Betrothal – Christ’s Sacred Promise to You

Betrothal – Christ's Sacred Promise to You

 

In My Father's house are many dwelling places . . . I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.        John 14:2-3

 

The bride is waiting for her groom – at last he is coming!  He has prepared a home for his beloved bride and announced that this is the day. The bride has made herself ready and now she stands on tiptoe watching for signs that he is on his way. In her hand is the well worn betrothal agreement given to her by her beloved before he went away. How she treasures this written declaration of his love and intentions – she has read it a thousand times. Ever since he returned to his father's house she has been living for the day he would come for her; her heart belongs to him and her every thought has only been of him these many months (and everyone who knows her can testify to that!).

 

Is this a first-century Jewish bride waiting for her betrothed? Or the Church waiting for the Lord's return? Or is it the individual Christian looking and listening for His coming? It's all three! Jewish marriage customs unfold a remarkable sequence modeling the Church's pathway to her heavenly Groom. In ancient times Jewish marriages were arranged by the father who would choose a bride for his son; however, the woman had to give her consent or the agreement was not valid. In some cases the young man had never met the chosen bride; however, it was not usually this way and the groom's father still had to approve the marriage. In every case, the feelings and desires of the woman were taken into account; she was free to refuse to enter in to the agreement from the very beginning.

 

The marriage began with a betrothal contract, drawn up by a legal authority in the presence of two witnesses. The bridegroom would travel to the home of the prospective bride. He would give a gift to the bride and negotiate the bridal price with her father. The contract was signed by the couple and the witnesses after the price was paid. All legal expenses were paid by the groom and, in some cases, if the bride's family was poor, he would furnish her bridal garments as well.

 

The betrothal contract documented the price that was paid, spelled out mutual obligations, detailed the bride's dowry and served as proof of her consent.  A special benediction was pronounced over a cup of wine, then the bride and groom drank from the cup; this was part of the sacred legal covenant.  From the moment of her betrothal, although there was no physical contact, a woman was treated as if she were actually married and the union could not be dissolved except by divorce. The actual marriage would take place several months later – up to a year.

 

Once everything was legally settled, the groom returned to his father's house to make room for his bride. Traditionally, he would add a room onto his family home. During his absence, the bride kept the betrothal document – a tangible witness to the fact that they belonged to each other and that he would return to get her. When her new home was ready, and it was time for the marriage, the groom would announce the day that the wedding was to take place; however, the exact time of his arrival was not made known. The bride would make herself ready and wait for him to arrive, whereupon he would lead her back to his home in a festive procession including friends and family. The marriage and a celebration would follow.

 

This ancient Jewish custom wonderfully illustrates Christ's relationship to the Church. He came to earth from His Father's heavenly home in order to get a bride. He paid the price – a price dearer than earthly money – for He shed His precious blood so that He could have us as His own.  He has provided everything we need to become the pure and spotless bride His perfection requires. We are His betrothed! Like the traditional Jewish groom, the Lord Jesus left us with a betrothal document: the written Word.  However, it is so much more than a legal document. The New Testament records numerous witnesses testifying to the reality of His first coming and details the price He paid. The apostles, throughout the gospels and epistles, testify to what they have seen and heard and touched (1John1:1). This treasured 'document' assures us of His love, discloses His thoughts toward us, tells us what we need to be doing in order to be ready and reveals the signs of His coming for us.  Over two thousand years ago, the Savior sat at a table with His beloved disciples and made this betrothal promise: I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom (Matt. 26:29). We are the Lord's precious possession – He has communicated this to us in every way possible – through stories of real people, types, promises, covenants, and prophecies. Even as Christ is away – preparing a place for us (His betrothed) – we live in union with Him through the life of the Spirit who dwells within each believer.  

 

. . . neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.     Rom. 8:38-39

Meditations for the Bride

Meditations for the Bride

We have been looking at individual facets of the Bride's story; the only way we can see the entire jewel is to catch a  glimmer here and there throughout the Scriptures. However, so we won't get lost in the details and lose sight of the big picture, I want to share a few quotes from some of my favorite authors – I think they will keep us focused on our main theme and encourage us as we meet the challenges of daily life.

 

The Church is the 'Body of Christ' and the 'Bride of Christ.' The first of these titles tells us that she is set in the very highest place of honor; the second tells us that she is set also in the dearest and most intimate position of personal affection and relationship. To the creation of God and to the principalities and powers in heavenly places – she is made to be a great witness – the only adequate witness of the grace, glory and wisdom of God. She is a witness to the exceeding riches of grace, of the praise of glory, and of the manifold resources and secrets of wisdom.

 

It is not in the starry heavens above, nor on the earth beneath, nor in angels themselves . . . that the character and ways of the Father will be manifested in the ages to come. It is in the redeemed new creation in Christ – in the Church and by the Church – that the Father's manifold wisdom will be known. In the Church every perfection of light and glory and beauty shall be displayed. It is the brightest emanation of the Divine mind and a masterpiece of His handiwork. This is the destiny of His beloved glorious Bride . . . chosen from Adam's ruined and apostate race. She was not only brought into the closest and sweetest intimacy of sonship to the Father, but exalted to the highest dignity in heaven, and partaker of the indescribable glory of her glorified Head in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ.                   ~J.G. Bellet

 

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Blessed with all Spiritual blessings in Christ ...we are brought so near to Christ that everything we need, we have in Him. The Father can look on us with the same delight as on His Son because we are hidden in Him. He cannot stop the flow of His affection and delight in Christ, and so it flows on us. We are before the Father in all the completeness of Christ's work in the removal of everything He had against us.                                                                                                                                                                   ~George Wigram

 

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The bride is to be led into the King's presence in a bridal dress skillfully and patiently prepared of "embroidered cloth" (Ezekiel 16). The bride's attire is not made of gold, it is embroidered with gold; which means that the gold thread is patiently woven or twisted into the fabric itself. This suggests the Spirit's continuous involvement in her experience of the crucified life in order that the glories of Christ may be displayed. This is a divine work [symbolized by gold] in which she willingly cooperates as He takes her through the process of transformation into His likeness. The Lamb's wife has made herself ready (Rev. 19:7).  The King's daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold.    Psalm 45:13   ~ William R. Newell

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Gold, mixed with fine cloth in the Bride's dress, carries the thought of deity and humanity. Her value is heavenly [symbolized by gold], but the work of preparation is done on earth [symbolized by cloth], for it was here, as a man, that the Lord accomplished the work to make everything possible. It is through being joined to the ascended Man that our position as His Bride is secured. This is a marvelous picture of our position in Him, our redeemed state, and the fact that our Lord takes us from here, where He found us, to the His eternal abode.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ~Conrad Bowman

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There is no question about there being a new position for the believer, but people limit it to its being theirs when they die. Scripture shows us that it is ours now!   

 

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.    Eph. 2:13

 

People say that you get to heaven when you die – no such thing. You are there now. It is not your death that entitles you to it, but the Lord Jesus' death. No person can be truly happy until he knows that he has a new place now, and it is where the Lord Jesus is.  

 

 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.    Col. 3:2-3                                                                                                   ~ J.B. Stoney

 

Abigail: The Church in the Wilderness

Abigail: The Church in the Wilderness

>>>>1Samuel 25-30<<<<

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.   Heb. 11:1

 

Our Father in heaven is a God of action – acting out of desire to have a bride for His Son, He sent the Holy Spirit to earth to find her, make her suitable, and escort her to the wedding. Rebekah's story illustrates the Father's desire and the Spirit's work, however, the bride's experience as she travels to her new home is not addressed in Genesis 24. We need to study Abigail's relationship to David in order to see a picture of the Church's journey from earth to heaven.

 

The story of Abigail and David does not include God the Father and the work of the Spirit in its illustration; instead, the focus is on the Son's life as He lived on earth.  David is a type of Christ who, although He was the true king, lived among His brethren in humiliation. David pictures the Lord Jesus in His rejection by the leaders of His own people. David was living in caves and wandering from place to place when he met Abigail, yet from the moment she met him, Abigail treated David as a king. She bowed to him (1Sam. 25:23) and spoke prophetically about his future as Israel's ruler (vs 30).  When Nabal died, David proposed to Abigail and she left everything to become his wife.

 

Abigail was a wealthy woman – she enjoyed servants, plenty of food and every comfort the world could provide. David lived on the run, hunted "as one hunts a partridge in the mountains" (1Sam. 26:20) – yet Abigail chose to join him. As David's wife, her life would be defined by the same poverty and misery that he and his men (along with their families) endured. Her commitment to David, rather than her love for him, is highlighted in the Scriptures; perhaps the story is recorded with this emphasis in order to show that she understood what was at stake.

 

Abigail's pledge to David as the true King (1Sam. 25:31b) demonstrates her confidence in God's plan for him. I don't believe she was anticipating a marriage proposal when she asked David to remember her on the day he became king; however, she knew the cost and was willing to pay it. The Lord has promised that believers will share His glory if they will trust Him during their own wilderness journey. In Abigail (along with the others who followed David) we see a picture of the Church, living in union with Christ, leaving behind the comforts of the world and living a life that is separated unto Him. We cannot read New Testament instruction to the Church and come away with any notion that future blessings are rooted in an easy life here and now:

 

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.     Romans 8:16-18 

 

. . . after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.  For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.       Heb.10:32-34

 

We love to think about sharing eternity with our beloved Lord. And while we live on earth we want to 'taste and see that the Lord is good;' for we know that 'blessed is the man who trusts in Him!' (Psalm 34:8). However, we choke on the command that we must not be dependent upon the world, and we naturally resist participation in His suffering and rejection. Suffering is certain for the Christian – God has given us promises and encouragements so that we will look to Him, and not to the world, when we are feeling crushed by the wilderness journey.

 

Paul spoke about the prize of the high calling – he wrote about it while in prison; John saw the glory of Heaven – he described it from Patmos, where he lived in exile; and Abigail foresaw David's glory – while she suffered with him through the danger and adversity described in 1Samuel chapters 26-30.  When King Saul died – and David took the throne – Abigail was there to share his reign (2Sam. 2:2).

 

Abigail's story demonstrates our life in union with Christ as we make our way through the wilderness, and Rebekah's story reveals the activity of the Holy Spirit on our behalf. How can we be on the way to meet our groom, yet live in union with Him while we are still here? Jewish marriage customs provide an earthly picture of this marvelous truth . . .  we'll look into that next!

 

The glory which You have given Me I have given to them that they may be one, just as We are one . . . John 17:22

Abigail Sees with the Eyes of Faith

Abigail Sees with the Eyes of Faith

>>>>1Samuel 25:1-30<<<<

Please forgive your servant's offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD's battles. . . . Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God. But the lives of your enemies He will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling."  

1Sam. 25:28-29

 

The Bible calls David "a man after God's own heart" (1Sam. 13:14).  In his youth, he was a shepherd – chosen by God to become the king after His own heart.  When Samuel anointed David  the Spirit came upon him mightily (1Sam. 16:12-13); and when David stood against Goliath his heart for God was clearly seen in the words he spoke:

 

… who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God? …  David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted."  1Sam. 17:26, 45

 

As a young man, David understood God and God's heart for His people; in his older years, he sinned against God, repented, and then experienced God's grace mingled with the dire consequences of his sin. At the end of his life, David wrote the Psalm we know as the Shepherd's Psalm (Ps. 23).  David was the shepherd king – the king with a heart for God and for His flock.  He experienced the still waters and the restored soul; he knew guidance into the paths of righteousness as well as the dark valleys. When David spoke of the goodness and lovingkindness of the Lord, he spoke from firsthand experience. David's heart truly belonged to the Lord his whole life long.

 

As a shepherd, David had the heart of a protector; so when he was camped near the shepherds and flocks belonging to Nabal, he and his men kept them safe from predators and marauders. Remember, although David is the true king of Israel, in the section we are studying, he and the men who follow him are living as outcasts. In this story, David pictures Christ – the rightful king who is living a humble, lowly life in the world. He has some devoted allies, but his true position is not recognized. This is a picture of Christ as He was in the gospels: the rightful King (Messiah), humble in appearance, and rejected by His nation and the world.

 

Nabal embodies the world's attitude toward Christ – not only during the time He lived on earth, but even now as He sits at the right hand of His Father in heaven. Nabal's heart was focused on his position and possessions; he was blind to David's position and to his need.  He did not identify himself with David, who, according to Nabal, was merely a runaway upstart whose accomplishments had gone to his head. Nabal missed an opportunity to serve the future king and to share fellowship with him. Nabal is a picture of the world's blindness to the glory of Christ.

 

A descendant of Caleb, Nabal did not come from a pagan country, he was a son of the chosen nation.  He is like so many people we read about in the Gospel accounts; people who enjoyed what Jesus had to give but would not recognize Him as coming from God – nor would they yield to Him in any way.  Furthermore, Nabal pictures many today who claim to be Christians – individuals who are happy to believe they belong to God – yet live for themselves rather than for Christ. The god of this world will use social, intellectual, moral and religious props to make us comfortable in the world – comfortable enough to forget that we live in a world where Christ is rejected and dishonored. Christendom can be dressed up in a mega church, a high-ceilinged cathedral, a humble building or even in lofty ideals for a 'Christian country' – but if  Christ is not the center, and His glory not the goal, then you can call it whatever you want,  it has no connection to God.

 

Nabal was not interested in God's glory; he was satisfied with Saul, the king who did not fear God. In the eyes of Nabal, David was an escaped servant who didn't even deserve food and water.  On the other hand, Abigail saw David with the eyes of faith and would not even refer to Saul as the king. She says that David is being pursued by a 'someone' (not 'the king') and states that the Lord would appoint David ruler over Israel (vs 30).  Although Abigail enjoys the same prosperous surroundings as her husband, she doesn't let 'the world' blind her to the truth. She humbles herself in a way that honors David. Abigail is a wonderful type of the Church – the true Church that acknowledges Christ as the only true Sovereign.  When people meet God's Anointed face to face, their hearts are exposed – they will be exposed as a Nabal, who holds tight to the world, or an Abigail, who sees God's Anointed with the eyes of faith. In our next study, Abigail will show us what it cost to be associated with the Lord in such a way.

 

This Child [Christ] is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.    Luke 2:34-35

David and Abigail: The Wilderness Journey

David and Abigail: The Wilderness Journey

>>>>1Samuel 25<<<<

 

. . . Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.   1Pet. 5:8

 

Adam was a man alone, desiring affection from a suitable counterpart – so God brought the woman to him and joined them in a special union of intimacy and partnership. Isaac was Abraham's beloved son, destined to inherit the blessings that God had promised to him. This cherished son was also alone – he needed a wife who could enjoy his affection and share in the richness of the blessings they would inherit together. For this reason, Abraham sent his most trusted servant to bring a suitable bride to Isaac.

 

The story of Adam and Eve pictures the Church – hidden in Christ – becoming a New Creation and joined to Him in a relationship of intimate union (Mark 10:6-8). In this relationship to Christ, we draw our life from Him and He delights in us. The story of Isaac and Rebekah is a picture of God's love for His Son. Abraham typifies the Father, who sent the Holy Spirit to earth to get a Bride for His beloved Son (Acts 15:14). Rebekah represents individual believers, and the Church as a whole, when she leaves everything she knows to make a home with a groom she has never seen (Luke 14:26).

 

We are not given details about Rebekah's trip from Mesopotamia, across the desert, to Isaac's home. Instead, the Bride's journey is pictured for us in the account of David and Abigail. Before we look at this story, we need some general background (you can read the full background in 1Samuel chapters 8 through 24).

 

God was Israel's loving, benevolent ruler but the people wanted a king like the other nations. The prophet Samuel told them that this request demonstrated their rejection of God's care over them. He warned them that an earthly king would turn their sons and daughters into servants; he would take the best of their goods, and their people, for his own greedy use (1Sam. 8:5-21; 10:17-19). Still, the people insisted on having a king, so God gave them Saul.  He was tall and handsome – exactly what the people wanted; however, he trusted in himself rather than in the Lord. He disobeyed the Lord's commands and justified himself in his disobedience. Saul was concerned about gaining honor in the eyes of the people and cared nothing for the commands of the Lord. For this reason, God was going to replace him with "a man after His own heart" (1Samuel 13:13-14).

 

While Saul was still King of Israel, Samuel anointed a young shepherd, David, to replace him. David's heart was tuned to the Lord and even before he took the throne, he became well known as a warrior for the Lord. David's reputation among the people caused Saul to become suspicious and jealous of him; as a result, David had to flee for his life.

 

 Now, while David was hiding from Saul, he gathered about 600 men around him; they lived in the mountains and in the desert as they fled from Saul and his men. While they were in the Wilderness of Moan, they stayed near an area where a wealthy man named Nabal (which means fool) kept his flocks. David and his men protected the flock and shepherds from harm and from theft while they were there (1Sam. 25:15, 16). When David's men needed food and supplies, he sent 10 young men to ask Nabal if he could spare something for his men. Nabal's churlish (harsh, evil, rude) reply caused David and 400 of his men to arm themselves for vengeance.

 

Nabal was a wealthy man; he and his wife, Abigail (source of delight), were prominent in their community. When Abigail heard about the way Nabal responded to David, and learned that disaster would be the result, she went into action.  She had her servants load food and wine onto donkeys and sent them ahead as she made her way to meet him. Abigail bowed down to David as she acknowledged her husband to be a fool; she declared herself David's servant and presented him with the food.

 

This is how our story begins, and these are the characters: David who typifies, Christ – the king who is not yet recognized by the world; Nabal who personifies the world's attitude world toward Christ (vs 9-11); and Abigail who exemplifies the Church. She saw, with the eyes of faith, that David was indeed the anointed king. Although we don't see Saul in this chapter, he is in the background, as the enemy of the Lord, seeking to destroy the true king and those who follow him.

 

The LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master . . .    1Sam. 25:28 NIV (spoken by Abigail to David)

Isaac and Rebekah: Sharing Joy!

Isaac and Rebekah: Sharing Joy!

>>>>Genesis 24: 62-67<<<<

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive

 you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.     John 14:3

 

We have come to the end of our story and we find Isaac meditating alone as he waits for his bride. He had come from the place of "Him that loves and sees" (Lahai-roi) when he lifted up his eyes and saw the camels making their way toward him. Rebekah lifted up her eyes and saw him coming to meet her. At last, they meet face to face! She sees the one who has been waiting for her and he sees the one who left everything in order to be with him. Isaac loved Rebekah and her presence brought him comfort (vs 67).

 

It is the servant who brings Isaac and Rebekah together. While the servant accompanied her, she was blessed by Isaac; and now, in Isaac's presence, she is blessed with him. The servant tells Isaac about everything that has transpired (vs 66) – he is the connection between Isaac and his bride and he has been true to His errand of love. 

 

The Spirit of the Living God is on an errand of love right now! He is calling together individuals who, formed into one body through the Spirit, constitute the Church. He is working in your life, and mine, to make Christ the very center of our attention while Our Savior waits for us in heaven. He waits to share our unrestrained love. He waits to bring us unhindered joy. He waits to share His full inheritance with us. At the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, with angels looking on, the Lord Jesus will display His Bride in all her glory and beauty (Rev. 19:5-8). Her splendor will equal the splendor of Christ Himself who has clothed her with the garments of His righteousness and grace.  We often think of what we will feel when we are with Him, yet we fail to realize the joy and comfort that He will enjoy in us. It is the pleasure that the father of the prodigal son enjoyed when his wayward boy came home.

 

As I work on this study, I find myself returning repeatedly to two of my favorite sections of Scripture. The first is Ephesians chapters one through three.  Ephesians, of course, is Paul's letter about the Church (not individual organized churches, but the Church as His Body). Paul tells us that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies (Eph. 1:3) – the Greek manuscript does not record the word places ('heavenly places') as many translations do. In Ephesians Paul speaks of our Spiritual experience while we are in the body of Christ on earth. We are blessed with heavenly riches even while we live on earth. I think this is clear in Ephesians since the first three chapters speak of our spiritual riches, which come to us from heaven, and the last three chapters tell us how to live in the good of those riches. 

 

The second favorite section is John 14-17, particularly chapter 17 where Jesus is having an intimate conversation with His Father. We get a glimpse of the love of the Son for the Father, and Jesus' love for those whom the Father has given Him – He refers to you and me! Jesus is preparing to go to the cross, yet He speaks as though He has already completed His sacrifice and has ascended – as though 'His own' were already living in union with Him.  These chapters in Ephesians and John are dripping with His desire for intimacy with us!  I encourage you to find a quiet spot and savor these passages. Set aside your need to understand doctrine or to know the meaning of every phrase; just drink in His personal desire for you.  (Key passages: Eph. 1:18-20; John 16:23-28;  John 17:3-8)

 

In our story, everything that Isaac inherits belongs to Rebekah, for she is one with him. In our relationship with Christ, everything the Father gives Him is ours, for we are one with Him. What did Rebekah do to earn her glorious position with Isaac? Nothing – absolutely nothing! She received (not earned) Isaac's gifts and responded to the invitation to be His. The purpose of this story is to communicate the desire of the Son for us; however, it does not address His suffering and the cost to Him. He has done everything necessary to free us from the penalty of sin so that we can share His glory. Put another way: instead of requiring us to pay the penalty that we justly deserve, He paid everything so that we can share His love and glory throughout all eternity! 

He and I in that bright glory, one deep joy shall share,

Mine, to be forever with Him; His, that I am there.  

                                       (W.T.P. Wolston)

 

And what about those heavenly riches that we have here on earth? As a member of His Body, we should be living in the full joy of the fact that we are His. He expects us to benefit from the abundance of our spiritual treasure:

 

 If you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you . . . ask and you will receive so that your joy may be made full.  

 John 16:23-24

Our Companion in the Desert

Our Companion in the Desert

>>>>Genesis 24:54-61<<<<


“. . . Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the Church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27



Isaac is waiting for the arrival of His bride. There has been a stirring of affection in Rebekah’s heart for this unseen groom, and she has heard of the blessedness that will be hers when she becomes a part of Abraham’s household. Whereas, she was formerly clothed with the garments of her father’s home, now she wears the garments of a different country. Her life is changing and this change is reflected to others by the gifts she accepted, and now wears. Only one thing remains –Rebekah must leave her family and the familiarity of her homeland – she must entrust herself to the servant and become a pilgrim of the desert for a time.



The servant, eager to get back to his master, speaks to Rebekah’s family saying, “Send me away to my master.” The family wanted her to stay with them for a time and tried to dissuade the servant. It seems reasonable that Rebekah’s family would want to have some time with her before she leaves; however, the servant is insistent, so they agree to ask her what she will do. Rebekah is completely committed to going and so she packs up and leaves with the servant – she is ready to leave her old life behind so she can be near her groom.



Rebekah could have stayed at home, treasuring the gifts and enjoying thoughts of Isaac and the blessings of his family. However, she would have missed all the benefits of intimacy. How long could she enjoy the gifts without the intimacy? The things of the world, love of family and even religious activity can keep us from developing our relationship with Christ. The Lord Jesus wants us for His very own so that we can share His joy throughout the endless ages of eternity – starting now! Satan is a master of designing ‘reasonable’ distractions to keep us from intimacy with Christ - he will obstruct this heavenly relationship as long as you are on earth. If Satan can keep you from understanding and enjoying what it means to be one with Christ, he will use any means possible to do so.



We do not have to occupy ourselves with how to thwart Satan’s purpose – the very fact that God wants to bless us frustrates Satan’s opposition. We are the joy of God’s heart because of the Son’s affection for us; when we stay near to the Son, we cannot fall prey to Satan’s out-and-out lies or subtle deceptions. The active work of the Holy Spirit is to keep you ever conscious of your relationship to Christ because when your heart and mind are assured of His affection and care, the enemy will not get a foothold in your life.



Rebekah said, “I will go,” and she left. The Spirit of God had disengaged her heart from the place where she was and fixed her attention on the place where her groom was. Rebekah provides an illustration of Paul’s meaning when he said:



Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:12



Though she had not set eyes on him, Rebekah’s heart belonged to Isaac. Her life was in the hands of the servant as he led her away from the life she had always known. I can imagine that she asked many questions about her new country, her new family and especially about Isaac. We can suppose that this devoted family servant had plenty to share about the story of Isaac’s birth, his trip up the mount where the ram was provided for a substitute sacrifice, and the blessings God has promised Abraham’s heir. This is where the Church is at this moment – no longer at home in the world, on the way to meet her Groom – listening to the voice of the Spirit as He reveals the things of Christ to us.



The Spirit of God, our companion through the desert, brings the depths of God to our hearts – this produces in us a longing to see Him as He is and the desire to be like Him. We have been made suitable for our groom by the riches we have been given (redemption, righteousness, and an appropriate covering), and our hearts are changed as well. The Spirit searches the depths of God, and brings those depths right to our own hearts!



Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 1Cor 2:9-10

Gifts for Life and Godliness

Gifts for Life and Godliness

>>>>Gen. 24:53<<<<

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.  As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.            Isaiah 61:10

 

Rebekah perceived, in Abraham's servant, the impact of God and His blessing upon Abraham and his son. She learned how the servant was led directly to her doorstep, and that she had been chosen to become the bride of Abraham's son. Affection for the son had been kindled in her heart – but would she leave everything behind to travel across the desert to become his bride? We know that she does, but first she must be made ready. Is there something she must do before she can qualify for this great honor? She cannot qualify herself to be Isaac's bride, but there is one thing she must do – she must receive the gifts the servant brought for her.

 

The real-life gifts that Rebekah received are pictures of the spiritual riches that we have received in the Lord and continue to count upon throughout our entire lives as Christians. Rebekah must travel across a desert to reach her groom. The desert represents the earthly life of the Christian as he journeys toward his eternal home. During his time in the desert, the Christian is no longer a part of the world (symbolized by Mesopotamia) and he has not yet reached his eternal home. He has left behind the comfort and ease of worldliness and has taken on the trials associated with knowing Christ. Of course, the Lord does not expect the Christian to traverse the desert without spiritual resources. As the servant bestowed tangible gifts upon Rebekah to set her apart as one belonging to Isaac, the Spirit of God has set us apart to Christ through divine     provision.  There is spiritual significance in each item the servant presented to Rebekah.

 

The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah.     Gen. 24:53

 

Jesus Himself is our precious silver jewel – for silver speaks of redemption and grace and security. Silver was used in the foundation upon which the tabernacle rested (Exod. 26:19-25) – the tabernacle is a type of the believer and the silver beneath represents the foundation upon which our salvation rests. In addition, Silver is mentioned throughout the Bible as a ransom price – even the thirty pieces of silver to betray Christ was an unwitting price for the redemption of sinners. The Psalmist, David, tells us that when a sinner sees his own desperate need, the Lord says, "I will set him in the safety for which he longs." David describes the words of the Lord as "pure words, as silver tried in a furnace… You O Lord will keep them." (Ps 12:5-7)  The grace of God secures His every promise for salvation and security, which He provides for us when we are redeemed by His Son.

 

The golden gift of Christ to us is the gift of His righteousness. He has not only paid the price for our redemption from sin and to God, He has imputed His own righteousness to us, and this is symbolized by gold. It is not enough that our sin has been paid for and that we are spared from God's judgment – that does not make us a suitable bride for the Son of Glory. Christ's bride must have a righteousness equal to His own, for there is no entrance into God's presence without it. From the golden utensils, furniture, overlays and accents in the tabernacle, to the golden bowls full of God's wrath in Revelation – gold is symbolic of God's righteousness. The articles of gold given to Rebekah speak of the righteousness of Christ credited to believers the moment they receive Christ as Savior (Rom. 5:18). 

 

The servant in our story also provided the garments Rebekah would need to wear when she meets Isaac. Christ's Bride must be clothed appropriately for the wedding, but she has no part in designing her garment. The theme of garments, or "covering," runs throughout the Scripture. In every instance, it is God Himself who provides the covering needed for mankind to enter into His presence. Adam and Eve, in the garden, received an acceptable garment from the Lord to replace the one they had made for themselves. Priests serving in the tabernacle were required to wear garments made exactly to God's specifications. Even the prodigal son received a robe from his father when he was welcomed home. The covering that God provides is set before us in contrast to the works that our human nature offers up to Him. Human works may clothe me in the sight of my fellow sinners, but they have no significance in the sight of God.

 

The Holy Spirit has come to appropriately clothe us for God's presence – our bridal garment is Christ Himself, "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Gal. 3:27).  In our Genesis 24 picture, Rebekah will set off across the desert, accompanied by the faithful servant, and enriched by the gifts she has freely received from the father of the groom. In the spiritual reality of our individual lives, the Holy Spirit is the Official Administrator of everything we need for the journey across our own desert, which is the world of corruption in which we live.  As the representative of the Father and the Son, the Spirit delivers everything we need to be an acceptable Bride for the Son of God.  The gold, the silver and the garments are set before us – our only responsibility is to receive them. When these gifts become ours, we gain the assurance of His constant presence and faithful support as we make our way home.

 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.      2Peter 1:2-4

Wedding Plans for Rebekah!

Wedding Plans for Rebekah!

>>>>Genesis 24:26-52<<<<

 

Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear . . . .  the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the [one] who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit . . .  Matt. 13:16, 23

 

Rebekah watched and listened to Abraham's servant. She saw him bowing down to worship the Lord and heard him declare, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master's brother." Rebekah reacted with excitement – she ran to her mother's house and told her brother, Laban, all that the servant had said. Laban recognized the significance of the servant's words and said, "Come in, blessed of the Lord!" Both he and Rebekah acknowledged the Lord as the source of blessing.

 

Next, although a meal was set in front of him, the servant refused to eat until he could tell them why he was there. Every step of the way, through his actions and his words, he communicated devotion to the Lord, to his master and to his vital purpose. Notice how the servant exalted the Lord when he spoke to Rebekah's family:

 

The LORD has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys. Now Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him all that he has.     Gen. 24: 35-36

 

This son is a gift from the Lord to his aged parents. Consider how many times the 'son' is mentioned in this story – he is the central figure in the story. The desire of Abraham's heart is to bring joy to his beloved son. Abraham's servant explains that he was commissioned to get a wife from Abraham's relatives, and he mentions the Lord's angel who has prepared the way so the journey would be successful. The servant has told them about the Lord, an angel and a beloved son who is heir to marvelous blessings.

 

Rebekah must be leaning in toward the servant as he begins to unfold her part in the Lord's plan. She learned that the specific words she spoke and the service she rendered for the servant constituted an answer to his prayer. I can imagine her eyes growing wide as it dawned on her that the Lord had chosen her beforehand to be the son's wife. The Lord led the servant to her well and prompted her to respond graciously to him.

 

Although Rebekah has not seen him, she is attracted to the son of Abraham.  As the desire to share her life with this cherished, blessed son takes hold, her heart is drawn away from the life she knows in Mesopotamia. So it is with anyone who leans in to listen as the Spirit of God reveals the Son to his/her heart.

 

 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,   1Pet. 1:8

 

The Spirit of God came to you to win your heart for the Son, for He has chosen you to be a fellow-heir with Christ. He wants to speak to you about the blessings that are yours – He wants you to understand that He loves you in the same way He loves His own dear Son. The Spirit of God has come to fill your heart and mind with the knowledge of the Son, and to bring you to a wedding – a wedding that the Groom eagerly anticipates.

 

It delights the Father to give joy to the 'beloved Son in whom He is well pleased' (Luke 3:22); this is why He has planned a wedding!  As part of the heavenly Bride, you not only share the love of the Son, you share in every blessing that the Father has bestowed upon Him.

 

[God] in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things . . .   Heb. 1:2 

 

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, heirs also; heirs of God, and fellow-heirs with Christ . . .              Rom 8:16-17

 

 

My beloved spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along."

Song of Solomon 2:10

The Spirit and the Bride

The Spirit and the Bride

>>>>Genesis 24:16-25<<<<

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.   2Cor2:9-10

 

God the Father not only desires to have a Bride for His Son, He takes every necessary action to acquire her. To frame that in a more personal way: God the Father not only wants to love and bless you for all eternity, He does everything necessary to make it happen. We get a glimpse of how He does this in the details of Rebekah's meeting with Abraham's servant.  God leads the servant to the well where the young woman goes to draw water . . . and she comes right to him. This seems like a predictable, insignificant detail; however, every component of the story is included in order to illustrate the type.  Like the woman at the well in Samaria (John 4), Rebekah is seeking refreshment from the well – she has a thirst to be quenched. She is a picture of a person who desires to know the Lord.  Rebekah has come to the well to quench her own thirst, little does she realize that she is on the verge of drinking deeply from the cup of God's blessings.

 

The servant watches Rebekah carefully, looking for signs that she is the one whom the angel has prepared (made thirsty!) to hear his testimony about Isaac.  It is not his job to force her to go back with him, or even to convince her to do so – his mission is to bear witness to Abraham's intention, to the blessing of Isaac's inheritance and to the fact that Isaac's bride will share in every aspect of his blessing. The servant's task is to speak of Isaac in such a way that Rebekah will choose to be his bride because it is the desire of her heart.

 

This servant clearly understands his assignment – he has not traveled to a far away land in order to reform the godless culture of Mesopotamia. His job is not to build a better religious system or to alleviate pain and suffering. He does not interfere with the religious, social or governmental conditions of Mesopotamia in any way.  His only responsibility is to obtain a suitable bride for Isaac. What a perfect picture of the Spirit's work in this age! He has come to earth to reveal the Son so that we would fall in love with Him and would desire to spend eternity with Him (Acts 15:14). We will not see all the intricate ways the Spirit works in the believer's life in this story – this story is about the general mission of the Holy Spirit. God the Father sent Him to secure the Bride and then take her back to the waiting Groom.   

 

Once the servant saw that Rebekah was receptive and gracious, he gave her a gold ring and two gold bracelets. Although she did not know it at the time, these gifts were a symbol of the abundance she would enjoy in her new home when she became Isaac's wife – a pledge as to what was to come. What a beautiful picture of the way God seals His promise and provides a taste of the heavenly life that awaits us – for we are given a foretaste of life with our groom through the blessings provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1:21-22).

 

The servant, prompted by Rebekah's graciousness, asked, "is there room for us to lodge in your father's house?"  Her answer, "We have both straw and feed, and room to lodge in," offers further evidence that the servant has found a woman who is ready to hear what he has to say. This reminds me of another story in our Bible – the account of Mary and Joseph who needed lodging in Bethlehem but could not find a suitable place to stay. The Bethlehem story (indeed, the Gospel account of Christ's life) pictures a world that has no room for Christ; but in Rebekah we have a picture of the Church – responsive, eager to know Him, making room for Him.

 

 God the Father desires a Bride for His beloved Son; it is the Spirit's job take her out of the sin ravaged world and bring her to the Son.  His method is to testify about the character of the Son (John 15:26) so that those who have ears to hear will listen and respond – for He is taking out a people for His name (Acts 15:4).  The Spirit of God has not come to judge the world or make it a better place for Christians to live. The earth will be judged after the Church has been taken up to meet her Groom; when the judgment is completed, Christ will reign in perfect peace over His earthly kingdom – we, His cherished Bride, will reign with Him. Right now He is searching for the thirsty souls who will respond to His call, and when they do He puts His seal upon them.  They have made room for the things of God and they will find satisfaction in Christ; they shall never thirst again because they have found the well of water springing up to eternal life (John 4:14).

 

Rebekah's story focuses our attention on the Spirit's mission in our day – it is the heartbeat of the other types we will look at in our study. The things which God has prepared for us can only be revealed through the Word by the Spirit of God. We must understand the purpose of God and the way He carries it out if we are to live in the world, yet escape the corruption that constantly draws us in (2 Peter 1:4).

 

The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.   John 4:14

Answered Prayer!

  Answered Prayer !

>>>>Genesis 24:10-15<<<<

 

When He, the Spirit of truth, comes . . .  He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.    John 16:13-14 (excerpt)

 

The Holy Spirit comes from the presence of God the Father to earth in order to call a people together for the purpose of knowing the Lord Jesus. The Spirit does not come to commend Himself to us; He comes to extol the virtues and love of the Son so that we might find Him irresistible.  Abraham's trusted servant gives us a marvelous picture of this aspect of the Spirit's work. He leaves his master's presence in the land of promise to find a bride for the son of promise (Isaac).  Abraham's old servant knows the will and ways of his master because he has been part of the family for a long time; his mission is to communicate the character of the son to the prospective bride.

 

Nothing is left to human wisdom or incidental circumstances. The servant loaded up 10 camels with things that would convey Abraham's intentions and verify his wealthy position. Arriving at the town where Abraham's relatives lived, the servant found the place where women gather. He prayed that the will of his master would be accomplished and then watched to see how the Lord would carry it out. When he meets a woman of gracious spirit (chosen beforehand by the angel who had been sent ahead to prepare the way) he obtains an invitation to her father's house. Thus, we have a prayer of faith and its answer!

 

The servant's prayer was an expression of confidence born out of intimacy with God. The focus was on his master's satisfaction, not on his own personal needs or pleasures (James 4:3). The servant did not cajole or manipulate; he did not scheme or fret.  He has demonstrated an example of Spirit-filled prayer - prayer that places the one praying in alignment with God's heart and will. In prayer, as in every aspect of the Christian life, I am to depend upon the Holy Spirit. He will draw my attention away from personal desires and needs and direct my heart and mind to the Father and His will.

 

Before we become a Bride in the heavenlies, we live as children of God on the earth, growing in the knowledge of His Son. There is unspeakable peace and rest when I understand that I am His treasured child and that I am entirely dependent upon the planning and working of my Father. Abraham's servant received a clear answer to his prayer because he set his heart on fulfilling his master's will, and then he waited for God to work out the details.  An angel has prepared the way – the work of the Spirit simply brings us into the prepared way so that we can observe His work first-hand!  We call it 'answered prayer,' but the Lord sees it as a well executed plan!

 

Perhaps I can learn something by comparing my prayers with the servant's prayer. When I pray, am I seeking to know the Father's mind and heart on a matter – or am I seeking relief for a difficult situation? When I pray, am I seeking approval to do things my way – or do I expect God to show me His next step? Am I willing to wait for the Lord to guide me into His prepared way – or do I depend upon my own good ideas while I charge ahead?

 

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

        James 4:3 

 

Most of us realize that it is necessary to depend upon the Spirit in order to understand the written Word of God – but have we learned to allow Him to lead us in prayer? He takes our thoughts, even our unspoken feelings, and intercedes for us before the throne of God. We can ask Him to teach us to pray according to the desires of God, and we can count on Him to intercede on our behalf. What a sweet privilege for the child of God who is destined to be the Bride of Son!

 

 [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will.      Romans 8:26-27 (Amplified)

 

Before he had finished speaking [praying] . . . Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder.    Gen. 24:15