A Bride for Isaac: Practical Teaching and a Picture Treasury from Genesis 24
Today’s Passage – Genesis 23 – 24 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 15 – 16; Proverbs 8; Psalms 36 – 40)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 34:6
Read the “0108 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read previous posts from this passage – “The Blessing of the Lord,” “Taker or Giver?,” “Praying for Clear Direction,” and “The Bride of Christ”
“4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. … 67 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.” (Gen 24:4, 67)
Introduction
Chapter 24 is the longest chapter in the book of Genesis and it tells the very beautiful story of Abraham (through his servant) searching for and finding a wife for his son Isaac. This chapter is one of the great chapters in Scripture as it contains much in the way of practical teaching, but also is replete with types or pictures of Christ and His Bride, the Church. As we have seen many times before in our study of Genesis, this chapter is all about the Lord Jesus. How amazing our God is that He can paint a marvelous portrait of Christ in a real, historical narrative of people living thousands of years before Christ. As we read this chapter, let’s look for these pictures of Christ and pictures of New Testament truth as they are woven throughout the story.
Practical Teaching
Simple Timeline Within the Story
Abraham commands the servant to go find a bride for his son in the land of Mesopotamia where Abraham was from. (vs. 1 – 9)
The servant sets out with gifts and provision for the trip, and finally arrives in the city of Nahor. (v. 10)
The servant prays unto the Lord to show him clearly the right woman for Isaac. (vs. 11 – 14)
The Lord brings the right woman to the servant. (vs. 15 – 21)
The servant gives gifts unto Rebekah and inquires of her family. (vs. 22 – 28)
The servant goes to the family and explains his purpose. (vs. 29 – 49)
After receiving gifts from the servant, the family agrees to allow Rebekah to go with the servant. (vs. 50 – 60)
The servant brings Rebekah back to Isaac. (v. 61)
Isaac takes Rebekah as his bride. (vs. 62 – 67)
Scriptural Teaching on Marriage
Abraham was very involved in the selection of his son’s bride.
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- Christian parents have a right and an obligation to assist and approve the choices of their children.
- Christian couples should get the blessing of their parents and the counsel of their pastor(s) before getting engaged.
Isaac was not to marry one of the Canaanites which were known for their wickedness. God does not want us to marry someone who is not a Christian and who is not serving the Lord faithfully.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)
The Lord directed the servant to the right bride. If young people will wait on the Lord, He will direct them in His will regarding marriage.
Picture Treasury
Now let us look at the picture or types of Christ and His Bride (the Church) that we can see in this narrative. There are many more types in this passage than we will discuss here, but we will attempt to point out the obvious ones. Remember, it is not wise to build doctrine solely on types, but these pictures do give us wonderful reinforcement of the doctrines plainly taught elsewhere in the Scripture, and they also remind us of the infallibility of the Word of God.
It is important to remember that this story takes place after the events in chapter 22, where Isaac is offered on the altar of sacrifice by Abraham at Moriah. Christ could only get His bride after He finished the work of redemption on the cross of Calvary.
Abraham is a type of God the Father.
Isaac is a type of God the Son.
Rebekah is a picture of the church, the bride of Christ. (Ephesians 5:22 – 33) Note – Even though God sovereignly directed this marriage, Rebekah still made a choice to be Isaac’s bride.
The Servant is a type of the Holy Spirit.
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- He is un-named.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)
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- He guides and protects the bride until she gets to Christ.
- He teaches the bride about Christ. Isaac became more real to Rebekah, the closer she got to him.
- He gives gifts to the Bride. (v. 22; v. 53; 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12)
- He gives precious things to the world. (v. 53)
Laban is picture of the world. We will learn more about him in future chapters.
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- He is enamored with the spiritual gifts; but not with the Son. (v 30)
- He attempts to hinder the work of the Spirit in the life of the Bride. (v. 55)
Sarah is a picture of the nation of Israel. (Jehovah’s bride)
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- Notice that Isaac gets his bride after Sarah is gone.
- Notice also that the bride occupies the tent of Sarah. The church is not the Nation of Israel; but it occupies a special place of blessing in the eyes of God. God will someday restore Israel; but not until after the church is removed from the earth.
The camels are a picture of the grace of God. It is grace that brings the Bride on the long journey through the desert of this world to the Son.
Abraham’s country (v. 4) is a picture of the earth. (Matthew 28:18 -20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8)
The entire story is a picture of soul winning. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict a sinner of their need for the Saviour.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8)
In this passage we see both the sovereignty of God; and the free will of man. God directed the servant to a specific bride; yet she could have refused. (v. 8)
Genesis 24 is more than an ancient love story—it is a divine romance revealing God’s redemptive plan. Through the servant’s mission, Rebekah’s willing response, and Isaac’s joyful union, we see both a pattern for godly marriage and a glorious picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church. May we trust the Father’s choice, yield to the Holy Spirit’s direction, and, like Rebekah, lift our eyes in anticipation for the coming Bridegroom.
Questions for Reflection
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In Genesis 24, Abraham’s servant prayed specifically for God’s guidance (vs. 12–14). How specifically do you seek God’s direction when making major life decisions, such as choosing a spouse?
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Both Abraham and the servant refused to let Isaac leave the promised land to fetch a bride. Are there any “compromises” in your life or relationships that might take you outside of God’s promised will?
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The chapter ends with Isaac being comforted by Rebekah after his mother’s death (v. 67). How does your relationship with Christ (or your earthly marriage) bring comfort in seasons of loss or grief?
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Genesis and tagged Abraham's servant, Christ and the Church, Christian Marriage, Courtship, Genesis 24, Holy Spirit, Isaac and Rebekah, Marriage, Marriage Principles, Old Testament types, Pictures of Christ in Genesis, Rebekah at the Well, The Bride of Christ, typology by Phil Erickson with 8 comments.
Among the many types noted in this section of Scripture; Abraham’s servants name, Eleazar, means “Comforter”.
He went to a far country to seek a Gentile bride for Isaac. Testifying not of himself, but of the son. Isaac is not mentioned even coming down the mountain after Genesis 22, until Chapter 24 when he meets his bride.
Awesome points. Thanks for contributing! I did not know that Eleazar’s name ment “Comforter.”
Thanks Pastor, I loved how the servant was still praying and God already answered. Also, Rebekah didn’t hesitate to go. I want that to be my response whenever God gives me a choice. And finally, I want to be a comfort to those who are hurting and I can really do so if I am where God wants me to be.
Sherry, I never considered your point about being able to encourage people when you are in the place of God’s will. Thanks for participating!
I really am thinking about those questions you asked especially what am I specifically praying for? This was truly encouraging. I may no longer be married but I pray when the time is right and it’s God’s will he will send the exact person he wants for me.
Peggy, You and Rachel have been through a lot in these last couple of years, but your testimony has been rock solid. I am sure God has the perfect someone for you to serve alongside of. We will keep praying!
Amen Dr. Erickson
As I read 24:15-20 I looked down at the footnotes in my Bible and it said that Rebekah had physical beauty, but the servant was looking for a sign of inner beauty. The pots they used was to carry water were very heavy but Rebekah not only gave water to the servant, but she gave water to the 10 camels also. What I didn’t know was that the camels can drink up to 25 gallons of water. What the servant observed was a woman with a heart for doing far more than the bare minimum. The practical truth is that when we are asked to help or when we see a need, we need to go beyond the minimum. Like the post.
Bob – I never considered the amount of work that went into watering all the camels. Good point!