“It came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out through a window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah.” Genesis 26:8
This Verse always gets my attention. Here in today’s section, Isaac is asked by the Philistines about his wife. He replies, “She is my sister” because he was afraid “the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, since she is beautiful.” However, over the course of time, the king observes behavior that betrays that relationship. We’re told “that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down through a window, and saw them, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah.” Now, the exact meaning of the word (can mean fondling or playing) isn’t as important as the fact that it was more than a sibling would be doing! As far as Onlookers would have surmised, “they are definitely not brother and sister”! It would have been patently clear.
Two things stand out from this. Though not told explicitly, we can assume Rebekah was a willing participant. And, as godly husbands, we are commanded to “love our wives as Christ loved the Church” and “live with them according to knowledge”. This means sensitivity to our conduct with them in public. If they don’t want you kissing them in front of others, “Then Don’t Do It”! At the same time, we should be viewed by the public, like Isaac, to treat them more than a Sister. It may take time to discover what they would prefer you Do, or Don’t Do; but if you Love them, you will find out. May God give us Wisdom to find a healthy balance!