A Model Marriage?
July 24, 2025 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
Genesis 2:24 provides God’s blueprint for marriage. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 19:5 when he answers the Pharisees’ question about divorce. Paul quotes this verse in Ephesians 5:31 as he describes God’s design for marriage. In a nutshell, God’s blueprint for marriage is one man and one woman uniting together in faithful covenant to one another until death separates them.
As we read Genesis, we find very quickly that people diverge from God’s design. In the seventh generation from Adam and Eve, Lamech takes two wives (4:19), thus breaking that faithful union between one man and one woman. We can only imagine (and probably rightly) that part of the wickedness of man that led to the flood included marital unfaithfulness (6:5). Then even Abram, the father of all who have faith, took Hagar “as a wife” at the encouragement of Sarai (16:3), which resulted in marital strife for Abram and Sarai. Jacob ends up with two wives through the trickery of his father-in-law (Gen 29). Judah has sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, whom he assumed was a prostitute (Gen. 38). This is just the tip of the iceberg. Because of sin, humans diverge from God’s design in all areas of life.
By God’s grace, however, some are sustained in faithfulness to God’s designs. We find one of those examples in the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. In the storyline of Genesis, Isaac largely plays a secondary role. From his birth in chapter 21, there is only one narrative block in which Isaac could be considered the main character. The sacrifice of Isaac in chapter 22 is mainly about Abraham responding in faith to God. The marriage to Rebekah in chapter 24 is mainly about the servant of Abraham depending on God’s steadfast love to provide a wife for Isaac. The birth of the twins in chapter 25 already is looking beyond Isaac to the future generations of God’s covenant people. The blessing in chapter 27 is mainly about Jacob stealing his brother’s blessing. This leaves Genesis 26 and Isaac’s interaction with Abimelech as the only narrative block where Isaac is the main character.
Even though Isaac largely plays a supporting role in the redemption story, his marriage with Rebekah outshines his father’s marriage and his son’s marriage. In 24:67 we read that Isaac loved Rebekah. He received Rebekah as God’s provision for his need and for the sake of the promise, and he cherished her. In 25:21 we read that Isaac prays for Rebekah when she is barren. In comparison with how Abram addressed Sarai’s barrenness, Isaac proves to be a spiritual leader looking to the Lord for help. Rebekah follows his example by praying to the Lord as well (25:22). Then we read in 26:8 that Isaac was laughing with Rebekah. This may seem like an insignificant note, but it reveals an intimate delight in each other. Isaac delighted in Rebekah his wife. There is no record of marital infidelity, second wives, or concubines. Isaac and Rebekah were buried together in the cave in the field at Machpelah, which Abraham purchased.
In one sense we can say that Isaac’s life and marriage was rather unspectacular. Isaac was just loving his wife, delighting in his wife, praying for his wife, and hoping in the promises of God. But isn’t that the beauty of God’s design? When we follow God’s designs for our marriages and other areas of life, we find God’s blessings. This doesn’t necessarily mean that everything goes perfectly in our lives (Job would like to have a conversation about that), but our hope and strength in the Lord will abound in joy, no matter what circumstances arise. Therefore, by God’s grace, let’s seek God’s designs for life, which may be unspectacular like Isaac and Rebekah’s marriage.
