Exemplifying Biblical Couples’ Abraham and Sarah, Lot and wife with Isaac and Rebecca

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This article compiles examples of Biblical couples, highlighting their lives and experiences; drawing lessons from their errors and deriving Christ-centred wisdom from their extensive knowledge. After reading this write-up, the Lord will enhance your reasoning and comprehension, leading your marriage to a state of bliss.

Abraham and Sarah
As I will consistently remind you that there are no perfect couple anywhere; we are all striving for perfection. The beauty lies in the fact that when the husband has imperfections, the wife compensates for them, and vice versa. This mutual support is what makes marriage delightful.
Abraham and Sarah are a remarkable couple in the Bible, serving as a model for all. They exhibited certain behaviours that we should be mindful of; if we are not, we may fall into the same pitfalls they did.
Gen 12: 10(KJV) 10: And there was a famine in the land: and Abraham went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
This is the couple whom God instructed to leave their father’s house, promising to lead them to a place He intends to grant them.
Consequently, a famine arose, prompting them to seek an alternative measure. The fact that you have prayed and the Lord has confirmed that woman is your wife, and that you have prayed and God has declared that man is your destined husband, does not mean that challenges will not arise. Trials within your marriage do not indicate God’s absence. Rather, the devil seeks to disrupt marriages that God has an interest in.
Gen 12:11-And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarah his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
Gen 12:12-Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
Gen 12:13-Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
Is that not wisdom? When I discussed this on a radio programme, a listener contacted me and remarked, “Sarah was actually Abraham’s sister.” I affirmed this. If you conduct further research, you will find out, that they are half-siblings, sharing the same father but having different mothers. At that time, it was permissible for them to marry. It was only later that a law was established through Moses, prohibiting marriage between siblings.
The issue is not that; the issue arises when he stated that they would kill him and spare his wife. However, if she informs them that she is his sister, they will treat him well.
Gen 12:15-The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
It indeed happened as they had planned, yet one must remember that the King has taken the wife. Let us assume that Abraham did not consider it in that manner, believing that the King would desire to marry her. However, upon realizing that the King had taken the woman, which indicated his intention to marry her, he remained silent, and accepted all that the King was offering.
What sort of man do you perceive Abraham to be?
Many of us have found ourselves in similar circumstances, where a husband advises his wife to simply comply with her boss, who is harassing her, assuring her that they will find a way to resolve the situation, emphasising the necessity of the money. He may even say that it does not matter if the boss sleeps with her, as he will take her back. You may have seen such scenarios in movies, but they are occurring in reality.
The man will accept the money and then run after other women. Some men have used their wives for rituals, likewise some women.
Whenever you prioritise your own interests over that of your spouse, you are not acting appropriately.
There is nothing wrong with attempting to protect one another. If I am the one who ensures your well-being, I do not mind taking on two to four jobs just to guarantee that the family is alright. If you are now okay, you may forget that a woman takes on multiple jobs for the family’s sake, or you might overlook the man who sacrifices his sleep, working several nights to ensure your comfort.
That was the situation Abraham was facing at that moment; he gathered everything without considering Sarah’s feelings. What could possibly be going through her mind? ‘Oh! The king will sleep with me; I will no longer be able to be with my husband.’ Can you imagine such trauma?
Gen 12:17-And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Gen 12:18-And Pharaoh called Abraham, and said, what is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
If that man had not been sensitive enough to understand that the afflictions came because of Sarah, he would have simply taken the woman without hesitation, but God made him aware of the situation. Abraham did not only act this way in Egypt; he also did so at Gerar.
At Gerar, he instructed, ‘Do not tell them that you are my wife.’
You might argue that you never considered the consequences. If the first instance was a mistake, the second one was not. When God delivers you from one issue, do not allow it to re-occur.
If you are engaging in such behaviour intentionally, God may turn a blind eye. May God not turn a blind eye to your situation in the name of Jesus. Please refrain from being selfish in your marriage.
Making sacrifices is commendable, and the best way to repay the sacrifices made by your spouse is to be present for him or her. I have witnessed numerous couples’ who began their journey in a single room; some even lived in family homes. Now, he possesses multiple houses but cannot gift her one.
You are acquiring all the properties in you name because you believe that if you divorce, she will not receive half of the property. Why would you even consider divorce in the first instance?
The law stipulates that even if her name is not included and she did not contribute financially during the construction, you built with your own funds and in your name. As long as that woman was not employed at the expense of the marriage, the properties belong to both of you.
Moreover, if the court is lenient, you may get away with the 50/50 formular. In certain situations, when the court divides your property 50/50, and the woman has to take custody of the children, your 50% may be further divided into two equal parts, with a portion going to her again, and you may be left with 25%.
Are you aware of the rationale behind that law? It was agreed upon that if the woman must fend for herself, she might have been able to achieve more, but she dedicated her time to caring for the marriage, the children, including you. During your efforts to build, there were instances when you advised her to wait regarding certain urgent expenses.

Lot and wife
The Bible made us to understand from the book of Gen: 19:1-And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
Gen: 19:2-And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
What I want you know regarding Lot is this: he was a man with a commendable spiritual foundation, having grown up with Abraham, his spiritual perception flourish. One might wonder how he recognised that these two men were angels. The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah perceived them as ordinary men and sought to engage with them, but the Bible states that as soon as Lot saw them, he understood that they were angels of God. He bowed down to worship them and even extended an invitation to them.
This illustrates that our upbringing significantly influences our lives. Even if you did not grow up with a pastor or if your father was not a Christian—perhaps he was an herbalist or had no knowledge of God at all—now that you are a child of God, what legacy are you establishing for your children? As your children are growing up with you, are they observing something in your life that they can utilize in the future?
If Lot had not encountered angels during his time with Abraham, he might have merely regarded those men as ordinary individuals from Sodom and Gomorrah.
I would also like you to emulate this from Lot; he is a welcoming individual, much like Abraham. Upon seeing those men, he was eager to host and care for them.
Hebrew 13:2- Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
If you are anticipating an Angel to arrive with wings, you may encounter none. Angels manifest in various forms, so whenever you have the chance to assist someone, take it. Learn to engage and entertain those around you; this was one of the factors that saved Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Allow me to briefly summarize my thoughts regarding Lot. I must inform you that he was a failed father. All of his children faltered. The first group of daughters grew up to marry individuals from Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot appeared to be quite at ease in that city, despite the ungodliness that was prevalent there.
You claim to be a child of God, yet you are at ease with worldly things. You are a child of God, yet you see nothing wrong with visiting a club. Upon returning home, you may find yourself with a distorted perspective. Even if you intend to preach there, when your children learn that you attended a club and they are given the chance to visit one themselves, you may lose them to such an environment.
Gen 19:12-And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
Gen 19:13-For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
Lot informed his family that God wanted to destroy the city, yet his sons-in-law ridiculed him. This was due to his inability to convey his knowledge of God to his children. Even though the sons-in-law did not heed his warning, his daughters should have said, ‘I want to follow my father.’
Another place where Lot failed was Gen 19:8-Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes…
Are you aware that some individuals prioritize the needs of strangers over the welfare of their children?
If you find yourself in this situation, it is not the correct path. The Bible states that anyone who fails to provide for their own family has denied their faith.
It is because you have neglected your children that they seek solace elsewhere. By focusing on the needs of other people’s children instead of your own, you are contributing to their waywardness. It is not bad to care for other children, but do not neglect your own.
If you are truly a child of God, your first converts should be your children and your spouse. Do not go out to preach on the streets without first taking the time to teach your own children. If you neglect this responsibility, they may one day turn against you, and the devil could use them to bring you torment.
I pray for you; if you have failed in this regard, may God’s mercy restore you. The Lord will bring your children back and renew their spirits.

Isaac and Rebecca
Isaac and Rebecca’s marriage was built on divine direction.
What is prevalent these days is a brother approaching a sister and informing her that the Lord has revealed she is his wife, and He has said that he is her husband. Many of these claims are often based on emotions or falsehoods, but if you genuinely entrust it to God, saying, ‘Show me my husband,’ it is a prayer that God will respond to.
Gen 24:3-4-And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4-But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
The fact that you reside in a particular location does not mean that you are obligated to marry someone from there. It is important to seek divine guidance. Abraham instructed that his eldest servant should travel to his father’s land to find a wife for his son. The servant consented to this task, journeyed to the designated land, and humbly knelt down to pray for guidance.
Gen 24:12 (KJV)- And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
If you are single and reading this piece this morning, consider it a divine direction for you. Do not simply look at any man who approaches you and assume, ‘maybe he is the one?’ As a child of God, you are not meant to enter into a wrong marriage. One of the ways the devil seeks to influence the life of a man or woman is through marriage. Some individuals view marriage as if it is a binding contract, believing that once they are married, they can no longer engage in certain activities.
This is precisely what the devil aims for; he desires to place you in permanent captivity to hinder your progress in life. However, if you act like that servant, you will never be misled.
I encountered someone who claimed that the Lord revealed to her that her husband’s name would begin with the letter ‘J.’ The man who approached her first was indeed named Johnson, and she believed this was proof of what God had told her. We prayed, and the Lord indicated that he was not the one. She was nearly in tears, convinced that this was what God had communicated to her. I advised her to remain calm, explaining that there are many names that start with the letter ‘J.’ Just because Johnson approached her does not mean he is her husband. Eventually, she accepted, and not quite long, Joseph came, and it was confirmed that he was the one God designated as her husband. The devil is aware of what God has revealed to you; he will attempt to send someone in the likes of that description. This is why it is important to remain prayerful.
Isaac was fortunate to find a suitable wife through the prayers of his father’s servant.
When Rebecca arrived at the well, the servant requested her to provide him with water, to which she willingly complied. Furthermore, she agreed to draw water for the ten camels accompanying the servant.
Research indicates that a camel can consume up to 200 liters of water within a time frame of 3 to 15 minutes to feel satisfied. Consider the task of a woman who must fetch water for ten camels; it is important to note that the water is not sourced from a stream, but rather drawn from a well. Regardless of the size of her container, it cannot hold more than 10 liters at once. Therefore, she needed to fetch 10 liters multiplied by 20 to have 200 liters for a single camel, and she repeated this process to quench the thirst of all ten camels. In total, she fetched approximately over 2000 liters of water to provide for a man and the camels, whom she had never met before.
If you are in search of a good wife, seek a woman who can be patience with you; if she lacks patience, she may not be suitable as your wife. Ordinarily, Rebecca might have responded, ‘I came to fetch water; why should I fetch for you?’ She could have even handed him the container laced with rope to fetch water for himself. Instead, she chose to quench the thirst of the camels, which was the very prayer request of that servant.
The servant inquired about her origins. She replied, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor and Milcah.’ Nahor was the nephew of Abraham, who belonged to the family of Abraham, and this connection came to light because of the servant’s prayers.
He eventually expressed his desire to marry her for his master’s son. Delighted, Rebecca returned home and informed her parents that she had found someone who was ready to provide her with a groom. She brought the man home, and he fulfilled all the expectations placed upon him, as he arrived prepared, bringing jewelry for the wife, as well as gifts for her brothers, sisters, and family members.
If you are the kind of man who meets a lady on the street and expresses his desire to marry her, subsequently bringing her into your home, that is an abduction.
You have kidnapped a man’s daughter, and if she begins to give birth for you, you can be arrested. Daddy? If you have not yet paid the bride price for your wife, now is the time to do so. This is the practice we uphold in this church; it is about correction in marriage. If you have neglected this duty, someone may feel wronged, and do not be surprised if a similar situation arises with your own daughter. I am not issuing a curse; please take this into consideration.
The parents of your wife are displeased with you because you have failed to accord them the respect they deserve. It does not need to be an extravagant celebration; simply honour them so that you too will receive honour in return. You will soon find yourself in the role of the bride’s father.
Finally, Rebecca, in addition to being a patient woman, is also nurturing and motherly.
Gen 24: 67(KJV)- 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.
Do not be a woman who is unable to fulfill the role of a mother for your husband. Likewise, husband, you must also take on the role of a father for your wife, ensuring that she does not feel the urge to return to her family. Cherish your wife, so that God may bestow His blessings upon you.

Flaws from Isaac and Rebecca’s marriage
This couple struggled with parenthood; they were blessed with twins. In Genesis 25:23, the LORD spoke to Rebecca, saying, “Two nations are in your womb, and two different peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.”
This was a divine instruction from God intended for both parents to nurture their children. However, Rebecca chose to keep this revelation to herself, knowing that the Lord had declared, ‘the older one shall serve the younger one.’ Had she disclosed the revelation to Isaac, they would have both engaged in prayer regarding it or taken steps to address it?
She was raising those children in that manner. The Bible states that Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed the venison he provided; Esau was a hunter, while Jacob preferred to dwell in the tents. Only Rebecca loved Jacob, perhaps because of what the Lord had told her. I believe that, in one way or another, she may have informed him that his elder brother would serve him, as God had revealed to her.
Many parents make similar mistakes; there are certain things we should not disclose to our children. Even if we must reveal something, we must ensure that the child has divine understand.
The Bible recounts that one day, Esau returned from the field very hungry, while Jacob was cooking a red lentil stew. Esau asked Jacob for some food. The Bible states that Jacob asked him to sell his birthright in exchange for food, indicating that Jacob understood this was necessary for him to become the head of the family, thereby ensuring that Esau would serve him.
Esau was so ignorant that he convinced himself he did not need the birthright due to extreme hunger, which he willingly relinquished.
This is how some of our children have foolishly forfeited their destinies. May I pray for you? Every child of yours who has lost his or her destiny, whether intentionally or unintentionally, shall be revived today; whatever has been lost in their lives that causes them to struggle now or will cause them to struggle in the future, by the mercy of God, it shall be restored to them in Jesus name. Amen! Esau lost his birthright out of ignorance.
Jacob is not a skilled negotiator; he can sell a spoonful of rice for an exorbitant price, yet he can also purchase a spoonful of rice for a significant sum. When this transpired, Isaac chose to bless Esau, having realised he was quite old. He instructed Esau to go and prepare the meal as he typically does. Esau hurried into the wilderness to hunt some fine meat for his father. Rebecca overheard this and informed Jacob that he must be the one to receive the final blessing before Isaac’s passing.
Parents who are manipulating the lives of their children, be careful; you may wish to assist in fulfilling God’s prophecy, but it is unnecessary; God will bring it to fruition. No one aided Joseph in achieving his dream. God orchestrated it.
Continue to pray for your children; do not teach them to leap, but rather to mature. As my father in the Lord says, ‘If you jump, you will fall, but if you grow-up, you will remain elevated.’ Our children will mature in Jesus name. Some parents resort to money rituals for the sake of their children, while others may even become involved in witchcraft due to their children. Do not misunderstand me; it is commendable to strive for your children, but do not engage in actions that will jeopardize their future.
Rebecca achieved success despite Isaac recognizing that the voice belonged to Jacob while the body was that of Esau. Did you ever wonder why he did not complain about the food? It was because his wife prepared it, and she understands his culinary preferences. As a wife, it is essential to know your husband’s likes, just as it is for husbands to understand their wives.
When Esau arrived, he exclaimed, ‘Who has taken my blessing?’ He declared his intent to kill Jacob, forgetting that they were brothers. This marked the beginning of enmity between them.
You may have children who attempt to undermine one another. It is important to foster unity among them for your own sake. Reading the scripture further, it reveals that Isaac and Rebecca did not pass away peacefully.
Upon realizing Esau’s rage, Rebecca advised Jacob to flee to her brother Laban’s home. Upon his arrival, he encountered a young woman named Rachel. Recall that I previously mentioned Jacob’s poor negotiation skills? If you fail to educate your children on essential matters, the world will impart to them unnecessary lessons.
Jacob informed Laban of his desire to marry his daughter Rachel and offered to work for him for seven years. Laban, however, also manipulated Jacob, just as he had previously done to his brother. What one sows, one eventually reaps.
Parents must exercise caution; do not condone your children’s wrongdoing; instead, guide them towards righteousness.
Laban compelled Jacob to serve him for twenty years, during which time Jacob married four wives. He thrived in servitude. He wed Leah, along with her maid, and Rachel and her maid, and they bore children, all while serving Laban, despite the blessings bestowed upon him by his father, Isaac.
Merely providing children with money is insufficient; we must teach them how to manage it wisely, so they do not trade what they possess for what they do not need. There is a Yoruba proverb that states, the child you fail to build will sell the house you have built. May this not be the fate of your children.

Prayer:
Pray for God to give you the wisdom to manage your marriage. In any aspect of your marriage where you have been missing it, I pray that the Lord will give you wisdom to be able to make it right. Your marriage shall be a point contact to others. God will bless you because of your marriage. In The name of the Father, the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen!