You can listen to this post here on Refresh Her podcast. (There appears to have been some kind of strange glitch in the upload today, and I’ve tried to repost the episode. If it has my voice doubled over the introduction, just fast forward about 25 seconds and the rest should be clear. So strange!)
There’s nothing like packing for a trip, only to arrive at your destination to find that you left something important behind. When you got married, you had “packed your luggage” – not just for your honeymoon. You had filled your fiancé’s life with what you both felt would get you through this journey of marriage. What brought you together? Something had to have been “packed and ready ”between you and your mate. What was it? What attracted you to your spouse? What kind of fun did you have in those early days? Have you revisited those memories lately?
In Genesis 24, we get a little picture of the beginning of Isaac and Rebekah’s marriage. There were many attributes packed into Rebekah’s character that Isaac could admire. Their story has some great lessons for our marriages and reminders of the things we need to be sure to bring along all the years we are married.
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Rebekah was truly the answer to the servant’s prayers, but also Isaac’s prayers. The day you and I stood at the altar, did we not KNOW that this man was the answer to our prayers? He knew you were the answer to his! I believe if we pack these attributes of Rebekah as we travel this journey of marriage, our husbands can say that we were not just the answer to his prayers at the beginning of this journey, but for most of the days you have together.
What should we pack? When we look at Genesis 24:16 – And the damsel was very fair (beautiful). This was noticed by Abraham’s servant. Isaac could see she was fair to look at.
- Pack your beauty because men are visual.
Men being visual is not to their discredit! This is how God made them. Rebekah’s beauty was noticeable.
Your husband picked YOU! Keep yourself looking beautiful in his eyes.- Take care of yourself. Yes, things change over the years, but do what you can to remain attractive to your husband.
- Wear appealing clothes at home – not your comfy “mommy uniform.” Dress the way he likes to see you. He sees nicely dressed women when he’s out…you should be “a sight for his tired old eyes!” Do your pj’s need to be updated and refreshed? Are your underclothes pretty? All this is for his eyes.
- Prepare to greet him. Get ready to greet your husband comes home from work or you’re going to meet up at the end of the day. Freshen up a bit.
- Purity – Because God requires it and we promised it. –
Gen. 24:16 – She was a virgin. No matter your status before you got married, you are now your husband’s wife. Stay true to him. Stay pure and clean. How?
Set up boundaries – (24:18) And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
We see Rebekah here taking the jug off her shoulder and offering a drink. This quick move of lowering her jug was to secure a sense of modesty. Instead of a man sipping from a jug resting on her shoulder close to her face, she created a distance, so he would be drinking at an arm’s length away from her.
“Put the pitcher in your hand.“
Be careful how you touch other men, meet up with other men, or converse with them.
Guard your heart. Don’t give any room for the enemy to bring someone between you and your spouse. Guard what you read, watch, allow on all your social media platforms.
Put the pitcher in your hand.
Don’t compare your husband to someone else, imagining what it would be like to be married to him. You wouldn’t want him to compare you to another woman!
Are your marriage bags full of these good things? Ask the Lord what changes you need to make to keep your relationship with your husband all that He desires. Then pack your luggage full and then enjoy the journey!
We’ll “finish packing” next Wednesday!
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