To Lauri Hane re:  Isaac and Rebekah
 
Thank you Lauri.  I see what you mean about the damsels all leaving with Rebekah, but not entering into the intimacy of the marriage with Isaac.  So been thinking about that all day.  This goes way back with differences of opinion on who the bride of Christ actually is....and I cannot say that I have agreed with either side.   But some say that the bride is only a part of the whole body of Christ (like Eve was only a small portion taken out of Adam's whole body),,,,,,others say that the bride is the whole church, the whole body of Christ.   You are right that these damsels "left" with Rebekah,,,but they were shut out of the bridal tent.  Some of the parables suggest the same thing,,,that some of the actual "servants" of our Lord, will have the door shut upon them, and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, etc.  But where does that put the wise virgins, who go through the "door", excluding the foolish virgins, for there I assume the "bride" has been taken by the bridgegroom as is the custom in oriental weddings, and the wedding party (her virgins / bridesmaids, and friends) follow the bridegroom and bride through the town as they return to his father's house.
           In the case of Isaac and Rebekah,,,,Rebekah, has the honor of being the bride of Isaac; however, the damsels do get to leave their home and occupy a place in "the father's house"; i.e., Abraham's land and family.
            I actually think that some of the church, today, because of some of the parables of our Lord, may very well be left as He said to "serve some time with the hypocrites", for they have denied His name, and not trusted in Him, nor worshipped Him properly.....
            And sometimes I do see the point made, that there may be a special branch of the church, more highly rewarded, than others........for after all, there are crowns to be "won", they are not given away, but earned.   But that this will be sorted out at the Bema seat of judgment of our Lord, who gets what rewards, whose works are not altogether burned up, etc.  Perhaps that is what is suggested in the damsels arriving with Rebekah (in heaven, in the Father's house), but not being "rewarded" with being Isaac's bride (our Lord's bride)...................hey, if some of the biggest men of the Word out there over the last several hundred years, have been quibbling about this very thing,,,,then who am I to have an answer?   But the fact you brought it up, shows that you have identified a separation here in this story..............also that Rebekah jumped off her camel to run to him,,,shows the anticipation in her heart for Him,,,,,,,,,perhaps that same anticipation that our Lord's saints all through this age have had in their hearts for His appearing, and those who have loved His appearing, do not comprise the whole "church", but a part of it.....
             Interesting, Lauri...........thanks for your thoughts, which will no doubt keep me pondering this.......
                         Meanwhile, stay ready to light off that camel !
                                    Your sister in Christ,,,,,,,,,,Arlene