Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, September 14, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
A BRIDE FOR ISAAC AND A BRIDE FOR CHRIST
Pastor Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30)
Gospel Light Baptist Church,
P.O. Box 3071 (237 Lockett Station Road)
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 432-0039 (church) / (229) 698-2127 (parsonage)
Scripture Reading: Genesis 24:1-9
Text: Genesis 24:4
Genesis 24:4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
Introduction: I have told you that Isaac is one of the best pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.
In Isaac we see pictures of the
Supernatural Birth of Christ
Submissive Spirit of Christ
Sacrificial Offering of Christ
Successful Resurrection of Christ
Sending for a Bride for Christ
In our scripture reading today we are looking at a “type,” that is, a prophetic picture of God’s plan for obtaining a bride for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Historically, all of the people in Genesis 24 were real people. However, the events were ordered in such a way and recorded in such a way that no serious, saved Bible student of the New Testament can miss the similarities between this story and the doctrine of the bride of Christ.
This is ANOTHER of the passages I believe our Lord and Savior referred to when he said:
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
and again in that chapter:
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
This could very well have been one of the passages the Lord Jesus Christ used after His resurrection, when He met with two discouraged disciples:
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
First notice,
I. THE PLAN OF THE FATHER
Genesis 24:1-10
Genesis 24:4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
A. The passing of Sarah
- Abraham, as I’ve pointed out in previous messages, is a “type” of God the Father, and Sarah is a type of ISRAEL.
- Israel has been temporarily set aside today while God is primarily getting a bride, the church, for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!
B. The partner for the Son
- Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
- Gentiles are those who are NOT descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Isaac’s bride was a GENTILE bride! Although the Lord’s church is a combination of Jews and Gentiles (1 Corinthians 12:13), MOST of the church is GENTILE, for the Jews are BLINDED (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Romans 11:25).
- Ten is a Gentile number, and there were 10 camels (24:10 – verse TEN) and 10 days (24:55 – two times 10)!
C. The power of the servant 24:10
- Eliezer is a “type” of the Holy Spirit
II. THE PROPOSAL
Genesis 24:11-58
Genesis 24:58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
A. The gradual presentation
B. The gifts of promise
C. The giving in
III. THE PARTING
Genesis 24:59-61
Genesis 24:59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.
She left family, friends, and all that was familiar:
A. For an unseen land
B. For an unseen love – 1 Peter 1:8; John 20:29
C. For an unseen life
IV. THE PRESENTATION
Genesis 24:62-67
Genesis 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
A. A rapture – 24:63-64
B. The return of the master – 24:65
C. A revelation – 24:65-66
- All things that “he” had done!
- The only things that will matter at the Judgment Seat of Christ is what the Holy Spirit has done through us!