Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Thoughts on matchmaking

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. --Genesis 24:61-67

1. Matchmaking is a biblical concept still practiced in that part of the world.

2. Parents should be involved in the process, and have veto rights. If Christian young people do not have Christian parents, older people in the church fellowship might take the role of "surrogate" parents, although the opinions of the non-Christian parents should still be taken into account.

3. Both persons being brought together by matchmaking have veto rights. (See the question put to Rebekah in Genesis 24:58.)

4. The most important aspect of the whole affair is prayer.

5. The process can (and maybe should) be swift and sure.

More expounding on this in future posts. Meanwhile, thoughts, any one?

3 comments:

Marcel said...

The Holy Scriptures contains a lot of customs that are full of wisdom. Not many young people (even christian) would today accept that parents or "surrogate" parents would have a word to say into their "heart relationships".

They wrongly think that it is something of an other epoch and that it brings a breach to their liberty. They have the tendency to look only with their physical eyes and be blind to spiritual aspects especially when the boy or girl is pretty. Christian parents will look with their spiritual eyes their children's "love relationships" and sometimes will see things that their children will not.

Marcel

Christy said...

thank you ms cathy. i'm glad i'm not the only one that's "brain washed". haha. i absolutly agree with all five points. number 4 is definitly the glue that holds it all together. on the down side- i think you and i are the only two people in the world who believe this. ; ) and since courtship is a two way street... it makes things a bit difficult. *sigh*
just gotta keep my mind on number 4...

Anonymous said...

Marcel, the role of parents is one I take very seriously, and I plan to discuss that further. I have seen first hand what happens when the parents' opinions are ignored.

By the way, I love that picture of you and Lucie!

Christy, do not lose hope. Our God is sovereign, and will bring to you the man that esceeds your dreams, if that is what He wants for you. Wait on Him, the best things come to those who wait on God.