Lesson 9 – Isaac and Rebekah

God works his plan of salvation through the lives of Isaac and Rebekah. God’s plan for our salvation is fulfilled through Jesus, their descent.

Opening

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

This lesson will use the Bible. Also paper and pencil will be needed.

Today, we find out how Isaac found a wife. It may be different than any other couple you know.

Watch the video, "That's Amore" about a couple married for nearly fifty years.

Qualities mentioned in the video include liking each other; saying"I love you”;  appreciating  each other; serving each other in love (doing everything to make each other  happy, such as getting the car while she waits and sharing chores); loving, trusting,  and respecting each other; even fighting (knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses but working together); sharing a sense of humor; laughing together; putting God in your marriage; communicating with each other; making each other a priority and spending time together; being best friends; and showing affection.

Prayer:  Lord God, help us to find mates who love You and share our faith. Help us always to make wise decisions that honor You and show self-respect. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God Speaks

In Bible times, as in some cultures today, parents chose spouses for their children. Today's lesson shows a similar plan with all the parts of a modern romance, but in slightly different order.

Abraham was 140 years old, and lsaac was 40 (Genesis 25:20).

What concerns do you think Abraham had at this point in his life? Probably his death or wealth distribution.

Read Genesis 24:1-9

What was Abraham concerned about? What did he do about it? Abraham was concerned about getting a wife for Isaac from his own people. He did not want his son to marry a Canaanite. He called his oldest servant to help him find a suitable wife. He made the servant swear not to let Isaac marry a Canaanite, but to go back to his home country and kin to find a suitable mate.

The servant was probably Eliezer, the person Abraham talked to God about leaving his wealth to before Isaacs birth (Genesis 15:2), but his name is not mentioned here.

What did Abraham say his servant could not do? He could not choose a Canaanite wife for Isaac, but rather from his country and kin. He could not take Isaac away; if the woman wouldn't come, the oath was void.

Why do you think Abraham didn't want Isaac to marry a local Canaanite? Abraham had lived among these people for sixty-five years and may have had many reasons. First and foremost, the Canaanites worshiped idols, not the true God. This disparity would make a divided and corrosive marriage.

Abraham's people descended from Noah's son Shem. Noah blessed Shem, but cursed Canaan, his grandson from son Ham. Abraham may not have wanted to be connected to the Canaanite family (Genesis 9:18, 25).

Follow the directions on the Student Page at the end of the lesson.

SECTION ONE

Read Genesis 24:10-14

What did the servant take to Nahor, a city named after Abraham's brother? Ten camels and choice gifts, most likely for the bride and her family

What did the servant ask the Lord to do? Grant him success and show steadfast love to Abraham by showing him Isaac’s wife by having her give him a drink and offer to water his camels as well

Read Genesis 24:15-21

Rebekah did exactly what the servant asked God to do as a sign. Camels can drink as much as twenty gallons of water at a time, so watering ten of them would take some time.  What did her willingness to help a stranger indicate? She was hospitable, kind, strong, healthy, hardworking, not shy, and able to meet new people, all positive attributes in a friend and also a spouse.  She was friendly, kind, not afraid of working, and helpful.

Read Genesis 24: 22-28

Why did the servant give Rebekah gifts? See also verse 47. In verse 47, the servant said he gave Rebekah the jewelry after she revealed whose family she belonged to. The nose ring and bracelets thanked Rebekah for her help, honored her, and showed his master's wealth.

 What questions did the servant ask Rebekah? Why were they important? Asking about her family told the servant if she was related to Abraham: this was important because he was to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham's kin. Asking to stay at her father's home filled a need but also gave the servant the opportunity to ask her father for permission for her to marry lsaac.

SECTION TWO

 Read Genesis 24:29-32

Why did Rebekah's brother Laban go out to meet the man? Laban saw the expensive jewelry, heard the story, and ran to find out more. He may have been curious or excited about the riches and opportunity to meet a connection to his uncle Abraham. He affirmed the invitation to stay at their home.

How did Laban and his household welcome the servant and his company? They took care of the camels and fed the servant and men with him.

Read Genesis 24:33-53

The servant refused to eat until he told Rebekah's family his story.  What stands out to you about his story? In whom did he place his trust? The servant trusted the Lord God.

 

Put the servant's question in verse 49 in your own words. It should include something about asking if Rebekah could marry lsaac.

How did Rebekah's father Bethuel (Nahor's son) and brother Laban respond? Seemingly impressed, they acknowledged the Lord's work and would not speak bad or good about it. They agreed that the servant could take Rebekah to become lsaac's wife.

What did the servant do when the family said Rebekah could marry Isaac? He bowed to the Lord in respect and thanks for the Lord's guidance and help. He also gave gold and silver jewelry and clothing to Rebekah and other gifts to her mother and brother. Although it is not stated here, custom dictated that a bride price be paid as a sign of the covenant, reimbursement for losing the daughter as a worker, and as prepaid alimony in case the husband left his wife. The servant gave Rebekah's mother and brother "costly ornaments”.

 SECTION THREE

 Read Genesis: 54-61

Rebekah's family acknowledged the Lord's guidance of the servant's mission and gave permission for her to marry Isaac. What happened in the morning? The servant wanted to leave with Rebekah, but the mother and brother asked that they stay at least ten days. The servant persisted and they called Rebekah, who agreed to go immediately.

Whom did Rebekah take with her? Also see Genesis 35:8. She took along her nurse, Deborah, who had raised her from birth, and other young women, probably servants.

Read Genesis 24:62-67

When Rebekah left, she probably never saw her family again. What do you think convinced her to marry Isaac? She probably had mixed motivations.  Surely, the Lord guided her decision. The circumstances likely impressed her as she saw God at work. She also may have liked the gifts and sense of adventure.

What do you think Isaac meditated about? He probably prayed or pondered God's promises, wondering if He would fulfill them by finding him a wife.

What did Rebekah do when she realized the man walking toward them was Isaac? Why? She covered herself with her veil, as sign of respect, humility, and modesty. We dress up to honor special people and situations. She wanted to put her best foot forward when she met her groom.

What was the meaning of bringing Rebekah into Sarah's tent? Since Sarah had died, Rebekah took over Sarah's duties and responsibilities and became the matriarch. She also provided emotional support for the family, comforting Isaac in his grief for his dead mother. This is another reason to marry a spouse who shares our Christian faith, values, and expectations.

Although this marriage was arranged, what was the outcome? Isaac loved her. They bonded as husband and wife.

Look at Family Relations chart on the Student Page chart.

How were Rebekah and Isaac related? Rebekah was Abraham's great-niece, granddaughter of his brother Nahor. This made her Isaac’s second cousin.

Haran, father of Abraham's nephew Lot, died before they left Ur (Genesis 11:28).

We Live

The story of Isaac and Rebekah is a beautiful love story. Although our dating and marriage customs are different, we can learn some things about finding spouses from this story.

How was Isaac and Rebekah's relationship different from dating and marriages today? They did not meet beforehand. They did not choose each other; their families agreed to the union with God's blessing. They did not date, but immediately married. They did not have sexual relations before marriage.

What concerns you most about their love story? Most people object to anyone, especially their families, deciding whom they should marry. The world has convinced people that couples need to ensure compatibility before marrying, including sexual intimacy. Therefore, the world accepts sex before marriage, living together and informal relationships.

Some people marry with divorce as an option if things don't work out. Many break up when they run into conflicts or become attracted to other people.

Many young people have experienced divorce in their families and want to do whatever they can to avoid it. Divorce maybe a sin, but it is one among many. Jesus said one who divorces for any reason except sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery (Matthew 19:3-9).

In Bible times, a man could divorce his wife for any reason by setting her property outside the door. She had no recourse, alimony, or claim to household belongings. Jesus said this was wrong.

Jesus said Moses allowed divorce because of the people's hardness of hearts. He quoted Genesis 2:24, "A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

Divorce breaks vows made before God and causes pain in many lives, not just the couple. Adultery, mental and physical abuse, cruelty, and abandonment are also sins. Sometimes the best solution is to leave a hostile, violent setting. This should never happen thoughtlessly, but a couple should seek counseling and reconciliation, if possible.

Always, God forgives our sins in Christ Jesus, who wholly committed His life to save ours, suffered and died on the cross to pay for our sins, and rose from the dead to give us a new life, now and forever.

What did Abraham consider most important in a spouse for Isaac? Someone who worshiped the true and living Lord.

Does the Lord want the same for us? Of course God wants us to have the best, including the blessings of a Christian marriage, built on a foundation of love for God and each other.

What advantages do you think a marriage has when both people believe in Jesus? Life decisions challenge our values and beliefs. Christian values are different from those held by nonbelievers and affect what we do with free time, how we raise children, how we spend money, and where we live.

God blesses couples who believe in Him, pray together, and seek God's will for their lives. Worshiping and growing in the grace and wisdom of God increases commitment and strengthens a marriage for good days and troubled times.

Closing

In the Lord's Prayer, we pray "give us this day our daily bread." Luther said that this asks God for everything to support and help our bodies, including a devout husband or wife, children, and good friends.

Close by saying the Lord's Prayer.