Isaac and Rebekah
First of all, one of my all-time favorite verses in the
whole Bible,,,,is when Isaac was in the field meditating,,,and he looked
up to see his new bride coming to him:
Genesis 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at
the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels
were coming.
To me there is something just so thrilling about this verse…so
romantic ! (sigh..)
Genesis
24:20
And Isaac
was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel
the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
First of
all, Isaac was forty years old when he took his new wife. Moses was also
forty when he married Zipporah,,,,and somewhere it says Esau was 40 when
he married the wife who troubled Isaac and Rebekah. So, two or more witnesses
to the fact that forty seems to be a year of marriage for a man. We do
not know how old Adam was before receiving his bride, Eve,,,,but he had
been pining away for a “helpmate” for some time while in the business of
caring for the garden and naming the creatures and plants.
Now, I
am very inept at numbers, so feel free to attack my simplistic reckoning
here. But,,,as God has set sevens as counters for days and years,,,and
has instituted the fiftieth year as a year of jubilee,,,,,(and this 50th
year therefore is the first year of the counting of the next 49 year perior….)……….using
the plain old solar calendar, “forty” of these 49-year periods would be
40 X 49 = 1960. But add another of these 49-year periods, and it brings
us to 2009. But our Lord was born in 2 b.c., so to subtract those two
years from 2009 = 2007, this year. His birthday was at the feast of trumpets
/ tabernacles period in 2 b.c. Which means, by this thinking, that
He is still “forty” years (49-year periods), with only a few months left
until His 41st birthday. Accordingly, if He were to take a wife
at the age of forty,,,,,it would have to be sometime between now and the
fall feasts. Like I said,,,,correct my thinking if it is wrong, for I
can get quite confused with numbers.
Perhaps
you would like to review your reading of this beautiful and tender love
story in Genesis 24,,,,,,,,,,therefore I shall copy it below for you. Here
are some things to consider:
The types:
Abraham a type of the Father in heaven.
Isaac a type of the Son (notably absent from the scene with
his family since his offering
as a sacrifice by Abraham, as Christ has been absent since His sacrifice)
Eliezer servant of Abraham and Isaac..a type of the Holy Spirit,,,his
name means “comforter” !
Rebekah a type of the bride of Christ, taken from gentile
Mesopotamia (the world).
As mentioned,
Isaac was sacrificed by Abraham,,,then we don’t hear another word in scripture
about him, until Abraham decides to acquire a wife for him, at age forty.
Our Lord has likewise been absent from this world since His sacrifice.
He will return when it is time for Him to take His bride to Himself, as
promised in John 14.
The servant,
the Holy Spirit, sets out with ten camels and some “men that were with him”
(ministers of the Word of God to us), bearing “all that the master owned,
put into his hands”,,,and taking gifts to give to the bride and her family.
His criteria is arrived at by prayer to God, in selecting a bride for Isaac………she
should both offer him water from the well, and also his camels, thereby
he would know she was humble, found at the “well” (obtaining the Water of
the Word), quick to be of generous service to men, (offering that same
Water of the Word to them),, and mindful of the care and needs of God’s
creatures, the animals.
Just musing,
but the time of this servant’s journey is not noted,,,,for this has been
the work of the Holy Spirit, in calling out the Lord’s people for 2000 years,,,,but
the immediate time of this servant’s journey is not mentioned. However,
being just reasonable…it would seem that he would have wanted fair weather,,,,,after
the winter rains, but before the heat of the summer for his sake and for
the camels’ sakes…………..he would have to have made this journey (more than
400 miles I read at one time), both there, and back, during good weather……..taking
the bride back to the bridegroom, therefore, in the spring / early summer,
I would imagine.
Rebekah
had never seen Isaac, but nonetheless said “I will go”, when asked if she
would return with Eliezer; likewise though we have not seen Him, we love
Him, and desire to be with Him, and “blessed more are they who have not
seen, but believe….”
Bruce Kessler,
yesterday
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/apr2007/brucek411.htm
was remarking
about the ten days of tribulation which was to come to the church of Smyrna.
It is interesting that Rebekah’s family wanted to retain her to be with
them “for ten days”, before allowing her to go with Eliezer,,,,,,,,,but
he stated “do not hinder me” from going back to his master (for the Holy
Spirit is the hinderer, not those of the world to whom the bride may have
connections). And he wanted to “depart”,,,,,,,,,when the Holy Spirit departs,
it will be with the bride of Christ. I do not know what the allusion to
the ten days’ waiting for Rebekah is all about,,,,,,,,,,,but perhaps this
could represent the time between Christ’s ascension, and Pentecost……………….this
period of time would represent an absence of the Holy Spirit AND the bride,,,,,,,,,and
would be fully known to those who are weeping and gnashing their teeth because
they missed the rapture; hence, tribulation for ten days. Rebekah desires
to go “now”, and not later, after those ten days. There does not seem
to be another ten-day period mentioned in scripture, except this one, and
I cannot clearly see the connection, except that the bride wants to leave
with Eliezer BEFORE the ten day period. (before the tribulation?) Most
assuredly, that is our mindset. The next actual jubilee for Israel will be in 2017 (ten years from now); that is, 1967
+ 50 years = 2017. Included in this 10-year period we are supposing that
the 70th week of Daniel will be accomplished. So, from now,
until 2017, could be ten years’ waiting for the restitution of all things
by our Lord. Nonetheless, Rebekah wanted to go with Eliezer before this
10-day waiting period. Perhaps others of you can see something else here
to clarify?
Rebekah’s brother Laban (later seen as the harsh and greedy master to Jacob)
and her mother are the ones who wish to detain the bride. They are the
world which wishes to hold back our “blessed hope” by various means, doctrinal,
scoffing etc. Her father is not mentioned as one who would hold her back,
a detail which is interesting, for our Father is in heaven, into His family
we are adopted.
Eliezer
and his men stayed overnight with Rebekah’s family one night, after they
“ate and drank” together,,,,,,,,it was the next morning that Rebekah was
asked if she would leave with Eliezer and his men,,,,,so the “departing
of the bride” with the Holy Spirit, took place in the morning, whereas a
little later, it was “eventide” (early evening) when she arrived to where
Isaac was. The intervening time after leaving with Eliezer and arriving
to meet Isaac, was spent in travel, and could possibly have taken 10 days,
I don’t know, but surely they could not have gone 400 + miles in one day…………..There
is in scripture, an announcement “behold the bridegroom cometh”, and some
amount of time during which the wise and foolish virgins sort out their
lamps, until the door closes to all who were not ready. Rebekah was ready
to go ,,,,as was her “nurse”, and her “damsels” (wise virgins), who went
with her.
I like
verse 61 a lot: see that word “arose” in there? she arises with her damsels
(virgins) suggesting the whole of the believing church including the bride
herself….
Genesis 24:61 |
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. |
The servant
“took” Rebekah. This word “took” has many meanings, much of which has to
do with “seizure”,,,,as:
to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize,
receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away
Remember
that when Phillip was “raptured” he was taken (seized, raptured) “by the
Spirit”, and seen no more where the Ethiopian had been baptized. And here,
it was Eliezer who “took” (seized) Rebekah. From this we learn that it
is the work of the Spirit to change us, by the power of our Lord’s Spirit,
that we are taken, and changed.
Also,,,Isaac
had come part of the way from his home, and was in the field meditating
at eventide,,,,as our Lord will also meet us part way, coming to the clouds
above. Isaac “lifted up his eyes” and saw them coming,,,and Rebekah “lifted
up her eyes” and saw Isaac…and so our Lord tells us in Luke 21, that some
event or events will cause us to “look up” for your redemption draws near…………..
I love
the Dove’s letters about the second Passover……….so that’s the first date
on my calendar, then Ascension Day, and then Pentecost…………good possibilities
on all those dates to look for Him………..
Meanwhile,
Doves, rest in His sure mercies and grace, until that day which we all so
look forward to……….
Your sister
in Christ our Lord,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Arlene
The Book of Genesis
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Chapter
24 |
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And Abraham was old, and well
stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. |
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And Abraham said unto his eldest
servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray
thee, thy hand under my thigh: |
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And I will make thee swear by
the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou
shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites,
among whom I dwell: |
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But thou shalt go unto my country,
and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. |
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And the servant said unto him,
Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this
land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence
thou camest? |
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And Abraham said unto him, Beware
thou that thou bring not my son thither again. |
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The LORD God of heaven, which
took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred,
and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy
seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee,
and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. |
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And if the woman will not be willing
to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only
bring not my son thither again. |
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And the servant put his hand under
the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that
matter. |
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And the servant took ten camels
of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of
his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia,
unto the city of Nahor. |
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And he made his camels to kneel
down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening,
even the time that women go out to draw water. |
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And he said O LORD God of my master
Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness
unto my master Abraham. |
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Behold, I stand here by the well
of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw
water: |
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And let it come to pass, that
the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee,
that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy
camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed
for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed
kindness unto my master. |
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And it came to pass, before he
had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born
to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother,
with her pitcher upon her shoulder. |
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And the damsel was very fair to
look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went
down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. |
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And the servant ran to meet her,
and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. |
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And she said, Drink, my lord:
and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave
him drink. |
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And when she had done giving him
drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they
have done drinking. |
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And she hasted, and emptied her
pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water,
and drew for all his camels. |
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And the man wondering at her held
his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous
or not. |
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And it came to pass, as the camels
had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a
shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight
of gold; |
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And said, Whose daughter art thou?
tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us
to lodge in? |
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And she said unto him, I am the
daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. |
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She said moreover unto him, We
have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in. |
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And the man bowed down his head,
and worshipped the LORD. |
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And he said, Blessed be the LORD
God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master
of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me
to the house of my master's brethren. |
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And the damsel ran, and told them
of her mother's house these things. |
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And Rebekah had a brother, and
his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well. |
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And it came to pass, when he saw
the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard
the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto
me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels
at the well. |
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And he said, Come in, thou blessed
of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared
the house, and room for the camels. |
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And the man came into the house:
and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the
camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were
with him. |
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And there was set meat before
him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine
errand. And he said, Speak on. |
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And he said, I am Abraham's servant. |
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And the LORD hath blessed my master
greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and
herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants,
and camels, and asses. |
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And Sarah my master's wife bare
a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given
all that he hath. |
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And my master made me swear, saying,
Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites,
in whose land I dwell: |
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But thou shalt go unto my father's
house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. |
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And I said unto my master, Peradventure
the woman will not follow me. |
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And he said unto me, The LORD,
before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy
way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of
my father's house: |
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Then shalt thou be clear from
this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not
thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. |
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And I came this day unto the well,
and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper
my way which I go: |
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Behold, I stand by the well of
water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth
to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little
water of thy pitcher to drink; |
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And she say to me, Both drink
thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman
whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son. |
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And before I had done speaking
in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her
shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I
said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. |
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And she made haste, and let down
her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give
thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink
also. |
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And I asked her, and said, Whose
daughter art thou? And she said, the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's
son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face,
and the bracelets upon her hands. |
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And I bowed down my head, and
worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham,
which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's
daughter unto his son. |
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And now if ye will deal kindly
and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may
turn to the right hand, or to the left. |
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Then Laban and Bethuel answered
and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto
thee bad or good. |
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Behold, Rebekah is before thee,
take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the
LORD hath spoken. |
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And it came to pass, that, when
Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing
himself to the earth. |
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And the servant brought forth
jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them
to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious
things. |
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And they did eat and drink, he
and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they
rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master. |
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And her brother and her mother
said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten;
after that she shall go. |
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And he said unto them, Hinder
me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that
I may go to my master. |
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And they said, We will call the
damsel, and inquire at her mouth. |
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And they called Rebekah, and said
unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. |
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And they sent away Rebekah their
sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. |
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And they blessed Rebekah, and
said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands
of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate
them. |
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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. |
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And Isaac came from the way of
the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. |
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And Isaac went out to meditate
in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw,
and, behold, the camels were coming. |
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And Rebekah lifted up her eyes,
and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. |
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For she had said unto the servant,
What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant
had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered
herself. |
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And the servant told Isaac all
things that he had done. |
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And Isaac brought her into his
mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife;
and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. |