We will be looking at the story of Abraham choosing a mate for his son Isaac, focusing on Genesis 24. As we begin reading this chapter, we see that Abraham made an unusual request of his servant:
1Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. 2He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
Why do you suppose Abraham did not want his servant to choose a wife from among the people of Canaan where his family were living? I’m sure that there were many young women there who were beautiful and would make good wives. Instead, Abraham sent his servant back to his homeland, where his relatives lived. Do you think Abraham was a racist and that he thought only his people were good enough for his son Isaac?
Abraham had been living among the Canaanites for many years, and I’m sure he had good relations with them. However, there was one problem with these people: they were not believers in Jehovah God; they worshipped and served false gods and idols. Abraham did not want his son to marry a woman who was not a worshipper of the one true God. Therefore, he sent his servant back to his homeland, where he knew that they had the same kind of faith that he did.
When young people begin looking for a lifetime mate, it is very important that they look for a believer, one who will help them develop their faith in God, not someone who will tempt them to follow other gods. It is not a good thing for a couple to be divided spiritually. They should be able to work together to develop their faith and spiritual ministry and to teach their children in unity.
In 2 Corinthians 6:14, we read, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” Marrying someone of a different faith, or of no faith, would be considered “unequally yoked”.