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The Bride

We’ll start today’s message with a reminder from refresher from Chapter 22.

Hos 12:10  I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” 

Living symbols, graphic examples, 

1Pe 2:1-10  Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME.” 

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” and “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 

Genesis 22 reminder:

Gen 22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 

Gen 22:2-8 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 

Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” 

So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 

But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 

And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 

God asked Abraham to take his son, his ONLY son, whom he loved, and sacrifice him on the mountain that God would show him.

Abraham had TWO sons, Isaac and Ishmael.  

Rom 9:1-9  I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 

For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. 

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED.” 

That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 

For this is the word of promise: “AT THIS TIME I WILL COME AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.” 

Gal 4:21-31  Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 

But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 

For it is written: “REJOICE, O BARREN, YOU WHO DO NOT BEAR! BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR! FOR THE DESOLATE HAS MANY MORE CHILDREN THAN SHE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.” 

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 

Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREEWOMAN.” 

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. 

Ishmael was the son of the flesh, Isaac the son of Promise (Faith!!!)

Ishmael represents the Law, which has no power to save, only to condemn.

While Isaac represents the Promise of Faith through which Salvation comes.

God told Abraham to take his only son (the son of Faith) who he loved- First mention of the word Love in Scripture.  First used in conjunction with a father sacrificing His Son, His Only Son, whom He loved, on the mountain of His choosing (Golgotha).

In Abraham’s mind Isaac died when the command came, not when the actual deed was completed.

Gen 22:3  So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 

Abraham rose early, saddled his donkey, AND TOOK TWO WITNESSES WITH THEM!

Mat 17:1-9  Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 

Mat 17:3  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 

Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 

But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 

When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 

Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” 

Were Peter, James, and John the symbolic witnesses?

No!  The Symbolic witnesses were Moses and Elijah.

Moses typifies the Law, Elijah typifies the Prophets.

Both the Law and the Prophets bore witness to the sacrifice of The Son on the cross.

Gen 22:5  And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” 

Notice Abraham’s witnesses were told to stay with the donkey until the work was done, then they (Abraham and Isaac) would return.

If the two witnesses represented the Law and the Prophets, they could only go so far!  

The Law is a schoolmaster showing us the need for a savior.  It shows absolute perfection, dictates God’s requirements for righteousness, and provides penalties for disobedience, but cannot save.

The Prophets point to the coming of the One who could fulfill all the requirements of the Law on our behalf AND be the sacrifice for us so that we could be redeemed to God in righteousness.

However, neither the Law nor the Prophets provide salvation, they merely testify of the need and the promise.

There’s a funny phrase here also: “Stay here with the donkey…”

Zec 9:9  “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Mat 21:1-9 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 

And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 

All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 

 “TELL THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, LOWLY, AND SITTING ON A DONKEY, A COLT, THE FOAL OF A DONKEY.’ ” 

So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 

They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 

And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 

Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 

The work of the Law and the Prophets culminated on a donkey on Palm Sunday when Jesus presented Himself to Jerusalem as King and Messiah.  

The Law and the Prophets had done their job but they could go no further.  It was Jesus, and Jesus alone, who would do the complete work of redemption on that cross.

Gen 22:5  And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” 

The Law and the Prophets bore witness to what God would do, but could not do the work that only Jesus could do.

Symbolically, they waited at the gate until Jesus came back to them..

The work of the Law and the Prophets was not over.  They pointed forward to the Cross until the work was completed.  Then they resumed their work of pointing back to the Cross to testify of what He had done according to His Word before time began.

Gen 22:4  Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.

If Isaac died to Abraham when the command came, how long was he dead?

In other words, when did Abraham receive his son back from the dead?

AFTER THREE DAYS!

When did God the Father receive His Son, His only begotten Son, whom He loved, back from the dead?  After three days!

Gen 22:8  And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 

We know the rest of the story: God did provide Himself the lamb, the sacrifice that would satisfy the requirement of man’s redemption to God.

So why did I choose to go back and emphasize this act again?

Because without the Sacrifice of The Son in Chapter 22, there would be no bride in Chapter 24!

With that fresh in our minds, let’s dive into Chapter 24 with a prophetical mindset.

Eph 5:22-33  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 

Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.”  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. 

Gen 24:1  Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 

Gen 24:2  So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, (Eliazar of Damascus- Genesis 15:2)”Please, put your hand under my thigh, 

If we know who the servant is, why is his name witheld?

Because in this similitude he represents the Holy Spirit, who does not glorify Himself!

Joh 16:13-15  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 

All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 

For the rest of this chapter, the servant will remain nameless.  His desire is to magnify the Son and procure a wife for him using everything available to Him in that endeavor.  Everything the Father has has been given to the Son, and everything the Son has is at the disposal of the Holy Spirit in bringing souls to Christ (the Bride)

Rom 8:32  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 

Gen 24:3-4 and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 

Why so specific as to where the Bride would come from?

Mat 15:22-28 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”  But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 

Mat 15:25  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 

But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. 

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

To the Jew FIRST…

The Church was born with Jewish believers, but was always destined to be Bride composed of Jews and Gentiles both!

The Church (Bride) was purchased for the Son from among the Father’s family, from His Country, and from His land.  The Bride would not be procured from a strange place apart from the Promise given to His people.

Gen 24:5-8  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?” 

But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there. 

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. 

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.” 

The Bride must be willing, the Servant (Holy Spirit) will not force the bride into an unwilling marriage!

Gen 24:9-28  So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. 

Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 

And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. 

Then he said, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 

Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 

Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” 

And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. 

Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. 

And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.” 

So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. 

And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” 

Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 

And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. 

So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?” 

So she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.” 

Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.” 

Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD. 

And he said, “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” 

So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things. 

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