REBEKAH A TYPE OF THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
Genesis 24:58
Morning Meditation 10/16/2013
"And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go."
Eliezer the servant of Abraham was sent to his father's house to get a bride for his son Isaac. The name Eliezer is only mentioned one time in Genesis in connection with Abraham in the chapter where he sends him to choose a wife for his son Isaac. In Genesis 24 where Abraham sends him with instructions, and gifts for the prospective bride, he is called "Abraham's servant." John 16:13, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
In the Gospel we still hear the divine call, "Wilt thou go with this Man?" Let's look at this call.
THIS CALL IS GRACIOUS
It is not a question of character. Grace is God's way of calling out a bride for His Son. Galatians 1:15-16, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"
The most common definition to the word grace is "the unmerited favor of God." Are you saved? Then you understand that God did not call you because you were upstanding and have an impeccable character. Matthew 9:11-13, "And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Jesus didn't come to call the righteous. It is not that they cannot be saved. The problem is that they are depending on their own self-righteousness to get them to heaven. No one will be in heaven because he was good enough. However, you will see a lot of hell-deserving sinners there. They are people who acknowledged themselves to be sinners and came to Christ for salvation. He took them because of their faith in Him, and cleansed them, and they are saved because of His love and mercy.
THIS IS A PERSONAL CALL
Rebekah was asked, "Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go."
Salvation is "whosoever will may come." It is a decision one has to make.. There is no one that God can't save. He has made salvation available to all. But there must be "repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." There must be a willingness to come under the rule of another. It is personal.
John 16:7-11, "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. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." When He has come He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
IT IS AN URGENT CALL
The servant of Abraham said, "Hinder me not." (Gen. 24:56). This servant moved deliberately and quickly. There was a sense of urgency about him.
One may feel that he has an abundance of time. That is a dangerous position to take. Proverbs 29:1, "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
There are some who teach that there will be a future chance for salvation. Our text says, "shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy."
IT IS A QUESTION OF THE WILL
The question was, "Wilt thou go with this man?" Salvation is a choice. All will make that choice. John 3:18, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
IT IS A CALL TO SEPARATION
Rebekah had to leave her immediate family and go with Abraham's servant. This was not an easy parting. When we are saved, we are committing ourselves to follow the Holy Spirit away from the world and become pilgrims on our way to meet the Bridegroom.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White