In figure, Isaac had passed through death on the altar on Mount Moriah and had come forth again in resurrection (see Hebrews 11:1919Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:19)). Then his father Abraham sent Eliezer, his servant, into a far country to get a bride for him. Eliezer speaks to us of the Holy Spirit of God, who has come down since Christ has gone back as the One who has died and risen again. The Holy Spirit is now gathering out of the world a bride for Christ, bringing them from a “far country” to the Father’s house above.
Perhaps some of our young readers wonder what we mean by the “bride of Christ,” and we want everyone to understand our “Bible talks.” It is just this way! When anyone takes the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, the Holy Spirit of God, the third person of the Trinity, comes to indwell them (see Ephesians 1:13; 113In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)
13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13) Corinthians 6:19.) They then become part of the true church of God, the body of Christ, and when the Lord Jesus comes for His own as the Bridegroom (Matthew 25:66And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:6)), they will be caught up to meet Him. The marriage will then take place in Heaven (Revelation 19:77Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)), just as Isaac’s marriage took place when Rebekah reached Canaan.
A Bride for Isaac
Now to go on with this very interesting story. Abraham made his servant promise to go all the way to Mesopotamia where he was to choose the bride and bring her back. Eliezer started out on his long journey, taking everything that was necessary to persuade the bride-to-be of the wealth and glory of Isaac, so that she would be willing to come. Thus when the Spirit of God begins to work in a sinner’s heart, He brings before the soul all that Christ has done, and the future glory with Christ for the one who believes. He meets him, too, at the “well,” using the water of the Word for the sinner’s blessing. This was the way the Lord did with the woman at Sychar’s well in John 4, telling her of the gift of God and giving her far more than He had asked from her. He had requested a drink of water from Jacob’s well, but He gave her a drink of the “living water.” Dear young reader, the Spirit of God longs to give you a drink of the “living water” too. When you accept the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, you will find the truth of the words, “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)).
Guided by the Word
The Word of God has many interesting lessons for us, and just as we learn many things from pictures, so God uses “word pictures” in the Bible to teach us. Let us look at this story before us in a very practical way. These chapters are written for young people, and we all like to have friends. Our problem is this, who are the right friends to choose, and perhaps harder still, where will we find them? Since Eliezer was trying to find a bride for Isaac (who in our “picture” would speak of Christ), his experiences will surely be helpful to those of us who want to choose a friend or friends to please Him too.
Eliezer knew the right place to find the one for Isaac. It was by the well of water, in the very place where Abraham had told him to go. Abraham would speak to us of God our Father whose Word should ever be our guide. We can never expect to find the right one in the path of disobedience, nor by the “broken cisterns” of this poor world.
Further Meditation
1. What does Eliezer speak to us of?
2. Having friends that encourage us to follow the Lord Jesus can have a huge, positive impact on our Christian testimony. What are the characteristics of a good friend? You can find many of them by searching for the word “friend” in the book of Proverbs. You’ll find a lot of useful instruction there.
3. You’ll find a more extensive discussion of this chapter, along with some excellent gospel messages, in the short book The Call of the Bride by W. T. P. Wolston.