The resurrection of Christ from the dead is a wonderful key to scripture. In Gen. 22, then, we must first notice the type of the offering up of the Son of God. There the great lesson is taught in the offering up of Isaac, that God would provide Himself a Lamb for a burnt-offering. Isaac had, in figure, been so offered up, and, in figure, received again from the dead. God spared not His own Son. He must be lifted up. He has been lifted up on the cross; the atoning work is done; God has received Him from among the dead. As the living Isaac was now with his father in Canaan, so the living Son of God is now with the Father in heaven. It is at this point our lesson begins in chapter 24. Sarah was also dead, as Israel is now for the present set aside. The question, then, is this: What is the present thought and purpose of God, during this peculiar period? Christ has been offered up, the sacrifice for sins. God hath raised Him from the dead. Israel, as a nation, and all God’s purposes concerning them, set aside for the present. Their wonderful prophetic history yet to be fulfilled. What then, is God doing now?
In type, this chapter will answer that question. Three persons are brought before us, which illustrate the counsel and work of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: that also in one distinct object. Two persons are in Canaan, and one sent to Syria, for the sole purpose of bringing a bride. Abraham, the father, sends the ruler over all that he had, from Canaan to Mesopotamia, for the alone purpose of taking and bringing a bride for Isaac, the son—the one, who had been received in figure from the dead, and who was now in Canaan.
Nothing could more beautifully illustrate the counsels of God. Abraham sent his servant; God has sent the Holy Ghost—as truly a living person on this earth as was Abraham’s servant in Syria.
The purpose of Abraham in sending this servant was to take a bride for his son. The purpose of God the Father, in sending the Holy Ghost, was to form that one body, the future bride of the Lamb—His eternal Son. The servant came to find, and lead away the appointed bride. “She that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac.” This points to that wondrous soul-sustaining fact, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.” Very sweet are those words of Jesus: “All that the Father hath given me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
We will then trace this wondrous way of divine sovereignty. And what is true of the whole church of God, is also true of each individual saint. How little did Rebekah know of these counsels, and her personal interest in all this, as she came, with her pitcher on her shoulder, to the well. At once she responds to the words of the servant; she takes down her pitcher; she draws for the camels. “And the man, wondering at her, held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.” Thus are they whom God hath given to Christ made willing to come to Him.
Now notice the first thing the servant does. “The man took a golden earring, of half a shekel weight; and two bracelets for her hands, of ten shekels weight of gold.” Jesus said of the promised Comforter, “He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.” “He shall not speak of himself.” Not once did this devoted servant name his own name. He takes the jewels of gold sent by the father for the appointed bride of his son. He says, “I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.” (Verse 47.) Oh, how the Holy Ghost delights to put that bright jewel on the forehead—the righteousness of God, unto all, and upon all, them that believe! What untold grace is this—sin not imputed! righteousness reckoned! Jesus, who was delivered for our offenses, raised again for our justification! What a jewel! —Christ made unto us righteousness! God is just, and the Justifier of them that believe. What a gift! righteousness without works! Has He put the jewel on your forehead? Is the risen Christ your subsisting righteousness, as in Him, before God? Accepted in Christ—yea, in Christ—then no condemnation. And the bracelets on her hands: no change in the brightness of the righteousness of God. The jewel on the forehead: no change in that changeless love. “And the bracelets on her hands”—no separation from the love of God in Christ. This is the way of the Spirit of God in bringing a soul to Christ. Jewels first: everlasting righteousness, everlasting love. Let this be the starting-point; then there is room in the house for the camels and the men; yes, there is room in the heart for the Son of God. Not so Laban, her brother; he did his part first. When he saw the jewels on his sister, he sought to merit the like by his works. He said, “I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.” How many are like him! Self-preparation knows nothing of the divine principle of grace, which gives the jewels first. We must, however, note that, with Rebekah, it is still more jewels, in the most absolute, unconditional grace.
“And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to her.” Yes, all this first! Was it not so with the repentant prodigal son? Sins owned in self-judgment, and that moment the gracious words of the Father were heard, “Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.” Thus grace met the idolatrous Syrian, and thus God meets the returning sinner. Oh, what it cost the Lord of glory that we might thus be clothed with the best robe! “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Are you quite sure God, by His Spirit, has thus met you? —pure, priceless jewels first? Have you received them without money and without price? Rebekah did not buy them. She did not merit them. She made no covenant in receiving them. All was absolute gift in grace. Earrings and bracelets, jewels and raiment—perfect meetness for the inheritance. Can you say that the Father has, by, and in, His Son, thus made you meet for the inheritance of the saints in light?
After this rich display of pure grace, now comes the question of responsibility.
“Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.” How much was involved in this decision! She must leave all that had been dear to her—her father’s home, and idolatrous religion. She must commit herself entirely to the guidance of Abraham’s servant. She was the only object he sought in Mesopotamia. “And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.” No doubt nature would have hindered all this. “Let the damsel abide with us a few days.”
Child of God, what is thy decision? “I will go,” or wouldest thou abide with the world, with nature, for a few days more? With Rebekah, there was the long journey, but Isaac at the end of it. Every hour separated her farther from Mesopotamia, nearer to Isaac. Such is the path of the Christian. As truly as Abraham sent his servant to lead Rebekah to her home with Isaac, in Canaan, so surely has God sent the Holy Ghost to lead the believer across this desert journey, to the home prepared, the home above. Thus she followed the man, until that moment when she lifted up her eyes, and saw the coming Isaac to meet her.
Abraham did not send his servant to improve Syria; neither did Rebekah say, “What harm is there? Can I not remain with my friends, and enjoy their pleasures and pastimes? What harm is therein their innocent amusements?” No; she says, “I will go.” Thus was she turned from the dumb idols of Syria. A new power attracted her soul, like a magnet.
This was a beautiful type of the church, as seen in the New Testament. They also were “turned to God from idols, to serve the living and the true God; and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead.” (1 Thess. 1:1010And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10).) They went forth to meet the Bridegroom. But now how sad the change! how long the sleep! The church has almost forgotten that there is such a Person coming from heaven. The Holy Ghost abiding still, and to the end. How few know that His purpose is to take the bride to meet her Lord; as Abraham’s servant took Rebekah. And as she drew near, “Isaac went out to meditate... and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.” However we may forget that moment so near, when we shall meet the Lord, is it not the constant meditation of His heart of love? Strange that we can forget! Look up, by faith, and see that holy, blessed One in the glory, meditating about us! What a scene, when He shall lift up His eyes, and behold the millions of the redeemed, seen by Him, to be coming to meet Him in the air! “And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and.... she saw Isaac.” Oh, blessed, sure hope! and we shall lift up our eyes, and see Jesus, and be forever with our Lord. As Isaac had prepared a place for his bride in Canaan, so has Jesus prepared a place for us in the Father’s house on high. Thus shall the Holy Ghost bring the appointed bride, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world; and as the servant presented Rebekah to Isaac, so shall He, the only Guide of the church, bring the bride to Christ.
Thus, how true the type. Isaac was offered on the altar, Christ was offered, the sacrifice for our sins, on the cross. Isaac was received, in figure, from the dead. Jesus was raised in reality from among the dead, for our justification, and received to the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens.
Three persons were engaged in the one object^ taking a bride for the risen Isaac. The Father sent the Holy Ghost to take out of this world a bride for Christ; Israel, during such period, being set aside. The golden jewel for the forehead, and bracelets for the hands, were given to, and put upon Rebekah. No condemnation, accounted righteous before God—what a jewel for the forehead!—and no separation from the love of God in Christ. Oh, what bracelets of everlasting love! Still further, jewels of silver and jewels of gold, and raiment, given to Rebekah. Still further, glories of the person of Christ unfolded by the Spirit. Complete in Christ—what raiment! Made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. All ours, and ours forever! The sure portion of every child of grace! If a believer on the Son of God, all are yours.
And then—but not till then—the test of the responsibility of faith that works by love: “Wilt thou go with this man? I will go.” Yes, there is One whom, not having seen, we love. Rebekah went, in sole dependence on the guidance of the servant. So, in the beginning, did the church. The Holy Ghost is the only Guide that knows the way, and can bring you safely to the home prepared.
Now, if this is the purpose of God the Father, during this period of Christianity, to take out of this world the redeemed bride of Christ, and if His direct government of die earth, by Messiah, through Israel, be entirely future, as revealed in the word of God, has not almost every feature of this divine picture been perverted, if not corrupted?
Let a sinner be converted to God in these days, and where is the practical sanctification? Is the back turned on the world, and the face to Christ, looking for Him from heaven? Is it not rather, the back turned on the coming of the Lord, and the face toward the world, with a pretense of improving that world, which has rejected, and does reject Christ? The heart lingers in the world, and talks about what harm is there in the world’s innocent pastimes? “Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”
If Rebekah had come to a place where the path was difficult to trace, and if twenty men had pointed twenty different ways, would her course have been to be guided by the tradition of these elders, or, still follow the guidance of the servant and ruler sent by the father Abraham?
Have you come to such a crossing? Shall we follow the bewildering directions of men, or, with the heart drawn to Christ, submit to the only safe leading of the Spirit in the scriptures of truth? If so, like Rebekah, our back will be on the world, and our eyes lifted up to await our change in a moment, and translation, to be forever with the Lord, at His coming.