THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS of her willingness to leave her country and family, (cf. vs. 55, 58, 64, 67) If you cannot convert a man before mar riage you cannot afterwards. What he will not listen to as a suitor he is not likely to listen to as a husband. 2. Not one of different race, (vs, 3-4) Racial intermarriages are to be condemned according to the “ law of first mention” in God’s Word. The writer would go one step farther and advise, against marriage of different nationalities of the first generation because of the difference in habits and customs even of believers in Jesus Christ. 3. Not one of different tempera ment. Perhaps we can take this from the word “ kindred.” (v. 4) However, we must not be too strict on this quali fication because difference in tempera ment has sometimes been used ,of God to draw out the latent talent in the other. How to Marry. As God directs, after much prayer, seems to be the single answer and the central truth in this chapter: Abraham’s servant swears by the Lord, (vs. 3, 8) an angel was sent before, v. 7; the servant looks to God for blessing, v. 12; he asked for definite leading when the time of decision drew near, vs. 13-14; God answered, cf. vs. 14, 16-20; the servant waited to be made more sure, vs. 21, 25; he thanked God for the answer, v. 26; he testified to God’s blessing, v. 35; he testified to definite experience in answer to prayer, assurance, and acknowledg ment of God’s leading, vs. 42-48. Where to Live. Wherever God directs. God’s choice is better than good climate, respectable community, congenial neighbors, or nearness to relatives. God had called Abraham to a foreign, country, there to establish a nation. God could only have unfolded the plan for Isaac’s life there. Environ ment may help to brighten life, but God’s choice for our place of residence can bless and beautify lives.
904 among the unbelieving peoples that surround them. Therefore, in accord ance with Oriental custom he dis patches his most trusted servant to find the girl whom he thinks will be God’s choice for his son’s wife. The “ first mention” of things in God’s Word are of vital importance and contain teaching that we cannot afford to overlook. This is the first detailed account in the Bible of the choice of a life partner, and its teachings are equally true of husband or wife. The chapter suggests and answers three questions that come to every young man and young woman’s mind as they approach: Whom to Marry? How to Marry? Where to live? ■At least three conditions seem to be laid down in the order of their import ance inanswer to the question “Whom to Marry” : 1, Not one1of unlike religious belief, (v. 3) Nothing so blasts home life as disagreement concerning the things of God. Husband and wife may disagree on many subjects, but this one is the most vital of all. I venture the assertion that of all the unhappy homes to-day at least seven out of ten are directly traceable to this cause. Paul admonishes against a believer marrying an unbeliever, (2 Cor. 6:14) and fol lows the admonition with his usual matchless logic, “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” If Paul were writing to-day might he not well add to this, “ do not marry a man hoping to convert him.” A beauti ful young Christian girl of the writer’s acquaintance married a young man “ to reform him,” thinking he would follow her into church attendance and in a short time accept Jesus Christ as his Saviour. To-day she is a disgraced wife of a miserable low-down reeking, drunken husband. If life stories of such broken-hearted wives might be known I am sure the cause in a large number of cases would parallel this one. Rebekah testified of her acceptance of the God of Abraham and Isaac, and
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