Book Review: I, Isaac take thee, Rebekah

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Book Review: I, Isaac take thee, Rebekah

Theme: Moving from Romance to lasting love
Author: Ravi Zacharias
Originally Published: 1986

One day, I stumbled on an excerpt from a certain book on social media. I gulped it down like a hungry lion without knowing which book it was. I saved screen shots and shared with my friends because the truths were classic.

My good friend William @windedwayz.com pointed out it was an excerpt from Ravi Zacharias’ book and promised to send me the complete book. When I received it, I almost jumped out of my skin.

Ravi Zacharias wrote this book shortly after he returned from the sixtieth wedding anniversary of his wife’s parents. Sixty years of faithfulness and love! 60!!! Wow!!! Isn’t this what every heart yearns for in this generation? A love that is most fulfilling and lasting.

He began the book with a story that everyone in love should read. A young man and lady in love had to make a difficult decision and walk down a path that only the brave would dare. Just thinking and writing about it now brings tears to my eyes They loved each other enough to put the other person first.

I, Isaac take thee, Rebekah is one book that drove me to my knees in prayer and utter surrender. Ravi Zacharias went deep into issues many writers have remained silent on. I was particularly touched because I could totally relate. Being in a relationship that is leading to marriage, it was easy to see myself in many of the pages and so far, this is best book I have read on marriage after the Bible.

The reason I want us all to read this book is because each of us have a heart that beats for Love and romance and it is important to be properly guided.

In this book, he tells the story of Isaac and Rebekah in a way that brings to spotlight all the tiny details we often miss and brings it home as it applies to our modern age.

Here is an excerpt from my favourite chapter “The will to do” where he talked about the sacred commitment marriage involves:

“Without the will, marriage is a mockery; without the emotion, it is a drudgery. You need both. An act, especially of such magnitude as marriage, must be thoughtfully considered before it becomes an act. Impulsive acts die impulsive deaths. This works both ways, in honoring that which is right and in resisting that which is wrong. Always make the decision before the emotion stirs you into wrong-headed commitments. Marriages are broken when even one of the two wills breaks from the will of the Father. When your will is committed to God, He carries you when all else seems spent, to rescue what you had invested by your dedication.

How do you harness the will? First, by recognizing that dying to yourself is an act of the will. You must choose to lay down your life in the best sense of the term. You surrender your will to the will of God by an act of commitment and in the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. That is the indispensable beginning. No one likes to begin life with a funeral. But in a sense, that is where marriage begins. You choose to die to yourself and to bring to life a new affection.

Don’t be deceived by the flutter of the heart. Love is a commitment that will be tested in the most vulnerable areas of spirituality, a commitment that will force you to make some very difficult choices. It is a commitment that demands that you deal with your lust, your greed, your pride, your power, your desire to control, your temper, your patience, and every area of temptation that the Bible so clearly talks about. It demands the quality of commitment that Jesus demonstrates in His relationship to us.”

Wow! If that doesn’t drive you to your knees, I don’t know what will.

Somehow, I am tempted to copy and paste every page of this beautiful book here for you to read, but having the complete book is a well deserved honour you owe yourself.

Finally, let me leave you with this last one, it is very deep:

“When you say, “I do,” you enter a whole new world of fiscal, emotional, and manual responsibility. Think long and hard whether you have reached that mature stage of selflessness for this one you think you love so much. The love you enjoy will be the best thing that ever happened to you, but it will cost you your independence.

Love is a command, not just a feeling. Somehow, in the romantic world of music and theater we have made love to be what it is not. We have so mixed it with beauty and charm and sensuality and contact that we have robbed it of its higher call of cherishing and nurturing.”

I highly recommend this book for everyone who wants to have marriage the way God intended and I am willing to share it with you. Just drop your email address in the comment box and you will be a click away from reading this classic.

Have a beautiful week and stay blessed!