Abraham was to have three different families by three different
women. When Abraham came into his promised land, the land of Canaan,
there
was a famine in the land. Abraham and Sarah went down into the land of Egypt.
When they left Egypt they brought a bond servant with them. Her name was
Hagar and she was to be Sarah's maid. Being barren, Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham
to be his concubine. Hagar bare Abraham his first son, Ishmael. It was said
of Ishmael:
"And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." Genesis 16:12
When God spoke this of Ishmael he had no brothers. But God
knew he would have. When Abraham was ninety-nine years old God spoke to him
that Sarah would bear him a son. This son would be called Isaac, and he would
be the son of promise. Isaac would be born when Abraham was one hundred years
old and Sarah was ninety. Sarah would die when she was one hundred and
twenty-seven years old. Abraham was one hundred and thirty-seven years old,
and Isaac was thirty-seven when his mother died. After Sarah's death, Abraham
took another wife:
"Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah." Genesis 25:1-2
Keturah bare Abraham six more sons. This made Abraham eight
sons. Nothing is mentioned of him having any daughters. Keturah's sons, and
the son of Hagar became the twenty-two Arab nations, the Palestinians being
one of these. All the Middle East call Abraham their father, as we call him
the father of our faith. God truly kept His promise to Abraham when He told
him He would make him the father of many nations.
A Bride for Isaac
When Sarah died, Abraham was determined to take a bride for
his son, Isaac. The bride Abraham took for Isaac would be the personification
of everything God has promised His creation man. Abraham is a type of God
the Father. Isaac is a type of Jesus the Son. Abraham was put to the ultimate
test when God told him to take his son of promise and offer him as a burnt
sacrifice unto Him. In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul gave us insight to
what happened on Mount Moriah:
"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and He that had received the promises offered up His only begotten Son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." Hebrews 11:17-19
In Abraham's heart, he had already
killed Isaac before he ascended the mountain, and God raised him from the
dead. We know when Isaac went up the mountain with his father Abraham, he
was an example of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When he came down the mountain
he is our example of the risen, glorified Christ, Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Abraham taking a wife for Isaac
is our example of God the Father taking a bride for His son Christ Jesus.
Since most who call themselves by the name of Christ only know Jesus after
the flesh, it is only natural they are looking for a physical bride. So that
we might understand who the bride of Christ is we must look at the words
of our risen, glorified Christ. Christ Jesus, the glorified Christ met with
John on the Isle of Patmos. He appeared as an angel, a messenger of God,
informing John of the bride of Christ:
"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God," Revelation 21:9 & 10
John was carried away in the Spirit.
We must also remember in chapter one of Revelation, John
revealed:
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. . ." Revelation 1:10
The Lord's Day is the Seventh
Day. The bride of Christ will be revealed on the Seventh Day. Since John
was in the Spirit and was carried away in the Spirit, what John was shown
was Spiritual not physical. When John was shown the bride, he was shown the
great city, the Holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God. Heaven
is the Spiritual realm of God. The bride of Christ is the Holy City. Those
who make up the Holy City have brought the Spiritual realm of God to their
earth. These are those who walk in the Spirit, dwell in the Spirit, and their
lives are totally yielded to the Spirit. The angel continued his revelation
to John:
"Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;" Revelation 21:11
These who walk, dwell, and live
in the Spirit display the glory of God, and her light will be like a stone
most precious. The use of the pronoun her reveals this is not a physical
city, but it is the true church, God's ekklesia, those who are called out
to become the Holy City of God. As the angel revealed unto
John:
"And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:2
The Holy City is prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband. Everything needed to make her beautiful will
be given unto her. The bride of Christ, the Holy City, New Jerusalem is a
Spiritual place made up of God's Spiritual people.
When it came time for Abraham
to take a bride for Isaac, we are informed:
"And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:" Genesis 24:1-2
Abraham was blessed in all things
because of his faith and obedience to God's voice. Abraham called for his
eldest servant who ruled over all he had. Those who rule or take the oversight
of all God has in the earth are His elders. These are the eldest servants
in God's house.
"And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell." Genesis 24:3
Abraham made his eldest servant
promise he would not take a bride for Isaac from the daughters of the Canaanites.
The word Canaanite means "merchant or trafficker". Canaan was the
cursed son of Ham, the son of Noah. To understand why Canaan was cursed we
need to look to the time of Noah after the flood. Noah became a husbandman
or farmer and planted a vineyard. After many years the vineyard produced,
and Noah made wine.
"And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent." Genesis 9:21
Noah was drunk and was uncovered
in his tent. Noah, being uncovered, has two aspects:
1. He could have been uncovered
because he had taken off his clothes,
2. Or, he could have been uncovered
because the Holy Spirit covering had left him because of his
drunkenness.
When the Holy Spirit leaves us,
we are truly naked. We see an example of this kind of nakedness when Moses
came down from the mountain and Aaron had made Israel the Golden Calf. It
is recorded. . .
"And when Moses saw that the people were naked; for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:" Exodus 32:25
The children of Israel did not
have their clothes off . They were standing naked and ashamed among their
enemies. The Holy Spirit anointing was taken from Israel, and God's protection
was removed.
"And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without." Genesis 9:22
Ham saw the nakedness of his father.
We need to ask what the nakedness of Noah was? The Lord explained this in
the book of Leviticus:
"The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness." Leviticus 18:8
God made this part of the law
He gave to Israel:
"And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Leviticus 20:11
Ham discovered the nakedness of
his father because he laid with his mother, and fathered Canaan. Canaan was
the cursed offspring of this relationship. This is why Canaan was cursed,
and not Ham. When we check the lineage of Canaan we discover. .
.
". . .Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad." Genesis 10:-15-18
The offspring of Canaan were the
inhabitants of the land God had promised Abraham. Moses was instructed to
kill everyone of them: men, women, and children. Abraham knew they were a
people cursed by God, and he did not want his son to marry one of the Canaanites.
Even though Israel did not destroy them completely, we are informed not one
Canaanite will inherit the Kingdom of God. The prophet Zechariah
prophesied:
"Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 14:21
In the Kingdom Age there will
be no Canaanite in the house of the Lord. When Ham told his two brothers
what had happened. . .
". . .Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness." Genesis 9:23
When Shem and Japheth covered
their father's nakedness, they did not look on the shame of their mother.
This is why Abraham commanded his eldest servant not to take a wife of this
cursed seed. Today the cursed seed are the Canaanites or traffickers in the
things of God. Today the traffickers in the things of God are in the pulpits,
heard on radio, and seen on TV. They have become hucksters of God's Holy
Word. These will never produce a bride for Christ Jesus our Lord. Abraham
told his eldest servant:
"But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac." Genesis 24:4
Abraham was dwelling in Canaan,
the land of merchandisers and traffickers. This is a picture of the world
today. We know God is not going to take His bride out of the world. He is
going to take His bride from His own people. God has a people who are righteous,
holy, and obedient. These will make up His Holy City. The apostle Paul warned
against going to the world to get marriage partners for our
offspring:
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" II Corinthians 6:14
When we allow our children to
become unequally yoked with unbelievers, they come into fellowship with
unrighteousness, not only the unrighteousness of the mate they marry, but
also with his or her family. As Paul asked, "What communion can light have
with darkness?" Abraham knew if he allowed Isaac to marry one of the Canaanites,
Isaac would come into fellowship with unrighteousness.
"And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?" Genesis 24:5
Again we see the situation everyone
faces who desires to walk in the way of the Lord. The eldest servant wanted
to know if the woman (church) would not be willing to follow him, would he
take the son to her? This is the idea many have who fill church pews. They
believe God is going to go their way because they belong to Him. The bride
must always follow her husband. The same is true of the church. Paul
wrote:
"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." Ephesians 5:23
In God's order, the husband is
the head of the wife. If this order is not followed in the home, then Christ
will not be the head of the church. If Christ is not the head of the church,
then those who make up that church will not be part of the bride of Christ
who become His Holy City.
When God called Abraham out of
Ur of the Chaldees, He made Abraham many promises. He brought him into the
land of the Canaanite, and promised to give this land to Abraham's seed.
Who and what is the seed of Abraham? As stated before Abraham had a natural
seed. These are the Arab nations. But Abraham also had a Spiritual seed.
Paul disclosed this seed to the churches at Galatia:
"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Galatians 3:16
The promises God made to Abraham
concerning His Kingdom were not made to His natural seed. The promises God
made concerning His Kingdom were made to His Christ seed. The land Abraham
came from is a type of the world. Abraham was called out of the world, just
as we are called out of the world into God's glorious Kingdom. Abraham was
promised his seed would inherit this promise land, just as we are promised
to inherit the Kingdom God has planned for His people. When Abraham dwelt
in the land, it was full of cursed people, the same as our promise land today
is full of cursed people who will not inherit the Kingdom of
God.
When Abraham's servant asked if
the woman would not follow him, was he to take the son back to the land whither
he came from?
"Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again." Genesis 24:6
We are to make sure we do not
bring the Son back into the world again. The world is not a place, it is
our frame of mind. It is what we think, because what we think is what
we do. Until we have a change of mind, then we are still in the world. Unless
our minds change from the things of the world to the things of God, we are
no different from the rest of the world. We truly have brought the Son back
into the world, and we expect the Son to bless us in our worldly condition.
He cannot do this because we have come into fellowship with unrighteousness.
In this deplorable condition, our light has truly become
darkness.
We wonder why there is no power
in the church or God's people. It is because they have compromised their
lives, their walk, and their commitment with the world. They have, as Abraham
warned, brought the Son back into the world. This cannot be if we are to
become the bride of Christ and become part of His Holy City. Abraham explained
further to his servant:
"The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence." Genesis 24:7
We are informed in God's Word
when Jesus came into the world, He was the Saviour of the world. God's salvation
plan is for all the worldly people. He came into the world to save sinners,
I Timothy 1:15. Those who desire
to partake of God's salvation plan must come to Him. As Abraham stated, He
shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto My Son.
The word angel means "messenger".
Who does God send before every
salvation message? He always sends the Holy Spirit to draw all who are called
unto Him. The beloved John disclosed:
"No man can come to Me, except the Father which sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44
When we come to the Father, we
are drawn by the Holy Spirit.
God sent His angel before Abraham's
eldest servant to take a wife for His Son. Abraham gave His servant further
direction:
"And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again." Genesis 24:8
"If the woman will not be willing
to follow. . . ". When the eldest servant made his covenant, it was time
to take the bride for his master's son. God is preparing His elder servants
to take His bride who will make up the household of God. Many today who call
themselves by the name of Christ, and believe they are part of God's ekklesia
are not willing to follow their example, Jesus. For these we weep and mourn,
but as our father of faith told his servant:
"Thou shalt be clear from this
oath. . ." This is the same word we received by the prophet Ezekiel.
Ezekiel gives us a perfect picture of the rebellious church in the earth
today.
"For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, for they are a rebellious house, yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them." Ezekiel 2:4-5
God is sending His prophets today
to warn of God's impending judgment. The people listen, but do they hear?
Most forebear God's warnings. They are a rebellious house. God continues
His instructions to Ezekiel:
"And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak My words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious." Ezekiel 2:6-7
When God warned Ezekiel of the
briars, thorns, and scorpions, He was speaking of the pain that would be
inflicted on those who are called to this task. God also informed Ezekiel
not to be dismayed or afraid of their looks. He was to stand strong in what
God had revealed to Him. The Lord spoke that those chosen are to speak His
words. If others hear or if they reject God's words, we are still to speak
His Word.
Abraham's servant was released
to seek a bride for Christ:
"And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor." Genesis 24:10
The eldest servant took ten of
his master's camels, and departed for Mesopotamia. Abraham had put all his
wealth in the hand of his eldest servant. He also gave him the authority
to use his wealth any way necessary to obtain a bride for
Isaac.
Abraham's servant is an example
to the elders of how God's true church is to obtain a bride for His son.
All His wealth, all His power, all His glory, and all His authority are put
in their hands to accomplish God's purpose. The apostle Paul knew where his
power and authority came from to do the work the Father had given him to
do.
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:" I Corinthians 2:4
Paul was given God's power and
authority to speak, to write, and to minister anywhere God sent him. He did
not depend on enticing words of man's wisdom. He depended on the demonstration
of the power God had invested in him through the Holy Spirit. How different
in the modern church of today! Those who are supposed to be preparing the
bride of Christ are still using enticing words. They receive their messages
from their denominational headquarters or purchase them from their local
Bible book store. Why? Because they are not Spiritually prepared, nor are
they trustworthy to handle the wealth, power, and authority of the Master.
They must depend on enticing words instead of the power of God to keep their
attendance up. The apostle Peter who was given the keys to the Kingdom informed
all who would hear:
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount." II Peter 1:16-18
Peter was there on the mount when
the Father disclosed who Jesus was. Peter was endowed that day with power
to know the risen, glorified Christ. He saw Him in all His glorious majesty.
He knew all the honor, power, and glory was put in his hands to do the work
God had given him to do. All the wealth of the Father was available to take
a bride for His Son. When Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, He proclaimed
this same power and authority.
"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." I Thessalonians 1:5
Just as Abraham held nothing back
from his eldest servant to take a bride for Isaac, our Father has held nothing
back for us to accomplish this same purpose. He has given us this same task
in this last hour of time.
Abraham gave his servant ten camels.
Ten is the number of perfection of God's divine order. The camel is a beast
of burden. These ten camels are a picture of those who will bear the burden
of God's divine order to His people. All the wealth of the Father will be
placed upon this divine order. They will bear the burden of the Father. We
continue to learn of God's plan to take a bride for Isaac:
"And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water." Genesis 24:11
Abraham's eldest servant made
his camels to kneel down at the well outside the city. Those who bear the
burden of the Father must kneel outside the city. There can be no entering
into the city until every knee is bowed before our God. When the eldest servant
came to the well, it was evening time. Evening time is the end of the age
before the new day begins. This is when the servants of the Father will take
a bride for His Son. Evening time is when the women came to draw water from
the well. The prophet Isaiah revealed the well the water will be drawn
from:
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. "Therefore with joy shall we draw water out of the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:2-3
At evening time the woman (the
true church) will draw water from the wells of salvation. The water is God's
Word. In the evening of time God is opening His Word as never before. It
is by and through His Word, the bride will be chosen. Those who depend on
their religious status and their carnal knowledge of the Word will not be
chosen as the bride. They will be left outside the city. Jesus revealed to
John on the Isle of Patmos those who are left outside the city:
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:8
Many who believe they are among
God's elite are in this category. These will not enter into the city, nor
will they be part of the bride who make up the city. Abraham's servant did
not know who the bride would be. Today many are proclaiming to be the bride
of Christ. They do not realize the bride is not individual, but an assembly
of all those chosen to partake of God's eternal glory. The only way the eldest
servant would know who the bride would be was to pray. Abraham's servant
prayed. He knew the selection of the bride was up to the Lord
Himself.
"And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master." Genesis 24:12-14
What a picture of a humble man
standing before the Lord seeking His guidance and direction of what he was
to do! He knew there would be many daughters of men of the city coming to
draw water. This is the same picture of what God showed us happened before
the flood.
"And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose." Genesis 6:1-2
The sons of God are those who
are totally sold out to God. But they made the same mistake many of God's
called are making today. They are choosing the daughters of men instead of
the daughters of God for their helpmates. Their ministries have been weakened,
their walk has been altered, and their relationship with their God has been
straitened. Then they wonder why there is no power and authority in their
lives. It is because they no longer operate in the power of God. They resort
to their man-made ways and the doctrines of men. They have become useless
to God and to the flock they are to oversee.
Abraham's servant did not want
this for his master's son. He did not want to choose one of the daughters
of men. He wanted the one God had chosen for his master's son. God put this
test in Abraham's servant's heart.
". . . the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink, and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. . ." Genesis 24:14
The woman who was willing to let
down her pitcher and give Abraham's servant and his camels a drink would
be the woman chosen as the bride for Isaac. As stated before Isaac's wife
represents the true church. As we study the symbolic meaning of the pitcher
and the water it becomes clear the pitcher that contains the water is God's
earthen vessels. The water is the Word. So the pitcher full of water reveals
God's people who are filled with His Word. The pitcher being let down shows
their humility in doing what God has given them to do.
The water being poured out to
refresh Abraham's servant and his camels reveals those who are willing to
pour out themselves and God's Word to refresh those who are bearing the burden
of God's divine order. These are those, who in their selfless desire to serve
their God, not only give of themselves, but are willing to minister to others
of what God has given them:
"And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up." Genesis 24:15-16
While Abraham's servant was still
speaking, Rebekah came out. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel. The name
Bethuel means "point ye out God." This is the job of those
who will bring forth the true church. Jesus informed His
followers:
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." John 12:32
Those who will point out the one
true God are the Bethuels who will bring forth the Rebekahs who will be the
bride of Christ. The name Rebekah means "tying or binding".
There must be a tying or binding together in the body of Christ. There is
an old saying about the "tie that binds". The binding power in the body of
Christ is the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit interacting in the body,
there can be no oneness, no unity, and no body.
When Abraham's servant saw the
true church, she was very fair to look upon, and she was a virgin, neither
had any man known her. God is raising up His true church, but this is not
done in the sight of men. He is raising up His true church, His bride by
changing the heart of man, not by adding numbers to the local
body.
Today people are looking to the
big works of man. These are well-known and well-accepted works by the world.
God is not looking for grandiose buildings filled with lukewarm, half-committed,
or no-commitment people. He is looking for those who Isaiah declared through
the anointing of the Holy Spirit:
"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isaiah 57:15
God is going to inhabit eternity
with those who have a contrite (broken) and humble spirit. We can discern
those who claim to be the bride of Christ if they have a broken and humble
spirit.
Most who proclaim to be the bride
of Christ are not broken, nor are they humble. Rather they are haughty and
proud. The haughty and proud will never become part of the high and lofty
One who inhabits all eternity. This is Christ Jesus our lord.
As Abraham's servant witnessed,
Rebekah went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. Those
who go down into the well to fill their pitchers with living water will have
humbled themselves before their God. These will remain before their God until
their pitchers (their earthen vessels) are full.
"And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher." Genesis 24:17
What a picture of what the Lord
showed His disciples when He proclaimed what His Kingdom would be
like:
"Then shall the Kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom." Matthew 25:1
The bridegroom is Christ Jesus,
and He is ready to take His bride. The ten virgins took their lamps and went
forth to meet the bridegroom. Their lamps were their light, the light of
God's Word in their lives.
"And five of them were wise, and five were foolish." Matthew 25:2
Only half of those who thought
they were ready to meet their bridegroom were prepared:
"They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:" Matthew 25:3
The foolish had the anointing,
but they had no extra preparedness in their lives to receive what God was
going to bring upon the earth.
"But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." Matthew 25:4
The wise virgins were prepared.
They were physically, mentally, and spiritually prepared. They were prepared
through God's Word, through prayer, and because they had spent time alone
with their God. They took time because the business of the world had not
ruled their lives.
"While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." Matthew 25:5
Even those who were prepared,
slumbered and slept. They were slothful and careless about how they spent
their time, their money, and their idle time. This is the condition of the
church today. But God is giving His true church a severe shaking. When God
shakes us He wants us to wake up.
"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." Matthew 25:6
Midnight is just before the new
day. When Abraham's servant saw and recognized the bride he was to take for
his master's son, he ran to meet her. When God awakens His true church they
are going to go forth to meet Him. Only those who wake up will be part of
the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Those who are unprepared will have to run
back to their denominational orders to see if they can buy more
oil.
"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Matthew 25:10
There is a day of entering in.
If we are not prepared in this hour before the midnight cry, the door will
be shut, and we will be on the wrong side of it. Those who were shut out
cried, "Lord! Lord! Open to us!'
"But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Matthew 25:12
If we do not prepare ourselves
and come into a personal relationship with our God while it is yet called
"Day", when the night comes, and the Marriage Supper is prepared, we will
not be partakers, nor will we be part of the bride when she is
selected.
Abraham's servant's request before
God was fulfilled:
"And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and 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." Genesis 24:18-20
Rebekah was not only willing to
minister to Abraham's servant, she was willing to water his camels also.
Those who will make up the body of Christ must not only be willing to minister
to God's servants, they must be willing to minister to all those who have
been entrusted to carry the burden of God's divine order in the evening of
this age. Those who will become the bride for the son must be as Rebekah
and be willing to serve with a willing heart, not because they have to, or
because it is expected of them. They need to become as our example Jesus
who proclaimed:
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
A willing heart is the first criteria
for all service to be acceptable before our God. Without a willing heart,
serving God becomes a drudgery instead of a joy. Many who fill the pulpits
today look upon their position as just being a job. To those who are not
called to the ministry it is just that. But those who are called and anointed
of God to serve His people consider it a pleasure and a joy. They are not
just simply filling a position. They look at it as an opportunity to be part
of maturing those who will become the bride of Christ.
This does not say there will never
be times of disappointment when those we have spent much labor and time with
decide they desire the things of this life more than the things of God. We
become as Abraham's servant:
". . . the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not." Genesis 24:21
When we witness what would seem
to be failures, we, too, wonder if the Lord has made our journey prosperous.
We sometimes use the yardstick of the world to measure our success in God.
God is the only one who can measure our success, and if our journey is prosperous
or not.
Abraham placed a heavy burden
on his servant. He knew what he did had to be perfect. After all the bride
Abraham's servant was to choose was for the son of promise. Only Isaac would
inherit. As Moses recorded:
"And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac." Genesis 25:5
Abraham's seven other sons were
given gifts and sent away. They had the opportunity to choose their own wives.
But Abraham's servant was to choose the wife who would carry on his master's
posterity.
This is the job given to the elders
of the church. As Abraham's servant, they are given the heavy burden to raise
up those who are to carry on God's posterity in the earth. Those who rule
and reign on the earth will make up God's Holy City, His New
Jerusalem:
"And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;" Genesis 24:22
When Abraham's servant was sure
Rebekah was the chosen one for his master's son, he gave her a golden earring.
Gold is the symbol of God. When Abraham's servant gave Rebekah the golden
earring, this reveals God was anointing her hearing. When we are chosen to
be part of God's Holy City, the first thing He does is anoint our hearing.
Paul informed the church at Rome:
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17
Our faith can only come when God
anoints our hearing, so we can hear His Word. Faith is a gift of the Spirit.
We cannot move into a faith walk until our hearing has been anointed. Abraham
is called the Father of Faith because he heard the voice of God. Abraham
moved in faith and became the father of many nations.
The earring Abraham's servant
gave Rebekah was a half shekel. This may seem to be an insignificant fact,
but Spiritually speaking this becomes very important. God informed the children
of Israel:
"When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: a shekel is twenty gerahs: an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord." Exodus 30:12-13
The half shekel was the price
Israel was to pay as a ransom for their souls. Those who have their hearing
anointed to hear God's glorious Word must know this is the price God's Son
paid for the ransom of their soul. Jesus did not only redeem us, His death
paved the way for the anointing to come on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus explained
to His disciples:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." John 16:7
It was by and through Jesus' death,
that the Anointing came to anoint those who would become part of His bride,
His Holy City.
Abraham's servant not only gave
Rebekah a gold earring, he gave her two bracelets. This becomes a very important
gift to those who are called, chosen, and elected to be part of the bride.
Two is the number of witness. The bracelets were ten shekels of gold. Again
ten is the number of God's divine order. The bracelets were a sign of betrothal.
When Abraham's servant gave Rebekah the two golden bracelets, it was a witness
she was betrothed to the son. She could never be taken by anyone else. We,
too, are betrothed to the Son to become a part of God's divine order. The
prophet Hosea gives us the condition of our betrothal:
"And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord." Hosea 2:19-20
As Hosea revealed, our betrothal
is forever. We are betrothed in righteousness, judgment (justice),
lovingkindness, and mercies. We can never belong to another. God will never
break our betrothal. Only we can break it. When we serve any other than the
one we are betrothed to, we are guilty of whoredom in the sight of
God.
God proclaims, "I will betroth
thee unto me in faithfulness." Then He gives us a wonderful promise,
"Thou shalt know the Lord". If we truly want to know the Lord
and become part of His bride company, we must remain faithful to the one
we are betrothed to.
God gave Israel a bill of divorcement
because of their unfaithfulness. God accused Israel of whoredoms. This same
condition exists in the church today. God promised Israel judgment, and He
is in the process of pouring out His judgment upon today's church. God's
justice is a two-edged sword. It means punishment for the guilty and freedom
for the innocent. Israel failed to repent and God dispersed them throughout
the whole earth. Today if the church does not repent, God's judgment will
be as severe, if not more severe, than Israel's.
God is putting His bracelet of
betrothal on His bride. She will be taken as long as she continues in God's
righteousness. She can expect His lovingkindness and mercies as long as she
continues in her faithfulness. If not, then she can expect God's justice,
which may mean a bill of divorcement. The servant of Abraham asked
Rebekah:
"And said, Whose daughter art thou? Tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?" Genesis 24:23
As the bride, we need to know
whose daughter we are. Are we the daughter of the King, or are we the daughter
of the world? Our answer will determine if there is room in our Father's
house, or if we will we be on the outside when the door is shut, crying,
"Lord! Lord!'
When David wrote the twenty-third
Psalm, he proclaimed the Lord to be his shepherd. Then he proclaimed the
Lord would restore his soul. He was led in the paths of righteousness. He
was led by the still waters (the comfort of God's Word). God's rod (authority)
and staff (provision) comforted him. He anointed his head with oil. His cup
of blessing ran over. God's goodness and mercy followed David all the days
of his life. Why did God do this? So David could dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.
When Abraham's servant inquired,
"Is there room in thy father's house to dwell in", we need to ask ourselves,
"Has the Father made room in His house for us to dwell in?" If He has, then
we must seek the door to His sheepfold, and walk in
righteousness.
When Abraham's servant knew his
journey was prosperous. . .
". . .the man bowed down his head, and worshiped the Lord." Genesis 24:26
All too often when God makes our
journey prosperous, we do not bow our heads and worship the Lord. Too many
times we feel our success has come about through our own efforts. We fail
to worship our God. We may thank Him with our lips of clay, but do we really
worship Him with our whole heart?
Abraham's servant was taken to
the home of Rebekah:
"And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on." Genesis 24:33
Abraham's servant explained all
he had gone through to take a wife for Isaac. The reply of Rebekah's family
was:
"Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken." Genesis 24:51
The Lord has given direction and
provided everything for his eldest servant to take a bride for His Son. When
she is chosen there will be no holding back her departure from her family,
her friends, and her former life.
"And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master." Genesis 24:54
They ate and drank and tarried
all night. Paul warned the church of Thessalonica concerning this
laxity:
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night." I Thessalonians 5:6-7
Paul informed the church at
Rome:
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Romans 13:12
Truly the darkness of this age
proves the night is far spent, and the new day is dawning; a day when man
will cast off his works of darkness or he will be cut off. Only those who
have put on their armor of light will stand whole and clean before their
God. Those who have on their armor of light will make up the Holy City and
be part of the body and bride of Christ.
Abraham's servant wanted to leave
immediately to return to his master, but Rebekah's family
asked:
"And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go." Genesis 24:55
There are always those who say,
"Now is not the time". Those who have no conception of what time it is are
willing to abide with those who are not called into God's new day. They enjoy
the parties, the eating, drinking, and tarrying in the night. Those God has
called, chosen, and elected know the night is far spent. These are looking
for and hastening to the new day. Abraham's servant was not willing to
tarry:
"And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master." Genesis 24:56
Those who have the vision of the
new day have no desire to tarry with those whose only thought is for this
life. The family left the decision to go or stay up to Rebekah:
"And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them." Genesis 24:58-60
They not only sent her away, they
gave her their blessing. This blessing became a prophesy of what God would
do with His church. From a meager beginning on the Day of Pentecost with
one hundred and twenty in the Upper Room, there have been thousands of millions
who have known the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Rebekah. Through the teachings
of Jesus they have learned to possess the gate of those who hate
them.
God has a victorious people who
are willing to become disciples of Christ. Jesus spoke of the price we must
pay if we are going to become the bride of Christ:
"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Matthew 19:29
This was required of Rebekah,
and it will be required of all who make up God's Holy City and become part
of His Bride Company.
So Abraham's servant returned
to the land of Canaan with the bride for Isaac.
"And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country." Genesis 24:62
Isaac dwelt in the south country
by the well of Lahairoi. South is the direction of refreshment. The word
Lahairoi means "unto the living one". Isaac was spending his
time in the land of refreshment unto the Living One.
"And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming." Genesis 24:63
Again it was evening time, before
the new day was about to dawn. Isaac was walking in the field meditating.
He lifted his eyes and saw the camels coming, those who bear the burden of
the glorious gospel of truth coming in the evening of the age.
"And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself." Genesis 24:64-65
When Rebekah asked, "Who
is it that walketh in the field?", Abraham's servant answered,
"It is my master". He was not only the servant of Abraham,
the father, he was the servant to Isaac, the son. Jesus declared this same
truth to His disciples:
"All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." Matthew 11:27
There is no record of Abraham's
servant returning anything to his master Abraham. Everything Abraham had
he gave to his son, Isaac. All Abraham had was placed on the camels and they
bare the burden of the father. All was placed under the hand of the son.
As Jesus declared, "All things are delivered unto Me of My Father." When
the servant delivered the bride to Isaac, the Word of God was fulfilled.
This would be the beginning of God's eternity, His new day.
"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." Genesis 24:67
When the bride was delivered to
Isaac, he took her into his mother, Sarah's tent, and Rebekah became his
wife. God's Word states Isaac was comforted. Spiritually speaking, "Why was
Isaac comforted?" Many of God's mysteries are hidden in names. Sarah's name
means "the princess". When Abraham's servant asked Rebekah. .
.
". . .whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him. . ." Genesis 24:47
Rebekah did not tell Abraham's
servant her mother's name. Instead she told him the name of her grandmother.
Her grandmother's name was Milcah. The name Milcah means
"queen". As we wonder why Isaac was comforted in his mother's tent,
we discover he was no longer dwelling with the princess (Sarah), the daughter
of the king. He had become one with his queen.
Today our God is looking for His
queen, the ones who will become one with Him, those who will make up His
Holy City, His New Jerusalem. These will become the Lord's body in the earth,
and He will be their head.
Those who are called to be the
elder servants of our God need to be diligent in their search for the bride
of Christ. The bride must be prepared and made beautiful to be accepted in
the Beloved.
The evening of time is upon us.
The New Day is about to break forth. This is the Day of Preparation when
the Bridegroom shuts the door. Will we be shut in with God, or will we be
crying, "Lord! Lord!" We know the price and we know the conditions. Are we
willing to pay the price and meet the conditions to dwell with our Lord and
Saviour for all eternity?
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