Genesis 24:8
And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
Abraham put his faithful and experienced servant, who ruled over all that he had, under a solemn oath before the Lord not to take a wife for Isaac from the Canaanites but to go to his own kindred. The Canaanites were idolaters, and marriage with them would lead into idolatry, while his kindred believed in the true God. If no woman from Abraham's kindred, Nahor's family, even the particular woman chosen for Isaac, was willing to leave her home, family and kindred and follow the servant to where Isaac was in Abraham's land, the servant was to be free from the oath. Even then Isaac himself was never to be taken back to Abraham's homeland, former country, the land Abraham had left. That ban protected Isaac from being led away from God, since nearly all in that country were affected with idolatry.
The choice of a wife was not left to Isaac to make independently of his father, and Abraham assured the servant that God would send His angel ahead to direct the choice. Abraham acted so because he was old and expected soon to die, feared the corrupting influence surrounding his son, and wanted a wife who would not lead Isaac from God. Abraham's direction of the marriage shows his training of Isaac to love a life of noble obedience. It provides a model for parents to command their households after them, teach children to yield to and respect authority, and take responsibility to guide their affections toward persons judged suitable companions. This rebukes the idea that youthful affections should not be guided or restrained, especially since Satan controls the affections of the young to a great extent.
Isaac's part was submitting to his father's judgment and plan through his experienced, God-fearing servant and trusting God to direct the choice. That submission reflects his training in loving obedience and stands as an example for children who profess to fear God. Such parental guidance, when exercised in love rather than selfish or arbitrary control, serves the child's welfare.