Here Comes the Bride
Today’s Verse:
And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. ~Genesis 24:58
On a wedding day, the most precious moment is when it is time for the bride to walk the aisle and join her husband-to-be. The congregation is asked to rise and stand out of respect for her entrance. The bride gracefully walks the aisle with great anticipation that she will join the groom to recite their vows to one another and be joined as husband and wife. The talk of the wedding from that moment on is about the bride. The church is the bride of Christ. As His bride, she is preparing herself for the consummation of the marriage one day in Heaven.
We see the selection of the bride.
“Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the Lord hath spoken” (v. 51). Jesus loves His church! As His bride, she belongs to Him and no one else. The church is a called-out assembly of saved, baptized individuals committed to the mission of the church. When Rebekah was “called out” by Abraham’s servant, she became the responsibility of Isaac. Just as Rebekah was the bride of one husband, the church has only one Husband, and that is Jesus Christ.
We see the sanctification of the bride.
“And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up” (v. 16). The bride that the servant was looking for had to be chaste and a virgin. The bride of Christ is to be a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle. She is to be holy and sanctified, and she is to present herself with her garments white. Just as a bride keeps herself pure for her husband, the church must be holy and pure for our Lord.
We see the service of the bride.
“And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink” (v. 18). Rebekah impressed Abraham’s servant with her servant’s heart. She served him with swiftness. She served him without reservation. She went beyond the call of duty and filled her pitcher up ten additional times to give water to the camels that he brought. The church is to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
We see the strength of the bride.
We read that she carried her pitcher upon her shoulder. A woman who could carry a pitcher with water in it on one shoulder was a very strong. She had to be strong to fill the pitcher up ten times to give water to the camels. Paul told the church at Ephesus, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” A weak church is a failing church. A strong church is a church filled with good works and a can-do attitude.
We see the surrender of the bride.
“And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go” (v. 58). She agreed to go with the servant to be Isaac’s bride. Surrender must be unconditional and with no strings attached. A surrendered bride is completely in obedience to the will of her husband. He alone is the lord of her life.
We see the satisfaction of the bride.
Rebekah made the long journey. When she saw Isaac from a distance, she covered her face with a veil and came to him as his long-awaited bride. There was happiness as she became his wife. The final verse of Genesis 24 sweetly says, “And he loved her.”
As the bride of Christ, let’s prepare ourselves for meeting Christ by living separated lives, serving with enthusiasm, remaining strong, and being constantly vigilant.
Have a submissive God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 86-89