THE CAMELS WERE COMING
Genesis 24:61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother.
Abraham, a picture of God the Father, has sent his eldest servant, a picture of the Holy Spirit back into his homeland to bring a bride, who pictures the church, for his son Isaac, a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Abraham and Isaac have been up on Mount Moriah to offer Isaac as a sacrifice unto God. This is the same Mount Calvary in the New Testament where God the Father, and God the Son went to sacrifice him as the Lamb of God.
At this time, Isaac’s mother dies. Just as also at his sacrifice, the Lord Jesus gives the care of his mother into the hands of the Apostle John. John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
But Isaac comes down off that mountain, picturing Christ’s resurrection, and a servant is sent to obtain him a bride, picturing the sending of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost to bring into the world the Bride of Christ. Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 9 ¶ And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God:
This is exactly what Abraham’s servant did! Genesis 24:10 And 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.
He acted out in this natural providence the spiritual workings of the Holy Spirit! John 16:13 Howbeit 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 shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
And just what did we read of this servants preparation to accomplish his duty? He took ten camels of the camels of his master in order to accomplish the task of bringing the treasures to the bride, and to bring the bride back to his master. It is the grace of God, pictured by these camels, that brings us into the regeneration of God’s redemption. And it was Rebekah’s focus upon these camels which manifest her to be, she that thou hast approved (24:14), to the servant.
For there are attitudes by which those approved manifest their being part of the Bride of the Lamb! For it is not only the worker, but also their works that have been “before ordained.” Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. And the Apostle James states that it is by these works that faith is made perfect or complete! James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
For we notice that Rebekah saw, and was intrigued by the camels before she was made aware of, or saw the gold! She manifest herself to be in the spirit of servitude to the servant. But Laban, her brother, saw the gold and then went looking for the servant, standing by the camels at the well. (v.30).
“The Bride eyes not her garment
But her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory
But on my King of grace;
Not at the crown he giveth
But on his pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel’s land.”
Anna Ross Cousin 1824-1906
Whereas Laban, a legalistic, opinionated, self-seeking soul, had no use for the servant standing at the well until he spied the gold! Genesis 24:30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. 31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
Laban was like Simon the Sorcerer, and like so many of the unregenerate church members in this day, who through covetousness shall they with feigned (cunningly false), words make merchandise of you (2 Peter 2:3), who are men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: (1 Timothy 6:5).
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Rebekah, like her spiritual brother, Barnabas at Antioch, could “see the grace” (Acts 11:20-23). That is, she could see the camels of grace to be an opportunity to serve the Lord with gladness. Whereas Laban hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace. (Hebrews 10:29), looking only at the occasion as an opportunity for financial gain!
In God’s words to Solomon we learn that we must seek first the kingdom and the kingdom’s righteousness and then all other necessary things shall be added. 1 Kings 3:11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
For it was due to Rebekah’s attendance to the camels which caused the first treasures to be given to her! Genesis 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; Those who attend properly to the grace of God, represented by the camels, will find that the grace of God will always attend to them!
But the agreement made by her brother and mother, which was based on seeing the silver and gold, began to unravel when the actual time came for the damsel to mount up upon the camel. For without her they shall have to draw their own water! Genesis 24:55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. Now it is up to Rebekah to speak for herself. And it must be a courageous confession from her heart! Her mouth can only bring forth that which is in the abundance of her heart. Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
It is a glorious privilege to have a personal, public confession proclaiming that one’s complete hope and trust for eternal life is in nothing but the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ! Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Psalm 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
So with both the objection of her family and the urging of the servant, the attention is turned to Rebekah. Genesis 24:57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. 58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. That confession is also is essential to bring the needed assurance of salvation by faith!
And the next verses state, Genesis 24:59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. 61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. From the minute she voiced her heart’s agreement to go, and mounted up upon her camel with her accompaniment, she was no longer just a damsel in her father’s house. She was now on her way to becoming a bride in the promised land with her husband Isaac!
And what of the camels? They are like the star in the east which guided the wise men to the house where the Christ child lived. Once it got them through, and out of religion’s clutches, and into his presence, it disappeared. Now the star, which all could see, was replaced by a personal, inner directing of a dream. For it was in their inner dream that they were guided back by another way. (Matthew 2:9-12).
Dear Reader, grace, like the star and the camels, has appeared to all men! The matter of God’s redemption was not done in a corner! But grace evidenced only in another’s life is of no benefit to any unbeliever! For grace “seen,” is not grace “teaching!” For it’s effect may be seen by all, but it only teaches “us,” how “we” should live before God! Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
And the bud of grace always blossoms into the flower of glory! For the star and the camels deliver us into the presence of our blessed Bridegroom and Savior! Then the dark glass through which we were seeing is dissolved and now we come to see him face to face! 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Our faith and hope are eternally replaced by the all engulfing, and completely changing love of God! For God IS love! Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
All mediation now ceases, as standing in the Holy Presence allows nothing between my soul and my Savior! 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Revelation 22:4 And they shall see his face;…
Now, no star, no camels, none of faith or hope! No ministers, no gospel, no prayer, for all now is sight and experience! Now she goes into the tent with her Oneness, out of sight of the damsels, camels, and all the world! For the joining of man and woman brings forth one flesh. Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. But the joining of the soul to God causes there to be one spirit! 1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
For there shall be a glorious oneness of The Son bringing the church, his Bride into the glory of God, all in all! For God all in all includes the Trinity, with Christ, the fullness of God in a body, and His Bride, the church! 1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Pastor Gene Breed
February 13, 2016
