Rebekah the bride

 

Genesis 24

1Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way.

2Abraham said to his servant, the oldest (Eliezer) of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh,

3and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.

Abraham calls his eldest most trusted servant Eliezer for a special mission. This servant fulfills the role of prophet/servant or Holy Spirit of the Lord. Abraham represents God and Isaac the Son of God.  Here, there is an outreach to family extended that will carry the promise of God.

We are not to mingle ourselves with the ways of the world. We are to be in it but not of it. We each have an invitation to leave Babylon spiritually and come unto Zion as the Lord’s people. This is the resting place of the Lord and where His true disciples dwell. In time, the Lord will remove His sheep physically when the time of invitation to the gentiles is up.

Eliezer is obedient to the command of God and Abraham and goes in search of a wife for Isaac, not knowing beforehand how exactly he will fulfill his mission. When he arrives, he offers a prayer unto God as he approaches in faith a way that he may accomplish his task with God’s help.

10 ¶ And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

12 And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

 

It is Interesting that he took ten camels with him on the journey. The number 10 indicates God's authority, completeness, order, and divine perfection. He did not want to go on his own strength but with the blessing of the Lord. Having the camels then kneel is a sign of humility and unburdening. The servant also humbles himself before the Lord, unburdens himself from the responsibility of the miracle of the assignment and places his faith in God that He will provide. We also must be humble and have the authority of the Lord. His/our faith puts forth a proposal that is good in the sight of God as an act of being an agent and instrument in the hands of the Lord. The prayer is very specific but is done so in humility and surrender, seeking the kindness of the Lord. In this he has recognized the power of God, and his personal limits. As we go to serve the master we also leave our comfort and safety to go into strange territory that we may help redeem those trapped in Babylon.

The story does not end with this first act as there are still trials and hurdles to overcome but this first initial act of faith precedes the miracle. We must abide in Christ and endure to the end.

The Hebrew verb שׁתה (shāṯāh) means "to drink." (sha'ab) means to “draw” up water. How symbolic is the well of water, where we go to draw and drink. Looking in spiritual terms, we draw and drink from the source of all righteousness. This drinking is symbolic of receiving from the Lord, which is why I believe the servant proposed this method to the Lord, to find a wife for Isaac, because he was also looking to receive from the Lord. As we search for those who might be part of the bride of Christ we must not go on our own efforts but in the strength and authority of Christ. We must each draw and drink from His well.

 

Let us remember the women at the well in John 4

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto Him, How is it that Thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto Him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast Thou that living water?

12 Art Thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

We are looking for Living water, the kind that we receive and speak by the Holy Spirit. We do not strike it any longer with the tools of men but allow God to speak and flow through us. (see Numbers 20) We do not need anything to draw with but the power of God. We move beyond the physical symbols such as rods to understand the higher spiritual nature of things.  This is symbolized through Moses the second time he struck the rock, as he had previously struck it the first time in obedience to the Lord's instructions. Yet this time he was only commanded to speak to the rock, the word of God, that living water might flow. It was a spiritual lesson, not just a physical blessing, as all things with the Lord are. When we hold back from full obedience to His voice, we deny ourselves of the spiritual blessings or lands of promise God has in store for us. The Lord wants to “draw” us out by His own power unto life eternal.

In Genesis 24, Rebekah, the fair virgin, represents the chosen of God as being choice and elect for our father’s house. She responds positively and immediately and draws water, puts down her pot to the servant to give him drink and then makes haste to also draw water for all the camels by filling the trough.  I like how she responds with earnest and so willingly. She has a good heart and does not hold back or judge. She doesn’t do the bare minimum but I’m sure God placed these feelings upon her heart. She responds by going above and beyond, following the Spirit to help Eliezer who is a stranger in the land. The servant of Abraham gets his first answer from the Lord and his hope expands to see that she is indeed the lady destined to be the wife of his master Isaac. He praises God!

22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold

This is symbolic of us being chosen and clothed by the Lord by his Spirit and arrayed in His Jewels and blessings because we give Him our heart. We each have a calling and election to awake to. He came to bring life that we might have it more abundantly. With Him, our cup runs over. He will lay our foundations with pleasant stones and jewels.

27 And he (the servant) said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

I love how he takes the time to recognize the Lord’s hand in this blessing right away. “I being in the way,” such beautiful humble words. We also follow the narrow path and being “in the way” we follow Christ, who is “the way” the truth and the life. The Lord will lead us on the path of righteousness. We walk in faith along His path as we follow His voice.

In the story, Rebekah then runs home and relates all to her family and the servant is brought in to dine and stay with them. Eliezer takes this opportunity to relate to them his mission and what has transpired of the Lord. They deem it to be of the Lord and submit to allow Rebekah to go and become the wife of Isaac but the choice is hers alone. We should also invite the Spirit and the servants and word of the Lord into our homes and our hearts to hear the message of the Lord. The choice is ours to accept His call. They received Eliezer and his men with open arms. They provided water to wash their feet and provided every needful thing.

48 And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.

49 And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the Lord hath spoken.

52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.

53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

Now with approval, a wedding dowry is given, a price paid and sacrificed that she may be redeemed. The same as we are called to be the Bride of Christ. He redeems us through His sacrifice and if we follow Him, we are His. We each have the choice; we can turn to the left or to the right. Blessed are those who find themselves on the right hand of the Lord.

As the story continues; in the morning, the servant makes known that they must make haste and return and not stay in the land. Once we are awake spiritually we must arise and go forth and follow the Lord. We must turn away from our old ways and embrace the new. We cannot hold back but must repent and go in faith.

55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.

58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

“I will go”, she chose not to hold back but to follow the servant who would lead her to Isaac, which again represents Christ. Let us not hold back but awake and arise and come unto the Lord, into His presence where we may each experience the abundance of His love in a marriage relationship, united as One.

We must each be like Rebekah as she represents all of us as the Bride. We are called to be the Bride of Christ. Will we come unto Him? Do we look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb?

 

Isaiah 62

 4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

5 ¶ For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

 

 

Matthew 25

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

May we have our lamps trimmed and oil plenty, that we may be prepared when Christ comes again. We first heed His call and invitation. Then in denying ourselves and following after Him, we will come to know Him and experience His love. My prayer is that we might each know Him when He comes again because we have had an intimate spiritual love relationship, and will be accepted as His forever bride, no longer forsaken.

 

Alma 5

60 And now I say unto you that the Good Shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto His voice He will bring you into His fold, and ye are His sheep; and He commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.

 

John 10

2 But He that entereth in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep.

3 To Him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.

 ...

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.

May we heed the call and enter in by the Shepherd’s gate.

Your friend and brother in Christ Jesus,

Kent

 

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