Isaac and Rebekah
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Key Verse: “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.” Selected Scripture: |
WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY discussed the circumstances pertaining to the promise given to Abraham and Sarah concerning the birth of a son. (Gen. 17:17) The life of Isaac during his growth to manhood was mostly uneventful until, when as a young man, his father was instructed by God to “Take now thy son, … and offer him … for a burnt offering.” (chap. 22:2) It was a final test upon Abraham’s faith, and would end with God providing a ram to take Isaac’s place. (vss. 3-13) His submission as a young man to his father shows how much he was devoted to doing his father’s will. Today’s lesson will bring to our attention his meek, patient, and peaceable disposition, and his abiding faith in God and in the promise made to his father Abraham.
The other experience that illustrates his attitude of faith involves the matter of his marriage. Isaac manifested a wonderful degree of patience and trust in Divine providence and guidance, which he had seen firsthand in the affairs of his father.
Isaac was a man of forty years of age when Abraham, apparently without consulting him, sent a servant to select a wife for him. (chap. 24:4-15) The servant traveled to Mesopotamia, and stopped near the city of Nahor. As he brought his camels to a well of water, a young woman came out to draw water. This woman was Rebekah, and, after she had drawn water, “gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. 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.” (vss. 16-20) The events that took place were an answer to the servant’s prayer, and he offered her a golden earring and two gold bracelets. (vss. 12-14,22) Rebekah ran and told her family what had taken place at the well. Her brother Laban came to the well and invited the servant to their home. His animals were fed, but before Abraham’s servant would eat he would relate to them the reason for his journey. He told them about Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. He would also tell them about how he met Rebekah, and inquired if she could return with him to his master to become Isaac’s wife. Her parents responded, “Go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the Lord hath spoken.” (vs. 51) After she returned with the servant, he related to Isaac everything that had taken place. Isaac, “took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her.”—vs. 67
Isaac pictures Christ Jesus, and his submission to his father Abraham shows the Lord’s submission to the Heavenly Father. The servant sent by Abraham to select a bride for Isaac represents the work of the Holy Spirit in calling the church. Rebekah pictures the bride of Christ, who are chosen by God to be joint-heirs in the great promises respecting the world and its blessing. (Rev. 22:17) The beauty of this picture is seen when we recognize the Spirit of the word of Truth, sent forth by God which gathers a people—a little flock—who shall be the Lamb’s bride and will help to fulfill the promises made by God.—Acts 15:14; II Cor. 11:2