Abraham was now advanced in years and Sarah his wife had died. It must have dawned on him that Isaac needed a wife. So calling his oldest servant in his household, he made him swore to return to his father’s country and relatives to get a bride for Isaac. Though the passage did not name the servant, we guess it must be Eleazar, his old and trusted steward. The swearing was unusual and solemn. The servant put his hand underneath Abraham’s thigh and took the oath, to undertake the assignment with total faithfulness. The placing of the hand under the thigh was to say that if he did not do as required, he would be answerable to Abraham and his descendants as well.
Abraham had lived among the Canaanites for such a long time that he knew why he would not allow his son to marry one of the women. The Canaanites were a religiously depraved people. Their gods were carved out of woods or stones and their worship would include all sorts of aberrant sexual immorality. Their practices had absolutely deviated from what God had designed and was far from what God would want to connect with him. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a Canaanite with all these needless baggage. The only way he knew to get Isaac a comparably decent wife, was to return to where he came from and get one among his father’s relative. He was sure that among the women there, a suitable bride could be identified for Isaac. So he made his servant swore to get Isaac a wife from among his father’s people.
The immediate question that came to the servant’s mind was that the bride he managed to find, might refuse to return with him to marry Isaac. The question he asked presupposes that he would be able to find one but she might refuse to come with him. He wanted to know if Abraham would allow him to take Isaac there then. Abraham, however, did not want Isaac to return to his father’s land. For he knew how disruptive it would be for the plan God had intended to give to him and his descendants. He told the servant that under no condition should the servant bring Isaac back to the land of his father’s relatives. Abraham assured the servant that God would guide him and grant him success. What he said to Eleazar was not said in a vacuum. He had experienced it. God had not failed him in a single promise He had made. With his experience, and his firmly and deeply rooted faith, he assured the servant that his mission would be a success. He even assured him that God would send His angel to guide him. What he needed to do was to do his best. He would not be held responsible if the chosen bride refused to come back with him.
This passage underscores for us the whole call to be a separated people. We are called out of the world of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s marvellous light. As children of light it would not be fitting to be unequally yoked with the children of darkness, especially in a marriage. A Christian marriage is a God ordained institution. The right partner should be one from the same faith because both share the same value system. Nothing can be more blessed than to have a home where everyone serves God and His purpose. Let’s affirm with Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”
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