As many thoughts turn to the birth of Christ, it is important to remember that He was born to be a king and every king needs a queen. Matthew 2:1-2 reads, "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." Wise men still seek the one that is born King. The queen of this King is the church. To be the queen of King Jesus requires a righteous character.
Application
To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.
The seventh commandment deals with representation or hierarchy. Image or representation is an inescapable concept. This commandment has to do with marriage or the thought of two becoming one. To prevent the breaking of this commandment the character of the future marriage partner becomes of the utmost importance. It can, in the final analysis determine our eternal future. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 says, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" Marriage partners are never to be taken from pagans. They have a covenant with death and the Christian has just the opposite. It comes down to dating versus courting. Try and find any Bible verses regarding dating. There are none. Dating is the invention of man and it does not work very well.
Abraham was a righteous man. Notice his attitude toward dating and his son being married to a heathen. Genesis 24:1-5 reads, "And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac." Question, Would parents know better than their children regarding potential marriage partners? Abraham did not ask Isaac’s opinion regarding a wife, but took matters into his own hand. When looking for a husband and wife, marry them only if their character checks out. If they are of Canaan (a type of the world), you know automatically that they do not qualify. It is better to start out right than to have to go back and try to make things work out.
Let us notice some characteristics of Rebekah, Isaac’s chosen bride. Genesis 24:16 says, "And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up." She was a pretty young woman (she cared about her outward appearance). A virgin (purity) and one willing to accomplish her assigned tasks (not lazy). These are good qualities when looking for a wife.
Here is the account of Isaac meeting Rebekah for the first time. Genesis 24:62-67 reads, "And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. 63And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. 64And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 65For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself. 66And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 67And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death." Isaac was meditating which is an admirable quality for any young man. Notice Rebekah’s response to seeing Isaac. She covered herself with a veil. In other words, she was not forward but rather shamefaced in the presence of men. Another excellent virtue. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves His church. This is what Isaac did. Rebekah represents here a type of the bride of Christ, the church. She was a fit queen for a king.
The same could not be said for Esau, Isaac’s son. Genesis 26:34 says, "And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: 35Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. He married heathen women. It displeased his parents, but he did it despite them. To get back at his parents regarding the incident with Jacob, Esau purposely violated his father’s command in regard to marriage. Genesis 28:6-9 reads, "When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; 7And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; 8And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; 9Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife." Esau was a man of weak character and his choice of wives reflects his lawlessness. He was told to stay away from the women of the world, but having no admirable characteristics, he chose those who would lead him astray.
Conclusion
Making the right choice in marriage will keep us from breaking the seventh commandment and displeasing God. Look for excellence of character when choosing a marriage companion.
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