God Will Provide a Wife for Isaac

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

God Will Provide a Wife for Isaac

Date: Mar. 14, 2025

Passage

Genesis 24:1-9 (ESV)

1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 24:7

The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

After a life full of blessing, Abraham focuses his attention on Isaac, who is at least thirty-seven (17:17; 23:1) yet still unmarried, likely due to his mom’s death (24:67). Being too old to journey back to his brother Nahor’s family, Abraham charges his servant under oath to get a wife for his son. The servant realizes the difficulty of the task, “What if she is unwilling to come?” Abraham’s focus is “Do not bring him back there!” Instead, holding again to God’s promise and faithfulness, Abraham puts his trust in God who will provide a way to bring a wife.

Abraham’s assigned task from God was to teach his children the way of the LORD (18:19), and this included marriage. We too pray for our own marriages, those of our children and grandchildren – that we may see God’s vision to lavish love on a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his covenant. Let’s pray and trust God.

Additionally, we see the trusting friendship between Abraham and his servant. He shared his heart, the servant responded with concerns, and this sensitive and intimate matter was discussed frankly. The servant pledges himself to it. Do we have such people in our community? Are we such people? Our future depends on this.

Prayer: Father, we cry out to you to provide for faithful and holy families to be established, particularly among the coming generations.

One Word: Trust God and marry by faith

The Lord Will Not Relent

Amos 2:1-16

Key Verse: 2:6

Judgment on Israel

Thus says the LORD:

  “For three transgressions of Israel,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
  because they sell the righteous for silver,
    and the needy for a pair of sandals—

Today's Question

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first disobedience?

See answer and references