Genesis
Genesis 24:1-67
Before you begin reading this, please read Genesis 23-24. At this point in the huge story that all points to Jesus, Sarah has passed away, and Abraham is now on the hunt for a wife for Isaac. The beginning of chapter 24 starts off by telling us that Abraham was old, but God had blessed him in all things.[1] Abraham sends a faithful servant (Eliezer) to go back to his original homeland and find his promised son a bride.
The story has so many intricate details that one could write a book about chapter 24. Abraham doesn’t just give Eliezer a command, but he comes into an oath with him. An oath to go and find his son, Isaac, a wife. Of course, the faithful servant goes looking for the bride, finds her, and brings her home to Isaac. And yes, “Happily Ever After” happens! They are married!
Beyond history, what is the purpose of all of this? Is there a deeper meaning? Maybe you are wondering, “Pastor Daniel, I thought you said that every word on every page whispers the name Jesus”. Where is Jesus?
Buckle up.
Abraham, the father, desires a bride for his son. What son, you ask? The son that was promised. The son that they had to wait 25 years to come into this world. The son that God commanded to be sacrificed, but instead a ram had been provided. In other words, a son who was accounted as dead and, in a way, raised from the dead.
Who would go get this bride? Eliezer. A faithful servant whose name means “helper”. Do you see it yet? The father would send a helper to find the bride. The bride was met, and the helper gave the bride gifts. The way the helper spoke of the groom-to-be caused the bride to leave all behind and follow the helper all the way to the land of promise, where, from afar off, the bride would see the groom meditating in a field. The two would be united, and the groom would marry the bride.
Just like Rebekah, we were chosen for this marriage before we even knew it, before we even wanted it! The Holy Spirit (the helper) would draw us to the promised Son and bring us to a place where we could see the Son for who He was. This calling wasn’t just a calling to be with the Son, but to leave the old life behind. This marriage that believers experience unites us with the Son to be a part of the blessing that He is to all nations.
One gets the sense that this is all a setup. Yes, Isaac’s seed would bless all nations, and yes, Isaac would really marry Rebekah, but this was all pointing to a greater promise. Jesus. Jesus and his bride. The promise fulfilled. The nations are blessed.
Every word on every page whispers the name Jesus. This is the Bible.