And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
Abraham was old and expecting soon to die, while Isaac was still unmarried, and he was anxious to have a wife selected for him. He commanded his servant not to take Isaac back to the country he had left, but to leave Isaac in Canaan, the promised land where he lived. Isaac was not to be taken to Mesopotamia to find a wife, nor taken away from the land where he lived.
The prohibition protected Isaac from the idolatry prevalent in that country, where nearly all the people were affected, and from its corrupting influence surrounding him. The wife for Isaac was to be sought from Abraham's kindred who believed in and worshiped the true God, rather than from the idolatrous Canaanites, so that she would not lead him away from God. The bride herself had to be willing to leave her family and kindred and come to where Isaac was, while Isaac remained in the land God had promised. If no suitable woman was willing to come, the servant would be released and clear from his oath.
The charge was given to the faithful servant who ruled over all Abraham had, under a solemn oath before the Lord, to go and select the wife and bring her. This important matter was not left for Isaac to decide for himself independent of his father, and God would send His angel before the servant to direct his choice. Abraham's course in arranging the marriage illustrates parental responsibility to teach children to respect parental authority and to guide their affections toward companions judged suitable. Isaac accepted and submitted to his father's arrangement and judgment and to the choice made through the God-fearing servant, trusting God to guide in obtaining a wife, as an example for children who fear God of respect for parental guidance in choosing a marriage partner.
Abraham was old and expecting soon to die, while Isaac was still unmarried, and he was anxious to have a wife selected for him. He commanded his servant not to take Isaac back to the country he had left, but to leave Isaac in Canaan, the promised land where he lived. Isaac was not to be taken to Mesopotamia to find a wife, nor taken away from the land where he lived.
The prohibition protected Isaac from the idolatry prevalent in that country, where nearly all the people were affected, and from its corrupting influence surrounding him. The wife for Isaac was to be sought from Abraham's kindred who believed in and worshiped the true God, rather than from the idolatrous Canaanites, so that she would not lead him away from God. The bride herself had to be willing to leave her family and kindred and come to where Isaac was, while Isaac remained in the land God had promised. If no suitable woman was willing to come, the servant would be released and clear from his oath.
The charge was given to the faithful servant who ruled over all Abraham had, under a solemn oath before the Lord, to go and select the wife and bring her. This important matter was not left for Isaac to decide for himself independent of his father, and God would send His angel before the servant to direct his choice. Abraham's course in arranging the marriage illustrates parental responsibility to teach children to respect parental authority and to guide their affections toward companions judged suitable. Isaac accepted and submitted to his father's arrangement and judgment and to the choice made through the God-fearing servant, trusting God to guide in obtaining a wife, as an example for children who fear God of respect for parental guidance in choosing a marriage partner.