The chronicle of Avraham taking a bride for his son Yitzhak is more than just a beautiful story of betrothal and marriage, it also happens to be a shadow picture of Messiah taking his bride at His triumphant return in the end of days. Let’s take a look at some of these pictures and see what we can learn from this beautiful, meaningful historical account

3 And I will make you swear by Yehowah, the Elohim of the shamayim, and the Elohim of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Kanaanites, among whom I dwell: 4 But you shall go to my country, and to my mishpacha, and take a wife for my son Yitzchak.

(Gen 24:3)

Just as Avraham would not allow his son to marry the daughter of a pagan, so our Heavenly Father will not allow His Son to marry a pagan people. His bride consists of those whose garments have been washed and made white in righteousness.

“He who overcomes shall be dressed in white robes, and I shall by no means blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I shall confess his name before My Father and before His messengers.

(Rev 3:5 TS98)

After this I looked and saw a great crowd which no one was able to count, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, and palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Deliverance belongs to our Elohim who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

(Rev 7:9-10 TS98)

5 And the eved said to him, Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: do I need to bring your son again to the land from where you came?

(Gen 24:5)

Note that the Land of Promise, which is promised to the descendants of Avraham, conditionally requires that the descendants of Avraham remain in the land.

In Scripture, when the descendants of Avraham, Yitzhak and Ya’acov leave the land, it is either due to drought/famine, or exile for the cause of sin and rebellion.

Additionally, as in every other matter between man and El Shaddai, man’s involvement in the relationship must be voluntary. Our Father does not compel anyone to enter into covenant relationship with Him.

6 And Avraham said to him, Beware that you bring not my son there again.

(Gen 24:6)

Just as Yitzhak was not to return to the land of Avraham’s pre-covenant origin, neither is the Bride of Messiah to return to the ways of our forefathers. When our Abba calls us to become betrothed to His Son, we are to willingly and freely of our own choice answer the call. We are to leave everything behind us and go forward with complete faith and trust in our Elohim.

“Everyone, therefore, who shall confess Me before men, him I shall also confess before My Father who is in the heavens. “But whoever shall deny Me before men, him I shall also deny before My Father who is in the heavens. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword, for I have come to bring division, a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – and a man’s enemies are those of his own household. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. “And he who does not take up his stake and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. “He who has found his life shall lose it, and he that has lost his life for My sake shall find it.

(Mat 10:32-39 TS98)

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

(Mat 19:29 TS98)

Messiah is teaching his talmidim the lesson of Avraham. This is a clear message today for those of us who desire to inherit eternal life. Once we accept the call, there is no turning back. The former things are to remain the former things. We are to walk in a new way, regardless of what our family, friends, society etc. thinks of us. Furthermore, we are to school our children only in the way. We are not to allow our children to return to the paths of our pre-covenant past. Rather we are to teach and instruct our children in everything that He is showing us.

Naturally we should never seek division but peace. In fact we are to be the most peaceful people on earth, living in the shalom of Sar Shalom, The Prince of Peace. However, if a family member or friend or our community rejects us because of our new found faith, we by necessity must separate from them. We must be focused on our relationship with the Messiah in order to be a functional partner in the relationship.

Imagine that a man and woman exchange vows and seal the covenant, but their parents interfere and require them to follow their way of thinking & living; what chaos would ensue in the marriage?

Or suppose a man ceases to engage prostitutes, enters into covenant and pledges his faithfulness to his new bride, but returns to engaging in relationships with prostitutes? What kind of marriage could that man have with his wife?

7 Yehowah Elohim of the shamayim, who took me from my abba’s bayit, and from the land of my mishpacha, and who spoke to me, and that swore to me, saying, Unto your zera will I give this land; He shall send His malach before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

(Gen 24:7)

Just as every bride receives a dowry, we are not asked to leave everything and everyone behind and enter into covenant with our Groom for nothing; He promises us a great reward: land inheritance, and His protective covering.

8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath: only bring not my son there again.

(Gen 24:8)

If He gives us the invitation and we refuse the offer, He will not force us to enter into the covenant. Rather He will leave us alone…

16 And the young girl was very beautiful to look at, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the eved ran to meet her, and said, Please let me drink a little mayim from your pitcher. 18 And she said, Drink, my master: and she hurried and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw mayim for your camels also, until they have done drinking. 20 And she hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw mayim, and drew for all his camels.

(Gen 24:16-20)

Note the heart of the young virgin. In behavior she is pure, undefiled and lovely. She has not played the harlot, but preserves herself for the one special relationship that awaits. Keep in mind that she does not yet know who her husband will be; but in patient faithfulness she waits, maintaining her dignity in the integrity of her heart.

She is prepared for every opportunity to show kindness to others; she has the heart of a dedicated servant.

Let the brotherly love continue. Do not forget to receive strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained messengers.

(Heb 13:1-2 TS98)

This is the type of heart that our Master comes looking for. If your heart is divided or if you will not be dedicated to Messiah, he will take no joy in you, for you will not be able to maintain a functional relationship with Him. You will not become His Bride.

54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and stayed all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away to my master. 55 And her brother and her eema said, Let the young girl stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she shall go.

(Gen 24:54-55)

When your call comes, watch out for the enemy to delay your decision. With delay often comes a change of heart. Instead, when the opportunity comes, leap forward and don’t look back! There is nothing of import that you should want to hang on to. Go forth and be blessed!

57 And they said, We will call the young girl, and ask her. 58 And they called Rivkah, and said to her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go.

(Gen 24:5-58)

No hesitation! A heart that is humble, patient, pure and prepared! That is what our Heavenly Father is looking for in a Bride for His Son!

64 And Rivkah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Yitzchak, she was lifted from off the camel. 65 For she had said to the eved, What man is this that walks in the field to meet us? And the eved had said, It is my master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself. 66 And the eved told Yitzchak all things that he had done. 67 And Yitzchak brought her into his eema Sarah’s tent, and took Rivkah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Yitzchak was comforted after his eema’s death.

(Gen 24:64-67)

When Messiah returns at the sound of the Shofar haGadol, he will destroy His enemies, those who have been seeking to destroy His Bride and prevent the marriage. This will be the Yom ha Kippurim haGadol, the Great Atonement. And what comes next? The Marriage Supper of The Lamb, at the Chag Sukkot Gadol, the Great Feast of Sukkot! We will enter into the Sukkah/tent with our Groom, and consummate the Eternal Marriage.

Today is the time for us to prepare our hearts to become the Bride of Messiah. We must put on the purity, faithfulness, kindness, humility and willingness to serve of our ancient Matriarch Rivkah. Only then will we be an acceptable Bride for our Groom!