THE picture we were looking at last month might be said to be painted in three different parts, and, having last month examined the first, we now proceed to the next, which carries us out of the fierce glare of the Eastern sun into the refreshing shade of Rebecca's father's roof.
“What!" we exclaim, "More presents" Yes, Rebecca's decision to accompany Abraham's servant across the desert when asked, "Wilt thou go with this man?" has given a fresh occasion. It must have been an eventful experience to find a stranger ready to distribute valuable gifts so liberally; for, you notice that although Rebecca is the object of his visit, other people benefit by it.
When they have settled down, however, and have quite finished admiring the costly gifts, and bestowing their thanks, we have the opportunity to discover what very different ideas these four people had about this eventful visit. On the one hand, Rebecca's mother and brother are all anxiety to make this stranger at home where they are, but nothing will tempt him to settle down. On the other hand, Rebecca is in the stranger's secret and has her heart set on the father's house in Canaan where Isaac lives, and even the pleasure of appearing before her old friends with her new treasures has lost its charm; for, of course, she has heard all about Isaac and his romantic history, and the honor of having been chosen as his bride captivates all her thoughts. It is true there is a long weary journey between, which would have dismayed the heart of many, but she is not to take it alone, and she can see at a glance that abundant provision has been made for it.
Perhaps, however, we are getting along too fast if we are to continue to make suitable comparisons with Rebecca.
We too find ourselves in a world which has been very much enriched by the work of the Holy Spirit in spreading the gospel. For although the hearts of men and women are naturally just as evil as they were in the darkest heathen days; yet in converting to God those who were once "enemies in mind by wicked works," such a marvelous change has been brought about that people without being converted enjoy the benefits of it.
Now just as Laban and his mother appear to have thought to themselves that it would be a good thing if they could persuade this stranger to stay with them, people are now indulging in the false hope that it is God's purpose to gradually improve the world. Perhaps we too have thought how we should like to play the part of great reformers, and so after a long and honored life leave the world better for our lives, as men say: in fact, display our presents and possibly be made a great deal of!
How long Rebecca remained in anything approaching this state of mind it is impossible to say, but at any rate I am sure the stranger was very patient, and let her thoroughly enjoy her presents before he firmly hut kindly brought back her attention to the real object of his mission, the interests of his master's son. And when she really grasped this she did not need to be reminded that their plans must be guided by his master's thoughts who had said, " Beware that thou bring not my son thither [i.e., into Laban's country] again." How ashamed she must have felt if even for a moment she had given herself and her kindred the most prominent place when Isaac should have been first in her thoughts.
So last month we saw Rebecca as illustrating God's call: "Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear," this month we come to the practical result shown in the same verse: "Forget also thine own people and thy father's house. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty, for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him."
It would not do for young people to misunderstand this verse. It is clearly not meant to suggest disrespect to parents, for it would then contradict other scriptures, but it illustrates what is becoming in a girl who leaves her home as a bride. It would be a poor compliment to her husband (would it not?) if she had left her heart behind in the home of her parents, the value of which had grown less only by comparison. And so God would have our hearts attracted personally to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the glories which surround Him, not lingering, like Lot's wife, after worldly aims and ambitions which, even in their most refined form, prove but air-bubbles.
A bubble to a baby-mind is just as solid as anything else and far more attractive than most things, with its reflections and variegated colors, but we who know what it is to have grasped it and found it vanish, may perhaps understand by it how strongly it resembles the pleasures of sin, and how Moses by faith refused a royal palace and became a stranger on the earth, "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward."
It may have been that after Rebecca had made up her mind the servant kept her waiting while he performed some necessary work in connection with the journey, but the feelings of her heart were the test: she has become like him, a stranger, however long kept waiting.
It would have been just as unbecoming for Rebecca to have shown impatience about getting away, however, do you not think? It was her part to wait upon the one who had undertaken to conduct her, and meanwhile she could be suitably occupied: still, as already said, with the consciousness of being a stranger in heart amid old surroundings.
It must however delight the Holy Spirit, Whom we are told not to grieve, when we have responded to His invitation. And it reminds us of the Lord Jesus when He said to Thomas, "Blessed are they which have not seen and yet have believed." Indeed it also reminds us of Luke 15 where we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as typified in the three parables, joined by the heavenly chorus of angels in rejoicing over "one sinner that repenteth.”
We must take care however we do not forget while waiting to go up to meet the Savior, that we can enjoy the temporal blessings God sends, and fulfill our everyday duties with the highest zeal, because God enjoins it, and yet be strangers in heart in a world that is going on to judgment.