We all know that every word in the Bible was written so that we would not only know what took place within the history of G-D’s people Israel, but also so that we would be able to apply the lessons or meanings of those events, so that as we read in 2 Timothy 3:16, we can be equipped for every good deed.
2 Timothy 3:16-17:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed.
So, when we read an event in the Bible, such as the commissioning of Abraham’s servant to travel to land of his relatives in order to find a wife for Isaac, we should read those words not only to learn how Isaac’s wife Rebekah was found, but also so that we can learn something that was purposefully provided to prepare us for our lives today. If something was included in the text of the Bible, it was included so that we, you and I, may be fully equipped today, for every good deed.
For those unfamiliar with the events found in Genesis chapter 24, I encourage you to take the time to read the entire chapter. In this blog, I will be focusing on only one of the many lessons that we can learn from this amazing text.
So, let’s dig in. As we begin the chapter, we find Abraham instructing his servant to go back to his homeland and find a wife for Isaac. The servant then loads up ten camels with the best of his master's things and makes the journey to Ur. Ultimately, he meets Rebekah, she accepts the gifts from Abraham, and commits to become Isaac’s wife. She then returns with the servant to Abraham’s house.
Now, I know this is an oversimplification of the narrative provided in the Bible. However, for the purposes of this blog, I believe I have provided enough information from the text. Let’s look a little closer to see if we find a useful teaching for training in righteousness.
For the sake of this teaching, let’s say that Abraham represents G-D, the servant represents you and I, and that Rebekah represents an unredeemed soul. If this analogy is correct, and I believe it is, then in Genesis 24, we find the first example of the Great Commission in the Bible. The Father (Abraham) sends His servant (you and I) to Ur (the World we came out of), so that we can invite Rebakah (the Bride to be) to come to the Father’s house.
It is important to note that the Father sent ten camels carrying riches to be given to the future bride. The Bible specifically uses the number ten. There could have been three camels, or five camels, or twenty five camels. Yet, G-D chose to make it clear that there were ten camels. I believe that the use of the number ten here was so that we would connect these ten camels with the Ten Commandments, and for the sake of this teaching, let’s say that the ten camels full of riches represent the Ten Commandments. And we know that in Judaism, the Ten Commandments not only represent the entire Torah, they also contain the entire Torah. As we read the story, we find that the servant gives the riches to Rebekah and her family. However, only Rebakah chooses to follow the servant back to the house of the Father. It is also important to notice that when Rebakah makes the journey to the Father’s house, she does so riding upon the ten camels.
I believe that as believers in Messiah Yeshua, like Abraham’s servant, we have been sent to find a bride for the Son, as we read in Matthew 28:19:
Matthew 28:19-20: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, 20 teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Just as in the narrative of Abraham’s servant, we are sent to the nations to find a bride, and just as with the story of Rebakah, the bride has to make the choice to marry the Son and take His name. Most of us understand this part of the Great Commission and do all we can to invite those around us to accept the invitation of the Father to become the Bride of the Son. However, we often leave out the very important part of the commission, which is to teach them to observe all that was commanded.
We forget the ten camels and what they carry, the riches that were to be given to the bride. The camels that not only were the bride’s gift while she was in her father’s house, but also the camels that she needed in order to make the journey to the Father’s house.
Too many people today look at the commandments, the Old Testament, as a means to be introduced to the Son. They say Yeshua fulfilled the commandments through His atoning sacrifice, and because they have been fulfilled, the bride now has no responsibility to the commandments. However, if we are to learn the lessons found in Genesis 24, and if these lessons are as the Scriptures teach us to equip us for every good deed, then it may be that just as Rebekah needed to ride the ten camels to Abraham’s house, to the wedding feast, we also need the commandments that these camels represent on our journey to our Wedding Feast.
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