Genesis 24:61-67

VII. The Servant Brings the Bride to the Bridegroom

"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. And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahairoi, for he dwelt in the land of the South. And Isaac went to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel. And she said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master; and she took her veil, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all these things, that he hath done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death."

This priceless narrative is concluded by the bringing together of the bride and bridegroom by the messenger, but there are additional beautiful and instructive developments. The bridegroom goes forth to meet the bride. It is eventide; she dismounts as their meeting approaches, and he joyfully and lovingly receives her.

"Rebekeh ... and her damsels ..." (Genesis 24:61) indicates that the household from which Rebekah came was one of wealth. Her dowry included her nurse and an unspecified number of other servants, besides, possibly gifts and treasures not mentioned.

THE MESSENGER SHALL BRING CHRIST'S BRIDE TO HIM

Just as Rebekah followed the messenger to the final union with her bridegroom, so Christians shall follow the teachings of the Messenger (The Holy Spirit) until they are at last forever united in Christ. As in the case of Rebekah, it shall not come at once, but at "eventide."

And Christ shall go forth to meet the Bride, even as did Isaac. "We shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

This marvelous event, like that recorded in Genesis 22 (the sacrifice of Isaac), was a designed historical occurrence, brought about by the God of heaven and earth for the purpose of witnessing and prefiguring magnificent spiritual realities which would take place historically in the reign of the Messiah, in the current dispensation of the grace of God. In this vital respect, these events (Genesis 22 and Genesis 24) are similar to another event prominent in the life of Jonah. Once this overwhelming truth is recognized, it removes forever any notion that "editors," "redactors," or other meddlers with the sacred text had anything whatever to do with it. The details of these tremendously significant historical events did not fall into place, or receive their present form through any human source whatever. If such had been the case, they would never have fit the great spiritual realities they were to typify so perfectly as they do. When one reads here in the O.T. the pattern images of "the things pertaining to the kingdom of God," it reassures us beyond every shadow of doubt of the integrity and truthfulness of all that is written. Amen!

Regarding the ages of the principals in this inspired narrative, Isaac was forty, Abraham one hundred and forty; and Sarah was dead, having been buried some three years prior to Isaac's taking Rebekah for his wife. Thus, the tandem events of the sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22), the death and burial of Sarah in Machpelah (Genesis 23), and the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah appear as closely connected chronologically, all three events happening in a single decade.