Rebekah: A Type of the Church - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

They called Rebekah and said unto her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”
Genesis 24:58 NKJV

Rebekah: A Type of the Church
Rebekah exemplifies the Church or bride of Christ. As the earrings and bracelets given her by the servant were a token of Isaac’s love, so Christ “having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (Jn. 13:1). The jewels of silver and jewels of gold and clothing typify the fruit of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, for He “loved the Church, and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25).

By her affirmative answer to the question, she virtually severed her earthly ties in order to follow Abraham’s servant, a type of the Holy Spirit, across the desert. This reminds one of the verse, “Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your own people also, and your father’s house” (Ps. 45:10). What animated her in the journey were the things of Isaac, which the servant showed her. Speaking of the Holy Spirit, the Lord said to His disciples who would form the nucleus of the Church, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (Jn. 16:14).

Just as Rebekah’s family sought to hold her back ten days, so the world would delay us from going out to meet Him. Notice too, that it was the servant who “took Rebekah and departed.” So it is with us. We need the help of the Holy Spirit along the way. He has come to abide with us, and in us, forever.

When she saw Isaac, she veiled herself in preparation. The Church will do the same, for we read, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready” (Rev. 19:7). Finally, as Isaac was comforted to have Rebekah with him, so will Christ be, for “He shall see of the fruit of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied” (Isa. 53:11 jnd).

-- Richard A. Barnett