The Marriage And Family Of Heavenward Believers

Genesis 24:1-7; Deuteronomy 7:3-4: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Genesis 24:1-7

– 1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

– 2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

– 3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

– 4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

– 5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

– 6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

– 7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

INTRODUCTION

Tonight, we are taking on THE MARRIAGE AND FAMILY OF HEAVENWARD BELIEVERS.

Genesis 24:1. The Lord blessed Abraham in all things and yet, He will not forsake God. He didn’t live a self-centred life but still depended on God in every thing. He made all members of his household to know and fear the Lord. So, he called the eldest of his servants and made him swear that he would not choose a wife for his son, Isaac among the ungodly.

There are principles we are going to learn from, principles are different from practices. We cannot do some things that was done then – marrying from our tribe, telling our servants to…

We are dwelling on principles that have been attested to in the new testament. Isaac and Rebecca did not have the Bible in their own time to read for guidance. We cannot even be talking about giving her gifts like jewellery or nose-rings because they didn’t have the Scripture speaking against such.

1. FAITH FOUNDATION FOR A FAVOURED FAMILY (Genesis 24:7)
2. Abraham’s Faith for Isaac’s Bride (Genesis 24:7,40; Romans 4:20-21)

Abraham had to have faith for Isaac’s bride.

Genesis 24:40. The servant retold the story as he prayed for guidance.

Now, isaac had grown and is 40 but Abraham still had faith for him.

2. The Servant’s Faith with Intercessory Breakthrough (Genesis 24:12–21,27-48; James 1:5–8)

Here was the first time to do something like this. It was necessary to be careful because Isaac was a son of promise.

The servant prayed for help and was led to the house of his master’s people because he was in the right way.

vs 48. He bowed his head and worshipped God the same way Abraham did it. We must introduce Christ to our domestic helps.

James 1:5. If you lack wisdom, revelation, assurance, direction, direction and stability, ask from God who will give you liberally.

3. Rebekah’s Faith for Inherited Benefits (Genesis 24:23–26,50-51,58; 1 Peter 1:8-9)

Look at the young bride who was cling…

Rebecca was not under pressure to marry. As at the morning of that day, she was not aware of her hands being asked for in marriage. The servant asked her if there was space in her father’s house, she answered well. We can see that she was well brought up. When she was asked if she would go with the servant, she, by faith said Yes. This is the faith that takes steps on things that are in the future. She didn’t know how rich and generous Isaac was, yet, she went to him.

4. Isaac’s Faith for an Immediate Betrothal (Genesis 24:62–67; Hebrews 11:8,27

Isaac believed that the journey of Eliezer would turn out well. He didn’t even think about what he would not like about Rebecca. He was in the field in the evening meditating in a positive way. How do you meditate? Do you focus on positive or negative things?

As soon as Rebecca saw Isaac, she got down from the camel, and Isaac brought her into her mother’s house and loved her. He did everything in faith, he didn’t hold back, he did not hide anything from her. He didn’t compare her to his mother, neither did he condemn her as not anywhere near his mother. It was like Abraham left his people and land of nativity to follow the voice of God, going to a place he did not know. Isaac also believed and followed God’s directions as regards his marriage.

1. FRUITFUL FELLOWSHIP IN A FAITHFUL FAMILY (Genesis 24:67; 25:20-21,26b)

Both Isaac and Rebecca brought many blessings to the family which God created for them.

ISAAC in the Family

#I ~ Industriousness for an Adequate Provision (Genesis 26:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:8)

Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.