“AND they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with THIS MAN? and she said, I WILL GO.” (Gen. 24:5858And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. (Genesis 24:58).) What a blessed question, and what a fine answer!
Do you know that there is “one mediator between God and men, THE MAN Christ Jesus”? (1 Tim. 2:55For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5).) “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through THIS MAN is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, f corn which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39).) “THIS MAN receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” (Luke 15:22And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. (Luke 15:2).) “Wilt thou go with THIS MAN?” God give you decision for Christ, and cause you to see your responsibility to say, “I WILL GO.”
“And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you; come thou with us, and we will do thee good, for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. And he said, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land and to my kindred.” (Num. 10:29, 3029And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. 30And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. (Numbers 10:29‑30).)
What a contrast between the way that Rebekah and Hobab treated the invitation that was given them. One said, “I will go;” the other, “I will not go.” How is it with you? are you willing or unwilling to go to Christ? If you go to Him you will get forgiveness, redemption, salvation, adoption, the Holy Ghost, oneness with Himself, and you will share the glory with Him. But if you are unwilling to go, it will be to your own everlasting loss.
The writer was preaching some years ago in Derbyshire; the large preaching-room was densely packed; the Holy Ghost wrought mightily with the Word, and caused many to say that memorable night, “I will go to Jesus.” There was a young man in that packed audience who said, if not in words, by his acts, “I will not go,” and his delight was to make sport of those who had decided for Christ. George H— left the preaching that night refusing the love of God, rejecting the Christ of God, resisting the Spirit of God, and ruining his own soul. Early the following morning I was called in to see a young collier who had met with an accident in the coal-pit that morning; nearly every limb in his body was broken, and his head was an awful sight and size. I inquired his name, and was very much startled when I was told that it was poor George H—! I put my lips to his ear, and asked if he were ready to go into ETERNITY. He shook his head and died! Sad end to an unwilling soul! GO TO JESUS AT ONCE. Fear not what your friends or companions will say. Remember, if they laugh you into hell, they will not be able to laugh you out again.
Rebekah believed what was told her about the absent Isaac, and gave up friends, home, and all, to take the long, tedious journey across the trackless desert to meet Isaac. And do you think that, after she had met Isaac, was united to him, and sharing his name, home, honors, and fortune, that she ever regretted for a moment what she gave up, or the journey she took?
Do you ask, “Who is Isaac?” He is a type of Christ. Do you ask, “Who is Christ?” He is “the Son of God,” “the Savior of the world.” To those who believe in Him and are saved “He is precious.” He is nearer than the nearest, dearer than the dearest, fairer than the fairest, lovelier than the loveliest, sweeter than the sweetest, better than the best. He is the chiefest among ten thousand; yea, “He is altogether lovely.” What think ye of Christ? Will you not, by the grace and strength of God, give up everybody and everything to go to Him?
What a striking difference there is between Rebekah and Hobab! the former gave up everybody and everything for Isaac, the latter stoutly refused to give up anybody or anything; the first gained everything, the last lost everything. Which are you—a Rebekah or a Hobab? Have you found, as a poor sinner, such attraction and preciousness in Christ, as to be willing to give up all for Him, or do you see no beauty in Him that you should desire Him. In short, are you willing or unwilling to go to Christ?
“Oh! could I hear some sinner say, ‘I will go;’ And all his old companions tell, ‘I will not go with you to hell, I mean with Jesus Christ to dwell—I WILL GO.’”