Lesson 14 - A Wife for Isaac:
 God's Guidance and Care
Read Genesis 24:1-25:11 - www.bible.com/bible/59/gen.24

*How do you go about discovering God's will in a specific situation?

We find in this passage some principles for making important decisions for our lives. Remember first, this is Isaac’s bride being searched for here. We understand this was a different culture where the father chose the bride for his son, but in this case the father loved the son and would not have chosen someone for him whom the son could not love.

Principle number one is to seek the advice or help of your parents, especially if they love and follow God. They have learned much wisdom in their years of life, and we should seek the benefit of their wisdom.

In this situation, Abraham wanted a wife for Isaac who would have been raised with the same standards and beliefs as Isaac had been raised. The Bible tells us we are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). Thinking we can change someone after we marry them is always a bad decision. The person most likely to change is you, and the person most likely to be hurt is also you.

Principle number two is to determine not to make your decision unless you know for certain God’s blessing is on it first. Abraham sent his servant with specific directions for how he would know God’s blessings were present. Notice that Abraham did not ask for anything that would benefit himself in this – the blessing would all rest on how others made their decisions, for if it is God’s will He will also be working in the other person’s life.

The Bible says we are to seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14 and 1 Peter 3:11). This then becomes principle number three. Go nowhere, make no decision until the peace of God in your heart is there before you.


Every decision you make in your life, make it with God’s advice first. Start by making His Word a major part of your life, because His Word will be a major way in God’s leading for you. Abraham spent much time talking with God and listening to Him. He did not have a written Bible as we are so deeply blessed to have. But once His word was written, Jesus Himself stated it takes priority over any other kind of revelation possible, such as dreams or visions (see Luke 16:19-31). As you make a habit of spending time every day with God in reading His word and talking with Him in prayer, you will build a knowledge of Him that He can use to direct you. You will know His peace and what it feels like in your heart – this is the peace you pursue in every decision in your life.

The result is always better than we expect. For Isaac, who was now over 40 years old, there must have been some anxiety over who this woman would be, someone he’d never even seen. Yet, because he had followed God’s plan, the moment he saw Rebekah he fell in love with her. This is principle number four – when we follow God rather than our feelings, our feelings will soon follow His path too.