Walking in the Spirit - the love story of Isaac and Rebekah

Believers, have you ever wondered how the love story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24 relates to you today? Did you know that you can find the ongoing story of our walk in the Spirit today in this wonderful love story and many other love/action/thriller stories in the Old Testament?

It begins with Abraham sending his most senior servant, the one in charge of all he had, to go and get a wife for his son, Isaac. Isaac was a type of our Saviour Jesus while Abraham's servant Eliezer was a type of the Holy Spirit. When the servant met with Rebekah (she's a type of the church- you and I), he gave her gifts (representing the gifts of the Spirit for us today). Even Rebekah's mother and brother who were not brides of Isaac received gifts from the servant because of Rebekah.

Did you notice that Rebekah had no idea that someone was coming to take her away to marry Isaac, just as no one can come to Jesus except the Father calls him/her (John 6:44?) Our Lord prepared her for Isaac; He knew her in advance and called her according to His purpose, just as He knew us in advance, chose us to become like His Son, called us, gave us right standing with Himself and gave us His glory (Romans 8:28-30).

The Lord worked in Rebekah both to will and to do for His good pleasure as He does with His children in Christ today (2 Philippians 2:13.) She drew water for Abraham's servant and watered all of his camels. She was also willing to travel with the servant to marry a man that she had never seen before! That's us in Christ today! We do God's will not by our own effort but because “it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure” - Philippians 2:13.

Even her family members (including Laban, who was later mean to Jacob when he fled his home to Haran to escape Esau's wrath after stealing his birthright) could not find a reason to stop Rebekah from leaving to marry Isaac. In Christ, no one can bring a charge against you (Romans 8:33)

Abraham's servant would have none of it when Rebekah's mother and brother (Laban) tried to delay her departure for a few days, at least 10 (representing the Ten Commandments). Today, these two represent those that tell you "yes, we know you are of Christ but you still need to keep the law in order to be righteous." But Galatians 5:4 tells "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the Law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace."

Just as Abraham’s servant would not allow the 10-day delay in which time Rebekah could be convinced to change her mind about Isaac, the Holy Spirit keeps us on track by convicting us of our righteousness apart from works (John 16:10).

Rebekah followed Abraham's servant Eliezer on the long and arduous journey to meet Isaac. On the way, Abraham's servant would have told her things about her husband; told her about his beauty and character, taught her what he likes, told her how blessed she was to be marrying into a family where she would lack for nothing; just as we have the Holy Spirit to teach us all things about our Lord Jesus Christ today.

Did you know that Abraham's servant Eliezer's name means "my God is help?" It's no coincidence that our Saviour Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as Helper in John 14:26 - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

Anytime Rebekah got discouraged or tired from the journey, Abraham’s servant would comfort her and help her in her weaknesses, just as we have the Holy Spirit to comfort and help us during life’s challenges, persecutions and when we feel helpless and alone. He’s always there.

If anyone stopped them on the way and tried to tell Rebekah that she was making a mistake (false doctrine peddlers), Abraham's servant was always by her side to reassure her of whose she was, never leaving her nor forsaking her.

Rebekah had no idea how to get to where Isaac was staying. Abraham’s servant led the way. Today, we are led by the Holy Spirit! But many people are still preaching law-keeping and right doing as the path of righteousness, even when Isaiah 64:6 says “all of our righteousnesses are like filthy rags”! Remember Psalms 23 – “He leads me on the path of righteousness…” No human knows how to walk this path. Only our Lord God knows, and we who are on this path, the ransomed of the Lord, even though we are fools, we will not go astray (Isaiah 35)! His righteousness is a gift to us!

Believers, as Abraham’s servant was with Rebekah all through her journey to meet Isaac, today, the Holy Spirit is with us on this journey we’re on, giving us gifts, making intercession for us, helping us in our weaknesses, comforting us and teaching us all things, until we meet our Lord Jesus face-to-face on the day Paul spoke of in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – 17 comes: 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

And thus we shall always be with the Lord!