There was a time when people married their cousins. Now it is generally frowned upon because it can trigger illness and disability. But once upon a time, people were not so numerous and neighbourhoods were underpopulated.
Traditionally, European monarchs married one another for peace and alliance purposes.
In early Biblical times, there was marriage between those with close family ties. Abram and Nahor were brothers, One day two of their offspring would marry one another. Abraham kept the future promise from the LORD GOD ‘all in the family’.
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 22:20-24
“Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.”
I am sure that there is a tremendous amount of information packed into these few verses. All the names included in this historic book of Genesis is amazing. What stands out most to me though, is the name Rebekah, because it is Rebekah who becomes Isaac’s wife.
This means that Isaac married his first cousin, once removed — because Abraham was so old before Isaac was born that Rebekah is the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
Cousins marrying
Centuries before the Hebrews left Egypt, centuries before the nation of Israel was born, there was no Law. It was through Moses that the Law would eventually be introduced, and included in the Pentateuch are the marriage laws (Leviticus 18). First cousins are not listed as taboo but that will eventually become practice too.
Things were different at the time when Abraham was promised the birth of a nation through him. In the fullness of time, Abraham wanted his son to marry wisely. He appears to have set up a relationship to keep the blood line in tact.
Why is this marriage significant
Isaac was a content sort of person. It wasn’t until his mother died and about 40 years old, that he was lonely. His father arranged his marriage (Genesis 24) and Isaac accepted the choice that was made.
Abraham fathered Isaac and Isaac fathered Jacob; and out of Jacob came the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel, without which there would be no Israel.
Rebekah was clever
It was because of Rebekah’s quick thinking that Jacob was blessed according to GOD’s will… and the inheritance passed from Isaac to Jacob (rather than the elder Esau*) according to GOD’s will.
Whether Rebekah was acting on GOD’s leading or simply favouring her younger son, we know that Jacob was favoured over Esau, much the way GOD favoured Abel’s offering over Cain’s.
And so, Abraham would become, through his offspring Isaac and Jacob, the Father of many nations, just as the LORD had promised him many years before.
Abraham’s plan to find a wife for Isaac brought closer the birth of a nation and the fulfilment of GOD’s promise to — and through — his chosen: Abraham.
* Did GOD favour Jacob because he pushed out his wrist in the birth process so he would be first? Or was it righteous that he be considered first? Or did GOD prefer the younger son over the elder?