Isaac meets Rebekah — love at first sight?
When Rebekah heard she was wanted as a wife, she couldn’t leave for her new life fast enough. And when Isaac caught sight of her from a distance, his heart skipped a beat.
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 24:61-67
“Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.
“Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel; for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?”
“The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself.
“And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”
Isaac
Was Isaac a mamma’s boy? Perhaps. Certainly, we know he mourned his mother’s death.
Isaac was “meditating” when he first saw Rebekah. I wonder what was on his mind? His mother? Or perhaps the prospect of this new wife the servant had gone to find? But in any case, Isaac was a prayerful person.
He also wasn’t a particularly proactive person, from the story of his life as we know it. He was at least 14 when he father had him climb onto the altar and passively/obediently lie still while the knife was held above him.
So, seeing his son’s grief and knowing his personality, father Abraham arranges for a marriage “asap”.
Rebekah
We know from the earlier scriptures in Genesis 24 that Rebekah was given a choice: to linger with her brother (and perhaps Abraham’s servant would leave rather than wait) or go with the servant promptly. She chose to leave.
Was she a romantic? Or painfully unhappy in her present circumstances? Or perhaps she simply was pleased to marry and this was her first opportunity.
Isaac & Rebekah
As I read it, Isaac was smitten, Rebekah was modest, and gently, gently, Isaac took her into his mother’s tent and their relationship was consummated.
And that was that.
Why does GOD share this?
The LORD reveals his love for man and woman through the structure of marriage.
Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
GOD made woman so that man would not be alone (Genesis 1:18). In Isaac and Rebekah we see this plan demonstrated. Surely, to see his intention for man and woman honoured would have been to His pleasure.
Why this matters
In the relationship between Rebekah and her family, and Isaac’s demonstration of respect for the her, we see a woman honoured. This is a far cry from sexism and chauvinism seen globally and throughout history. What a pleasant breath of fresh air.
The Biblical story honours women time and again. This is just one example of it.