Day 4 “Daily Meditations on the Bride of Christ”
THE WILLING BRIDE
Gen 24:58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?"
"I will go," she said.
After locating the potential bride, the consent of her family would be sought. The bride’s
family would be approached and they would discuss the prospects of a marriage. The Friend of
the Bridegroom or another representative would describe the proposed groom and his family. A
general discussion of the potential marriage would take place. If everything was positive to this
point, the young lady would be asked if she was willing to become a bride.
In Genesis 24, Abraham sends his servant to seek a wife for his son Isaac. The servant
finds Rebecca and determines she is the perfect candidate.
She willingly agrees to the
marriage. Christians sometimes point to the marriage Isaac to Rebecca as a type of the
relationship between Jesus and the Church.
In this analogy, Isaac’s father Abraham is
symbolic of God the Father, Isaac is symbolic of Jesus, Rebecca is symbolic of the Bride of
Christ and the unnamed servant of Abraham is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
It is not difficult to see Isaac’s father Abraham as a type of God the Father. In Genesis
17:5 the Amplified Bible explains that “Abram” means “high, exalted father.”
God later
changed his name to “Abraham,” which means “father of a multitude.” We can see direct
connections to God the Father who is called our high and exalted Father in Gen 14:9 and the
Father of all mankind in Eph 4:6.
Isaac is a type of Christ. Abraham and his wife Sara were unable to have children. Sara
became pregnant, by the direct intervention of God, and Isaac was born.
Jesus was
supernaturally implanted in the womb of the Virgin Mary by an act of God. In Genesis 22, Isaac
is called Abraham’s only son like Jesus was later to be called God’s only Son. (John 3:16) The
Lord required Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. (Gen 22:2) When the Lord finds that
Abraham is willing to make the sacrifice of his only son, He provides a substitute for him.
Christians see this as foreshadowing what God would do for mankind as He Himself would one
day offer His only Son Jesus as mankind’s substitutionary sacrifice. Of course, Isaac was spared
from death, but the typology is unmistakable. Like Jesus, (Col 1:16) Isaac is also heir to all that
his father has. (Gen 24:36)
The unnamed servant of Abraham demonstrates some of the nature and function of
the Holy Spirit. The servant is given no personal name when he is sent to seek a bride for Isaac
in Gen 24. The Holy Spirit is never given a personal name in Scripture. Notice that he is sent to
find a Bride for Isaac, not for himself. The Holy Spirit draws men to Jesus and never promotes
Himself. The servant is told to take a Bride from among the family of Abraham (Gen 24:4) and
the Holy Spirit seeks the Bride of Christ only from the family of the redeemed.
Rebecca was asked if she would willingly go with the servant to become Isaac’s wife,
because she had to be a willing bride. (Gen 24:58) Rebecca (representing every individual) had
to agree to accept the marriage proposal (Gospel message) and become betrothed (born again) to
Isaac (Jesus). This speaks of the personal decision we must all make. We must each hear the
proposal and willingly accept or reject it. Individually, we must be willing to become part of
the Bride of Christ. This requires our understanding and our willing agreement.
After accepting the proposal, Rebecca then began a journey, guided by Abraham’s
servant that ultimately led to her union with Isaac. On July 20, 1971, I was presented with the
Lord’s marriage proposal and I willingly chose to become born again. After my salvation
experience, I began a willing journey of discipleship, guided by the Holy Spirit, which
continues to this very day. As Christians, we must be willing to leave our old life and follow the
Lord.
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we begin a lifelong journey that will
ultimately lead us into eternity with Christ. As a Christian, my willing obedience to His voice
will one day result in my being joined to Jesus Christ forever.
Prayer: Lord, I have heard your plan of redemption and I am willing to follow you. I believe
Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Today, I willingly agree and accept your
proposal. May I be faithful in the days of my betrothal and prepare well for eternity with You.
Please help me to remain willing all the days of my earthly journey. Amen.