Bible Talks: Abraham, the Man of Faith

From: Messages of God's Love: 1966

Genesis 24:5-10⁵And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? ⁶And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. ⁷The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. ⁸And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again. ⁹And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter. ¹⁰And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. (Genesis 24:5‑10)

IN Abraham’s plan to secure a bride for Isaac from the distant country, we see portrayed a lovely parallel in God’s purpose made known since the cross of Calvary. That purpose has been exhibited in the gospel going out to all the world that He might take out of it a redeemed company suited to be the bride of Christ, His beloved Son.

This divine object is accomplished through the activity of the Holy Spirit, who delights to bring the truth as to God and Christ to all who will receive it. Of Him the Lord spoke, saying: “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself: but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.” John 16:13¹³Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13). Eliezer, Abraham’s faithful servant, is a type of the Holy Spirit sent to the distant country of this world. Abraham’s charge to him to “take a wife unto my son Isaac,” rinds us that God would not have His Son to dwell alone, and in order to secure a suited companion for Him He has sent forth His blessed Spirit into the hearts of all those who have believed in Christ unto eternal life.

In his solemn charge to Eliezer Abraham emphasized that the choice of a bride should not be from among “the daughters of the Canaanites.” In the preceding chapter he had said to Ephron the Hittite, “I am a stranger and sojourner with you.” God too will have no stranger as the bride of His Son, but only those brought into His household by faith. How tragic that any should think of entering heaven in any other way than through faith in Christ! No one will be without excuse in that day who does not avail himself of the grace of God and His provision for salvation, for He so clearly sets forth the only ground on which all strangeness and distance from Him can be removed. Speaking to Gentile beliers he reminds them how that “in time past... ye were without Christ, being aliens... and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world; but now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ... Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” Eph. 2:11-19¹¹Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; ¹²That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: ¹³But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁷And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ¹⁸For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:11‑19).

“And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and darted; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.” v. 10. It will be seen shortly how he delighted to display his master’s riches and glories before the one who was the object of his long journey—another picture of the work of the Holy Spirit, of whom the Lord said: “He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” John 16:14,15¹⁴He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. ¹⁵All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:14‑15).

Note too that the faithful servant, charged with so responsible an undertaking, and anxious to bring back a bride to his master’s son, did not delay in carrying out his master’s wishes. Surely it is with great joy that the blessed Trinity of the Godhead is now anticipating the moment when the Church, the bride of Christ, will be brought home to Him, the heavenly Bridegroom.

ML-02/20/1966

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