Scriptures: Genesis 24, Luke 2:49, John 20:21, 14:16, 14:26, 15:26 , 16:13, Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Peter 1:8, Revelation 22:17

There is, however, far more to the story. In Genesis 22, we see Abraham as a type, a picture, a portrait of God the Father. We see that Isaac is a picture of God the Son. We know from the New Testament that just as Abraham sought a bride for his son Isaac, God the Father is seeking a bride for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This therefore tells us that Rebekah is a picture of the church. The church in the New Testament is sometimes called a building and at other times is called a body, but it is also called a bride. From this, we see the beautiful illustration of how God the Father is calling out the church to be a bride for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is also a fourth figure in the story and it is the servant sent to bring the bride to the son. The servant is a picture of God the Holy Spirit, whom the father as sent into the world to convict, convince, and convert lost sinners into loving saints who join themselves to Jesus. In this message, Dr. Merritt follows an Old Testament servant as he pursues a bride for his master, and parallels this with the wonderful New Testament picture of the Church, the Bride of Christ.

"Rebekah had to come to Isaac. He did not come to her. She had to leave her worldly life if she wanted to enjoy the wedded life. If she was going to marry Isaac it had to be on his terms. Even though Abraham chose Rebekah for Isaac, Rebekah had to choose Isaac for herself. She had to make a decision--and so do we." --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: bride, wedding, wife, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, church, salvation, Holy Spirit, guide, Princess Elizabeth Petrovna, seek, serve, Master, God, mission, commitment, Eliezer, Canaan, land