January 9, 2023 - Genesis 24-25

Relationships. Acquaintances. The people we associate with. The friends we keep. These things matter. It’s sort of an auxiliary or secondary theme, here – the primary theme being the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah – yet, the two go hand in hand. It’s important that Isaac marry the right woman. Abraham had said to his servant, “'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites” (24:37). The people of Canaan did not know the God of Abraham. They worshipped idols. Among the Canaanites, Isaac would be immersed in a godless culture, and the people there would lead him away from the Lord.

Solomon counseled, “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble” (Proverbs 13:20). There are those really good and godly relationships: “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need” (Proverbs 17:17). With Abraham, as he considers a wife for Isaac, so, we also care for our relationships and very intentionally seek out those who will influence us in godly ways and encourage us in our walks with the Lord. Oh, that the Lord would always give us those people in our lives and lead us in the way of righteousness!

He leadeth me: O blessed thought!

O words with heavenly comfort fraught!

Whate’er I do, where’er I be,

still ‘tis God's hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, he leadeth me;

by his own hand he leadeth me:

his faithful follower I would be,

for by his hand he leadeth me. --J. H. Gilmore