The main content of this chapter is the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, but this history has several stages. Abraham had become old, as it is written, "well stricken in age," or "gone into days." In those years he experienced much. The Lord had blessed him in many ways, in his spiritual life as well as in his temporal life, although he had also experienced trials, as does everyone on this earth, as a consequence of sin. When we look back in the life of Abraham, then we think how much he had left behind when the call of the Lord came to him to leave Haran. At that moment he might realize that the Lord had fulfilled all His promises and had not forsaken him. He had not only been blessed in his business, but he had received the only comfort in life and death. This is incomparable to anything else. Although he had become old, he was yet clear of mind, and he thought of the welfare of his seed. It is a blessing to have such a father, who is concerned about his children and grandchil­dren. Is it the same in our life, parents and grandparents?

In the first part of this history Abraham spoke with his servant, who could have been Eliezer, a name which means "my God is help." Those are the best servants one can have – whose God is their help. To such a person one can entrust his business, as Abraham did. They will try to be faithful servants. Although they are also sinners and have their shortcomings, they are convinced that they have received their position from the Lord and one day will have to give an account of their stewardship. If employers and employees were more convinced that God must be our help, many problems of our days would be solved, since there would be a seeking of each other's welfare.

Abraham asked his servant to swear an oath to him that he would seek a fitting wife for Isaac. In the making of an oath, various means and formulas were adopted. The seriousness of the oath was empha­sized in the laws of Moses. Israel was forbidden to swear an oath by false gods. Ezekiel even speaks as if perjury were punishable by death, but in the law false swearing by a witness could be atoned for by a sin offering. When upon this earth, the Lord Jesus taught that the oath was binding, and we read that Paul also swore by an oath (2 Corinthians 1:23).

Abraham's servant was asked to swear an oath that he would seek a wife for Isaac from the family of Terah. She could not be a woman of the Canaanites, as they were cursed by the Lord because of their sins. The Lord had promised that He would give the land to Abraham's seed. For Abraham it was no longer possible that he himself go to Haran. He was old, about 140 years old, but he was also not allowed to return to the land of his nativity. Therefore he gave this commission to his most trustworthy servant, who was the first or the eldest of his servants. We can learn from this how well-trusted this man was.

We do not know whether this is the same servant as the one in Gen­esis 15:2 who is there called Eliezer. That occasion was before Abraham was eighty-five years old, which means about fifty-five years prior to this moment. So it is not certain that it was the same person, but we are inclined to think so. In this chapter his name is not mentioned, however, so we cannot be certain of it.

When Abraham forbade his servant to take a wife from the inhabitants of Canaan, he was acting according to the will of God. Later the Lord rebuked the children of Israel because of their mixed marriages. A Dutch saying expresses the danger of mixed marriages this way, "Where there are two beliefs on one pillow, there the devil lies between." The example of Ahab and Jezebel is well known to all of us. Even the God-fearing king Solomon fell into this trap. In general it seems to go well in such a marriage as long as both are indifferent about religion. But when one becomes more serious, or when the Lord gives grace to one of them, then all kinds of problems soon surface. We can also find many examples in the congregations, which serve as a warning for our young people, since many such marriages end in divorce.

In this history we see that father Abraham took the initiative for the marriage plans, which was according to the customs of those days, customs which are still maintained in the Orient in our times. In our society we see more and more that young people make all those decisions themselves. We do not believe it is right when young couples are the only ones who have a say in their marriage, even though they have a strong voice in it. The parents should also be consulted. It is a privilege when two young people are drawn to each other, but that is not enough as a ground for marriage.

Marriage is the beginning of a family, which is of the greatest importance for the future, both of society and of the church of God. For these reasons it is important that also the parents are consulted, as is written in the marriage form, "with knowledge and consent of parents, or guardians and friends." Therefore true love, consent of parents, and unity of faith are essential in order to begin on a good foundation with the help of God. For young and old it would be good to pay attention to Abraham's example, who sent his servant to look for a wife for Isaac. Some have felt that Abraham asked an oath of his servant because he took into account the possibility that he could die before the servant would return, and then Eliezer would take the place of the father. Then he would be bound to his oath.

We realize that the knowledge of God was not kept completely pure among the family in Haran, but it had not completely vanished, either. Why was Abraham so strict in not allowing Isaac to marry a daughter of the Canaanites? This would destroy one of the conditions which the Lord had placed upon Abraham – he had to remain a stranger in the land. He was to be separated from the inhabitants of the land (Genesis 17:8). As Abraham had been a stranger in the land, so Isaac and his descendants had to be. Today some parents do not go along with the world themselves, but they think it too hard to require the same of their own children. They permit them to set weaker rules than they set for themselves. Abraham knew very well that the way he had to go was also the way for Isaac.

The servant did not object to going, but he had one problem. It could be that the woman would not want to move to the land of Canaan. For a moment he forgot that God was his help and that the Lord could make all things well. Abraham forbade him to bring Isaac back to Haran, since the Lord had com­manded him to depart from that place and from his father's house. It is true that Abraham himself had trespassed against this commandment several times, such as when he went to Egypt or other places, but the Lord had brought him back as a sinner to the promised land. In the refusal to let Isaac return to Haran, we see the strength of Abraham's faith.

This faith is also evident when he spoke with certainty that the Lord would send His angel before him. This angel is the Son of God, who paves the way on which His church must walk, and who turns all things to their welfare. It was the same angel who spoke to Abraham the day before the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham told his servant that if the woman were not willing to come with him, then he would be free from his oath. At this moment this was necessary for the servant, because he did not have faith in exercise as Abraham did, who knew that the Lord would make it well.

So it is possible that one has faith for a certain matter while another does not have it. Some believe that the Lord will yet return in this century, while others of God's people do not have this faith. Or, when a person is concerned about his sins, it is possible that a friend believes it is God's work in his heart, but personally he does not have this comfort. He has so many sins and he has to appear before God. He feels unconverted.

After the words of Abraham, the servant was willing to swear an oath, calling upon the Name of the Lord. He laid his hand upon the thigh of his master, which is related to the promise that out of Abraham's loins the promised seed would come forth. The servant was ready to go to Haran. He took ten of his master's camels. Camels were indispensable in the desert because they could go without water for several days. He took ten camels, which means that he was well prepared, not only for his journey, but also to show the young woman he hoped to meet, and her family, that he did not represent a poor man, but a wealthy and powerful prince.

This is the first phase of the history which would lead to the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. The apostle Paul wrote about marriage in Ephesians 5:32, "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Thus marriage points to the unity between Christ and His church on earth. What was taking place in this history also takes place in spiritual life.

Father Abraham took care to seek a partner for Isaac. So the church was given to Christ by the Father in the Counsel of Peace; this truth goes through the Bible like a golden thread. Eliezer went to Haran, repre­senting Abraham and Isaac. In like manner the Holy Spirit goes out from God the Father and God the Son to bring the spouse, who was given to Christ from eternity and bought by Him on Golgotha. Where did Rebekah live? On the other side of the immeasurable desert, at a great distance. There she lived happily, and so it is with the church also by nature, when the Holy Ghost begins to reprove. One lives in the tents of vanity, in the midst of the world, and drinks in sin like water; another is full of self-willed religion; the third rests on his temporal faith, believing everything that is written in the Bible, but it is too short for eternity. We have to be born again, and this is the great work of the Holy Spirit.

Everyone is by nature dead in sins and trespasses, estranged from God by ignorance. The Holy Spirit finds them as enemies of God and Christ. Only because the work of the Holy Spirit is irresistible are they overcome and inclined to the service of the Lord. Have you already learned this, young people? It is grace alone, and therefore it is possible for the chief of sinners.

Eliezer took with him many gifts, which spoke of the riches of Abraham; these riches would be inherited by Isaac. So God's servants may speak of the fullness which is in Christ and in the service of the Lord. When that fountain is opened, then they do not have enough words to express the preciousness of the service of the Lord. At such moments they can fully understand what the spouse has said, "He is altogether lovely." We hope that the Lord will give the same to many of you in this year.

Questions⤒🔗

1. Try to find a few places in which scripture speaks about the seriousness off the oath.
2. What is perjury, and what is the punishment for this?
3. Mention different ways in which an oath was made in former days.
4. What is the method of oaths in our days? What is the sad develop­ment in our society with regard to the oath?
5. Where does the catechism speak of the oath? What does it? Give a short review of it.