Genesis 24:4 – But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

The choice of wife for Isaac was from ‘amongst his relatives’ and ‘from his country’.  The girl would then share similar values and upbringing to what Isaac had experienced. 

When choosing a partner for life – it’s really vital that we find someone who shares similar values and vision to us.  Although it’s possible to work things out over the journey of marriage, the journey is made much easier when we’re ‘yoked’ to someone who ultimately believes the same things that we do.  Who sees things in a reasonably similar manner to how we do. 

This is why 2 Corinthians 6:14 encourages us to ‘not be unequally yoked with unbelievers’.  When it comes to us being able to fully follow the call of God for our lives, it’s made a LOT easier when we have a spouse who is walking with us on that path. 

As a pastor I’ve seen so many times when Christians have made a decision to marry someone who either isn’t a Christian, or who doesn’t share a similar values – and it’s led to all kinds of problems for them in marriage.  Don’t make a rash decision when it comes to the person that you’ll marry, and don’t think it will ‘all just work out somehow’.  Take the time to find someone who is ‘related’ to you in terms of their faith, their values and their vision.  It might take a bit longer, but you truly will never regret it!