Dr. Jack L. Arnold                                    Equipping Pastors International                                           Genesis

 

Lesson 39

Isaac Marries Rebekah

Genesis 24:1-67

 

 

I.  INTRODUCTION

A.  The story of Isaac and Rebekah is a beautiful love story, but behind the scene is the record of how God would fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant through the godly line. Isaac had to have a wife and a son if the promise was to find continuance.

B.  There is a typological message in this historic event, for it pictures ChristŐs love for the Church. Abraham represents God, the Father; Isaac represents Christ; the servant represents the Holy Spirit; and Rebekah represents the Church.

 

II.  ABRAHAM SENDS HIS SERVANT TO GET A BRIDE FOR ISAAC 24:1-9

A.  Abraham was near death and wanted to see the continuance of the covenant through his son Isaac. Isaac had to have a wife to bear him a son. The final blessing for Abraham would be the finding of a bride for Isaac.

B.  Abraham sent his servant to Mesopotamia to find a bride for his Son among his own kindred. Abraham knew the dangers of marrying Isaac to a Canaanite, for they were an exceedingly evil people. IsaacŐs wife had to be a believer in Jehovah God and the Canaanites were unbelievers. Isaac, who was about 40 years old, was not to leave the Promised Land. Abraham forbade Isaac to go in person to get a bride, for he knew by personal experience that there was danger in leaving the land.

C.  Abraham promised that God would fulfill His covenant and that He would lead him to the bride. In fact, an angel would guide him. NOTE.  Abraham had great confidence in God, for he had walked with God for many years and knew He was faithful to His promises.

 

III.  THE SERVANT GOES TO SEEK A BRIDE FOR ISAAC  24:10-14

A.  The servant went on his mission with great riches from Abraham to woo the bride for Isaac. NOTE.  Here was a trusted servant who was absolutely honest.

B.  When the servant gets to Mesopotamia, he stops to rest the camels and begins to pray for the LordŐs guidance. The servant was a man of faith because he followed the example of his master Abraham, who was the man of faith. The servant more or less tells God that he needs a sign and sets these signs before God. The woman who offers the servant a drink and offers to water the camels would be the woman. NOTE.  It is not wrong to seek a sign to confirm GodŐs leading but it certainly is not necessary. To seek signs is an exception rather than the rule.

 

IV.  THE SERVANT MEETS REBEKAH AT THE WELL   24:15-27

A.  Before the servant had finished his prayer, God answered it (Isa. 65:24). A beauti­ful virgin came to the well. The servant was stunned and he ran to meet her. NOTE.

The servant was excited because God had so quickly answered his prayer and he was anticipating the LordŐs blessing in working out his problem. NOTE.  Rebekah had absolutely no knowledge of the servantŐs plan. Yet God set all the circumstances so she would be at the well at that very time.

B.  Rebekah performed the signs but the servant kept looking on her in deep meditation, for he wanted to be absolutely sure of the LordŐs will.  NOTE.  Signs in themselves are not sufficient to determine GodŐs leading. There must be peace in the heart (Col. 3:15).

C.  The servant asks the maidenŐs name and gave her bracelets, gold and a ring for her nose. The woman offered him lodging in her fatherŐs house.

D.  The servant knows he has the LordŐs will and bows again in thanksgiving and gives an unselfish prayer for Abraham and praises God for His leading. He praises God for His loving-kindness and His providential guidance.

 

V.  THE SERVANT INVITED INTO THE HOME OF BETHUEL, REBEKAHŐS FATHER   24:28-32

A.  Rebekah ran to tell her mother and brother of the happenings. She was excited about the blessing of the Lord and with the possibility that she was to be a bride.

B.  Laban, her brother, recognized Jehovah as the God of Abraham and of his servant.  NOTE.  There is some evidence that this home believed in the one true God. How they received their knowledge we do not know. Perhaps Abraham had some indirect testimony to them.

 

VI.  THE SERVANT STATES HIS MISSION 24:33-49

A.  The host offered the servant food but he would not eat until he had told the whole story to the household. He was excited to tell about JehovahŐs dealings with Abraham, Isaac and now Rebekah.

B.  The servant gets the parentsŐ consent to the wedding (24:49). NOTE.  God had to prepare the hearts of the parents too.

 

VII.  PERMISSION GRANTED TO REBEKAH TO BECOME ISAACŐS BRIDE 24:50-60

A.  The parents give their consent and the servant worships Jehovah for His faithfulness. The servant then gives presents to the mother and the brother. Undoubtedly a gift was paid to Bethuel as was the custom of the day.

B.  RebekahŐs parents did not want to give her up so quickly but the servant wanted to return immediately. The will of God was to get Rebekah back to Isaac as soon as possible. Rebekah had to make a break from home (Gen. 2:24).

C.  They left the final decision of when to go up to Rebekah and she said she would go immediately. NOTE.  She had total obedience to God and to the man she was going to marry.

D.  Then the family blessed Rebekah (24:60). NOTE.  When Rebekah gave her decision, the parents changed their attitude and were all for her. When believers are committed, they can expect God to change peopleŐs thinking.

 

VIII.  REBEKAH MEETS ISAAC AND BECOMES HIS BRIDE   24:61-67

A.  The trip to the Promised Land began. When they were close to home, Isaac was having his quiet time in the field and he saw the camels coming. He knew it was AbrahamŐs servant with his bride to be, Isaac got excited about the LordŐs choice for him and the anticipation of meeting his future bride.

B.  Rebekah saw Isaac coming and she was excited, thinking that this was her future husband. She asked who was coming and the servant identified him as Isaac. Rebekah prettied herself up and covered her head with a veil. NOTE.  This is love suspense at its best.

C.  Isaac took Rebekah for his wife and he loved her. Rebekah not only became IsaacŐs wife but she filled the void that had been left when his mother died.

D.  POINT: This whole chapter is about GodŐs leading. God will lend those who want to be led. He leads through faith, prayer, obedience and faithfulness on the part of the believer.

 

IX.  TYPICAL SIGNIFICANCE

A.  The Father.  The Heavenly Father loved His Son, Jesus Christ, so much that He sought only to make Him happy (Eph. 1:20-22). The Father set out to seek a bride for Christ. The Bride was thought of before she herself knew it (Eph. 1:4).

B.  Holy Spirit.  The servant represents the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit declares a message through the servants of the Father. It is the Spirit who woos and convicts of sin and makes Christ attractive to the bride to be (John 16:8; John 6:44).

C.  The        Son.  The Son anticipates the gift of His bride from His Father (John 6:37; 10:

27-28; 17:6-24).

D.  The Bride.  The Bride is the Church. Each person in the true Church must say ŇyesÓ to Christ before he is saved.  A decision must be made to be the bride (Eph. 2:8-9; John 1:12; Matt. 11:28). The Bride, by an act of her will, must submit to her master, Jesus Christ.