Daily Devotions
How To Find a Good Wife
Title: How To Find a Good Wife
Reading for January 7: Genesis 24-25
"Let the young woman to whom I shall say, 'Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels'--let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."
Genesis 24:14
What should a man look for in a woman to be a wife? The standard answer is that he should look for someone who is a Christian. And that's a good place to start, but it's not specific enough. Not everyone who calls themselves a disciple of Jesus Christ necessarily acts like one.
The servant of Abraham was given the awesome responsibility of finding a mate for his master's son. This is easily one of the most important decisions that would ever be made for Isaac. He didn't want to leave it to chance. He prayed to God for guidance, offering a specific test that would produce the kind of woman with whom he knew his master would be pleased.
The test he put forward to God was no ordinary test. It would require extraordinary effort and self-sacrifice. A thirsty camel can drink as many as 30 gallons of water. Imagine how many times you would have to go to the well to water 10 camels who had traveled 500 miles with heavy loads on their backs!
Rebekah did just that. And did you notice how eager she was?
"And she QUICKLY let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking." So she QUICKLY emptied her jar into the trough and RAN again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels." (Genesis 24:18-20)
This kind of hospitality would have looked familiar to the servant. He had witnessed this level of service for strangers in his master Abraham:
"He (Abraham) lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he RAN from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, 'O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on--since you have come to your servant.' So they said, 'Do as you have said.' And Abraham went QUICKLY into the tent to Sarah and said, 'QUICK! Three seats of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.' And Abraham RAN to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man who prepared it QUICKLY. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate." (Genesis 18:1-8)
The servant of Abraham chose a wife for Isaac who would be a willing servant showing eager hospitality just like his master did.
If you want to find a good wife, a true disciple of Jesus Christ, look for a willing servant who shows the same kind of selfless, self-sacrificing love for others that our Lord and Master Jesus Christ did. Find a woman who serves like Jesus served, and you've found the kind of woman you should marry. (And the same goes for finding a husband!)
Father, help our sons and daughters to find good godly mates who exemplify all of the characteristics of our Savior Jesus Christ!
