GENESIS 24: THE SON FORESHADOWED AND PREFIGURED (CHRIST THE CENTER)

 Richard B. Ajamah

Genesis 24 is one of the most striking and beautiful foreshadows in the Old Testament! Isaac the beloved son of the father in chapter 22, after he had been virtually offered up in sacrifice and thus, his typical resurrection from the dead (referred to in Heb 11:19); that his father Abraham, sent forth his faithful servant to secure a suitable wife for his son. Now how this foreshadows and sets forth the mission of the Holy Spirit (after the death and resurrection of the Son), who is now in the world, gathering out of it the bride of the Lamb is evident in the New Testament. The nameless servant's (of Abraham) journey afar in order to carry out his master's will and bring Rebecca to his master's son, the choice of and preparation of Rebecca for her Lord, to whom she willfully submits (symbolized by the veil: Gen. 24:65), the entire pointing to the Son of this "nameless" Servant, how all so Wonderful! Why? The Christ, whom this foreshadows! (Cf: Jn. 5:39)

Everything in the chapter is beautiful and Isaac is the CENTER and OBJECT of it all. Abraham loved him and gave him all that he had ( Gen 24:36), so also it is written of God's beloved Son: 

"The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands" (John 3:35).

The faithful servant sought nothing for himself, nor spoke of himself - all he did was for Isaac; and it is said of the Holy Spirit: 

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come .... he shall not speak of himself.... he shall glorify me; for 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 unto you" (John 16:13-15).

Rebecca though had not seen Isaac, was attracted to him based on the testimony of the faithful servant from Isaac to her, and yes, of the christian it is said: 

"Jesus Christ whom having not seen, ye love, in whom, though now ye see him not , yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1Peter 1:8).

Abraham's purpose, the servant's labour, Rebecca's love, were all for Isaac the son, so also the Father's purpose, the Holy Spirit's labour and the love of the church (the bride) are all for the SON. Oh that we may see the centrality of the BELOVED SON!

It is a great day in the spiritual history of a christian when he or she wakes up to the fact that all the Father's thoughts and purposes have Christ as The One and Worthy Object, and that the chief labour of the Holy Spirit is to shed His love abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5). The result is that, nothing will satisfy the love thus awakened but union with the beloved, will be the all absorbing object of the heart. In this way are we drawn in our affections away from the world and its vanities, on unto (on-until-onto) Christ. 

If any man love not the Lord Jesus, let him be Anathema, Maranatha (1Cor 16:22).

Even so COME LORD JESUS.