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.

    • 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.

    • 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)

    • 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.

    • 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)

    • 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

  1. 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?

  2. 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?

  3. 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?


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Two Becoming One

Today’s Passage – Genesis 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 1 – 2; Proverbs 1; Psalms 1 – 5)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Deuteronomy 32:4

Read the “0101 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from today’s reading – “Not Finished Yet;” “In the Beginning;” “He Is Still Creating Me;” “Let There Be Light;” “Just Don’t Do It;” and “Subdue and Replenish“

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. … And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. … And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-24)

A Book of Beginnings

Genesis is a Book about beginnings. In these first three chapters, we discover the beginning of our universe and earth, with all of the living things, including men and women, created by God in those first six days, six thousand years or so, ago. Unfortunately, we also learn about the beginning sin in chapter three, which brought about physical death and a spiritual separation from God.

The Beginning of Marriage

In chapter two, we see the beginning of marriage. God actually created out of Adam’s own body the perfect spouse for him. Had sin not entered into the world, they would have experienced a perfect relationship and a perfect life together.

The Need for Companionship

Let’s notice a few things about this first marriage. First of all, notice that the woman was created to meet a need that God knew that Adam had. He was alone. All of the animals had mates, but Adam had no-one to experience life with. God states that Eve would be “an help meet (or suitable helper).” The word “help” is a noun, meaning helper, and the word “meet” means suitable or appropriate. God made Adam a suitable or qualified helper. She would be able to meet all of Adam’s needs. She would be his companion as well as his helper, and she would bear children for him.

An Unpopular Concept in Contemporary Culture

I fully realize that the description that I just gave is not popular in our culture today, but it is what is taught here in Genesis 2. While Eve was created to meet Adam’s needs, their union shows how husbands and wives are designed to complete and uplift one another equally in God’s plan.

Paul referred to this in his letter to the Corinthians:

“For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” (1 Corinthians 11:8-9)

Now before you ladies get mad at me, let me say that I do not believe that God created Eve to be inferior in any way to Adam. Adam and Eve were designed to complete each other perfectly—meeting one another’s needs in companionship, support, and family. I believe that Adam, though created first, was designed to meet every need that Eve would have as well. Adam and Eve would complete each other. The man and the woman were each uniquely designed by God to fulfill the areas where the other may have lacked.

Intimacy within the Marriage Relationship

The second point that I would like to make regarding this first marriage is that these two individuals were created to become “one flesh.” This means so much more than just the physical relationship, though physical intimacy is an expression and a picture of the married couple’s being “one flesh.” But “one flesh” means so much more. It means that the couple is together in every area. Every decision is to be made together, or at least with consideration to the other’s wishes. True intimacy goes well beyond the physical relationship and includes our innermost thoughts. My wife and I can often finish each other’s sentences because we know each other so well. This “one flesh” relationship should supersede all other earthly relationships. No other relationship should be permitted to come between the husband and wife.  There should be no secrets in a “one flesh” relationship; no separate bank accounts; no prenuptial agreements, just in case things do not work out. Marriage is an “all in” relationship. That is why it should not be entered into lightly. It is the biggest earthly decision that you will make in this life.

Marriage is a Picture of Christ and His Bride – the Church

We should all resolve this year to have a marriage relationship that paints a beautiful picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church.

Consider what Paul stated about marriage in his letter to the Ephesians:

  • Mutual Submission

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

  • The Wife Does Her Part

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

  • The Husband Does His Part

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

  • The Great Mystery Pictured in the Marriage Relationship

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”(Ephesians 5:21-33)

Resolve This Year to Work at Having a Great Marriage

Today is the first day of a new year. Those of us who have been blessed with marriage should spend some time this year reflecting on the relationship that we have with our spouse. Ask yourself if your marriage relationship is a picture of what God intended by “one flesh,” or is it more of what the world would say marriage should be. This year, consider one specific way you can better ‘cleave’ to your spouse—perhaps through regular date nights, shared prayer, or open conversations about finances and dreams. How does your marriage currently reflect the ‘one flesh’ unity God intended? What one area could you both work on in 2026?

Lord, in this new year of 2026, help husbands and wives build ‘one flesh’ unions that reflect Your perfect design and the sacrificial love of Christ for His Church. Draw us closer to our spouses and closer to You. Amen.


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