No woman should ever be forced to marry a man. Genesis 2:24 says a man leaves his mother and father to marry his wife. A husband doesn’t drag the woman to his home. She comes happily, with a spring in her step.
As was the case with Rebekah, the parents should give their consent before the marriage. They said: “Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.” The woman should also consent. Genesis 24:58 says: “And they called Rebekah and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ She said, ‘I will go.’”
It is crucial to gain consent and approval for the relationship from parents and other wise Christians because when a couple is in love, it is easy to make foolish decisions. Martin Luther once said: “The first love of marriage is drunken. When the intoxication wears off, then comes the real marriage love.” Thus, in the early days of intoxicating love, couples must embrace the counsel of godly believers.
This is why public vows are important. The parents and the bride agree before witnesses. Even the very first marriage had vows before God. Adam said: “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” These vows were said before everyone in the world, which at that time was only two people—the bride and the groom!Summary: Godly young men secure approval for the relationship from parents, pastors, and the woman.