Introduction
As I stated at the start of this series, one of the things I want to do this month here on my blog is to share some very helpful words of wisdom on love, courtship and marriage.
My wife, @thelovejunkie, is a terrific love catalyst you should read after. I recommend you take the things I'll be sharing here about love everyday this month of February and study them along with the things she writes.
Expect this to be eye opening. I'll be as simple as possible and as direct as I should be.
Over the years you've heard and read a lot of things that really don't work. So, I'll endeavour not to bore you with stuff that can't hold water in the long run.
The Word of God is always dependable and I love the fact that it addresses every matter of interest you can think about.
Quick Recap
We've been looking at the story of how Isaac and Rebekah met and got married.
This story is out of Genesis 24 and we've said it's one of the most instructive stories found in the Bible about marrying.
We've shared a lot of interesting truths that aren't commonly emphasized today by many. You can go back and read up the first and second parts of this series if you haven't done so already.
What Kind of a Woman Did Abraham Want?
So, we saw how that Abraham's servant, Eleazar, got to the well and prayed to God, asking him to help him accomplish his mission with speed.
Here's his prayer
Genesis 24:10-14 (Living Bible)
10 He took with him ten of Abraham’s camels loaded with samples of the best of everything his master owned and journeyed to Iraq, to Nahor’s village.
11 There he made the camels kneel down outside the town, beside a spring. It was evening, and the women of the village were coming to draw water.
12 “O Jehovah, the God of my master,” he prayed, “show kindness to my master Abraham and help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey.
13 See, here I am, standing beside this spring, and the girls of the village are coming out to draw water.
14 This is my request: When I ask one of them for a drink and she says, ‘Yes, certainly, and I will water your camels too!’—let her be the one you have appointed as Isaac’s wife. That is how I will know.”
You need to realize that this servant was sent by Abraham because Abraham knew he was a man who had the same kind of judgment and reasoning that he (Abraham) had.
Abraham fully trusted the decisions and choices of this man that he'd choose a wife for his son Isaac just the same way he (Abraham) would choose. Abraham saw this servant of his as an able representative of his beliefs, values and principles.
Therefore, as you consider the way the man went about choosing a wife for Isaac, understand that this is exactly the same way Abraham would have done it. We can say this is how covenant people go about choosing who to marry.
This was the servant Abraham placed in charge of all he owned. He trusted this man. We can say that in forms of values and virtues, he had reproduced himself in this man.
The Attitude of Kindness
What type of a woman was this servant looking for? The servant was looking for a kind woman. It takes a kind hearted person to see someone by a well asking for water and then, lowering your water can to give them water to drink.
The servant prayed and asked God for a woman who would use her initiative to say she'd fetch water for his ten camels to drink after she had agreed to give him (the servant) water to drink.
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She could have said, "Sorry I'm in a hurry. Someone else will soon be here I'm sure they'll help you with some water to drink."
This is how many have handed their God given opportunities to others by failing to respond in kindness to those who God placed within their space.
When God gives you the opportunity to show kindness, it's because He wants to help you. Always see it that way.
Kindness is something that many take for granted these days. Many have forgotten that one good turn doesn't merely deserve another but one good turn actually receives another.
The Attitude of Servitude
The servant wanted a woman who would gladly serve. This was a very valid test he put out.
In Abraham's house Isaac's wife was going to be served by servants and she was going to be in charge of a lot of things. She would wield great power, therefore it was important to the servant that the right person was selected to fill that position of influence.
From this we can also see that a person who cannot serve is not fit to be served.
Eleazar wanted to test the lady's willingness to serve before he could recommend her to be the woman in charge of Abraham's house where she'd be served
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Many have to remember today that greatness begins from servitude. Jesus said the one who wants to be the greatest among all of you should be the servant of all of you (Mark 10:44).
You're only as great as you can serve. You're only fit to serve if you're humble enough to serve.
The Attitude of Sacrifice
I learnt some years ago that camels drink lots of water because they are animals that carry loads and can go for a very long time without drinking water. Therefore, whenever it's time for them to drink water they do drink a lot.
Eleazar arrived at the well with ten camels. He asked God for a woman who would give all the camels water to drink after agreeing to give him water to drink.
That is, he was asking for a woman who was ready to inconvenience herself to help others. If this woman could do this for a total stranger she'd do more for the husband she loves.
We need to practice selflessness. It takes being selfless to walk into all that God has planned for us. If Rebekah had her mind focused only on how to seek her own welfare, she would have missed her moment of destiny.
Selfish people cannot experience the glorious blessings God has for them. Christian ladies today should practice being selfless.
Eleazar was an Old Man
I want you told understand that Rebekah wasn't doing all of these things because she suspected they were looming for a wife. She had no clue what was playing behind the scenes.
In the New Testament God told us we shouldn't be people who do things out of eye service. That alone tells us that God doesn't pour His blessing on those who operate in eye service because He doesn't approve of such a way of life.
Eleazar was an Old Man. There were no young features in him. He was certainly not the kind of man Rebekah was hoping to marry. So, she wasn't putting up a show to qualify to be his wife.
She was just being herself. She was just being Rebekah. She didn't go to the well with high heels and make up, she didn't go dressed in her best dress; she went to the well the same way anyone else normally goes out to the well to draw water but she had a beautiful spirit, a charming character that was too obvious to be denied
Guys today need to learn how to look beyond the physical.
Ladies who are looking for a boyfriend usually are good with packaging themselves for public relations but when you really get to know them, they're not worth much in true value.
On the other hand, ladies who are equipping and preparing themselves to be a wife for the man God has designed for them, have a beautiful character that cannot be concealed.
To be continued...
There's still so so much to share with you. God willing, I'll pick up the story from here in the next post and share some more light from this passage with you. These things played a major role in making my marriage this beautiful.
Hmmm...Missed the previous editions of your love stories
Will stay glued henceforth
Interesting!!!