Isaac as a type
I hate to interject here, but here goes. this was cut and pasted from a couple posts i made somewere else. I hope it is coherent enough.
Almost everything we read about Isaac in the book of Genesis is a
picture or type of Christ. Both men were promised, both had
miraculous
births, both were loved and did the will of their father (without
complaining), were offered as sacrifices, etc.
We all know the story. When Abraham was tested by God, he went up on
Mount Moriah with his son Isaac. We all know the
story of how Abraham was going to sacrifice his one and only son as a
burnt offering, the angel prevented him, and he found and sacrificed
a ram. (Gen 22)
It is interesting that we have no record of Isaac ever coming down
from
the mountain (it's like he disappears from the scene). He is not
even
mentioned at his mother's funeral. In fact we don't read
about him
until Gen. 24:62 when he comes to meet his bride. Isn't this a
wonderful portrait of Christ? Like Isaac, Christ disappeared (when He
ascended into heaven)...and will reappear to meet his bride, the
church!
Taking a closer look:
Abraham's servant was sent to a distant place to find Isaac a bride.
The Holy Spirit was sent (away from Jews to the Gentiles) to fetch a bride for Christ (ie, the church).
He was led to Rebekah, the one that God has pre-selected.
Members of the church are predestined.
He speaks nothing of himself, but only of his master.
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: Jn 15:20
He gives Rebekah an earnest. (Gen 24:22& 53)
In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession...Eph 1:13&14
Rebekah believes him lock, stock and barrel. Rebekah leaves all behind forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before...to follow him. Just like we, as Christians leave all behind, to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
He leads Rebekah to Isaac. And here we have a picture of the great marriage feast of the Lamb!