A Wedding Portrait

Genesis Chapter 24

 

Been said that a picture is worth a 1,000 words. That is True/ & Pictures often reveal the character of the artist

 

A) Story of Leonardo D. painting the last supper, fight w/ his best

     friend, friends face on the body of Judas

 

Pictures can reveal the Character of the Artist & Pictures also reveal the perspective of the artist.

A) When my son Aaron was Littler living in OR. Drew a -  family

     picture - Dad w/ a great big mouth

 

B) Now when we come to the Bible one thing we need to remember is that The Bible is a picture book that reveals to us God's character & perspective.

     1) Old Testament is full of  Pictures

 

C) In fact every N.T. principle clearly seen in the O.T. in the form of a

       picture

    

D) See God knows his children need pictures

 

 

And one of the most exciting, most powerful, pictures in the Old Testament is found in the story of ISSAC

 

A) Isaac is a picture of Jesus  

 

B) From Isaac we can learn very much about.

1.  The Person

2.  Character

3.   Plan of Jesus Christ       / interesting parallels

 

Consider

Both were a promised children  

 

A) Isaac to Abraham, descendants, sand, stars.

 

B) So to w/  Jesus, God gave a promise to mankind concerning Him

     sending His son,

1) Over 300 specific predictions were given concerning Jesus coming

 

C) Both had mothers who had miraculous births, Sarah barren, Mary

      Virgin.

 

3.Both were named before they were born, Isaac, laughter, stoked! Also Mary was given name Jesus ‑ "The Lord is our salvation."

 

4.  Both were mocked by their 1/2 brothers, Isaac, Ishmael

 

5.   Both were in perfect harmony with their fathers.

 

A) You will never read about Isaac being disobedient to Abraham, he was    the pride and joy of Abraham / Obedient Unto death, we saw last study

 

B) So too Jesus the promised child from the Father, "Always did the

    things which pleased His Father." Obedient even unto death

 

6. Both were willing sacrifices

 

A) Both Carried the wood, Isaac the stack / Jesus the cross / by which he

      gave his life  a ransom for many.

 

B) Both on Mt. Moriah

 

7.Both experienced resurrection, the Lord stops Abraham symbolized

A) Jesus rose on third day.

   And After resurrection, both are seen going back to their Father's house.  

               Perfect parallel, but it goes on! Chapter 24:1‑4

 Abe's request of Eleazor, now Eleazor is a type of the Holy Spirit.

 

A) Eleazor the servant is choosing a bride for the son according to the

      request or commission of the Father.

 

B) John 16:7‑8 concerning H.S. 7  "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  9  "of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

 

C) The word Comforter means helper or servant, & Eleazor is a perfect picture of a servant, who went out after the Son had come back to the Father's house to pick out a bride for the son.

 

D) And That is the work of the H.S. who is knocking on the hearts of men

     and women everyday to pick out or make up a bride for the son.

     1) If you name the name of Christ you are a part of the bride of Christ.

 

E)  Called the body of Christ. Body makes up the bride.

1) God's purpose from beginning to have a companion for Him.

 

Verse 5‑8 5  And the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?" 6  But Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back there.  7  "The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

8  "And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there."

 

Eleazor asks what if she is unwilling to come '?, you give the request its up to the girl to decide - Again neat parallel

 

A) H.S. perfect gentleman   /   H.S. doesn't force anyone.

B) Talking this morning Jesus only goes where He is invited  Jesus said      "Behold I stand at the door and knock."

 

v. 9 ‑21 ‑ Eleazor prays and what he prays happens

 

 

Now Eleazor is a picture of the H.S. &  Isaac is a picture of Christ, but Rebekah is a picture of us.

 

A) 1st she is identified by her goods works drawing water from the well

for weary travelers on their journey.

 

B) Neat picture of us as we draw living water from the well of salvation to those weary people wandering, searching, looking to quench their thirst

 

C) Told in       Verse 16, Rebekah was very beautiful, a virgin.

1) God sees you as a beautiful, and virgin spiritually speaking.

 

D) Rev. 19:7‑8 7  "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

8  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

 

E) Maybe you say "Well I don't feel very beautiful, I feel ugly, I feel

     spiritually rotten, dirty."

1)  Know this: If you are a believer today, you are in Christ and it is His

      beauty that beautifies you.

 

 

For some reason It seems that we never truly understand this, never get this It seems we are always striving to be more impressive

 

A) When all the Lord is really desiring is that we would draw near to Him.

     1) Understand who we are in Him!

 

B) Rem. The Church at Ephesus: left their first love ACTION NO PASSION  / So many times we are like that church, doing great things,

1) planning more conferences, more trips, were doing, being, going.

 

C) Doing the work of the Lord, yet forgetting the Lord of the work.

 

 

D) He says return to your first love.   Mary, Martha

 

Is. 62:5 5  For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.

 

Is 61:10  10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

 

 

Read verses 22‑31 ‑Rebekah is given gold Jewelry, met by her brother Laban  /  Laban  is a type of the world.

 

A) Now here we see Laban who is a type of the world is attracted by the

     gifts of the bride.

 

B) World will be attracted by us the bride operating in the gifts and fruits

      of the spirit.   

1)  Many have heard the message, now they just need to see it the joy,

      love, etc.

 

32‑54

Eleazor tells of his mission, his prayer, how he thinks Rebekah is   the one.   Laban and Mom agree, but notice their reaction verse 55 ‑ But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go."

                                                         So Typical of world.

A) Put it off - don’t do it now do it latter - tomorrow

 

There is an ancient story about three demons who were talking to Satan, the chief of the devils, about their plans to tempt and ruin men. 

The first said, "I will tell them there is no God." Satan said, "That will not delude many, for they know that there is a God."  CREATION 

 

The second said, "I will tell men there is no hell."  Satan answered,  "You will deceive no one that way; men know even now that there is a hell for sin."  PUNISHMENT

 

The third said, "I will tell men there is no hurry." "Go," said Satan, "and you will ruin them by the thousand."

 

 The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time.

V. 56-60

 

Notice choice is up to Rebekah verse 58, who says "I will go

A) Going to a man who never say or met, same as us, with Jesus.

 

B) Liked the gifts what she saw so far and what she heard.

 

So Rebekah goes but notice how she goes.     Read verses 61‑63‑

A) On a camel through the desert. Picture of this life, pilgrimage.

 

B) Not alone, 10 maid servants, you are not alone on your Pilgrimage,

      Hebrew 12.

 

C) Eleazor led the way.   Spirit led life !!!

 

We see Isaac in these verses at Beer lahai Roi, "The Lord  sees"

A) As we journey our Isaac sees us - He sees us on our journey, knows

     what we're going through.

 

B) Not only is He watching verse 63 went into field to meditate  praying

      1) Watching & Praying, Heb. 10:25  Ever lives to make intercession

Finally The Bride comes Read verses 64‑67 

 

A) Isaac takes her into mother and father's tent, , and loved her.

 

Picture Of what the Lord is going to do with us!

A)          John 14 ‑ "I go to prepare a place for you."

 

B) In my father's house are many mansions... where I am you may be also.

 

C) Jesus is preparing a honeymoon home.

      Marriage supper, Rule and reign. Experience incredible joy and  

        peace.

 

 

Question         If Jesus is so anxious to have us with him. Why doesn't he

 come to get us now?

 

Important you don't lose sight of the big picture.

A. I know that this experience here is many times dry and bumpy.

 

B) But know this: When you feel like you are going to dry up and fall off

      your camel and die in the desert.

 

C) Jesus is watching 'Not w/ eyes of condemnation but of love,

      compassion.

 

D) Not just watching but praying.

 

E) Working, preparing a place for you. Don't forget who He is and that

     He's on your side.

     

F) He's waiting, He wants to be with you More than you want to be w/ Him.

 

Ps 139:17‑18, 17  How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!   18  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.  

Jer 29:11, why?   FUTURE & A HOPE !!!!!