Blessed are Those Invited (No. 42)

Let us take a journey through Genesis chapter 24.

Genesis 24:1-4 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. ² So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, ³and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; ⁴ but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born (Gen 17:17). Abraham was roughly 140 years of age when he asked his servant to seek a wife for his son. Isaac was 40 years of age at this time. If we take a jubilee (50 years) for each year of Isaac’s age, from his birth to when he meets and marries his wife, we come to 2000 years.

There is an interesting parallel to the life of Christ and the life of Isaac. Christ was born nearly 40 jubilees or 2000 years ago. Rebekah represents the church. Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. Christ, from his birth, has waited 40 jubilees (2000 years) to be joined to his bride, the church. When we read the verse relating to the jubilee, it represents a proclamation of liberty throughout the whole earth when Christ returns (Lev. 25:10).

At 40 years of age Isaac was quite capable of choosing his own wife, yet Abraham sent his servant to Haran to seek a wife for Isaac. It was Abraham, through his servant, who drew a wife for his son. So it is with Christ. God the Father, (pictured here by Abraham), by the power of His Spirit (depicted by the servant) draws people, who make up the body or bride of Christ (Jn. 6:44).

The eldest servant spoken of may have been Eliezer. Abraham sent this servant because he too worshiped God (Gen. 24:26, 52). If it was Eliezer, then his loyalty is something that we should consider. He was finding a wife for the son who had displaced him from being the heir of Abraham’s wealth (Gen. 15:2).

The bride must not be a Canaanite. The Canaanites had been cursed (Gen. 5:8-15). Abraham was telling his servant to seek a wife for his son Isaac from a people who worship the same God.

Genesis 24:5-6 And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?”⁶ But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there.

Eliezer could be describing an unconverted spouse. We cannot let our unconverted spouses keep us from leaving Egypt or persuade us to return there. We were called out of darkness into the marvelous light of God (1Pet. 2:9).

Genesis 24:7 The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

It is God the Father who draws us out of our former house of bondage. All of us who do the Will of the One True God are seen as spiritual descendants of Abraham. Here Abraham identifies Christ as the Angel of God.

Genesis 24:8 And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.”

This woman depicts those called but not chosen. The Spirit of God will work with that individual to lead him or her to baptism. Eliezer is released from the oath if the woman does not want to follow him. So it is with the Spirit of God. Eliezer here typifies the Spirit of God, which shows us that if a person is not willing to follow, the Holy Spirit is “released” from that person.

Genesis 24:9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

From our baptism, we are given to Christ. Christ lives in us (Gal. 2:20). We enter a covenant to obey God. We cannot go back to our former ways, when we were once dead in trespasses (Eph. 2:5) to take Christ back to our former state (Gal. 5:1).

Genesis 24:10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

The number ten denotes ordinal completeness and a new commencement as 1 in the new series.

The camels represent the gentile nations. In other words, they represent all the nations. Camels are considered unclean by law (Lev 11:4). Man is considered unclean because he does not keep the law.

All the master’s goods were in his servant’s hands. This could also include all the spiritual promises. Through Abraham all nations are to be blessed. Eliezer showed that he had the salvation of the entire human race in his care.

Genesis 24:11 And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water.

Then he made his camels kneel. Eliezer depicting the Holy Spirit is under direction of Christ here. Christ will make his nations (camels) kneel, outside the New Jerusalem. For all the nations belong to God (Ps. 82:8). All power and authority has been given to Christ. Only those who have washed their robes are allowed to enter through the gates into the city (Rev. 22:14). Only those who overcome will be pillars in the temple of God. There is only one city for us, the New Jerusalem (Rev. 3:12). The rest of humanity will have their allotted place outside the city.

The well of water is the water (spirit) that Christ gives, which leads to eternal life (Jn. 4:14). The women who draw the water represent the church. In ancient times, it was a woman’s task to draw from the well for her family. In the millennium the church will share the responsibility of drawing the water of truth and life to give to the nations. We as the church draw water now, being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, 13:52).

This all took place at evening, which has significant meaning. Labor ceased (Ruth 2:17); workers were paid (Deut. 24:15); the evening sacrifices were conducted (Ex. 29:38-42, Num. 28:3-8); ritual impurity ended (Lev. 11:24-28). Isaac went out to meditate (Gen. 24:63). Christ went out to pray (Mat. 14:23). We can draw some parallels from these texts.

The people of the nations will be brought to the well, their labor of being yoked to slavery ceasing (Gal. 5:1). They can partake in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ; their time of ritual impurity ending. They will come to meditate on the word of God, with prayer set before God as incense, the lifting up of hands as the evening sacrifice (Ps. 141:2) comprising of mercy and knowledge of God (Hos. 6:6).

Genesis 24:12 Then he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham

Eliezer prays to the One True God. He also identifies Eloah, the God Most High, as Abraham’s God. Abraham worshiped the One True God. It is to this God we pray, and no other. We ask in the Son’s name, but we do not pray to him.

We are told in the Bible how we are to pray (Mat. 6:9-13). When we pray for the concerns of others, more than our own, the Father will give us all that we need. This refers to seeking the Kingdom first, and everything else will be given to us (Mat. 6:33). It is an attitude of self-sacrifice. This is what Christ had. He laid down his life, for us. This is the type of spirit that we must strive for.

Genesis 24:13-14 Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴ Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

The concept of Eliezer standing by the well refers to the many churches that come to draw water from the well of life. But the spirit (servant) is making a distinction between the churches (women). The church must not only have the testimony, but must yield the fruit of the spirit (Mat. 7:20). The woman who would say: drink, and I will also give your camels a drink, had the testimony. The Kingdom of God is built from people who are willing to serve, not those who want to be served. That is what God wants (Mat. 20:28).

Genesis 24:15 And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, ³who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.

God the Father knows what we need before we even ask (Mat. 6:8). Rebekah’s lineage shows that she was of Abraham’s family, but more importantly, she worshipped the One True God, as a spiritual descendent.

She came out. This is referring to her coming out from her family and this world. She came to do her duty. She came out to draw water from the well, which was her faith. Carrying the pitcher demonstrates she had the means and the strength to draw water herself, not relying on someone else.

Our earthly body is represented as the vessel made from clay (Isa. 64:8). Clay, in its natural state, is rarely fit for use in making pottery. We as humans in our natural carnal state are not fit to inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor. 15:50). The clay is mixed with water, and then sifted to remove stones and larger particles. It is by the means of the Holy Spirit that we are able to be molded and be transformed, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Heb. 10:22).

Clay can be shaped and will retain its form, and it hardens when exposed to a high temperature. This high temperature is the refining we go through. We suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of our faith is tested by fire. The end result will be praise and glory and honour when Christ returns (1Pet. 1:7). When we are put through the fire and refined our spiritual composition changes. We are then conformed to the image of our brother, Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29) who himself was tested by what he suffered and is able to help us (Heb. 2:18) being made perfect (Heb. 5:9).

Genesis 24:16 Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.

This verse relates to one’s spiritual condition before baptism. Before baptism we must bear fruits worthy of repentance (Mat. 3:8). The verse in question signifies a demarcation point in the person. The woman represents an individual who is drawn by God, and ready to be given to Christ.

Now she was beautiful to behold. Physically, Rebekah may have been outwardly beautiful. But we are looking at the spiritual intent: The inner being. The word now refers to her state. If we love God with our heart and love our neighbour, we are now considered beautiful.

Once we begin to show fruits of repentance, and begin to keep God’s laws, knowing who God is, we are considered precious in the sight of the Lord. We are worth our weight in gold (Jas. 1:25).

No man had known her. We who worship the One True God are portrayed as spiritual virgins (Rev. 14:4). We who love and obey God the Father, worship Him through His son Jesus Christ. If we remain faithful we are beheld as virgins.

In the context of the baptism ceremony, we go down to the well or a deep pool of water. We must be fully submerged. When we come up from the water, we are given the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:39). Thus, she saw the need for her vessel to be filled with the water of the well, the Holy Spirit.

In Matthew we read of the account of the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting upon Christ (Mat. 3:16). This was to show that Christ was here in the flesh and received the Holy Spirit in that state.

Genesis 24:17 And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”

And the servant ran to meet her - this is a continuation. As soon as we come up from the water, we are refreshed, or met by the spirit. The Spirit brings us to baptism. Before baptism it is working with us, but outside of us. After baptism by immersion and with the ‘laying on of hands’ the Spirit comes into us and becomes part of us.

Christ came up out of the water and the Spirit of God descended upon him. Rebekah “came up” and the servant (Spirit of God) ran to meet her. The word ran denotes the speed in which it is done. It was quick, immediate. We are given the Holy Spirit and given to Christ who lives in us (Gal. 2:20).

“Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher” (verse 17). We should always be in a spiritual state where we are able to help others with the mysteries of God. We should never be running on empty. Our vessel should be constantly filled up with the spirit of God.

Rebekah filled her pitcher and placed it back on her shoulder. She went about her job faithfully, effectively and efficiently. We have been given a job to do and we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be distracted from our calling and from the task we have been given. We have to hold fast to what we have, so no one can take our crown (Rev. 3:11).

Initially Rebekah did not offer the servant a drink. She filled her pitcher and then left to go home. We sometimes have to be careful to whom we offer a drink from our pitcher. We should not throw our pearls before swine (Mat. 7:6). If a person is thirsty for the word of God, he or she will ask for a drink, and we are to satisfy their thirst. Not everyone wants to drink from the well of life. But if a “person thirsts”, then we are to help them and quench the thirst for the truth.

The servant watched Rebekah as she filled her pitcher, so he knew that her pitcher was full of water. Those around us should see that we are filled with a different spirit, the spirit of truth. He watched her go about her daily business and observed that she was hardworking and doing her duty. So too, when people observe the way we live our lives they will be drawn to us, wanting a sip from the well we draw water from.

Genesis 24:18 So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink.

She immediately said drink, my lord. We are not to refuse anyone inquiring of the Lord. Rebekeh portrays the spirit of the church. We are to offer our help in fear and trembling (Rev. 22:17).

Rebekeh esteemed Abraham’s servant greater than herself. By calling him lord she humbled herself to a position of a slave or servant. We are to assist and serve one another in love (Gal. 5:13).

We can also see that she let her pitcher down to her hand. When we serve others, we should be able to help from our own hand or means so to speak.

Rebekah didn’t give Eliezer her pitcher to serve himself. She poured it out. Some people are not skilled or strong enough in the word of God to help themselves. We should recognize this and build up where we can (Acts 20:32).

Christ was our lord and master, yet he washed the feet of the disciples, which we are to do annually at the Lord’s Supper, in remembrance (Jn. 13:14). He then laid down his life for us. This is the attitude the Father wants in us (1Jn. 3:16).

Christ could see that not only were those called by the Father thirsty for the living water, but also he could see the nations (camels) would need to drink from the well of life. He knew that he would have to lay down his life, for us to receive the Father’s Holy Spirit, whether we were Jew or Greek.

Genesis 24:19 And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”

Here Rebekah was showing that she also considered the needs of the thirsty camels. This was more than an act of kindness.

Proverbs 12:10 The righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. (KJV)

We are called to be righteous and should be concerned for the life or welfare of others. Put perfectly, it amounts to “love thy neighbour as yourself,” (Deut. 6:4). Christ did not die for one particular race of people. He died for the entire human race. We should be kind to all people and not be selective. We are told to love even our enemies (Mat. 5:44).

By the love she showed this stranger and his animals Rebecca was actually looking after her own inheritance. The Church (Rebekah) is looking after her inheritance (Nations). By loving our neighbor now, we are looking after those who will ultimately be in our care (Rev. 2:26-27).

Genesis 24:20 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels

Rebekeh quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough. We should always take the opportunity to help others. We cannot allow those asking for spiritual guidance to die of thirst. We should act promptly. God has called people from all nations, and we have to do our best to see that all are able to receive the life giving water that God has in His son Jesus Christ (1Cor. 12:13).

We see that there is no distinction between the clean and the unclean. The camels of Eliezer received water from the same well. We have been given the same Spirit, but with different abilities and gifts.

Rebekah was able to fill it up and pour it out a number of times. Some people who pour out their spirit in service to others find it hard to replenish their spirit. But we shouldn’t get tired in the service of others. We have to be able to pour out the spirit of compassion and love to one another.

Genesis 24:21 And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

We may draw from this verse that the man here represents Christ, as we are now given to him. We have been baptised into the body of Christ. This is showing us that only the Father is omniscient (all knowing). Christ does not know the outcome of everything. Only the Father in heaven knows all (Mat. 24:36).

Genesis 24:22 So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, ²³ and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”

The placing of the two bracelets for her wrists and the “nose ring” or more correctly a forehead jewel; cf. The Origin of the Wearing of Earrings and Jewellery in Ancient Times (No. 197), relates to the purchase of the entire person in question and to make atonement.

We are defined by our actions, which invariably involves the hand, representing the whole person (Ps. 24:4, Acts 2:23). The hand can represent a group; “the hand of my enemies,” (Ps.31:15); a nation; “the hand of the Egyptians,” (Ex. 3:8); and is used to describe a time, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Mat. 3:2, Mat. 4:17). The hand also describes the way in which Christ healed: “Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him” (Mat. 14:31); "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live" (Mat. 9:18). We also use our hands in prayer (Gen. 14:22 KJV). The hand signifies weakness and strength and is used for blessing (Gen. 48:14,17); and in worship (Lev. 14:26,27).

The two bracelets representing both left and right hands, reflect our physical weakness (left) and our spiritual strength (right).

Both Hebrew woman and men wore bracelets. The church is made up men and women and we are spiritual Jews (Hebrews) (Rom. 2:29). The bracelet was a badge of high status or royalty (2Sam. 1:10). We are made into a royal priesthood (1Pet. 2:9) of the house of David. The bracelet is made out of precious material. We are precious in the sight of the Lord (Ps.116:15; Ps. 35:17, NKJV). The bracelets are made from gold. The Almighty will be our gold i.e. riches in faith (Job 22:25).

In ancient times, bracelets, which depicted importance were worn on the arm. The common woman’s bracelet might have been worn at the wrist, as it is today. Rebekah was given bracelets for her wrists as worn by common women one would assume. But this was to show that God uses the weak and the base (common) to confound the wise and the strong (1Cor. 1:27).

The bracelets weighed ten shekels, equating to the price one must pay for a female who is between five and twenty years (Lev. 27:1-5). Christ paid the price for us, when he laid down his life. The bracelets and nose ring also relate to making atonement (Num. 31:49-50).

Genesis 24:24-25 So she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.” ²⁵ Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.”

Both Eliezer and Rebekah were of the same faith. We who are of the same faith must not be unequally yoked. Also we should keep the feasts of the Lord together wherever possible.

Genesis 24:26-27 Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. ²⁷ And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lordled me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

Here the servant gives thanks to God. It is apparent that the servant saw that these things that happened were not all coincidences, and that God the Father was in control of the entire process. He gives what is needed and required to those who ask. We too should give thanks in everything.

The servant ‘being on the way’, shows that he was in the way of the truth. He was on the road of salvation. When we give our ways to the Lord, he will establish our thoughts (Prov. 16:3). Christ leads all those who are his.

Genesis 24:28 So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.

The church guards the truth that has been entrusted to it by the Holy Spirit that dwells within us (2Tim. 1:14). We have the mission of declaring the road to salvation (Acts 16:17). The church bears witness to the testimony of Jesus Christ to both physical and spiritual Israel.

Genesis 24:29-31 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. ³⁰ So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. ³¹ And he said, “Come in, O blessed of the Lord! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”

Physical Israel wanted to see the physical riches of God, before they let Him into their hearts (house). Laban was no different. He wasn’t concerned about the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith (Mat. 23:23). He was more interested in amassing riches here on earth, rather than storing up treasures in heaven (Mat. 6:20). Ancient Israel knew who God the Father was, because they were given the law from Adam.

Laban recognises the promises of God, through the words of his sister Rebekah. “Thus the man spoke to me,” can refer to the spoken Law of God, which was passed down. His sister Rebekah, in this instance is referring to the people like Enoch and Noah, which the spirit of God spoke to, through His Angel, who later became the man Jesus Christ (Acts 3:18-21).

We can draw some simple analogies from this story in how it relates to the lead up of the Passover. Christ tells his disciples to go into the city. Eliezer was at the well where the women of the city came (Gen. 24:15). Christ said “a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.” (Lk. 22:10). Eliezer the servant met a woman who was carrying a jar of water (Gen. 24:15) he followed her back to her home.

Christ’s disciples asked about spending the night there and about the guest chamber (Lk. 22:11). Eliezer asked if there was a place (guest chamber) for him and his men (the disciples).

Genesis 24:32 Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

Christ who is depicted as the man. He is the husband of the spiritual church. Yet he came as a servant. Christ, through the Holy Spirit, knew where to go. Christ came to the house where the disciples were in the evening (Mk. 14:17). This was the time when Eliezer met Rebekah and then went to her home.

The straw and feed provided for his camels may represent basic food, such as the bread and wine, the symbols we use for the Lord’s Supper. The reference to camels shows us that we were unclean before the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We see the same analogy used by the prophet Jeremiah describing people who were not obedient to the One True God (Jer. 2:20-24).

Water was provided to wash the feet of the men who were with him. Christ, on the night before the Passover, washed his disciples’ feet, the men who were with him. (Jn. 13:5). If we look at the spiritual aspect of this verse, we see that the camels depicted the disciples also as heads of the tribes and then the nations in their unclean spiritual condition.

Only those who are baptised can partake in the foot washing ceremony. Those partaking of the meal do not have to be baptised. This is extracted from provided straw and feed for the camels. We are shown quite clearly, that we’re considered spiritually clean, when we are baptised and take part in the foot washing ceremony (1Pet. 2:10; Acts 11:9).

Genesis 24:33-34 And food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told about my errand.” And he said, “Speak on.” ³⁴ So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.

This pictures Christ at the last supper. Christ knew he could not eat the Passover meal with his disciples, because he was the Passover lamb, slain before the foundation of the world (1Pet. 1:20; Lk. 22:14-16).

Christ was saying that he would eat of it with them when all was fulfilled. So too Eliezer would not eat the meal until his mission of finding a wife for Isaac was fulfilled.

Eliezer is announcing he comes in the name of his Master Abraham. This pictured Christ who is sent by God the Father. The servant is not greater than the Master (Mat. 10:24). Eliezer, like Christ, came in the name of his master. He did not speak from his own authority, or his own will. He did the will of him who sent him (Jn. 6:38).

Like Christ, Eliezer symbolizing the Holy Spirit preached the good news of the Kingdom of God, as he explained to the household what he was sent out to do. He also gave an account how he met Rebekah as detailed in Genesis 24:35-49. There are similar overtones here of the disciples and their life with Christ in the gospels of the New Testament.

Christ was revealing the gospel to the house of Laban. This tells us that the nations knew the plan of salvation. They were always sent servants to reveal the Father’s will.

Genesis 24:50-51 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. ⁵¹ ^eHere is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.”

Christ proved himself to be the Son of God. He had fulfilled his duty when he lived on earth. He fulfilled all the scriptures. Everything was done just as God foretold it through his prophets.

Genesis 24:52-53 And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. ⁵³ Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

Rebekah is then betrothed to Isaac. We are betrothed to Christ. We are adorned like a bride.

Genesis 24:54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank and stayed all night. Then they arose in the morning, and he said, “Send me away to my master.”

We could speculate here and say the men who ate with him, are those who partook of the Lord’s Supper ceremony. In the same way the disciples were with Christ, staying all night, to show us that the Lord’s Supper is part of the Passover Festival. We are to commemorate this night on the 14^th of the First month. They all stayed together as we do on a holy day of observance.

Christ arose from the dead on the Saturday evening, after spending three days and three nights in the belly of the tomb. We could further speculate with the following: Then they arose in the morning - Christ rose into the heavens in the early hours of Sunday. “Send me away to my master” - Christ in his risen physical state, prepared to return to the Father. Christ wanted to go back to his God. He had been resurrected, and now was to be offered as the Wave Sheaf, in the morning. He was to represent the first of the first fruits.

Genesis 24:55 But her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go.”

“Let the young woman stay with us a few days" involves a time sequence. We know that a day is as a thousand years to the Lord and vice versa (2Pet. 3:8).

The taking of a wife from Abraham’s family was approximately 4000 years ago. Those who would make up the bride, the chosen of God, began mainly from Abraham, (but there were others before him). The bride was just in her infancy. She was young, so there was a longer period of time being looked at. This was to show us that the church would stay here on earth for a few days, which equated to some four thousand years. The Church was two thousand years in the preparation and two thousand years in the calling out.

At least ten; after that she may go tells us that the church would stay here until all is complete (10), until the rest of the elect can be drawn out. After that she may go. After all the elect have been sealed, then we may go, as resurrected beings, to symbolically marry Christ.

Genesis 24:56 And he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since the Lord has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master.”

The Lord God had prospered the servant’s way so he was anxious to go home to Abraham. Christ wanted to go back to his God. He had been resurrected, and now was to ascend to heaven to take up his inheritance as the first of the first fruits.

Genesis 24:57 So they said, “We will call the young woman and ask her personally.” ⁵⁸ Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man? And she said “I will go”.

The question posed to Rebekah wasn’t if she wanted to marry Isaac. They called her, shows us that God the Father calls us personally and asks if we want to follow Christ. It is a personal decision. This rest of the world has its own calling.

Rebekah knew she was entering a life long covenant. When we are called, we are given the opportunity to enter into a covenant of love with God and Christ. Christians are not forced against our will to follow Christ. We are given a choice. God desires the type of person who is willing to give up everything for Him, and be joined to His son, Jesus Christ.

Genesis 24:59-61 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. ⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her:

“Our sister, may you become

The mother of thousands of ten thousands;

And may your descendants possess

The gates of those who hate them.”

⁶¹ Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed (NKJV). (The NRSV translates the last sentence as; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way)

Then Rebekah and her maids arose. We were considered once dead spiritually (Eph. 2:5; Col. 3:3). From our baptism, we are given the Holy Spirit, through Christ. The Feast of Pentecost pictures this fact. We are now sanctified.

Rebekah was blessed as the mother of thousands of ten thousands and her seed was to possess the gates of their enemies. This blessing was to carry on down through the nations descended from her. In her seed then tribes head the gentile nations and all the nations of the world enter the Church as brides of Christ in the Holy Spirit in the Resurrections of the Dead.

We then read that Rebekah rode on the camels (nations) and followed the man representing the Holy Spirit and went to Isaac who represented the risen Christ.

Before we were born, we were sanctified. (Jer. 1:5). Though we live in the world we are not part of it. That is why we ride on the camels. We are separated, holy. We have been sent to the nations, to steer them to God, through Christ. We are to lead them, to the saving grace in Christ.

The fact that Rebekah’s maids arose with her, could show us that aliens are also permitted to attend the feast (Jn. 12:20; Acts 2:5-11). We are allowed to have people at the feast who are not baptised members of the body of Jesus Christ. The reference to maids tell us that women are to attend the feasts (1Sam. 1:3,9; Lk. 2:41-42). It was understood by ancient Israel that both males, females and the aliens who reside in their gates, should attend the feasts. By definition this extends to the elect as spiritual Israel. Only males are ordered to attend by Law. Females can be excused for physical reasons over time, but they are expected to attend.

We are being lead out. This reflects the second exodus, which will take place. Rebekah represents the spiritual church, and her maids are pictured as the physical nation of Israel. They rode on the camels, shows that by the means of the nations, we will return back to our homeland, from which we were scattered. We follow Christ.

Thus the servant took Rebekah. The word took come from the SHD 3947. It can have a number of meanings, which might relate to the overall picture of humanity. We are taken out of a false system, bought at a price, for Christ, being prepared for marriage. We are selected, a chosen generation, to be taken in marriage.

From this word took we can see a similar concept emerge in the story of creation, in the Garden of Eden, when the Lord took a rib from Adam. The same word is used, in regards to the verse in Genesis 24:61 ‘thus the servant took Rebekah’.

Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; ²² And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. ²³ And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (KJV)

God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam so he could make him a wife. He took one of his ribs and made (rendered “built” in Hebrew) a woman. From this we can contrast the taking out of the church. The church is taken out of man (kind) while a deep spiritual sleep has fallen upon them. We know that the first Adam failed, so Christ came to be a second Adam. Just as God took out one rib so we are taken out (of the world). We become individual members of the body of Christ (1Cor. 12:27).

The word rib comes from the SHD 6763 tsela and has various applications. The Authorised Version translates it as 1.side, rib, beam. 1A rib (of man). 1C side-chambers or cells (of [the] temple structure). We are that temple of God (1Cor. 3:17).

Genesis 24:62 Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South.

Christ came from, be that he was created and sent, from the way, which is the Father who is the “well of life and vision” (Lahai Roi). For Eloah is the source of life, The Eternal, (1Tim. 6:16) who keeps an eye on His righteous one, wanting us to see Him also, when Christ returns (Acts 22:14).

Genesis 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming.

Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide. We can grasp a greater understanding of this sequence, when we break down this verse, to get a clearer picture. Understanding what the phrase went out implies, will help explain this verse.

(SHD 3318) come out, depart. to go forth (to a place), proceed to (to or toward something). 1a4 to come or go forth (with purpose or for result). bring out, lead out. 1b2 to bring out of. 1b3 to lead out. 1b4 to deliver. to be brought out or forth.

Strong, J. (1996). Enhanced Strong's Lexicon (H3318). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.

Christ came out of the Father. He departed from heaven and went forth (to a place), earth. Christ then proceeded, as a lamb to the slaughter. From his resurrection, he became the first of the first fruits, (to or toward something) went to the Father becoming the means of salvation (with purpose or for result) for all of humanity. Christ now has the responsibility to bring out people, and lead them out of this world, to bring them out of darkness, and to lead them out of bondage, so to deliver them, to be brought forth as a holy nation.

Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening. We have to look at what meditate means. It comes from SHD 7742 suwach. It translates as “meditate” once. To meditate, muse, commune, speak, complain. (Strong, J. (1996). Enhanced Strong's Lexicon (H7742). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.)

When we expand each word that makes up meditate a little further, we see a picture develop.

1.Muse = think, reflect, deliberate, consider, ponder

2.Commune = community, communicate, converse, community farm

3.Speak = converse, talk, chat, tell 4.Complain = protest, criticize, find fault

We are looking at a sequence. What we could deduce is the timing and the purpose of Christ’s return. Christ thinks only of doing the Father’s will. He reflects His image. He returns to the community from which he dwelt, the community farm being mankind, we might say. This time he will converse with the entire human race, but when he talks, it will be with a two-edged sword. Christ comes to save the planet. He comes in a form of protest, for our lack of obedience. For he has found fault in the way we live.

The field is away from distractions. When we meditate and fellowship together on days of worship, we have to be able to think, reflect on the word of God and communicate with each other, in an environment away from the distractions and influences of this world.

We know that when Christ returns, he will return to Jerusalem. The camels that were coming, we know now are the nations that gather themselves around about Jerusalem to make war against her (Rev 16:12). There are a number of events that unfold when Christ returns.

Genesis 24:64 Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel;

We see the nations are drawn to Jerusalem. Just like the parallel of the fig tree, we are able to see these events unfold. We who have been faithful to God, and make up the body of Christ, look up. No one else is mentioned. Not her maids, nor the other servants. This directly relates to the church (Lk. 21:27-28). It is our redemption, not the nations. Christ comes to save the elect (Mat. 24:22).

Now we see another aspect of the events that unfold when Christ returns. When we see Christ, we are dismounted, or a more fitting description is that we are resurrected from the nations.

The camels we ride are the nations we live in Only Rebekah dismounted; no other person did. We see that we are resurrected from each of our nations. We see that Rebekah dismounted from her camel. This shows us that we as individuals are in our own nations. That is what is meant here. We are not all grouped together sitting on one camel. We are scattered among the nations. There is no place of safety. Otherwise, she would have been seated with others on the one camel.

When Rebekah lifted up her eyes, it tells us something. She knew she was going to marry the wealthiest heir, but she still remained humble. On our journey, we are not to have our heads raised in pride, but lowered in humility (Isa. 2:11).

Remember, Rebekah had never seen Isaac. But when she saw him in the field, she dismounted from her camel. She would not have dismounted for just anyone for she had said to the servant “who is this man?” She (the church) knew it was Isaac (Christ).

Genesis 24:65 for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself

The story in John 6:15-20 explains how Christ comes to us, when we are in trouble. When we are in the middle of nowhere, with no hope, he walks on water, to get to us. He performs a miracle. When he comes to us in our moment of distress, we are immediately brought to land, that is, safety.

Just as Isaac walked through the field to meet Rebekah, Christ walked on water to meet us. The disciples were afraid. We have nothing to fear. Christ willingly receives us. Our days of distress are over. They were immediately brought to land, where they were going. We are brought to our spiritual homeland, Jerusalem. That’s where we are going.

Genesis 24:65 for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself

The Hebrew word for veil (SHD 6809), from an unused root means “to wrap over.” It can be understood as cover, or cloak.

The American Standard Version says she took her veil. So she took a veil and covered herself.

The church is pictured as a woman, and we make up the Church of God. As we have read, we are spiritual virgins. She portrays modesty in meeting her husband.

When Christ returns we are resurrected, and take the veil of transforming into spirit beings. This is the veil that we put on. Our former bodies are now gone, and we are changed into spiritual sons of God. This is our new cloak. We are no longer of flesh and blood, but of spirit.

Psalm 140:7 O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.

This day is pictured as a day of battle. It is when Christ comes back to take what is rightfully his. He will take it by force. The demons are not going to hand it over to him. We take comfort that our God will cover our head, when Christ returns. Our head symbolizes our thought and personifies our body.

Genesis 24:66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

It is through the Father’s Spirit that all things are revealed (1Cor. 2:10). The Father is in Christ, and Christ in Him (Jn. 10:38).

Genesis 24:67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her.

Isaac took Rebekah to his mother’s tent, as we are taken by Christ to the New Jerusalem the Mother of us all.

The concept of dwelling in booths (tents) was to reinforce the dependence of Israel on God, while they were sojourners in the wilderness.

(Verse 67)…..So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. (NKJV)

The mother represents the physical nation of Israel. Christ came out of the tribe of Judah (Mat. 2:1). The woman in Revelation depicts physical (and spiritual) Israel (Rev. 12:13). Ancient Israel did not achieve salvation as a whole. Only certain individuals made it through. We may term this era as having died. The church comforted Christ.

By this we can say that Christ was comforted after his mother’s death. Jerusalem was destroyed and the New Jerusalem will come to us as the City of God (see The City of God (No. 180)). The Last Great Day represents the judgment in righteousness of the world and the final elimination of sin. It represents the coming of God to the earth and the City of God joined in the final restoration. This final restoration is the end result of the plan of God.

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