As we saw in the previous chapter, God has always desired from the creation of man in the Garden of Eden to live, dwell, and have fellowship with man. God's heart to do this is communicated to us in the Bible when God tells us that He desires to be spiritually married to a body of people who would love Him with all their heart, mind, soul and strength and who would also be a holy people unto Him. This spiritual body of people is God's Bride.

God began to reveal this truth to the patriarchs of Israel. Through their lives, God began to communicate spiritual pictures of His redemptive plan through the Messiah as well as His desire to be married to a body of people in the earth who would be redeemed, sanctified, and a holy people unto Him. Genesis 24 is a story of how Isaac met and married his bride, Rebekah. This story is a spiritual picture of Jesus, the Bridegroom, marrying His future Bride.

In the story, Abraham makes his eldest servant, Eliezer, promise that he would go to the homeland of Abraham and find a wife for his son, Isaac. Abraham desired that this bride for Isaac would be from among his kindred and not from the daughters of the Canaanites where he was living at the time. (Genesis 24:2-4). Let us examine the characters in the story and who they spiritually represent. Then, we will also examine the characteristics of the bride who was chosen for Isaac.

1. Abraham is a spiritual picture of God the Father
2. Eliezer is a spiritual picture of the Holy Spirit
3. Rebekah is a spiritual picture of the Bride of Christ
4. Isaac is a spiritual picture of Jesus the Bridegroom

In this spiritual picture, we can see that God the Father desires to find a Bride for Jesus the Messiah. In order to do this, God sent His Holy Spirit to prepare a people to meet and marry Jesus, the Bridegroom.

Now let us examine the spiritual characteristics of God's Bride by examining the Biblical marriage between Isaac and Rebekah.

1. They lodged at a house which was prepared for them (Genesis 24:23, 25, 31)
2. The wife is taken from among his own people (Genesis 24:4)
3. The bride for Isaac was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor (Genesis 22:20-23, 24:15)
4. Genesis 24:16 = "Damsel" = (5291) = Hebrew word (Na'arah).
5. The woman must be willing to follow (Genesis 24:8)
6. Genesis 24:12,14 = kindness (2617)
7. Genesis 24:21 = journey = (1870) = halak = "way"
8. The servant took 10 camels (Genesis 24:10)
9. The camels knelt by a "well of water" at the time that "women go to draw water" (Genesis 24:11)
10. Rebekah was carrying a "pitcher" of water (Genesis 24:14-18, 20, 43, 45, 46)
11. Abraham made a great feast when Isaac was weaned (Genesis 21:8)
12. The bride for Isaac is associated with God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 24:7)

Before Jesus was crucified and resurrected, He told His disciples that He would go and prepare a place for those who would believe on Him. In John 14:1-3, it is written:

" Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

From these verses, Jesus mentions two very important things regarding the Biblical marriage between Himself and His Bride.

1. In John 14:2, Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions ..."
2. In John 14:3, Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place ... "

The Biblical marriage takes place under a wedding canopy known in Hebrew as a "chuppah." The room in the house where the marriage is consummated following the wedding vows is called a "cheder." The word "chuppah" is the word (2346) in the Strong's Concordance. The word "cheder" is the Strong's word (2315). We can see this truth in Joel 2:16 as it is written:

"Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom (Jesus) go forth of his chamber (2315 = "cheder") and the bride out of her closet (2646 = "chuppah")."

In Psalm 19:5 it is written:

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber (2646 = chuppah) ...

Therefore, from these two passages in Psalm 19:5 and Joel 2:16, we can see that in the Biblical marriage given by God that the bridegroom is married under the wedding canopy called in Hebrew a chuppah. Also, the marriage is consummated in the room in the house called the cheder.

In the book "Made in Heaven" by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan on page 142, he writes:

" The canopy or chuppah is a symbolic house. It is the single domain under which the groom welcomes the bride."

In a traditional Jewish wedding today, a chuppah is represented by a cloth which is held up by four poles. Often a prayer shawl (tallis) is used. In the days of Jesus, the chuppah was not a prayer shawl but a physical room. The chuppah was prepared by the father of the bridegroom. Spiritually, the chuppah is a symbolic house which represents heaven. Once again in John 14:2, Jesus said: "In my Father's house (heaven) are many mansions (rooms) ... "

Concerning the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24, when the servant of Abraham found the family of Abraham's kindred, he asked the question to Rebekah in Genesis 24:23 as it is written: " ... is there room (4725) in thy father's house for us to lodge (3885) in?"

The word lodge is the Hebrew word "loon." It is the Strong's word (3885). The Hebrew word, "loon;" means "to stay permanently, to abide all night": Therefore, we can see that the servant was asking to stay in the room of the father's house all night.

Prophetically, this is a spiritual picture that Jesus is desiring to marry His Bride in His Father's house (heaven) and when the marriage is consummated, the Bride will abide with Jesus permanently in His presence for all eternity.

The word room is the Strong's word (4725). It is the Hebrew word, "Makom". The Hebrew word, "Makom" is a term for heaven and God's throne. We will examine two scriptures which will allow us to understand that the word "Makom" is a term for heaven and God's throne.

1. Makom = The throne of God (Jeremiah 17:12)
2. Makom = The gate of Heaven (Genesis 28:17) = "Heavenly Jerusalem"

In Jeremiah 17:12, "Makom" is a term for the throne of God as it is written:

"A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place (4725 = Makom) of our sanctuary."

Here we can see that the Hebrew word, "Makom" is a term for the throne of God.

In Genesis 28, Jacob has a dream. In the dream, Jacob sees a ladder going from earth to the top of heaven and the angels of God ascending and descending the ladder (Genesis 28:12). The location where Jacob had the dream is called the place three times in Genesis 28:11. Because the word place is mentioned three times in the same verse, God is highlighting something significant about the word and what is happening during this event. All three times in Genesis 28:11, the word place is the Hebrew word "Makom." It is the Strong's word (4725).

In Genesis 28:11 it is written:

"And he (Jacob) lighted upon a certain place (4725), and tarried there all night, because the sun was set: and he took of the stones of that place (4725), and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place (4725) to sleep (7901). "

In Genesis 28:11, the word sleep is the Hebrew word "Shakav." It is the Strong's word (7901). The word "Shakav" as defined in the Strong's Concordance means, "to lie down, for rest, sexual connection".

In Genesis 28:16, Jacob awoke from his sleep as it is written:

"And Jacob awakened out of his sleep (8242) and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place (4725 = Makom); and I knew it not."

The word for sleep in Genesis 28:16 is not the same Hebrew word for sleep as in Genesis 28:11. The word for sleep in Genesis 28:16 is the Hebrew word, "Shaynah," which means "to sleep."

Because in Genesis 28:16 the Hebrew word for sleep which is "Shaynah" means, "to sleep" but the word for sleep in Genesis 28:11 is another Hebrew word, 'Shakav,' which means, "to lie down, sexual connection", it seems that God is spiritually communicating through Jacob's dream and the sleep which he was experiencing that this is a prophetic picture of something in the future. Because the Hebrew word sleep in Genesis 28:11, means, "a sexual connection" it is a prophetic picture of a marriage happening at a place called the "place" which is the Hebrew word, "Makom".

What was the significance of the prophetic spiritual picture of the place (4725) where Jacob had his dream? The answer is found in Genesis 28:17 as it is written:

"And he (Jacob) was afraid, and said, How dreadful (3372 = "yaray" = to be in reverence) is this place (4725 = "Makom"), this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

In Isaiah 26:2, the gates of heaven are opened to let the righteous enter as it is written:

"Open ye the gates (of heaven), that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in."

In Psalm 118:19-20 it is written:

"Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord. This gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter."

Therefore, we can see that the place which is the Hebrew word, "Makom", is called by Jacob in Genesis 28:17, the gate of heaven. In Isaiah 26:2, the gates of heaven are opened to let the righteous enter. This is a spiritual picture of the rapture of the Bride into heaven to participate in the wedding between Jesus, the Bridegroom, and his Bride. Spiritually, this also is a spiritual picture that the Bride of Christ keeps the truth of God which is God's Word.

What did Jacob call this place? In Genesis 28:19 it is written:

"And he (Jacob) called the name of the place Bethel (which means in Hebrew, "House of God") ... "

The place ("Makom") that Jacob was spiritually seeing was the House of God or heaven. This is where the Biblical marriage will be consummated. In Genesis 24:23, the servant of Isaac asked for a room ("Makom"), a term for heaven, in the Father's house to lodge in. This is a prophetic picture of the marriage between Jesus, the Bridegroom, and His Bride which will take place in a special room in heaven called in Hebrew the "cheder."

In concluding this section, we can see the following:

1. The Biblical marriage will take place under a wedding canopy known as a "chuppah." (Psalm 19:5, Joel 2:16)
   
   
2. A "chuppah" is a symbolic house and is a spiritual picture of heaven. (Joel 2:16)
   
   
3. The Biblical marriage is consummated in a room called a "cheder." (Joel 2:16)
   
   
4. Jesus said that there were many rooms (mansions) in heaven. One of these rooms is the room where the spiritual marriage will be consummated between Jesus and His Bride.
   
   
5. The place which Jesus said was going to be prepared for His Bride is the wedding room in Heaven where the marriage between Jesus, the Bridegroom, and His Bride will take place. (John 14:3)
   
   
6. The "place" that Jesus was talking about which was going to be prepared is the corresponding Hebrew word, "Makom." In Genesis 28:17, Jacob called the "Makom;" the house of God, a term for heaven.
   
   
7. The servant for Isaac in Genesis 24:2, 3 asked to lodge in a room ("Makom") in thy father's house, which is a prophetic spiritual picture of Jesus marrying His Bride in the heavenly "chuppah" in the marriage room called the "cheder" in Heaven.

In Genesis 24:2-4, Abraham makes his servant, Eliezer, promise that he will not make Isaac take a wife from among the Canaanites but rather from among Abraham's kindred in Mesopotamia as it is written:

"And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac."

Notice that Abraham instructed his servant to take a wife for Isaac from among Abraham's kindred (family). (Genesis 24:4). What is the prophetic spiritual meaning of this?

Spiritually, all those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior are the spiritual seed of Abraham. In Galations 3:16, 29, it is written:

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made, He saith not, And to seeds as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ ... And if ye be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Furthermore, Abraham is the father of our faith (Romans 4:16). Spiritually, the heirs of Abraham represent all those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and will be in heaven. The bride which was obtained for Abraham's son, Isaac, (a type of Jesus), was taken from among Abraham's kindred (family). The spiritual heirs of Abraham are all those in the family of God who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

Spiritually, we can see that this is a prophetic picture that God is going to take a bride for His son, Jesus, from among the family of God. From this spiritual picture, we can see that God is telling us that not all Christians will be the Bride of Christ, but the Bride will consist of individuals from among the family of God. We will be developing this truth in the rest of the book as we examine the spiritual characteristics of God's Bride based upon God's Holy Word.

Jesus made it clear that not everyone in heaven will be equal. In Matthew 5:17:19, it is written:

"Think not that I am come to destroy (do away) with the law (Torah), or the prophets, I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, not one jot (yod = the smallest letter in the Hebrew alpha- bet) or one tittle (Taggim = the decoration crowns on certain Hebrew letters) shall in no wise pass from the law (Torah) till all be fulfilled. Who so ever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Earlier, we saw in Isaiah 26:2, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth will enter into the gates of Heaven to be married to Jesus the Bridegroom. What does the Bible call the "truth"? The answer is found in Psalm 119:142 as it is written:

"The righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and thy law (Torah) is the truth."

The Torah is also called truth in Malachi 2:1, 6 as it is written:

"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you ... the law of truth was in his mouth ..."

Therefore, Jesus told us in Matthew 5:19 that those who are least in the kingdom of God are those who break the commandments of the Torah and teach others to do so and those who are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those who keep the commandments of the Torah and teach men to do so.

From these things, we can see how God will spiritually take a Bride for Jesus the Bridegroom from among those Christians who are of His family and will be in heaven.

Why did Abraham instruct his servant, Eliezer, that Isaac was not to take a wife from among the Canaanites? The Canaanites represent spiritual idolatry. However, Abraham did not commit spiritual idolatry because he kept the Torah of God. In Genesis 26:5 it is written:

"Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws (Torah)."

When God gave the Torah to the children of Jacob at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:3), he instructed them to totally destroy the Canaanite culture, to not serve their gods, and to not make any marriages with them. If they would not obey doing this, God's judgment would come upon the people. In Deuteronomy 7:1-5 it is written:

"When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizittes, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou: And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them, thou shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them; Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shall thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. But thus shall ye deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire."

These words of instruction and warning are reiterated in Joshua 23:11-13 as it is written:

"Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. Else if you do in any wise go back and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you: but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you."

Therefore, we can see how Abraham was obedient to God in desiring that Isaac not marry any of the daughters of the Canaanite peoples. Likewise, God will not marry a bride who practices and adopts and lives according to the ways of the world's system. The ways of the world are contrary to the ways of God.

While God's people may have accepted Him as their personal Lord and Savior, if they live their lives according to the practice and ways of the world, they will be spiritually immature and carnal Christians.

Abraham requested that the bride for Isaac not be taken from the Canaanites (the ways of the world). Instead, Abraham took a bride for Isaac from among his own family. Spiritually, God will do the same thing. God's Bride will be taken from the family of God and will consist of those Christians who do not practice and live according to the ways of the world (Canaanites).

The bride for Isaac was taken from Abraham's homeland in Mesopotamia (Babylon) and the city of Abraham's brother, the city of Nahor. This can be found in Genesis 24:10 as it is written:

"And the servant (Eliezer) took 10 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."

Nahor was the brother of Abraham (Genesis 11:27). The city of Nahor was located in Mesopotamia (Babylon). Spiritually, this is a prophetic picture that the Bride of Christ will be taken from Babylon. Babylon is a picture of the world, spiritual idolatry, and spiritual whoredom. In the Bible, God's Bride is seen as coming out of Babylon to the city of God, Mount Zion.

Mount Zion is a spiritual term to describe the spiritual people of God. Mount Zion is also called the heavenly Jerusalem, which is a term for God's Bride. In the Bible, God is seen ruling and reigning from Zion. Let us consider some of the scriptures which describe these characteristics of Zion.

1. Zion is a term for God's people (Isaiah 51:16)
2. God's people dwell in Zion (Isaiah 10:24)
3. The Lord has chosen Zion (Psalm 132:13)
4. Zion is a term for the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22)
5. God dwells in Zion (Psalm 9:11)
6. Jesus, the King of kings, sits on the holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2:6, Zechariah 14:9)
7. Zion is the city of the Great King (Psalm 48:2)

Spiritually, the Bride of Christ comes out of Babylon. God's Bride is seen as once dwelling in Babylon. God's call to His Bride is to come out of Babylon and follow Him to the spiritual promised land. In Genesis 24, Rebekah leaves Babylon and marries Isaac and departs to go back to the land that God promised Abraham.

In Zechariah 2:7, God's people are seen once dwelling in Babylon as it is written:

"Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon."

In Revelation 18:2, 4, God pleads with His people to leave Babylon as it is written:

"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the Habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird ... And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues."

Zion is a term for God's Bride. In Hebrews 12:22, Zion is described as the heavenly Jerusalem. In Revelation 21:1-2, the heavenly Jerusalem is described as the city of the Bride. In Hebrews 12:22 it is written:

"But you are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels."

In Revelation 21:1-2 it is written:

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

The wife of Abraham's brother Nahor was Milcah. Milcah is the Strong's word (4435). Milcah comes from the Hebrew word, "Malkah," which means "queen". The Hebrew word for king is "Melech".

The bride for Isaac was the daughter of Bethuel which is the Strong's word (1328) the son of Milcah which comes from the Hebrew word for "queen;" the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother. Bethuel comes from two Hebrew words, "bathah" and "el." Bathah is the Strong's word (1326) and it means "desolate, waste." El is the Strong's word (410) and it means, "God" Therefore, we can see that the bride who is the queen of God, "Milcah," comes from "Bethuel" which means, "desolate (waste) of God." This is symbolic and characteristic of Babylon. This truth can be seen in Isaiah 62:1-5 as it is written:

"For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee."

Therefore, the marriage of Isaac to Rebekah who lived in Mesopotamia, the city of Nahor, which is Babylon is a spiritual picture and is prophetic that God's Bride will be taken out of Babylon, a term for the world's system, to become the Bride of Christ.

In Genesis 24:16, Rebekah is being described as both a "damsel" and a "virgin" as it is written:

"And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her ..."

The Hebrew word for damsel is "Na'arah." It is the Strong's word (529l ). The Hebrew word "Na'arah" means "a girl from infancy to adolescence."

The spiritual application is that Jesus is going to marry a Bride who has grown to spiritual maturity.

A spiritual child in Christ is a carnal Christian. While carnal Christians believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and will be going to heaven, they have not grown to spiritual maturity and are still carnally minded and controlled by the flesh. Carnal Christians are not able to learn and understand the deeper truths of God's Word. Instead, they can only learn and understand the simple truths of God's Word. The Apostle Paul described "babes in Christ" as being carnally minded in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 as it is written:

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual (spiritually mature Christians), but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ, I have fed you with milk and not with meat, for hitherto ye were not able to hear it, neither yet now are you able."

Baby Christians feed on the milk of God's Word and not the meat of God's Word. In 1 Peter 2:2 it is written:

"As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."

Jesus is going to come for a spiritually mature Bride and not baby Christians who have not reached spiritual adulthood and are, therefore, not at an age where they can be spiritually married to a spiritually mature Man (Jesus, the Bridegroom). No bridegroom would consider marrying a young girl who has not yet reached adolescence. This concept and truth will be examined in further detail in the next chapter.

In Genesis 24:16, Rebekah is described as virgin. The word virgin is the Hebrew word, "b 'toolah." It is the Strong's word (1330). The Hebrew word "b 'toolah" means "to separate, a virgin, a bride, a city or state."

The Apostle Paul's desire was to teach, train, disciple believers in Christ so that he could present them unto the Lord as virgins unto Him. In 2 Corinthians 11:2 it is written:

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ."

The Hebrew word for virgin which is "b'toolah" also means, "to separate, a city or state."

In Genesis 24:16, the Bible tells us that Rebekah "knew no man". Spiritually, the Bride of Christ will not allow or practice the ways of the world. She will not be dominated and controlled by the flesh and the sin nature of man. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and her steadfast love for Jesus the Bridegroom, she will overcome the desires and ways of the flesh which seek to dominate the reborn spirit man in Christ Jesus. This does not mean that the Bride of Christ never sins. It only means that the sin nature doesn't dominate her lifestyle while living the Christian life.

The Bride of Christ will be holy before God. The Hebrew word for holy is "Kadosh". It does not mean that you never sin. The Hebrew word, "Kadosh" means "to be separate." A holy Christian has separated himself from the ways of the world and is not dominated by his sin nature and has separated himself unto God. This is the exhortation to believers in Christ in 1 Peter 1:14-16 as it is written:

"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which has called you is holy (God), so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy'. "

Finally, the Hebrew word for virgin, "b'toolah" means, "a city or state." In Isaiah 62:1, 4-5, 12 it is written:

"For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace ... Thou shalt no more be termed 'Forsaken' ... For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee ... And they shall call them, the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, a city not forsaken."

Therefore, the Bride of Messiah has the same spiritual characteristics as Rebekah when the Bible describes her as being a "damsel" and a "virgin." Just like Rebekah, the Bride of Christ has grown to spiritual maturity (a damsel), and she has not lived after the ways of the flesh but has separated herself to be a holy people unto God (a virgin).

Abraham instructed his servant, Eliezer, that the bride for Isaac must be willing to follow Isaac. In Genesis 24:5, Eliezer asked Abraham what he should do if the woman is not willing to follow. In Genesis 24:8, Abraham tells his servant that the bride for Isaac must be willing to follow. In Genesis 24:5-6, 8 it is written:

"And 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 to the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him ... if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this thy oath: only bring not my son thither again."

Spiritually, the Bride of Christ must be willing to follow Jesus with all her heart, mind, soul and strength. Jesus must be the desire of the Bride's heart. Pleasing Jesus in all areas of our lives must be the heart's desire of the Bride of Christ.

There are numerous examples in the Gospels where Jesus told various people to follow him. Traditional Christianity has interpreted this to mean that they must leave the ways of the world and accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior in order to be saved so that they can go to heaven. In Christianity, this is taught as the goal of the believer. However, following Jesus means that you are not only saved but you follow Jesus and the Christian life as your lifestyle AFTER you are saved.

Many unbelievers are saved and become converts to Christianity. By doing so, they will be in heaven. However, most converts to Christianity do not become disciples (students) of God's Word. Furthermore, many Christians do not seek to separate themselves from the ways of the world's system and live the Christian life by following God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength AFTER they are saved. To do so is the high calling of God's Bride.

The Bride of Christ must make Jesus, the Bridegroom, the first love of her life. She must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Let's examine some of the examples in the Gospels where Jesus told various people to follow him.

1. Levi the publican (Luke 5:27-28)
2. Philip (John 1:43)
3. We must take up our cross daily and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23)
4. We must put Jesus first above our personal interests (Luke 9:57-62)
5. The sheep of Jesus hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27)
6. Serving Jesus means following Him (John 12:26)
7. If we love Jesus, we will feed his sheep and follow Him (John 21:15-2)

The heart of God's Bride is to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 6:33 it is written:

"But seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."

The Bride of Christ must seek to follow Jesus on a daily basis. In Luke 9:23 it is written:

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

Those who follow Jesus must put Jesus and the Kingdom of God above their own personal desires which are contrary to the Will of God. In Matthew 10:37-39 it is written:

"He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

In Luke 14:27, 33 it is written:

"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple ... So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

Therefore, just as Rebekah was willing to leave her country and follow Isaac back to the promised land, the Bride of Christ must be willing to lay aside her own personal interests and make Jesus the first love in her life and follow him wherever he asks her to go. To accept this calling is to accept the perfect Will of God in the life of each believer and by doing so, we will become the Bride of Christ just as Rebekah became the bride of Isaac.

God bestowed lovingkindness upon Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, by leading and directing his way so that he could find a bride for Isaac. In Genesis 24:12-15 it is written:

"And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham ... and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink . . let the same be she that thou has appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou has showed kindness unto my master. And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out ..."

The word kindness is the Hebrew word, "chaysayd." It is the Strong's word (2617). The Hebrew word, "chaysayd" is also translated in other parts of the Bible as "favour, goodness, mercy, and lovingkindness".

Let us look at a few examples of how God will bestow "lovingkindness" upon His Bride. In Hosea 2:19-20, God betrothed Himself to His Bride in lovingkindness as it is written:

"And I will betroth thee unto me forever: yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord."

David in Hebrew means "Beloved." David is the Strong's word (1732). Beloved is a term to describe God's Bride. The Song of Solomon is a love poem which is prophetic of Jesus, the Bridegroom, and His Bride. In Song of Solomon 6:3 it is written:

"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine ..."

David in Hebrew means "Beloved" and "Beloved" and is a term to describe God's Bride. Psalm 89 is a psalm written by David. In this psalm David writes about the mercies/lovingkindness ("Chaysayd") of God. In Psalm 89:1-3 it is written:

"I will sing of the mercies ("Chaysayd") of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy ("chaysayd") shall be built up forever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant."

In Isaiah 55:3 it is written:

"Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies ("Chaysayd") of David."

God's mercy/lovingkindness ("Chaysayd") is a perpetual theme in the Bible. Let us consider a few examples:

1. God showed mercy/lovingkindness to Joseph (Genesis 39:21)
2. God shows mercy/lovingkindness to those that love Him and keep his commandments (Exodus 20:6, Nehemiah 1:5, Daniel 9:4)
3. God shows mercy/lovingkindness by forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin (Exodus 34:7)
4. God's mercy/lovingkindness was with David forever (II Samuel 7:8,15)
5. God's mercy/lovingkindness was upon Ezra (Ezra 7:25, 28)
6. The throne of Jesus is established in mercy/ lovingkindness (Isaiah 16:5)
7. The voice of the Bride is the voice that declares that the mercy/lovingkindness of the Lord endures forever (Jeremiah 33:11)

Therefore, just as God bestowed lovingkindness upon Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, by leading and directing his way so that he could find a bride for Isaac, even so, God grants and bestows lovingkindness upon and toward His precious Bride.

The servant of Abraham, Eliezer, prayed to God that He would show him who would be Isaac's bride. In doing this, Eliezer asked for a sign from God concerning who this woman would be. Eliezer asked God to show him a sign that the damsel who would offer a drink to Eliezer's camels would be the bride for Isaac. In Genesis 24:12, 14 it is written:

"And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham ... And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou has appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master."

Rebekah did according to the prayer of Eliezer to God in Genesis 24:18-19 as it is written:

"And she said, Drink, my Lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking."

When Eliezer saw this he was stunned at the events. He responded in Genesis 24:21 as it is written:

"And the man wondering (7583) at her held his peace, to wit (3045) whether the Lord had made his journey (1870) prosperous or not."

The Hebrew word for wondering is "Sha'ah'. It is the Strong's word (7583). The Hebrew word "Sha'ah" means, "to stun or be astonished." Eliezer was astonished when he witnessed the lovingkindness of God that God had blessed his journey and allowed him to meet God's bride for Isaac.

The Hebrew word for wit is "Yadah'. It is the Strong's word (3045). The Hebrew word "Yadah" means "to become acquainted with intimately." It is the same word that is used to describe the intimate relations between a man and a woman in having a child. In Genesis 4:1 it is written:

"And Adam knew ("Yadah") Eve his wife and she conceived."

The Hebrew word for journey is "Derek." It is the Strong's word (1870). The Hebrew word "Derek" means "A course of life or mode of action, a road trodden, to walk."

Eliezer had made a long journey from the land of Canaan to Mesopotamia. While his expectation and trust in the Lord was very high that he would meet the bride for Isaac, he did not know the details of how God was going to fulfill this desire of Abraham. The journey was long and difficult using the transportation of camels. When Eliezer finally arrived and his prayer was answered, " he wondered (7583 = "Sha'ah") knowing (3045 = "Yadah") that God had made his journey (1870 = 'Derek') prosperous".

The journey of Eliezer to meet and find Rebekah is the journey of God's Bride. God's Bride follows after the Will and heart of God trusting in God to make the camel ride (trials and tribulations in life) to reach God's promised destination. Upon doing so, God's Bride will have an intimate knowledge ("Yadah") and relationship with God as she travels in her long journey ("Derek") of life. When she sees God fulfill His Will for her life, she is astonished at the love and mercy of God that God sustained her through the camel ride of life while making her way ("Derek") prosperous and allowing her to see the promise of God fulfilled in her life.

Spiritually, this life journey of the Bride is described by the Hebrew word, "Derek." It is the Strong's word (1870). It is translated as "journey" in Genesis 24:21. The Hebrew word, "Derek" means "a course of life." Because God is the love of the Bride's life, her love for God is a lifestyle. Carnal Christians who are saved but have lost their first love for God and are living according to the ways of the world do not have this intimate journey ("Derek") with God.

The carnal Christian only knows the "acts of God". God saves me from my sins, He heals my body, He blesses me with finances, He delivers me from the crisis of life - but the Bride of Christ knows the ways "Derek" of God. Not only does she know that God saves us from our sins, heals our bodies from sicknesses and disease, gives us financial blessings and delivers us from the crises of life but she also knows God in a personal and intimate way.

Spiritually, God not only delivers the Bride from Egypt (a type of the world) by showing His marvelous signs and wonders (the acts of God) but God takes the Bride to her spiritual promised land in life as she walks in God's perfect Will during life's journey. However , the carnal Christian while being delivered from Egypt (a type of the world) dies in the wilderness (the trial and tribulations of life) by murmuring and complaining and becoming bitter toward God in the midst of life's trials.

God distinguished Moses from the children of Israel because Moses knew ("Yadah") the ways ('Derek') of God but the children of Israel only understood the "acts of God." This truth can be seen in Psalm 103:7 as it is written:

"He made known ("Yadah") his ways ("Derek"') unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel."

Why did the children of Israel (a type of the carnal Christian) die in the wilderness? They did not know the ways ("Derek') of God. In Psalm 95:10 it is written:

"Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart (they do not have an intimate relationship with God) and they have not known ("Yadah")" which means "to know intimately') my ways ("Derek")."

The writer of Hebrews relates this to the Christian life. The exhortation to Christians is to not die in the wilderness of life but to reach the spiritual promised land of God. In Hebrews 3:14-19; 4:1-3, 11 it is written:

"For we are made partakers of Christ (become His Bride), if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end; While it is said, Today if you will hear his voice (His perfect Will for your life), harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest (see God's perfect Will fulfilled in your Christian life) but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world ... Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."

In Genesis 24:21, the servant of Abraham endured the long journey ("Derek" = a course of life) riding on his camels (the trials and tests of life) and he was able to see and know ("Yadah"), the prosperous journey of God. Through his steadfastness and confidence to the end (Hebrews 3:14), he was able to fulfill the desire of Abraham (a type of God the Father) and find and meet Rebekah (a type of Bride of Christ) the bride of Isaac (a type of Jesus, the bridegroom). As Christians, our hearts' desire should be to remain steadfast on doing the Will trials and tribulations of life. By doing so, we will be like Eliezer and will be able to keep our eyes and hearts fixed on remaining faithful to Jesus, our Bridegroom, so that we may be found worthy to be His Bride.

In making the journey to find a bride for Isaac, Eliezer took 10 camels. In Genesis 24:10, it is written:

"And the servant took ten camels ... and departed ... to Mesopotamia ..."

There is a spiritual significance that Eliezer took camels. There is also a spiritual significance that he took ten camels.

What is the spiritual significance of camel in the Bible? Theword camel is the Hebrew word, "gamal." It is the Strong's word (1581). The Hebrew word for camel, "gamal" means "to treat a person well, to reward, to deal bountifully, to labor in the sense of burden bearing." Therefore, camels in the Bible spiritually represent life's trials and tribulations as defined by "to labor in the sense of burden bearing."

It is through the trials and tribulations of life (as represented by the wilderness for the children of Israel that the Bride of Christ remains steadfast and confident in the provision of God through the wilderness of life and God rewards her by taking His Bride to her spiritual promised land by "dealing bountifully upon her and rewarding her by treating her well."

Eliezer took his ten camels (represented by the trials and tribulations of life) and experienced the kindness of God (Genesis 24:12) by making his way ("Derek' = a lifestyle) prosperous and allowed him to find Rebekah, the bride for Isaac.

In Genesis 24:2, 10, Eliezer is called the servant of Abraham, as it is written:

"And Abraham said unto his eldest servant ... and the servant took ten camels of his master and departed ..."

The Bride of Christ is the servant of God. She takes up her burdens (as represented by camels) and follows the Will of God the Father (as represented by Abraham). This can be seen by the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-29 as it is written:

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden (as represented by the camels) and I will give you rest (take you to your spiritual promised land). Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me (his ways "Derek") for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto our souls."

Earlier in the book, we saw how Jesus said that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven will do His commandments (the Torah) and teach others to do so (Matthew 5:17-19). Next, we will see that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven will be the servant of all. In Matthew 23:11, Jesus spoke these words:

"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant "

In Mark 9:34-35, the disciples of Jesus argued among themselves who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus answered them that the greatest in Heaven must become the servant of all as it is written:

"But they held their peace: for by the way they (the disciples) had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he, (Jesus) sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any desire to be first (the greatest), the same shall be last of all, and the servant of all "

Jesus also told the disciples in Matthew20:26-28 that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven must become a servant.

Because Jesus humbled himself to the Will of God the Father and became the servant of all mankind by dying on the cross for us, he became worthy to be the greatest of all in the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew 20:26-28 it is written:

"But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister: and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many".

If we suffer with Christ (as represented by the camels), we will reign with Him (as His Bride). In 2 Timothy 2:12 it is written:

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us."

In Genesis 24:10, Eliezer took ten camels on his journey. What does this spiritually represent? The Jewish people understand that the number 10 means a legal congregation. In Hebrew, it is called a minyan.

Spiritually, a minyan (10 people) represents a legal congregation of believers. It is derived from Abraham's intercession on behalf of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18. In Genesis 18:32, God told Abraham that he would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there were ten righteous in the city. Ten righteous people represent a legal congregation. The Greek word for church is "ekklesia." It is the Strong's word (1577) in the Greek dictionary. The word church means, "a congregation or assembly." Therefore, the servant of Abraham taking "ten camels" represents a legal congregation of believers (the Bride of Christ) who becomes His Bride by enduring the camel ride (the trials and tribulations of life) while remaining steadfast in love and commitment to the perfect Will of God. Furthermore, the Bride of Christ desires to be pleasing to her heavenly Bridegroom all the days of her Christian life.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable of ten virgins. The congregation of believers in Christ is described as virgins unto God. This can be seen in 2 Corinthians 11:2 as it is written:

"I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

In this, we can see that the ten virgins represent the entire congregation of believers in Jesus as Messiah. In the parable, five were wise and five were foolish. The wise virgins were rewarded by being ready to be married to the bridegroom. The foolish virgins were not ready and prepared and missed the wedding. Likewise, it is so with the congregation of believers in Jesus as Messiah. From the ten virgins (a legal congregation = a minyan), some virgins were foolish (carnal Christians) and some virgins were wise (the Bride of Christ). The wise virgins were ready for the marriage and were married to the Bridegroom. This parable will be taught in greater detail later in the book.

Therefore, in Genesis 24:10, the servant of Abraham taking "ten camels" represents a legal congregation of believers (the Bride of Christ). They become His Bride through enduring the camel ride (the trials and tribulatins of life) remaining steadfast in love and commitment to the perfect Will of God while desiring to be pleasing unto Him all the days of her Christian life.

In Genesis 24:11, when Eliezer arrived in Mesopotamia, he arrived at a "well of water" for his camel "at the time when woman go out to draw water." In Genesis 24:11 it is written:

"And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water".

Spiritually, the "well of water"represents the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit. The Bride of Christ will have the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit and His anointing upon her life "at the time that women (the bride) go out to draw water."

The Bible tells us in Isaiah 12:2-3 that God's people will "draw water" out of the wells of salvation. In John 7:37-39, Jesus tells us that the river of living water is the Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 12:2-3 it is written:

"Behold God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation. "

In John 7:37, 39, this is seen as being the great outpouring of God's Holy Spirit as it is written:

"In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink, He that believeth on me, as the Scriptures hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the (Holy) Spirit ..."

In Isaiah 44:3 it is written:

"For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring."

In Zechariah 10:1, God asked His people to ask of the rain (the outpouring of God's Spirit) during the time of the latter rain as it is written:

"Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain: so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field."

In James 5:7-8, it tells us that the time of the latter rain outpouring of God's Holy Spirit would be prior to the second coming of Jesus as it is written:

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient, establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

In Joel 2:1, 28-29, God said that He would pour out His Holy Spirit upon all flesh at the time of this latter rain. In Joel 2:1, 28-29 it is written:

"Blow ye trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand ... and it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."

In the midst of this mighty outpouring of God's Holy Spirit upon His Bride, the earth will be experiencing its darkest time in history. In Isaiah 60:1-3 it is written:

"Arise shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."

Therefore, we can see that in Genesis 24:11 that the servant of Abraham bringing his camels by a "well of water" at the time when women (the bride) "go to draw water" (the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit) is a prophetic spiritual picture of God pouring out His Holy Spirit upon His Bride at the time of the spiritual latter rain outpouring of His Spirit upon the world prior to the second coming of Jesus. During this time, the world will be experiencing its darkest time in history (the tribulation).

In Genesis 24:14-18, 20, 43, 45-46, Rebekah is holding, filling, and carrying a pitcher of water. In Genesis 24:46, it says that this picture was upon the shoulder of Rebekah as it is written:

"And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder and said, Drink; and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels to drink also."

The shoulder is a picture of government. The pitcher of water on the shoulder of Rebekah is a spiritual picture of the Bride of Christ ruling and reigning with Christ during the Messianic Age.

In Isaiah 9:6, the shoulder is a picture of the government of God. During the Messianic Age, Jesus will be ruling and reigning over that government as it is written:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

The Prince of Peace is Jesus, the Bridegroom. The word Prince is the Hebrew word, "Sar." It is the Strong's word (8269). The word Prince which is the Hebrew word, "Sar,' means, "A head person of any rank or class, captain, chief, chief captain, general, governor, keeper, lord, master prince, ruler, steward".

Sarah was the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. The word Sarah is the female form of the Hebrew word, "Sar." Sarah means, "a female noble, princess, queen."

Sarah, the wife of Abraham who is the father of our faith (Romans 4:16), and the mother of Isaac, is also a spiritual picture of God's Bride ruling and reigning with Him. This can be seen by Sarah's Hebrew name which means "a female noble or queen."

Because the government of God will be upon the shoulders of Jesus during the Messianic Age and because Rebekah (a picture of God's Bride) was carrying a pitcher of water on her shoulder, this is a spiritual picture that when Jesus, the Bridegroom, will marry His Bride and they become one, they will rule and reign together on the earth during the Messianic Age. This can be seen in Revelation 5:10 as it is written:

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."

After Eliezer met Rebekah, he met with Rebekah's father, Bethuel, and Rebekah's sister, Laben. Then, Eliezer told Bethuel and Laben how he was sent by Abraham to find a bride for Isaac and how the Lord showed him lovingkindness by allowing him to find the family of Abraham and how the Lord showed Rebekah that she was to be the bride for Isaac In Genesis 24:51, Bethuel and Laben agreed to allow Rebekah to marry Isaac as it is written:

"Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken."

Next, they have a banquet meal. This is a spiritual picture of the banquet meal that the Bride of Christ will have with Him at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. In Revelation 19:7 it is written:

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready"

The Patriarchs of Israel not only had a banquet meal to celebrate a marriage but they also had a feast whenever a young child was weaned from childhood and had become an adult. When Isaac was weaned, Abraham made a great feast for Him. In Genesis 21:8 it is written:

"And the child (Isaac) grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned."

Whenever we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we become babies in the Kingdom of Heaven. In order to become married, we need to grow from babies to adults. Likewise, baby Christians need to become spiritually mature adult Christians. When we do this, we will be qualified to marry Jesus, the Bridegroom.

No bridegroom would marry an underaged and underdeveloped bride. Spiritually, in the same way we must grow from being spiritual babies who partake of the "milk' (the elementary things) of God's Word to being spiritual adults who are able to digest the "meat" (the deeper things) of God's Word.

Whenever we are newborn babies in Christ, we must desire the "milk' of God's Word. In I Peter 2:2 it is written:

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."

However, God desires that we grow in spiritual maturity and are weaned from the milk of His Word. In Isaiah 28:9 it is written:

"Whom shall he teach knowledge (the deeper things of God's Word)? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts."

By being weaned from the "milk" of God's Word, God desires that His children grow up spiritually to become spiritual adults. This can be seen in Hebrews 5:12-14 as it is written:

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

When Isaac was weaned, Abraham had a great feast for him. Spiritually, this is a picture that God's reward for those who are weaned from the milk of the Word of God will be able to become spiritual adults and attend the marriage banquet between Jesus, the Bridegroom, and His Bride. Just as Rebekah was able to marry Isaac because she physically grew from being a child to being a damsel of marriage age, in like manner, the Bride of Christ must strive to grow from spiritual children to spiritual maturity. This Biblical concept and truth will be discussed in even greater detail in the next chapter of this book.

In concluding this chapter, we saw how the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24 is a spiritual picture of Jesus marrying His Bride. In studying Genesis 24, we began to examine some of the spiritual characteristics of God's Bride. Those characteristics include the following conclusions.

1. The Bride of Christ will be married in heaven. Heaven is a type of a wedding canopy known as a "Chuppah"
   
   
2. There is a special room in heaven where the marriage between the Bride of Christ and Jesus the Bridegroom, will be consummated. This room is called in Hebrew a "Cheder."
   
   
3. The Bride of Christ will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. She will keep and teach the commandments (Torah) of God. (Matthew 5:17-19)
   
   
4. The Bride of Christ will be a remnant of individual believers from among the entire family of God
   
   
5. The Bride of Christ will be a spiritual virgin unto God.
   
   
6. The Bride of Christ must be willing to follow Jesus. Pleasing God the Father is a consuming desire of the Bride. She must love God with all her heart, mind, soul and strength.
   
   
7. The Bride of Christ will endure the trials and tribulations of life while remaining faithful to God during these hard times. She will not return to the world and the ways of the world while encountering the trials and tribulations of life.
   
   
8. The Bride of Christ will have God's lovingkindness bestowed upon her life.
   
   
9. The Bride of Christ will fulfill God's perfect Will for her life.
   
   
10. During the time of the second coming of Jesus, God will pour out His Holy Spirit upon His Bride and will anoint her with great power and she will be a great light unto a world living in gross darkness.
    
    
11. The Bride of Christ will be weaned from the milk of God's Word and will have grown to spiritual maturity.
    
    
12. God will reward the spiritual faithfulness of His Bride by allowing her to be the Bride of Christ and partake in the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Finally, in this chapter, we studied how Abraham instructed his eldest servant, Eliezer, to go back to Abraham's homeland and find a bride for his son, Isaac, from among Abraham's kindred. In this story, Abraham is a spiritual picture of God the Father. Eliezer is a spiritual picture of the Holy Spirit. Isaac is a spiritual picture of Jesus, the son of God. After a long journey, Eliezer found a bride for Isaac. Her name was Rebekah.

Spiritually, the Holy Spirit is instructed by God to find a bride for Jesus, the heavenly bridegroom. Even as the bride for Isaac was taken from among the kindred of Abraham, the bride of Christ will be taken from among the family of God.