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