"For Zion's sake will I not hold my
peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness
thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness,
and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the
mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt
also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the
hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be
termed Forsaken: neither shall they land any more be termed Desolate: but thou
shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah; but the LORD delighteth in
thee, and thy land shall be married. 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.” (Isaiah 62:1-5).
"And there came unto me one of the seven
angels...and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.” (Revelations 21:9).
It is extremely
comforting to know, especially in this time of shifting values and
"situational ethics," that the Word of God is still a rock-solid
foundation on which we can safely build our lives. It is an ever-faithful guide that holds all of
the answers to life's difficult questions.
One particular issue that
has become quite clouded is the area of marriage and male/female relationships. As everything else, the Bible holds the
answers to this all important subject if we have the ears to hear what the
Spirit is saying to the Church. This
issue has been generally overlooked or misunderstood as many Christians seem
content to follow the customs and practices of the world in regard to dating
and relationships. As a result, they reap heartache and often
enter into marriages that are doomed to failure from the start. It is a disturbing commentary on the state of
the Church that the divorce rate among Christians rivals that of the world in
general!
In the 24th chapter of
Genesis we find a beautiful pattern for godly courtship and marriage. It not only contains basic principles that
would profit every Christian to follow in choosing a life mate, but it is also full
of types and shadows that create for us a picture of the Bride of Christ.
Let us ask God to
enlighten our hearts and minds as we study His Word so that we may have
discernment to recognize what is "of
this world" and what is of God. There are so many ideas which have no biblical
foundation, and traditions that we have received and don't even think to
question until we are confronted with truth. May our merciful heavenly Father grant us grace
to judge what is holy and what is not.
THE BRIDE, THE LAMB'S WIFE
“And Abraham was old and well
stricken in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of
his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my
thigh: and I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God
of the earth, that thou shall not
take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my
son Isaac.” (Genesis 24:1-4).
One of the amazing
things about the Old Testament is that it is full of historical accounts which
also, on another level, typify spiritual principles and truths. In all of the stories, and all of the
historical accounts, we catch glimpses of Jesus Christ throughout. The story of the Passover also typifies Jesus
the Lamb of God without blemish; the story of manna being sent from heaven
typifies Jesus the true Bread from heaven, etc.
As we study the holy scriptures, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us these
types and shadows and deeper truths.
In the story of Isaac
and Rebekah, Abraham typifies God the Father. Isaac represents Jesus, the Son of God. Abraham's eldest servant characterizes the
Holy Spirit. This servant had access to
all that Abraham owned; he "ruled
over all that he had." It was
his commission to search out a wife for his master's son even as it is the Holy
Spirit today who is searching and trying the hearts of men to find a bride for Christ,
God’s Son.
Much is written
throughout the Holy Scriptures concerning this Bride of Christ. The prophet Isaiah spoke of her saying, "as the Bridegroom rejoiceth over the
bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." (Isaiah 62:5). Paul unveiled a great mystery in his letter to
the Ephesians when he spoke of the proper relationship that should exist
between a man and his wife, and then stated: "I speak concerning Christ and the Church." (Ephesians
5:32).
He was very clear, also, when he wrote, "I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a
chaste virgin to Christ." (2Corinthians 11:2). David also saw God's demand for holiness and
purity in those who would be His Bride and he wrote about it in Psalm 45. We also see a picture of the great wedding day
of Christ when a multitude of voices will rise like thunder saying, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give
honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready." (Revelations
19:7). Christ’s Bride will not be every
believer who has ever named the name of Christ.
She will be made up of those who have “made themselves ready” in this life and who “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” (See Revelations 14:4).
THE IMPORTANCE OF SEPARATION
Abraham was very
particular about the type of mate he desired for his son, and so is God in
respect to a bride for His Son, Jesus
Christ. She was not to be of the
daughters of the Canaanites, but of Abraham's own country and kindred. The Canaanites were a people who worshiped
idols of many sorts and did not know the true God. Abraham well understood the spiritual danger
that was involved in taking a wife of these people for his son. She would be either a snare to Isaac that
would weaken his own faith and effectiveness for God, or she would be a
constant vexation to him because of her idolatry and disregard for God's holy
standards.
It is interesting to
note that many years later God spoke specifically in the law about the Canaanites
when He commanded Israel, "...thou
shalt make no covenant with them...neither shalt thou make marriages with
them...for they will turn away thy son from following Me, that they may serve
other gods." (Deuteronomy 7:1-6). The great Israelite king, Solomon, for all the
wisdom that he possessed, still fell into this snare and took wives from among
the ungodly. He married Moabites,
Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: 700 wives and 300 concubines
altogether! As a result, his heart was turned toward their
idols, worshipping Ashtoreth, Chemosh and Molech. Thus he did evil in God's sight. The worship of Molech was so abominable that
it included child sacrifice and occultist rituals. Though there are not many who are actually
serving stone or metal images of gods today, there are multitudes of
unbelievers who place their stone or metal possessions
above God on their priority list. They are
idolaters just as surely as those people were long ago.
The Canaanites in this
story represent unbelievers in the one true God. The Bride of Jesus will only come from those who
have been born again and are part of the family of God. Paul plainly wrote to the Church to "Come
out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will
receive you." (2 Corinthians 6:17).
Two important principles
are contained in the first four verses of Genesis 24. First, a
Christian should allow God to lead him/her in the choosing of a life-mate.
God should be the One Who we consult for
every decision in our lives. How much more so in this most important of all
decisions? How can we afford to exclude
Him and not let Him have complete control of this area of our lives? Yet there are many who act as though relationships
are just like trying on a new change of clothes - if they don't fit, they will discard
them and get new ones! They have no
regard for the string of broken hearts and hurt feelings that they leave in
their wake. This is the way of the
world, and of those who don’t know God, not the way of believers who profess to
know and follow Christ!
Secondly, a Christian should never form a serious
relationship with an unbeliever. Paul writes, "be not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers." (2 Corinthians 6:14). Light cannot have fellowship with darkness,
and neither can those who know and love the Lord Jesus have any heart communion
with those who do not know or love Him.
Two people who begin a marriage like this soon find out that they are
pulling in two different directions, living in two completely different
worlds. The Bible likens it to plowing
with an ox and an ass in the same yoke.
The one is determined to plow ahead in obedience while the other is self
willed and works against the other. The
things that are most important in life to the unbeliever are abominable or vain
to the Christian, and the things that are life and joy to the Christian are
foolishness to the unbeliever. Much of
the incompatibility that exists between many couples would begin to dissolve if
they were to become of one mind spiritually and then learn to work together
toward common life goals.
Oh, how we need to let
God be the Lord of our lives and trust Him for the blessings that He wishes to
bestow on us in abundance! There is no
greater peace that we can know than that which comes from walking in His will. There is no greater joy than living in
obedience to His plan for us. We must
learn, however, to put to death our quest for pleasures, worldly thrills, and
lusts of the flesh so that we can begin to live the abundant life God has
promised us. If, in our search for
fulfillment and happiness, we refuse to allow God's guidance, the result will
be the reaping of heartache and pain which we will carry for our lifetimes, not
to mention the eternal loss of heavenly rewards that we will suffer for our
refusal to follow the Lord’s guidance.
In the light of so
much solid Bible instruction, we can well understand Abraham's concerns for
Isaac. What a beautiful pattern of a
father's love and guidance for his son, and what a powerful example for us to
follow today! We, who are fathers, must
be willing to instruct our children in the principles of God's Word and warn
them against the snares that the world's philosophies and traditions teach -
whether it's in the realm of dating, marriage, or even business partnerships.
"COME, FOLLOW ME"
“And the servant said unto him,
Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me into this land: must I
needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that
thou bring not my son hither again. The
Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of
my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy
seed will I give this land; He shall
send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from
thence. And if the woman will not be
willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring
not my son thither again. And the
servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him
concerning that matter.” (Genesis 24:5-9).
We find that the
servant was concerned that the woman might not be willing to come away from her
home and follow him. He desired to know
if he should then take Isaac to her. Abraham
was very adamant that Isaac was not to go into Mesopotamia. He was just as firm, though, in his faith in
God to send His angel ahead to prepare the heart of the woman who would become
Isaac's bride. Any woman not willing to
follow the servant and forsake all of her past was simply not worthy - she
wasn't to be the chosen bride!
This is a good lesson
for every believer in Christ. We must
seriously consider His call. It is a
call to holiness and a call to come out from the world, its systems and
mindsets. Abraham knew well the
importance of this call because he himself was called out by God from his world many years before and called
to be separated for God (Genesis 12:1-4).
Jesus emphasized the seriousness of His call when He told the parable of
the marriage feast. Regarding those who
made light of His invitation to the feast and who went their own way, ignoring His
invitation He said, “The wedding is
ready, but they which were bidden
were not worthy.” (Matthew 22:8). Those who became Jesus’ disciples left
everything behind immediately and followed Him. Jesus would pass by them and say, "Come, follow Me", and they
left nets and families and tables of money and just followed. His call to us is no less serious today, but,
oh, the excuses we make! (Luke 14:16-26). There are those, however, who are hearing the
voice of their Beloved saying, "Rise
up, my love, my fair one, and come away." (Song of Solomon 2:10).
Another principle that
is very precious regarding those who are seeking a godly mate is that God will prepare the heart of the one
who is to be your husband or wife. You will not have to resort to flattery,
enticement, flirtation, glamour, pleading or pressure to convince a person that
you are right for them. Just as the
Father draws those whom He calls by His Spirit, and then they come to the Son,
God will also draw the heart of that one who is right for you if they are
seeking God’s will also. Of course,
every person has a free will. There is a possibility of disobedience, or
ignorance, or reluctance to respond to God's call, but those who are actively
seeking to know God's will as it concerns marriage will follow Him gladly. They will know it is for their happiness and
safety that they trust His leading and His provision. Just as Isaac and Rebekah both trusted
Abraham’s servant to arrange the right match for them, we must trust the Holy
Spirit today to bring souls together who will be likeminded and anchored in
Christ. Is this too hard for God?! Too often, young people choose a potential
mate based solely on outward attraction and not on character. They are afraid to yield this decision to God
because they don’t trust Him to send them someone who will be truly compatible,
and also someone who they will be attracted to.
God knows our needs and wants better than we know ourselves, and He will
provide us with both if we are willing to wait on Him.
There are two things
that are essential to a successful marital relationship: that the husband love his wife as Christ did the Church (He GAVE
Himself for it!), and that the wife
submit herself to her husband in the same way that the Church is subject to
Christ. If a woman would learn
to perfectly trust Christ, let her learn to trust her husband also. Let her learn to trust God to direct and deal
with him in their lives together. I’m
talking about a truly godly
relationship here. God has promised to
hinder the prayers of that husband who is not sensitive to his wife’s needs and
is not living with her according to the knowledge that the Father has revealed
to him regarding her. This is very
powerful when women take hold of this promise and trust God to enact it in
their marriage. They must be very
cautious with this power, however, being careful to open their hearts to the
possibility that the Lord is trying to change them as well. It is easier for men and women both to try to
change their mates, and endeavor to mold them into their own image, rather than
trust the Holy Spirit to do the thing that He was sent to do. As in all things, faith is the victory! The whole process is most effective with
those men and women who are already sensitive to God’s direction. It may not be effective at all if a person has
not obeyed the Lord and chosen an unbelieving mate. They may just have to reap what they sow in
such a case. But as Paul tells us: “For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou
shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy
wife?” (1 Corinthians 7:16). The
Bible has a whole other set of answers for those who have unbelieving mates.
(See 1 Corinthians 7:10-24).
ALL THE GOODS OF HIS MASTER
“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.” (Genesis 24:10).
Again, we see this
servant as a type of the Holy Spirit - "all
the goods of his master were in his hand."
Jesus spoke of the
Holy Spirit in a similar way when He said, "He
shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine:
therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you."
(John 16-14, 15). For this reason we
can trust the Spirit’s leading in every
area of our life.
WELLS OF LIVING WATER
“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 the women go out
to draw water.” (Genesis 24:11).
I believe that
Abraham's servant finding Rebekah at a well is extremely significant. Wells in the Bible represent sources of
spiritual blessing. "Therefore with
joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12:3). That Rebekah was by the well indicates that
those for whom God is searching to be the Bride of Christ are those who have
learned to draw water from the wells of salvation continually, and that well of water is Christ Himself. “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.”
(John 4:14).
Young men/women: don't
even consider someone as your future spouse if they are not men or women of
faith and of the Word; who know how to hear from the Lord and who know Christ
as a well of living water. If they don't
know He is able to nourish their lives and make them fruitful, they will not
know how to encourage and sustain you either.
ALL GLORIOUS WITHIN
“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. Behold, I stand
here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to
draw water: 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 to 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. And it came to pass, before he had done
speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of
Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her
shoulder. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither
had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher,
and came up.” (Genesis 24:12-15).
The scripture
describes the damsel in two ways: first, she is described as very fair. We, as Christians, must recognize what true beauty
really is. In today's culture we find
that glamour is a thing that is exalted above integrity. The primary qualification for a good wife has
become what she looks like, not her character. The Bible, however, gives a good guideline for
Christian women to follow, and one that is guaranteed to be attractive to a
godly man.
"Whose adorning let it not be
that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of
putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which
is not corruptible, even the ornament
of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
(1Pet.3:3.4).
Any woman who abides
by these words is very fair in God's sight and in man's. She has learned to let the inner glow of
purity illuminate and beautify her. Psalm
45 gives us a glimpse of the inner beauty that Christ desires in His Bride. In its description of the Bride of Christ, we
read that the King shall "greatly
desire thy beauty" because He found her to be "all glorious within."
(Psalm 45:11, 13). Do not allow the world and the glamorous image
it encourages through television, movies, advertising and retail stores become
the pattern that you follow or the rule by which you measure your own
self-worth. GUARD YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS
AS YOU TEACH THEM GOD'S PRINCIPLES SO THAT THEY DO NOT EMBRACE THE WORLD'S
DEFINITION OF BEAUTY AS DESIROUS. And
young men, do not expose yourselves to nudity either in the form of pornography
or movies. Besides inflaming the lusts
of the flesh, such exposure sets a false standard of beauty which creates an
unrealistic expectation for women. It
will also trouble a marriage and render your spiritual service to the Lord
ineffective.
Secondly, the damsel
is said to be a virgin. The term
"virgin" describes a much higher level of purity than never having
had intercourse with a man. Today,
couples lay together, fondling, embracing carnally, and exposing their naked
flesh to one another, yet still boast of being "virgins." While technically they may not have had
intercourse, they most definitely have defiled one another and given away that
which belongs only to their future husband or wife. Paul said that it was good that a man not
touch a woman (1 Corinthians 7:1). The
reason for this was that it would lead to an inflaming of the lust of the
flesh. He then said that it was better
to marry than to burn (in your lusts). Young
people, as well as those who are older, must learn that their body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit! God has
declared that you are not to defile that temple in any way. Keep yourselves pure in mind, in spirit, and
in body. Determine to honor the Lord in
all that you do. To my sisters in the
Lord I say: if a man requires you to compromise yourself with him, than he is
not worthy of you. And to my brothers:
if you put this type of pressure on a woman to gratify your own lust, then you
have transgressed against the Lord Who bought you and will reap for what you
sow.
The secret to
overcoming the lusts of the flesh is surrender.
Many young people are assailed by their own passions because they have
not submitted their “right” to indulge in such passions. Fornication was one of a very short list of “don’ts” that the early Apostles sent
around to the various Gentile churches (Acts 15:19, 20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). Satan will first attack our thoughts before
he attacks our flesh. If we draw a line in our mind and refuse
to entertain any thoughts of lust, it will be much easier for us to control our
actions. Also, scripture says
that our eyes are the light of the body.
If we allow our eyes to gaze lustfully on the opposite sex, we will
surely fall into temptation and ultimately sin.
Scripture does not say in vain that we must “mortify the deeds of the body.” (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5).
The Bride of Christ
will be comprised of those who are undefiled, not just according to the flesh,
but who are also pure in spirit. The
term "virgin" is also used to describe one's faithfulness to the
Lord. When we give ourselves to the lusts of the flesh, we are being
unfaithful to Christ. Similarly,
if we allow ourselves to be defiled or controlled by some doctrine or organization,
we have betrayed the Lord. If Jesus
Himself isn't the focus and center of all that we do and all that we believe,
then we are not being true to only Him!
When Israel of old was
fooling around with idols and breaking God's laws and commandments, the Lord
likened them to adulterers. He told them
that they had left their first love. Paul
said, "I have espoused you to one
husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve though his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the
simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:2, 3). It is Jesus who has called us, and we must be
faithful to His love, and chaste in our dealings with all others.
Many years ago, there
was a man who, shortly after conversion tried to join a large church in his
community. Each week as he and his wife
would enter the building, they would become uneasy and restless inside. They
soon became concerned and began to seek the Lord. Why did they feel joyful and ready to worship up
until they entered the church? Their
anticipation was replaced with feeling sick at heart. As they sought the Lord, He wonderfully
enlightened their understanding by showing them the spiritual significance of
Proverbs 5. As they read that chapter
dealing with the subtilty of the harlot, the words were quickened to them. They could see that every verse applied not
only to the ways of a harlot, but also applied in a spiritual sense to the
church they were trying to join. The beliefs
and focus of that church were in direct opposition to much of what they were reading
and learning from scripture. They realized
that they could not love and follow the Lord and also walk with a doctrine that
denied Christ. How we need to keep
ourselves pure and chaste and holy for our Beloved!
A SERVANT'S HEART
“And the servant ran to meet her,
and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And
she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her
hand, and gave him drink. And when she
had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also,
until they have done drinking. And
she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the
well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man wondering at her held his peace,
to whit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. 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: and said, Whose daughter
art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to
lodge in? And she said unto him, I am
the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. She said moreover unto him, We have both
straw and provender enough and room to lodge in. And the man bowed down his head, and
worshiped the LORD. And he 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.” (Genesis 2417-27).
Rebekah was more than
willing to help this stranger and give drink to not only him, but his camels as
well. Ten camels must have been a very thirsty group! She must have had to fill her pitcher many
times to quench their thirst, yet she offered her help willingly. It was her own
thought, from her own heart. This was
the test that Abraham's servant had set for her. This would surely reveal whether she had a
servant's heart or not. This was an
essential trait for his master's son's wife to possess.
Spiritually speaking,
we must understand the importance of having a servant's heart. Jesus said, "He that is greatest
among you shall be your servant." (Matthew 23:11). There are those who are always looking to be
fed and ministered to, and there are those who have learned to give of
themselves to meet the needs of others. It is this second group that Jesus desires as
His bride. They have a supply to give because they themselves are drawing from
the wells of salvation. Jesus
said to the woman of Samaria, "Give
me to drink," but found that she was in need of living water herself. Even so, Jesus is seeking to find those who
can give Him drink. How? It’s by ministering to others who are in need.
By doing so, we are ministering to our
Lord. "For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I
was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. Then shall
the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungered, and fed
thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? When
saw we Thee a stranger and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and
came unto Thee? And the King shall
answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it
unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." (Matthew
25:35-40). How the world needs to see
more Christians who truly have a servant's heart! What a marriage when both partners have a servant’s
heart!
These verses
illustrate for us another very important principle to follow: If you are seeking a godly life partner,
seek for one with a servant's heart. Too many lonely Christians have jumped into a
marriage with someone who said they were a follower of Christ only to find
later that their actions did not match their profession. More attention should have been paid to the
person's commitment to Christ and His service.
PRECIOUS ORNAMENTS OF GOLD
Abraham's servant gave
earrings and bracelets of gold to Rebekah, adorning her with these precious and
costly ornaments. These represent the gifts of God’s grace and of His Spirit which
He gives to those He loves. Some of
these gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 and are given "to every man to profit withal." The gifts that God bestows on His children are
precious beyond measure, and are freely given – there is nothing we can do to
earn them!
"COME IN, THOU BLESSED OF THE
LORD"
“And the damsel ran, and told them
of her mother's house these things. And
Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man,
unto the well. And it came to pass, when
he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the
words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me: that he came
unto the man: and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without?
for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels. And the man came into the house: and he
ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to
wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him. And there was set meat before him to eat: but
he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.” (Genesis 24:28-33).
How important the word
of our testimony is! As Rebekah began to
share what had happened to her and to show the golden ornaments to her brother
Laban, he became excited and ran to the well to meet this man himself. When he reached the servant, Laban welcomed
the servant into his home. This speaks of
the influence that the Bride's ministry has on her "brethren". Through her gifts and testimony, the Holy
Spirit is able to draw many to God, to a deeper experience of His grace. It is very important that we not only learn to
experience the working of God's grace and mercy in our lives, but to actively
share it with others. As the living
waters flow through us, they ought to splash out onto others as well!
"THE THING PROCEEDETH FROM THE
LORD"
“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. Then Laban
and Bethuel answered and said, The
thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and
go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken. And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's
servant heard their words, he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. 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.” (Genesis 24:49-53).
After hearing all that
God had done, and all the way that He had led Abraham's servant, what could
Laban and Bethuel say but "the thing
proceedeth from the Lord...take her." What an incredible thing that God made
everything so evident that they were willing to give their daughter and sister
to this stranger to take with him. They
knew it would be so far away that it was unlikely they would ever see her
again.
It is an important
lesson for godly parents to keep in mind that they not interfere in what God
would like to do in their children's lives and marriages. Their godly wisdom and council is essential
during the period of time when sons and daughters are seeking God's will for
marriage. Once God makes His will known
clearly, however, it is crucial for them to step back. Parents must learn how and when to let go. "A
man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife." (Matthew
19:5).
God can and does use
parents in this process, and it can be a great blessing when the parents are in
partnership with their grown children who are seeking God's will. As seen with Isaac, Abraham was the one who
initiated and instrumented the selection process for his son. His years of wisdom plus his devotion to God
led his servant in the right direction. God
has set fathers in families to guide and oversee them. He has equipped them with the wisdom and
discernment they need for raising their children and then helping them into
adulthood. Both wives and children need
to trust that the Lord will teach, direct, and speak through the men in their
lives. They also need to trust that this
husband and father is willing to listen and obey the Lord's direction.
"HINDER ME NOT"
“And they did eat and drink, he and
the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the
morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master. 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. And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing
the LORD prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. And they said, We will call the damsel, and
enquire at her mouth. And they called Rebekah, and said unto
her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she
said, I will go.” (Genesis 24:54-58).
Rebekah's family was
not eager to let Rebekah go and entreated for a bit more time. However, Abraham's servant sensed a need to
depart immediately and return to his master. Many times in scripture we see that God's call
and our response need to be immediate. To
delay, sometimes, means that we will never go.
Our emotions and our affections for
those we love can sometimes be a great hindrance to the Lord's perfect will. Feelings can get in
the way of our obedience to the Lord. We
must be absolutely surrendered to what the Lord wants for us, and from us, in
order to walk in discipleship. Jesus
said, "If any man come to Me, and
hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, yea, and
his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his
cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26, 27).
When we stand in the
way of what God wants to do in someone's life, we stand in the way of God
Himself. Therefore, we must be a very
discerning people! Laban and his mother
were godly people, but they were influenced, not just by their natural
affection for Rebekah, but by their customs and manner of life.
Christians can be misled by their
natural affections if they are not praying and letting God lead them. What may seem right is not always correct. What may seem right may not be the will of the
Lord. When Jesus tried to explain to His
disciples about His death in Jerusalem, Peter rebuked Him and said, "Be if far from Thee, Lord: this shall not
be unto Thee." Jesus understood
how Peter's affection for Him was causing him to say this - causing Peter to
rise to defend Christ. Jesus also knew
the danger in allowing those words and the affection behind them to go
unaddressed. Such feelings would have
the potential to divert Him from God's purpose. Therefore, Jesus said to Peter, "Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou are an
offense unto Me: for thou savourest
not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." (Matt.
16:21-23).
I WILL GO
It was decided that
Rebekah herself should declare whether she was ready to leave with the servant
or not. When they asked her, she said, "I will go." What powerful words! How will we answer God's call to holiness and
purity, to sacrifice and service, to meekness and spiritual maturity? Will we make excuses for why we can't follow
now? Will we allow others to influence
us contrary to God's will? Or, like
Rebekah, will we say, "I will
go"?
God's call is most
urgent. We dare not tarry waiting for a
more convenient time. "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh
not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33).
Peter Jenkins is well
known for his books about his trek across the United States on foot. He relates the story of meeting his wife,
Barbara, and the Lord's dealings with her to follow him on his walk. Peter had finished the first leg of his
adventure and ended up at a Baptist theological seminary in New Orleans to
winter over till he could resume his walk. It was there he would begin writing about the
trip, and save some money for the second leg. While there, he met Barbara, a real southern
belle, who was attending the seminary. They were attracted to one another from the
beginning. As the relationship became
more serious, they began to pray for God's guidance. Barbara soon realized that to say yes to this
man was to agree to accompany him on his walk - something for which nothing in
her training or experience had prepared her. It was not a pleasant thought to her, and she
began to withdraw from Peter. She told
him that they should not see each other for awhile until things were clear in her heart. They wept, and prayed and sought the Lord. After weeks of separation, she came to him
with an ultimatum: she would go to church with him that Sunday. If God didn't speak to them in some very
significant way, their relationship would be over and they wouldn't see each
other again.
Sunday morning they
attended Word of Faith Temple and found a seat at the front of the auditorium.
The pastor who always gave the message on Sunday mornings announced that Mom
Beall from Detroit had come that morning to deliver a special message. After she was introduced, this 80+ year old
lady in a wheel chair began to tell how God had spoken to her to come to New
Orleans that day, regardless of the heavy snows in Detroit. She said that she had learned to just obey
God, and so, she was there that morning.
She directed the large
congregation to Genesis 24 and began to relate the story of Abraham and the
search for a bride for his son. When she
came to verse 58, she paused for effect, and then half-shouted the words, "Will you go with this man?" Like electricity, those words went
through both Peter and Barbara. Striking
the arm of her wheelchair to emphasize what God was saying, twice more Mom
Beall shouted those words. Through
tears, Barbara turned to Peter and said simply, "Peter, I'll go with
you."
If God has called you,
what else can you say but, "I will
go."
A BLESSED SEED
“And they sent away Rebekah their
sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her,
Thou art our sister, be thou the
mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those
which hate them. And Rebekah
arose, and her damsels and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and
the servant took Rebekah and went his way.” (Genesis 24:59-61).
What prophetic words! They were literally fulfilled in the process
of time. Because God had ordained this
couple, and because they were both committed to God's purposes in their lives,
then He was able to use them as a channel of blessing to the world. Not only in a natural sense did Rebekah become
the mother of thousands of millions who were descended from her, but also,
spiritually, to those who have believed in Jesus Christ. They, too, can trace their lineage of faith
through Isaac and Rebekah to Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9, 29). They who have been called to be Jesus' Bride
are those who are busy doing the Lord's work: winning souls, strengthening the
weak, being used of God to increase His Kingdom on earth. Concerning the possessing of the gate of
their enemies, Jesus has promised us that the gates of hell itself would not
prevail against His Church (Matt. 16:18).
THE LIVING ONE WHO SEES ME
“And Isaac came from the way of the
well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field
at the eventide: and he lifted up his
eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.” (Genesis 24:62, 63).
These two verses
reveal a lot about Isaac's character. First,
the well that he dwelt near was called Beer-Lahairoi, or “the well of the Living One who
sees me.” Isaac knew the Living One, but he also
believed that the Living One saw him and cared for his needs. The Bible says that without faith it is
impossible to please God. It goes on to
define what true faith is, saying, "He
that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarded of them that diligently see Him." (Hebrews 11:6).
It is not enough to just believe that God is -
that He exists. It is not enough to
believe that God is the Living One."
Even the devil believes and knows that
God exists. Our faith must go a step
further than that in order to be effectual. We must believe that God SEES us, that He rewards us if we diligently seek Him. This type of faith is going to produce changes
in our lives and an awareness of God's desire to be part of every area of our
lives. Child of God, know of a certainty
that God sees you and loves you; He wants to bless
your life and fulfill all of your needs.
Isaac believed God saw
his need and was working on fulfilling it in His time. Lahairoi! That's where the son dwells, and that's where
we must dwell. It is one of life's
greatest blessings to have a mate who knows God's power and reality. Trust God, and wait for His best for you!
THE CAMELS ARE COMING!
The second thing that
is revealed here about Isaac's character is his patience in waiting for God to
meet his need. His dedication to God is
evident by the way he was spending his free time - meditating in the field,
communing with his heavenly Father. The
whole time he was patiently waiting, "the
camels were coming". Even
before he could see with his eyes, even before he knew that the servant had
found a wife for him, even before he knew that God had answered his father's
prayers, "The camels were coming!"
To you who are single
I say, wait on the Lord! If God has not specifically called you to the
celibate life, and He does call some
to that holy calling, wait patiently on the Lord. Trust Him to bless you beyond all your
sweetest dreams. Though you may not see
what the Holy Spirit is doing yet, wait on the Lord, the camels are coming! Though
you may not see any "prospects," wait on the Lord! Though you are growing older and thinking
that God doesn't see you or care, wait:
the camels are coming! Be as Abraham
who, "…against hope, believed in
hope, trusting in God who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things that be
not as though they were." (Romans 4:17, 18). TRUST
GOD! WAIT ON HIM! THE CAMELS ARE COMING!
KEEP THYSELF PURE
“And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she
saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For
she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet
us? And the servant had said, It is my
master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself.” (Genesis 24:64, 65).
When Rebekah knew that
it was Isaac coming to meet them, she got down from the camel and veiled
herself. This act of veiling signified
that she was the promised bride for Isaac. It also showed her meek and quiet spirit that
defined her character. Even though she
was promised to Isaac, she was not bold toward him nor brazen, but modest, pure,
and subject to the will of God for her.
Christian men and women
need to be aware of how certain physical intimacies can hinder their spiritual
discernment. Awakening longings and
temptations can fog and confuse what should be felt and known about another
person, and can lead to bad decisions and ultimate sorrow. Christians
should never, ever become physically intimate with someone until God has
clearly confirmed to both parties that it is His will for them to marry. Even then, couples must be very careful
about what they allow. Physical intimacy
takes in a lot more than just intercourse, and should be reserved until after
marriage.
It is good to remember
the Bible precept to "abstain from
all appearance of evil." Practically,
this means that it would be a mistake for couples to spend long periods of time
alone in areas like his/her apartment. Though
both spirits of a young couple may be willing to do what is right, the flesh is
weak. Once a couple crosses certain
boundaries of familiarity, it is extremely difficult to contain and subdue the
passions that are stirred. If limits are
set in an individual's heart long before a relationship is begun, then again at
the beginning of a relationship, it will be far less likely that they will be
crossed. A person should never put
pressure on another to compromise their resolve regardless of the
circumstances. If a person should apply
pressure to ignore the established principles, then a decided halt should be
called to that relationship. If one asks
the other to "be married in the eyes of the Lord," that "a
formal ceremony isn't needed for them to declare their love", RUN! The offender should be called to repentance.
In this day and age,
men and women don't have many examples of godly dress and behavior. Instead of asking what the specific guidelines
are - "How far is too far?"
- one should think only in terms of the other person's reputation and
integrity. Always do all things in
genuine love, honor and concern for the other, not fleshly passion. Rebekah's integrity was steadfast even in her
behavior toward this man she was to marry.
What a glorious
pattern that God has provided for us in His Word! Can you see here a vision of the day when
Jesus meets His Bride, and they are finally one forevermore? What a glorious thought! To be a part of His Bride! To be found worthy! Can you hear the call of the Holy Spirit to
holiness and service? Can you hear the
voice of your Beloved calling you to come away from the ways of this world, and
to be obedient to the pattern that He has set forth in His Word? He calls you to give your life, your
ambitions, your hopes and dreams all to Him, trusting him to work what is best
for you. You will never, ever regret
it!
AND HE LOVED HER
“And the servant told Isaac all
things that he had done. And Isaac
brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his
wife: and he loved her: and
Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.” (Genesis 24:66, 67).
What a precious thing it
is that he loved her! They hadn't dated
for years or lived with one another to see if they were compatible, yet he
loved her. Their love wasn't based on
outward appearances that time would alter, or undependable emotions that could
change with circumstances. His love was
the pure love that comes from God Himself, the love that is "strong as death". The two became one from that time forth, and
God worked a miracle for them because they believed! May God stir our hearts to such faith as this!
"Let us be glad and rejoice,
and give honour to Him: for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and HIs wife hath made herself ready”. (Revelation 19:7).
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