Courtship Lessons from Gen. 24 A multi-generational family vision includes guiding our children in choosing a mate. It should be our final measure of preparation for their adult lives.

Abraham’s Strategy Secured Isaac’s trust and confidence Made it a matter of covenant before God Identified who were and were not candidates for a wife Knew what to look for in a godly woman Identified character traits suitable to God’s plan for Isaac Looked for that character among young ladies Observed young ladies in their every-day environment

Abraham’s Strategy Acknowledged God’s providence at every stage Remained on task until the job was finished Made his interest known to the family Sought agreement of the family and the young lady Covenanted the marriage between the families Provided the bride’s price (proved Isaac’s support) Trusted God to go before him

Survey of Abraham’s strategy Secured Isaac’s trust and confidence Securing the trust of our adult children begins when young. A multi-generational vision includes guiding our children in choosing a mate. Guidance begins long before a son or daughter expresses interest. Made it a matter of covenant before God The selection process of our son/daughter’s mate is indicative of the premium we put on the hope of Abraham’s promises.

Knew what to look for in a godly mate The point in Gen. 24 was the KIND of person, not a specific person. God had the specific girl in mind, but Eliezer only knew what kind of girl to look for. Identified character traits suitable to God’s plan Marriage is for God’s purpose first, our pleasure second. It was not good for Adam to be alone because he could not accomplish his God-given role without his wife. Our children need to be taught the value of marrying to honor God. A prospective wife should support God’s plan for her husband.

Look for character among young men/ladies. Observe young men/ladies in their every-day environment. Train sons and daughters to know how to choose a mate Parents modeling a godly marriage before them. Siblings of the opposite sex can model godly character. Teach sons and daughters how to observe and practice godly character. Observe how daughters treat their father/brothers. Observe how sons treat their mother/sisters. Is a daughter being trained to esteem biblical womanhood? Does a young person own their convictions/spiritual walk?

Ecclesiastes 11.9: Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. Is a son being trained to develop right appetites? Is spiritual maturity being developed early? Are sons being trained to love their future wife as Christ loves the church? Are sons trained to work and provide for their future family?

Daughter trained to be a helpmeet to her father, under his cover. Are daughters being trained to respect her future husband? Eph. 5.33: Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband.

Also applies to world-view in the form of non-negotiables: control of womb education of children wife working under another man’s cover How Do We Determine Who is a Suitable Mate? 2 Corinthians : Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

Survey of Abraham’s strategy Acknowledged God’s providence at every stage Eliezer remained focused and on task until the job was done We put so much into the wedding, when we should be investing in this relationship long before they reach the altar. Made his interest known A young man should recognize his duty to honor a young lady’s father. A young man should win the heart (confidence) of the father first.

Sought agreement of the family and the young man/lady Mutual family blessing of the marriage Covenant the marriage between the families Both parties and families agreed the marriage was God’s will Provided the bride’s price (proved support) A young man must be financially prepared to support a family and demonstrate his ability to do so.

Trust God that He is going before us to find a mate. This culture of trust is demonstrated in the family’s blessing of Rebekah. Their blessing is specifically that Rebekah’s offspring will overwhelmingly take dominion of the world. Excerpt from Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America By Brigitte Gabriel The Islamic community throughout the world is outreproducing Christians and Jews almost seven to one. It will be a matter of a few generations before they can get voting power to challenge state laws and change the Constitution of the United States … This is the beginning of America's and the West's war with radical Islam … Americans need to listen: their country is at stake.

Posted by Doug Phillips on April 2, 2008: … I shared a message entitled “ Seven Secrets of Successful Multi-Generational Visionaries. ” There I explained the exponential numerical significance and potential generational impact of families teaching their children to love and desire a fruitful womb. Now a story out of London is reporting that the birth rates of Muslims is going to outnumber the Roman Catholic churchgoers in just twelve years … It also cites that over the same period the number of Muslims at mosques will overtake Church of England members at Sunday services.

While Christians have been deceived to believe that children are a threat to personal freedom and a burden to the family economy rather than the blessing and heritage God says they are, the principle of Genesis 1.28 is playing out: those who are fruitful AND multiply will take dominion.