Genesis 24:64 TPT
[64] As Rebekah got closer, she raised her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she nearly fell off her camel! 

Genesis 24:67 TPT
[67] Isaac fell in love with Rebekah. He took her to be his wife, and they were married, and he brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent. In this way, Isaac was greatly comforted after his mother’s death.

Judges 14:1-2 TPT
[1] One day Samson went down to Timnah where a Philistine girl caught his eye, [2] so he returned home and told his parents, “At Timnah I noticed a young woman among the daughters of the Philistines; get her for me now to be my wife.”

Love at first sight is indeed powerful, but at the same time it can be a very dangerous thing. It is possible for you and I to fall in love with someone we have no business falling in love with and that was exactly what happened to Samson. He had no business whatsoever falling in love with a Philistine woman but he did anyways.

He saw this woman and she pleased him well. The Bible does not tell us that he had any reason to think this woman wise or virtuous, or in any way likely to be a help-meet for him or even a clue close to it. What we only know is that Samson saw something in her face that was very agreeable to his fancy, and as such she had to be his wife. His choice of a wife was guided only by his eye, and governed by his fancy which was trouble in waiting.

Love at first sight feels wonderful at first, but doesn’t last in its initial form forever. We can be attracted more to the feeling of love itself than the person we focus upon – whom we don’t really know at first sight and that could cause chaos in our dating and later marriage.

Sadly, bound by romantic feelings and love at first sight, many people still demand from God a mate not of God’s will just like Samson demanded from his parents.

Rebekah and Isaac on the other hand are different. They both experienced love at first sight. Scripture says that Rebekah almost fell off her camel when she saw Isaac. I can only imagine how strong that love was. One commentary actually says this, “One can imagine their eyes met, they locked eyes with each other, and something sparked between them.”

Rashi a well known Torah commentator says that Rebekah saw Isaac’s majestic appearance and she was astounded by him. That’s literally love at first sight.

Isaac on the other hand, immediately fell in love with Rebekah and took her to be his wife.

What’s the difference between Samson’s and Rebekah’s and Isaac’s case?

Here’s what we should learn. While love at first sight is there, commitment must go beyond what you see. Love at first sight doesn’t last for long. What was attractive soon fades. There should be something else that should sustain that love beyond the sight and that is character.

Scripture says in Proverbs 31:30 (NLT) that
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

Fear of the Lord is a character issue. While beauty attracts, behavior keeps. While charm attracts, character sustains. If you settle for what you can see, what you don’t see might unsettle you. Feelings are real but they’re not reliable. Marriage is too serious for you to get into it based on feelings.

Rebekah’s character had been tested and tried by Eleazer. She was not only beautiful but she was a virgin. Virginity is symbolic for character. Not only that, she was kind enough to water Eleazar’s animals.

Go beyond what you see at face value. Take time and learn the other person. Sight alone cannot help you settle in marriage. Be wise!

All that glitters is not gold and not all that is gold glitters!