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Isaac was the
quiet,
“mind-my-own-business-man”. Unless he was specifically motivated, he
found it
difficult to take action. On the other hand, Rebekah was a great
initiator, her
life was characterised by initiative. When she saw a need, she took
action even
though the action was not always right.
After the death
of Sarah, Abraham
through his eldest servant, Eliezer arranged the marriage of Isaac to
Rebekah,
his cousin. Isaac and Rebekah as a family inherited both the strengths
and
weaknesses of Abraham and Sarah.
First, Isaac
was a caring and
consistent husband like Abraham while Rebekah was a humble and loyal
wife like
Sarah. Isaac assumed the patriarchal position of his father while
Rebekah
became the real power that drove him just like Sarah happened to be the
motivator behind Abraham.
Second, the
family of Isaac and Rebekah
had delay before they have children. But then they remained together in
love
and patiently waited for God to answer them.
Third, Isaac
like Abraham told lie
under pressure and fear like his father Abraham. Ironically, he repeated
the
same lie of his father by calling Rebekah his sister because he felt he
would
be killed by those who might desire to marry her.
At last when
Isaac and Rebekah had
babies (twins), they played favouritism between them. Isaac loved Esau
because
he had a taste for wild game of Esau while Rebekah loved Jacob possibly
because
of God’s prediction about him or because Jacob always stayed with her in
the
tents. This caused rancour and rivalry between the children.
Whatever that
may be written about this
couple, it is evidenced that they remained together till death separated
them.
There is no second wife in the family. Even though Rebekah died first,
Isaac
did not pick another wife after her demise. This might be the result of
the
strong love and affection he has for her.
Lessons from Isaac and Rebekah
- Parents
should have interest in the type of
person their children proposed to marry. They should ensure that
their
children marry those that have the fear of God.
- Bachelors and spinsters
should respect the
godly counsels of their parents when planning for marriage.
- Husband should love his wife
and see her as a
source of comfort. It is written that Isaac loved Rebekah and he
was
comforted after his mother’s death.
- When a wife is delayed in
having children, her
husband should not neglect her and pick another wife or lash out at
her
with harsh words. Rather, he should pray to God on her behalf. It
was
after Isaac prayed to God for Rebekah that Rebekah conceived and
gave
birth to children. If your wife has problem to have children,
leaving her
alone to face the problem cannot solve the problem. You should
treat the
problem as ‘our problem’ and agree with her to pray to God for
solution.
- Parents should avoid playing
favouritism in
the home. Preferring one child over others creates problems in the
family.
- Wives should be careful in
the way they use
the power that God gave them. This power should be used in the fear
of God
and in the light of wife’s submission to her husband. It is against
the
plan of God for wife to dictate to her husband. Those who do it are
descendants of Jezebel.
- Spinsters should be
hardworking and be
concerned about the needs of other people. The way Rebekah received
Eliezer and her drive and ability to fetch water for ten thirsty
camels
set the stage for her marriage to Isaac.
- Every couple should probe
into the weaknesses
of their parents and pray them out of their own families.
- Parents should love their
children
unconditionally. Whatever they want to do for their children should
be
done unconditionally. Why should Isaac demand for Esau’s venison
before he
could confer the blessing of first born on him? This opened way for
Rebekah to scheme Esau out of the blessing due for him.
- Even though God permitted the
marriage between
Isaac and Rebekah (a near kin), it is now forbidden for anybody to
marry
his near kin (Lev. 18:6).
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