Customer Reviews

I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah: Moving from Romance to Lasting Love

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I picked up Ravi's book after reading an article where he told the story of his brother getting married through the process of arranged marriage. Ravi approached his brother prior to the marriage and basically asked him, "Brother, what if this girl is ugly?" His brother scolded Ravi and said, "Mark this down. If you will to love someone, you can." That intrigued me because today, we're of the mindset that you can only love someone physically beautiful. While I believe it's good our own dating system affords us the chance to have a beautiful mate, I wanted to know more about Ravi's take on willing to love.

This book is fantastic! Ravi lifts marriage out of our own cultural context and puts it in the place God intended it. While it is true that dating/marriage will have aspects of the culture buried within it, Ravi asks us to accept those only to a point. He points us to the story of Isaac and Rebekah - two "kids" who:
1) aceepted the need for a mate and allowed the parents to be involved,
2) willed to love each other,
3) sacrificed their lives for each other,
4) committed to sexual purity prior to marriage (his discussion in this chapter focuses on the believer's body being the temple of God and is very illuminating),
5) left the home of mom and dad,
6) had the great need for daily, genuine personal prayer and bible study, and
7) remained committed to each other even in the hard times.

As I mentioned before, this book will lift your thought of marriage on to a totally new plane. You'll find yourself questioning what you actually believe marriage is. You'll be left with much thinking to do, but will come to appreciate that marriage is a huge commitment in rejecting your own desires, accepting God's desires, and fulfilling your wife's desires (as she, in turn, fulfills yours). It's a beautiful book, in my opinion. Highly recommended. -andy

Best-selling author Ravi Zacharias offers a moving, albeit awkwardly titled, tribute to lifelong love with I, ISAAC, TAKE THEE, REBEKAH.

As its subtitle suggests, the book is about "moving from romance to lasting love," and in light of modern day attacks on the sanctity of marriage, its message is not only timeless but timely.

While it is Zacharias' first treatment of this subject matter, fans of his more philosophical works, including CRIES OF THE HEART, DELIVER US FROM EVIL and JESUS AMONG OTHER GODS, won't be disappointed by his departure from "weightier matters of philosophical debate about truth and belief in God," as he states it.

Centering on the Old Testament story of Isaac and Rebekah, Zacharias identifies them as a covenantal couple committed to loving each other unconditionally. In the process of telling their tale, he espouses a return to the enduring values of family, faithfulness and fidelity in the marriage relationship.

Decrying the prevailing popularity of "sex without strings and marriage without rings," Zacharias shares invaluable insights for nurturing a marriage that stands the test of time. For example, in the chapter titled "The Living Act of a Dead Self," he writes that "if the first thing about committing the will is that it is a death to yourself, what comes to life is a disposition that seeks to serve."

Zacharias lists personal maturity, premarital counseling and preparation for disagreements as the three characteristics of a couple properly prepared for life as man and wife. And with clarity and conviction, he drives home the point that "conflict resolution is the key to success in most marriages," an understatement if ever there was one.

As Zacharias points out, the wedding is the easiest part of being married, and it is not until afterward that couples actually discover whether or not their words carry the weight of authenticity. To help couples striving to make their marriage a success, he proposes some governing disciplines that must translate into the lives of each partner.

According to Zacharias, there must be a daily commitment to prayer, to the study of the scriptures and to active involvement in a local church, if couples are to cultivate the type of character that enables them to successfully navigate the stormy seas of modern day matrimony.

Presenting foundational truths in the face of mounting threats to marriage, the book is a useful guide for establishing love that lasts for a lifetime. It is specially suited for use as a premarital counseling tool and related church resource; it's also recommended reading for any couple seeking to ground their relationship in biblical bedrock.

--- Reviewed by Sean Fowlds

Ravi hits a home run with his latest book. Clear and straight to the point. A great read for any parent who wants to help guide their children in these difficult decisions and a must read for anyone who plans to marry or wants to improve the relationship of his/her marriage.

I bought and read this book last summer, going through some difficult mental and emotional battles involving not dating anyone or being married yet. This book was brilliantly and beautifully crafted and gave me hope and practical principles I could use now to prepare for marriage later.

I picked it up again this summer, not intending to read it again, but somehow finding myself engrossed once again. I think I could read this book once every few months to remember--whether I'm single, dating, or married. I so appreciate Zacharias' delicate yet bold handling of modern issues including homosexuality and divorce. These aren't themes, but they are issues approached in an inoffensive manner.

I have read many other books on dating and marriage and this one by far is the best thus far. I know there is a bookcase of books on this subject out there and can't say this is the best out of all of them, but that is only because I haven't read all of them. I'm sure this one would come out near the top no matter what.

One thing is clear from reading Ravi Zacharias's book, I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah: marriage is hard work. Using the biblical story of Isaac and Rebekah, Zacharias attempts to reveal God's will for marriage.

Zacharias's background as a professional speaker is obvious from reading his book. He ties in stories and examples effortlessly with a conversational tone, letting the reader know that it's safe to go on. His views on marriage are at the same time agreeable and challenging to anyone reared on biblical values. It's all been said before in other marriage books, but perhaps not in such a sober way. Zacharias's passion is to show people that marriage is a serious business. He doesn't pull any punches in this regard; everyone takes responsibility, from pastors to parents to society. In particular, Zacharias does not go easy on men, saying: "There is little doubt that men have led the way in the dereliction of duty to the family" (p. 145).

But his confidence as a speaker works against him to a large degree. He makes the assumption that people will want to listen to him. He takes his time how life ought to be--rather than presenting them as they are. Therefore, people who are looking for answers to their problems in a clear, straightforward way may decide to look elsewhere.

This is not a self-help book. Instead it reads more like a 156-page sermon and, like a sermon, tends to go off topic quite easily. The chapter titles are clever and informative, but the material in between doesn't always fit; it's not at all unusual to finish a chapter and wonder what it was about. The problem is that Isaac and Rebekah's story was intended to be a framework for how the book is structured. Unfortunately, it is used as a springboard instead, launching off into lengthy discussions only loosely tied into the subject of marriage.

While there is no doubt that parenting, church life, and personal devotions all relate to marriage, Zacharias could have done a better job of tightly joining them into the main idea. As it is, they fit more like oversized pants, requiring the reader to do the work of holding up the point: marriage God's way.

Another part of the problem is that Zacharias doesn't seem to know to what audience he's writing. Is it to those who are single and thinking of marriage? Or is it to those who are already married? Or is it to parents or pastors? A specific focus would have been beneficial. The fact is, the story of Isaac and Rebekah would make a much better Prayer of Jabez-size book: repackage it as many times as you want for different audiences.

I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah has some rich insights, but they must be gleaned with patience and a meditative approach in order to benefit from them. -- Charlie Gormely, Christian Book Previews.com

I think Zacharias did a great job with this book in highlighting important, practical steps in finding a spouse. I appreciated the stress he placed on the parents' role in the process and the importance of their involvement through it all. However, i wished he more fully disclosed his parents' thoughts and ideas through the course of his wedding after only sharing their initial objection with his marriage. Parental blessing is in an important aspect to him and i was curious as to the turn of events that produced their blessing (if at all).
Nonetheless, this is an insightful book and is a good reference in counsel for marriage and marriage-preparation.

This was a good book - period - the reason for a 4 instead of a 5 star is due to the fact, I don't think most pre-marrieds will like it due to its black and what suggestions that most pre-marrieds have no desire to hear. I my self have been married for 7 years and still loved the book. It has some great principles for the perspective of a father and a husband, and if you are looking for a short easy read that is great - this is your book

I adore Ravi so of course I liked this book. I really like that it was a quick and to the point read. It makes for a good gift if need be. Principles apply to married couples as well.

Whenever I've heard Ravi Zacharias speak on the radio, I've enjoyed listening to him. He's very eloquent, carefully choosing his words and his arguments. There's a preciseness and richness to his speech that I enjoy. And, he ably defends the Scriptures and uses them for the basis of his teaching. I don't always agree with every single point made, but I can respect where he's coming from. I had never, however, read any of his books before, and when I was checking them out on Amazon, his book I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah sounded interesting to me.

As I would have expected, this is a well-written book. It is replete with examples and quotes that almost always contribute greatly to what Ravi is sharing. He frequently shares from Scripture, both the main text in Genesis, and supporting passages from other places in Scripture.

Ravi's main point is that real love, the kind to base a marriage on, is more than passionate, romantic feelings. Love is a choice, a commitment, the deliberate putting of another's needs and wants before your own. It is not easy, but this is what God calls us to in marriage. And, thus he emphasizes that marriage is a very serious decision to be making, and requires preparation and soul-searching. He also encourages the idea of seeking parental blessing whenever possible, though I wish here that he had pointed out the difference between a daughter who is still under her father's protection and a grown son who will be the head of his own home and is not under his parents' protection. Ravi also speaks to the importance of striving for purity, of prayer in a marriage, etc.

At 150 pages, this is a relatively short book, but it has a lot of valuable truths to it. It could have been slightly more helpful by broadening its scope a bit more beyond the relationship between Isaac and Rebekah, but it is is still a helpful resource. And, I honestly found it to be enjoyable reading, as the writing is very engaging and conversational, though with a more sophisticated vocabulary than some of us would use! I would recommend this book to Christians who are of marriageable age, parents of the same, and those who are struggling in their marriage. I also expect to be acquiring more of Ravi Zacharias' books.

I will say that this book was a breath of fresh air. For anyone who wonders how to make God's idea of romance work in a broken world- I would suggest a new perspective: namely Ravi's. The book read quickly but there are many jewels along the way that I would try not to rush past.