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Article on The Cross-Abraham and Isaac (part 1)

Tue, May 19, 2009
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We saw today that Genesis 22 is the great foreshadowing of the cross, where the father offers his son and receives him back "on the 3rd day". But if we keep reading the Scriptures in sequential order, we note that in Genesis 23 comes the death of Sarah, and in Genesis 24 an unnamed servant goes "to a distant country" to fetch a bride for his master's son. This unnamed servant speaks about the son to the woman (Rebecca), tells of his riches, woos her with gifts, and teaches her of her election by God. Both sovereignty and personal choice are taught in Genesis 24, as the servant makes it clear to Rebecca that she is elected by God in His sovereignty, and she is given the choice to go with the servant or not.

What order there is in the Word of God! Jesus Christ died on the cross (Genesis 22), God put to death the covenant with His former people (Genesis 23), then He sends His Holy Spirit (unnamed) at Pentecost to get a bride for His Son (Genesis 24). At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to tell the gospel, that is, to describe the glories and riches of the Son of God, His death in their place, His resurrection from the dead, etc., and then present them with a choice to die to their old way of life and follow Christ or not.

Genesis 22 through 24 should be read together, in one sitting, to see the foreshadowing of the cross and resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to get a bride for God's Son.

We think you will enjoy this rendering of the story of Abraham's servant being sent to find a wife for Isaac -

A vivid illustration of the position and work of the Holy Spirit in God's dealings with men is contained in the story of Abraham sending his servant to a distant land to seek a bride for his son, Isaac. If that servant had spoken of himself and fixed men's eyes there, he would have failed of his object. Having found the right girl, his real work was only just begun. It was so to speak of his master's son as to draw her heart to that son and make her willing to break with her family and follow him to Isaac. Morning, noon and night there was but one theme to his conversation, 'my master's son'. His appearance and attractiveness were doubtless enlarged upon, but especially his wealth, for 'unto him hath my master given all that he hath'. The earrings and bracelets with which he had decked her were but specimens of the wealth that would be the girl's who consented to become his wife. He was apparently a highly eligible young man ! 'And it came to pass' when Laban, Rebecca's brother, 'saw the earrings and bracelets upon his sister's hands ... he said, "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without?"' 'Come in,' he said in effect, 'and tell us more about your master's son.' And so he was given ample scope to exercise his ministry. In no time at all, the girl's heart was won and she gave her answer. 'I will go.' The servant's joy was fulfilled when at last he saw Rebecca in Isaac's arms!

The work of the blessed Holy Spirit is precisely to play the part with us that Abraham's servant played with them long ago-so to speak of Christ and of grace and of glory as to woo and win our hearts and make us willing to follow Him to Calvary, there to take the sinner's place at the feet of Jesus. And He does this not only to bring about our first meeting with Jesus, but continually ever after, whenever sin has made us cold and dry and barren. How good it is that Jesus has not left Himself without an Advocate on earth to represent Him in our hearts and to draw us back again and again to His Cross, the place of release and victory. Roy Hession (http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/hession/5f00.0326/5f00.0326.03.htm)

Article on The Cross-Abraham and Isaac (part 1)

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