A Word on Courtships
“And she became his wife; and he
loved her” Genesis 24: 67. Such is the grand climax to this marvelous “love
story” in God’s Word which we would like to consider in connection with its
practical application to this important decision in the lives of Christian
young people.
It has been said that the thing
which every one seeks after is satisfied affection, and the wonder of all
wonders is, that “God is love” and that He is going to find the satisfaction of
His Divine affections in the blessing of redeemed man. Christ, the blessed Son
of God, in Manhood, is going to have a bride as the object of His heart to love
for all eternity. When the soul had learned this, and has tasted of this love,
then it has found the truly satisfying portion which will have its grand climax
in the “marriage of the Lamb” in heaven.
When we think of this precious
love of Christ for His Church being given to us as the pattern – the antitype –
of the husband’s love to his wife, it becomes a searching consideration for
those of us who are in the marriage relationship. A prayerful reading of the
latter part of Ephesians 5 will be for much blessing in this connection.
Several helpful books have been written on marriage and the Christian home,
among them “The Institution of Marriage” which will repay a careful reading by
all married couples.
However, as one of has remarked,
it is with the thought of looking at Genesis 24 as to the events which lead up
to the marriage relationship that these lines have been written. What a “love
story” it is, full of precious instruction for us in our own lives, because it
is a beautiful picture of the work of the Spirit of God (typified by Abraham’s
servant) here upon the earth now, gathering out a bride for Christ. If there
should be one reading this booklet who is not saved, our prayer is that you ay
be brought to see your need of a Savior. The Spirit of God is seeking to lead
you to Christ, who will not only cleanse away all your horrible sins in His
most precious blood, but will make you part of His glorious bride, to be
displayed with Him in that day. Why go on in your sins, when certain judgment
before you, when you may be blessed so abundantly. Will you not listen to His
loving entreaties now, and say, like Rebekah in our chapter, “I will go?”
Another point I would like to
mention before entering upon our subject is that we rejoice greatly at the
faith of those who have lived above the marriage relationship in order to serve
the Lord more fully. Such is the “better” path (1Cor 7: 38), and whether it is
because of “present distresses” (1Cor 7: 26), or because if could not be “in
the Lord” (1Cor 7: 39), or with the desire to “attend upon the Lord without
distraction” (1Cor 7: 35), the Lord will fully reward devotedness of this kind
in the coming day of manifestation. We believe, however, that to remain single
for selfish reasons, or to escape the crossing of one’s own will which marriage
brings, is not of God, who has said, “It is not good that the man should be
alone,” Genesis 2: 18, and again, “I will therefore that the younger women
marry.” 1Timothy 5: 14. Indeed it is spoken of as a doctrine of demons to forbid to marry. (1Timothy 4: 1-3.)
Seeing then that God in His
goodness has instituted this relationship, which can bring such happiness (or
otherwise) to both husband and wife, we can be sure that He has not left us to
our own wisdom or thoughts as to the steps leading up to it. All thought His
Word He show us that we must set aside all human wisdom if we would truly learn
His mind for our path. Let us then put aside our on thoughts and let God speak
to us, for He had said, “Now therefore hearken unto Me, O ye children: for
blessed are they that keep My ways” Proverbs 8: 32.
We know that with most young
people (and really young, especially
in the days in which we live!) there is an urge to have a boy friend or a girl
friend. Often without thinking g, we are affected by the current of things in
our generation, and are liable to be swept off our feet before we know it. Bit
let us not forget that we, as Christians, have a Guide for our youth who has
all wisdom. Yes, the Person whose very name is Wisdom delights in the sons of
men (Proverbs 8: 31), and asks us to listen to Him and wait for Hi
instructions. The desire to have a boy friend or a girl friend is quite
natural, but, alas, how often our natural desires lead us away! God, who has
placed natural love in our hearts, tells us in His Word that, since sin has
entered the world, out natural hearts cannot be trusted. He uses very definite language
about this, for He says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” Proverbs
28: 26. We dare not trust our own hearts, for, of we do, God calls us fools,
and this is a solemn matter. How thankful we who are saved can be that, though
grace, our hearts have been purified by faith, and our bodies henceforth are no
longer to be under the control of our old nature and unregenerate hearts. We
belong to the One who has redeemed us at such infinite cost, and we are to
present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. Then we can prove His “good,
and acceptable, and perfect will” in our lives. (Romans 12: 1, 2.)
And so, dear young people, just
because the urge is there, and because it is natural to have a by friend or a
girl friend, is not the signal for action. Our bodies are not our own, as we
have remarked, and we must never forget this. We need guidance. Let us listen
to the voice of God and wait upon Him. If you do not, and will not, dear young
believer, then your archenemy Satan, who has had a long experience with human
nature, will lay careful and well organized plans to trip you up and ruin your
young life. And our hearts weep as we see how often he has succeeded. May you
hearken to the voice of God in the days of you r youth, before you too join with
the weeping of others, and have to say, “How have I hated instruction, and my
heart despised reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor
inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!” (Proverbs 5: 12, 13.)
I am going to ask you first of all
to open your Bibles and read carefully the twenty-fourth chapter of Genesis.
May I ask you further, my dear young friends, to consider prayerfully the few
remarks I would like to make on it. I desire to make them in love, and I trust
I can say, humbly, with some understanding of your feelings and problems.
Here we are introduced in o a
household of faith; one of those households about which we read a great deal in
God’s Word. Long years before the event of our chapter, Abraham and Sarah had
come out from their country and kindred at the call of God into a land of which
they knew nothing. Many testings and trials, and alas failure too, had beset
their pathway, but they were still walking by faith, and they knew that God was
worthy of their fullest trust and confidence. He had always been faithful and
had blessed them abundantly. He had given them a son, too, whom they loved
greatly. They called him Isaac. What a privilege it was for Isaac to be born
into such a home, though he may not have fully realized it in the days of his
youth. Living as a pilgrim may not have been too enjoyable to dear Isaac at
times, and he may have often asked “Why this?” and “Why that?” As he grew older
his problems increased, for his father did not want him to marry one of the girls
of the land where he dwelt, since they were not children of faith. Moreover I
am sure that his father, who “commanded his children and his household after
him”, Genesis 18: 19, did not allow his boy to go out and have a “good time”
with the, for that would be a sure start on the wrong direction. He could not
be like the other boys of the land, for he had a strict and wise father who
loved him. His natural desires had to be kept under control, for one of the
fruits of the Spirit is temperance, or self-control. (Galatians 5: 23.) His
father had received his boy as from the dead (Hebrews 11:19) and he desired him
to walk in the path of faith with a suited partner for such a path. No other
would do.
Abraham therefore called his
servant who had the charge of all he had and made him promise that he would not
choose a wife for his son from among the heathen girls of the land where he
dwelt. As we have remarked before, this servant is typical of the Holy Spirit
of God who has been given to us to guide us into all truth. (John 16: 13.) If
we would seek to be guided by the Spirit of God in all we do, how wonderfully
we would taste and prove the Lord’s blessing. Just as Abraham’s servant was set
over all Abraham had, so the Spirit of God delights to bring before us all our
blessings in Christ, which flow from the heart of God our Father, and o guide
us in right paths where we can enjoy them. Instead of Isaac therefore going
himself to seek a bride we find the servant doing so. And is not this a lesson
for us? Do not follow your own will, dear young Christian, for if you would
know who is the right partner for you, you should ask the Lord to guide you by
His Spirit. In this connection it is helpful to notice, too, that the Spirit of
God and the Word of God cannot be separated. The Spirit of God will never lead
contrary to the Word of God – never. All through our chapter we notice that
Abraham’s servant acted in obedience to his master, and for the blessing of
Isaac. Oh dear young people, how important this is! How needful that you should
be guided by the Spirit of God in each step of your courtship. He knows all
about you, and can guide you and direct you as no one else can.
It was no easy journey to go down
to Mesopotamia where he would find the family of faith. It was a distance of
several hundred miles, which in those days was a long way to go. And so today,
there are real problems in connection with a young man finding the one who is
the chosen helpmeet, but faith waits upon the Lord, afraid to take one step
alone. Perhaps (the servant said to Abraham) he would not find a girl who was
willing to walk in the pilgrim path with Isaac, should he then bring Isaac back
to Mesopotamia? “No,” said Abraham, “Beware thou that thou bring not my son
thither again.” And he made his servant promise this. If one has learned to
value the place and privilege of being gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, he will not want to return to another position to find a wife, or a
girl to find a husband, much less to marry an unbeliever. It would have been
better, far better, to cross the wilderness alone, than to take the path of
disobedience to his master. Have you, dear young reader, settled this in your
mind? It may seem hard, as it must have been for Isaac and the servant here, to
contemplate such a thing, but this was a settled matter before the servant
started out at all. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” 1 Timothy 6: 6.
“My times are in Thy hand.” Psalm 31: 15. The desire to have our own way is the
root of all sin, and has led to much sorrow in the lives of many dear young
people in this connection. Let us seek grace to learn submission to the will of
God as the very first principle of Christian life and testimony. When Saul of
Tarsus had seen the Lord in glory, he immediately said, “Lord, what wilt Thou
have me to do?” Acts 9:6. May this be the expression of our hearts daily!
There is also another lesson, I
believe, in connection with the question of Abraham’s servant about what he
would do if the woman were unwilling to come back to Canaan with him. If she
would not come, then he was not to bring Isaac down to where she lived.
Sometimes when a young man is going to marry a girl, he finds she is unwilling
to leave her home city and come where he is. I believe we have the wisdom of
God here, showing that if she feels that way, and does not love her prospective
husband enough to leave home and lived ones for his sake, then they cannot
expect the Lord’s blessing. It is as though the girl wishes to take the place
of head in this matter, and it never works out practically. It is not according
to God. (1Corinthians 11:3) It generally leads to restlessness, and this does
not tend to happiness. God’s order as given to us here is the best, as always,
and how thankful we can be for such instruction for our path.
Having this matter settled in his
mind, the servant started out on the long journey to Mesopotamia, and strangely
enough (as it might appear to us), the whole journey passed over in one verse.
We are told that the servant took ten camels. Ten in Scripture typifies
responsibility God ward – and then we are again reminded here that all
Abraham’s goods were in the servant’s hand. You will not run hither and thither
to see all the girls there are to see, nor be in a hurry, nor think the waiting
time too long, if you always bear these two things in mind. First, you are
responsible to act uprightly before God, and next to remember that the hearts
of all are in His hands, and that He
alone can direct to the right partner. In this way the whole time up to
meeting the “right one” is passed over in the one verse. What a lesson, dear
young people, and how many disappointments you will be spared if you take it to
heart! Some of us have had to learn this the hard way, bur God is faithful and
He says, “They shall not be ashamed that wait for Me” Isaiah 49: 23.
When the servant came to the side
of the well near the city of Nahor, with his camels, he made them kneel down.
Then he prayed and asked the Lord to guide him in his choice. He had certain
things in his mind, which he would look for in the young woman whom he was to
choose, and he asked the Lord to direct him. Any Christian young man who reads
his Bible carefully will learn to expect courtesy (1Peter 3: 7, 8), kindness
and industry (Proverbs 31: 10-31) from a godly girl. If such things are lacking
he may well question how she could be the right one. The servant therefore
asked the Lord to guide him to the girl having these characteristics. It is
also important to see where he looked for her. It was not in the busy street of
the city, but a place where the Word of God is read and spoken of. The Lord
Jesus said, “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water
springing up into everlasting life” John 4: 14. You cannot expect to find the
right girl in the wrong place. You will find her in the path of obedience,
typified here by the water of the well. (Ephesians 5: 26.)
Moreover the servant asked that he
might not only know the right one by her courtesy, kindness and industry, but
by the fact that she refreshed him, and also that by watering his camels she
helped him on his journey as a true helpmeet. Some girls are no spiritual help
to the young man who takes them out. They drag him down instead of helping him,
and hinder him on his spiritual journey. Dear young believer, if you meet the
right girl you will find she will refresh your soul in the Lord, and if she
does not do this from the very start, then be careful.
While the servant was praying and
asking the Lord’s guidance, Rebekah came out to the well. He them courteously
approached her and asked for a drink of water from her pitcher. She
respectfully gave him a drink and offered to draw water for his ten camels.
What a task this was, to draw water for his ten camels but she did it quickly
and willingly! The servant could only wonder and hold his peace as she did so.
His prayer had been more than answered. He had not asked for good looks, for
beauty is only skin deep, but he had sought the beauty that abides as the
Scripture says “Favor (gracefulness) is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a
woman who feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” Proverbs 31: 30. But now the
servant had found the beauty that abides, in a damsel who was “very fair to
look upon.” How the Lord delights to exceed His promises, and to do for us more
than we ask or think!
It is noticeable here that all the
advances were made by the young man, and not by the girl. Godly young men will
not be attracted by the forwardness of girls who make the advances themselves.
It is the spirit of the age, we admit, but it is not of God, and those who are
caught in this snare seldom, if ever, find true happiness in married life. In
God’s order the love begins in the heart of the man (Ephesians 5: 25), as it
did in the chapter before us, and happy is the girl who marries the man who
loves her with a true and deep affection, not just the one she loves. In a well
ordered home the love of God is known and enjoyed, and the husband as the head
in such home loves his wife, and satisfies the affections of her loving heart.
Only the Lord can bring the right one into your life, dear young sisters in
Christ, and if it is His will for you, He will bring that one in His own time
and way. If it is His will, you are far better alone. Look to Him, count upon
Him, and you will “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of
God” Romans 12: 2.
The servant’s heart was touched
and won, and he recognized it was the Lord’s guiding. He then asked Rebekah,
“Whose daughter art thou? Tell me I pray thee.” This, to me, is like making
sure of the one important thing. Did she belong to the household of faith? Her
answer was clear and definite, and so anyone who is really saved will be glad
to make a clear confession of the Lord Jesus, as Rebekah did of her
relationship here. When we hear a half-hearted confession of Christ, we are let
to wonder about the reality of that one’s conversion. Oh dear young people,
make sure of this matter first of all.
It is not only a terrible mistake and a source of unhappiness, but it is direct
disobedience to the Word of God to marry an unbeliever. (2Corinthians 6: 14.)
The servant also inquired about
the hospitality of Rebekah’s home. Two homes were going to be linked together
(and this is something one should ponder), and Isaac, who had been brought up
in a home where hospitality was so real and warm-hearted, would want a wife
from a hospitable home too. There are practical things which ought to be
considered. If a young man who loves hospitality marries a girl who does not
care to have the home open to the Lord’s people, there cannot be true
happiness. We should not forget the need of being compatible, and having common
interests in life, if we wish happiness and the Lord’s blessing, for His word
says “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3: 3.)
One feels, too, that in these days
when there is so much to lead the hearts of the children of God away, there is
nothing sweeter than having hospitality and fellow ship together with them.
Hospitality is given a wonderful place in the Word of God, and we are exhorted
in Romans 12: 13 to be “given to hospitality.” It is lovely to see young people
in setting up a new home, considering this matter so as not to deprive
themselves of such a wonderful privilege. How many misunderstandings come
because we do not really know our
brethren in Christ, in the way we can only know them by being in their homes,
and they in ours.
The servant gave, and Rebekah
accepted, the jewelry in token of all that had taken place between them, and
the family recognized it as such (verse 30.)
The giving of expensive gifts ought be seriously considered, and not
done lightly, especially the
engagement ring. A broken promise means a broken heart, and it is a serious
thing before God and man. Boys and girls of the world may trifle with their
affections, and much of the condition of things we see about us is the result
of this, but Christian boys and girls need to be careful not to give a wrong
impression, nor make hurried promises without prayerful exercise before the
Lord. Let us seek grace from the Lord not to speak until we mean what we say,
and then say what we mean.
The servant, who had waited for
full instructions from his master, and prayed before making any advances, now
acknowledged the Lord’s goodness and gave thanks to Him. Let us cultivate the
habit of prayer and thanksgiving in our lives. We are so prone to forget this.
Rebekah then ran and told her
mother all that had taken place. This is so commendable. There is nothing that
will inspire such confidence in your parents’ hearts, dear young people, as to
tell them where you go and what you do. If they are true believers they will be
interested, for they are praying for you. It is always a bad start to go out
and not tell your parents where you are going. Let us who are parents encourage
our children’s confidence by showing an interest and understand in all they
tell us. The failure of parents to do this has often led to a lack of
confidence with our young people, for every young person wants to tell someone.
Let us keep our children’s love and confidence!
Rebekah was not forward. She could
speak of the hospitality of her home, but she did not invite the man to stay
there. Her brother Laban did this – another mark of good manners, for she remembered
her proper place. These little things are noticeable here, though often
forgotten in this modern day.
The servant then ungirded his
camels and fed them. He showed but this that he was able to look after his
affairs with discretion (Psalm 112:5,) and this served to commend him to
Rebekah’s household. Some boys are very thoughtless and careless, and would
never be industrious workers. This will show up in little things, as it did
here, if we observe. True love is not blind, It is a great thing to act before
marriage what we intend to be afterwards – deception will not get a young
person (or anyone else) any real happiness in the end.
When the supper had been prepared
then the servant said he would like to tell his errand before eating. He did
not want to give any wrong impression. In this day when many boys and girls go
together thoughtlessly, wrong impressions are often given and hearts are
broken, perhaps quite unintentionally. Let us be careful not to give such
impressions, but speak clearly what is on one’s mind, when called to, like the
servant here. It is a serious thing to trifle with another’s affections,
especially a young girl, and on the other hand it is a good thing to learn to
be careful not to take things for granted that were never said or intended.
Often an act of Christian kindness is mistaken for the start of a friendship.
While using care that we do not become forward, always practicing modesty and
self control, let us learn to accept acts of kindness from others, whether a
boy or a girl, without getting mistaken ideas. We would, however, warn here
that to go together “just for fun” is a mistake, and those who play with their
affections in this way seldom know when the “right one” does come.
The servant now tells all about
his master and Isaac. He told of how Isaac had enough to provide for the new
responsibility he was considering taking on in marriage. This leads one to
question the wisdom of a young man taking on the responsibilities of married
life until settle in some line of work, or otherwise able to provide for his
bride in the home they set up. It is his responsibility. “If any provide not
for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the
faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy 5:8.) The servant then told
the whole story of the “courtship,” if we might use this word here. Happy it is
when a young man can tell, if necessary, all the things that took place during
those days. If we are walking with God we will surely be able to do so. May the
Lord keep the feet of our dear young people in these difficult days, for the
Word of God says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” Proverbs 28:26.
After telling all, the servant
asked for a definite decision and the approval of the parents. It is nice to
see here how they were impressed with the straightforwardness of the young man,
and acknowledged that “the thing proceedeth from the Lord.” It is a fine thing,
dear young people, to look to the Lord to make such things clear to your
parents. Many a young person has ruined his or her life by refusing to take
heed to the warnings of parents and has married someone who was not the “right
one.” I believe I can say that while it is your decision, young people, to be
made before the Lord (who must always come first,) yet He will make your
parents feel that “the thing proceedeth from the Lord,” if you prayerfully seek
His mind in this. Be patient and wait if they do not see it at first, for the
Lord is the disposer of hearts, even your parents’ hearts, as He was here in
our chapter. If they see you are really seeking to please the Lord, it will
commend itself to their consciences in the sight of God. Waiting for the Lord
to make it clear to them, if necessary, will repay you well, for patience is a
necessary Christian grace at all times, both before and after marriage. While
these remarks refer primarily to those who Christian parents, the principle
applies in a general way to all. Even though unbelieving parents would not
choose a believing partner for their believing child, they nevertheless seek
their children’s happiness, and will usually recognize a nice straightforward
boy or girl.
When Bethuel,
Rebekah’s father, had given his consent, then Abraham’s servant worshipped the
Lord again. He truly sought to acknowledge the Lord in all his ways and was
directed of Him.
At this point
it is nice to notice the kindness of this man to Rebekah’s brother and mother,
as well as to her, shown in the gifts he gave them. This is an important
consideration for any young girl. A young man who does not show respect and
kindness to her relatives (and she to his) will only bring trouble instead of
happiness into her life.
Rebekah’s
parents now seek to detain her at home for a little while. Sometimes the lives
of young people have been spoiled by the parents interfering in this way. Even
though they see that the Lord has provided their child’s partner, as here, and
that the young man is able to provide as Isaac was, they just do not want to
part with their boy or girl. This is a great mistake, for if the boy or girl is
old enough, it is their decision, as it was Rebekah’s here. Wise parents will
acknowledge this and let the boy or girl decide. Rebekah decided – she said, “I
will go.”
Then the
privilege and responsibility of motherhood was laid before Rebekah by her own
mother. For a girl to enter marriage thoughtless of this, postponing or not
intending to assume such a responsibility is, one feels, contrary to the whole
teaching of Scripture in connection with married life. It is, alas, all too
common today, but the Word of God says, “I will therefore that the younger
women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the
adversary to speak reproachfully” 1 Timothy 5:14. Let us follow the wisdom of
God in our lives.
If we might
compare the time that follows in our story to the time between engagement and
marriage, we believe we can learn an important lesson. Isaac went out by the
well Lahai-roi to meditate at eventide. Lahai-roi means “Him that liveth and
seeth,” and surely this has a helpful application to us. It is in the evenings
when boys and girls usually get together, and if each boy would be like Isaac
here and meditate upon the fact that there is One who lives and sees, perhaps
many evenings would be spent in a more helpful way.
We notice
here that when Rebekah saw Isaac she took a veil and covered herself. If we
connect this with 1 Corinthians 11 we that a woman’s hair is given her for a
covering (or veil,) and that it is a sign of her taking the place of submission
to her husband. We also read in Ephesians 5:32 that the wife is to “reverence
her husband.” This is an important matter. A Christian girl ought not to marry
a young man, even though a Christian, whom she does not feel she can reverence.
Some Christian young men are not walking in the fear of God, and a godly girl
would not be attracted to any such, for she realizes that it is her
responsibility before God, when married, to “reverence her husband.” The first
time Isaac saw Rebekah she was veiled, and thus showed the sign of submission.
What a happy things it would be if the Christian young men witnessed more of
that submission today, for long hair is the sign of it, according to the Word
of God! Godly young men will look for this, if walking in “the wisdom that is
from above” James 3:17.
At last the
waiting time was ended and the marriage took place. Oh dear young people, may
the Lord keep you in His fear, all through those courtship days. In these days
when the morals of the world are going to pieces everywhere, and when even
Christians seem to forget God’s instructions in His Word about modesty and
proper apparel
(1 Timothy 2:9, Deut. 22:5,) there is a special need of
watchfulness so that you may enjoy one another’s company in a godly way. That
often forgotten verse in 1 Corinthians 7:1; “It is good for a man not to touch
a woman,” is the wisdom of God for all who have ears to hear. And so now we
read here that Isaac “took Rebekah and she became his wife; and he loved her:
and Isaac was comforted.” To have a home of love and comfort, being “heirs
together of the grace of life,” 1 Peter 3:7, is surely what each young person
would desire who enters the marriage relationship, and the Lord delights to
grant it to those who wait upon Him.
Before drawing
these brief remarks to a close, may I remind you of that verse, “Keep thy heart
more than anything that is guarded; for out of it are the issues of life”
Proverbs 4:23 (J.N.D.) Let us watch our affections and always keep them within
the channels of God’s precious Word. If there should be anyone contemplating
marring an unbeliever, may we warn you again that it is direct disobedience to
God’s Word which says “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” 2
Corinthians 6:14. Indeed you should make sure that your friend is truly saved
before going out together at all, for too often “courtship conversions” do not
stand the test. How sad to find out afterwards, as many have, that their life
partner was not a true child of God at all. What a sorrow it is, only those who
are thus linked up for life can tell!
It is
striking to notice how often the marriage and home relationships are brought
before us in the New Testament. They are introduced in 1 Corinthians where we
have assembly order. Again in Ephesians where marriage is given as typifying
Christ and His Church – His bride. We find these matters again spoken of in
Colossians, where the believer is looked at as dead and risen with Christ, and
where He is our life, as well as in Timothy and Titus where we are instructed
as to those suited for office in the local assembly. Last of all they are
brought before us in Peter’s first epistle where we have God’s grace and
government. We cannot separate our home life from our assembly life, nor can we
escape the government of God connected with it. A mistaken marriage will affect
every sphere of your life, and a happy one will help you in every sphere. O
dear young people, ponder it well! Even though God id the God of all grace,
greater than all our failures and shortcomings, and even though He has promised
never to leave nor forsake us, we cannot escape His government in our lives.
May the Lord
be pleased to use these few remarks for His glory and the blessing of the dear
lambs of the flock of God in this great and momentous decision, “Whom shall I
marry?” Those who follow the wisdom of God’s precious Word in communion and
dependence upon Him will not go wrong, but those who choose to follow their own
wisdom and go their own way can only expect sorrow. It is the Lord’s desire to
bless you, dear young reader, and He wants you to reap true happiness, for “the
blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it” Proverbs
10:22
G.H.H.