the verse the family gives its consent to the marriage God had selected, giving Rebekah to Abraham's servant Eliezer to take and go with him to become Isaac's wife, as the Lord had spoken and directed. The verse thus presents Rebekah as accepted as the suitable wife for Abraham's son, in keeping with what the Lord had spoken.
Isaac trusted that God would direct the choice of his wife and submitted to his father's judgment, accepting his father's servant choosing for him, a deference grown from training in loving obedience. His example of trusting God's direction and honoring family guidance is held up for children who profess to fear God to follow. The resulting marriage is presented as tender and happy, in which he loved Rebekah and was comforted after his mother's death.
Abraham's arranging of the marriage teaches that parents have a duty and authority to guide their children's affections toward companions their own judgment finds suitable and to train them in obedient respect for parental authority. The account teaches that young people should seek God's guidance and the counsel of parents and experienced people before marriage.