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Choosing a Wife, February 20
Genesis 24
Thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites,
among whom I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my
kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
Genesis 24:3, 4
.
Abraham’s habitual faith in God and submission to His will were reflected in
the character of Isaac; but the young man’s affections were strong, and he was
gentle and yielding in disposition. If united with one who did not fear God, he
would be in danger of sacrificing principle for the sake of harmony. In the mind
of Abraham, the choice of a wife for his son was a matter of grave importance;
he was anxious to have him marry one who would not lead him from God....
Abraham had marked the result of the intermarriage of those who feared
God and those who feared Him not, from the days of Cain to his own time. The
consequences of his own marriage with Hagar, and of the marriage connections
of Ishmael and Lot, were before him. The lack of faith on the part of Abraham
and Sarah had resulted in the birth of Ishmael, the mingling of the righteous seed
with the ungodly. The father’s influence upon his son was counteracted by that
of the mother’s idolatrous kindred and by Ishmael’s connection with heathen
wives....
The wife of Lot was a selfish, irreligious woman, and her influence was
exerted to separate her husband from Abraham. But for her, Lot would not have
remained in Sodom, deprived of the counsel of the wise, God-fearing patriarch....
No one who fears God can without danger connect himself with one who
fears Him not. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (
Amos 3:3
). The
happiness and prosperity of the marriage relation depends upon the unity of the
parties; but between the believer and the unbeliever there is a radical difference
of tastes, inclinations, and purposes. They are serving two masters, between
whom there can be no concord. However pure and correct one’s principles may
be, the influence of an unbelieving companion will have a tendency to lead away
from God.... The Lord’s direction is, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers” (
2 Corinthians 6:14, 17, 18
)
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Patriarchs and Prophets, 171-175
.
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