What Does the Marriage of Isaac & Rebekah Show in Genesis 24?

Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah shows two amazing things. I wouldn’t have seen either of these if it weren’t for the help of chapter 60 of the Life-Study of Genesis.  In the opening of this chapter, Witness Lee mentions that most Christians just think this chapter only shows Isaac as a type of Christ as the Bridegroom and Rebekah as a type of  the church as the Bride.

 Then he states that all the events that surround this marriage illustrate their practical living in oneness with the Lord for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. 

For many years Abraham had lived in Hebron, which in Hebrew means fellowship. Undoubtedly Sarah’s death greatly affected this family.  Not long afterwards Abraham realized that Isaac needed to be married to a woman from among his own people.  On pages 790-791 Witness Lee explains how Abraham’s actions showed that he lived in practical oneness with God:

There is no record that God said, ‘Abraham, let Me charge you to send someone to your own country to get a wife for Isaac. I will never allow you to take a Canaanite wife for your son.’ Although there is no record of God’s saying this, Abraham did have this understanding. From where did he derive it?  It came from his living in accordance with God’s concept. Abraham was a man who lived in oneness with God.  If I live in oneness with a certain brother day after day, there will be no need for him to tell me of many things. I will already know what he likes and what he does not like, what pleases him and what offends him. If I love him and live in oneness with him, whatever I say and do will be in accordance with his likes or dislikes….If we would know God’s will, we must live in oneness with Him. If we live in oneness with Him, He will not need to tell us what He desires, because we shall already know it by being one with Him…..Abraham was not the only person who had such a living.  All those mentioned in this chapter were living in an atmosphere of oneness with God. Abraham, the oldest servant, Rebekah, Laban, Bethuel, and Isaac were all living in oneness with God (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Genesis. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1976, Print). 

In the rest of the chapter he covers all of these people and how they lived in practical oneness with God--it totally amazed me: 

1.  Abraham charged his servant by the Lord and told him that God was going to go before him – Genesis  24:2-3, 40 
2.  In Haran the servant prayed at the well for God to lead him to the right girl – Genesis 24:12-14
3. Rebekah was absolutely willing to marry Isaac – Genesis 24:57-58, 61
4. Laban & Bethuel realized everything was under God’s sovereignty  and were willing to let Rebekah marry Isaac– Genesis 24:50-51
5. Isaac was praying in the field when Rebekah arrived - Genesis 24:63

 What touches me is that all of these people were affected by Abraham’s life of fellowship with God, and through his prayer, everyone was brought into oneness with God’s will for the fulfillment of His eternal purpose.

You can  also listen to live excerpts from these messages on  Genesis on Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.  

Other Posts on the Life-Study of Genesis:

From the Life-Study of Genesis - What is the Focus of the Bible?
What Happened Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2?
Why Did God Create Man in Genesis 1:26?
Why Did God Create Man With 3 Parts in Genesis 2:7?
Why Did God Put Man in Front of the Two Trees in Genesis 2?
Seeing God's Purpose of Life & Building in the Book of Genesis
What is the Story Behind the Story of Cain & Abel?
What Did Enosh Learn to Do in Genesis 4:26?
How Did Enoch Escape Death in Genesis 5:24?
Why Did Noah Need to Find Grace in Genesis 6:8?
What Does the Rainbow Symbolize in Genesis 9:13?
How Did God Call Abraham in Genesis 12:1?
How Did God Fulfill the Birth of Isaac in Genesis 12:7?
What Does the Marriage of Isaac & Rebekah Show in Genesis 24?
How Does the Story of Jacob Show God's Selection in Genesis 25?
Why Did Jacob Dream About a Ladder in Genesis 28:12?
Seeing Our Spiritual Journey in the Lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph
Why Did Jacob Call theTwo Altars in Genesis 33 & 35 By Different Names?
How Do the Stories of Jacob & Joseph Mirror God's Purpose in Genesis 1:26?
How Did Joseph's Dreams Really Get Fulfilled in Genesis 41?