Torah Portion: PARASHAT CHAYEI SARA
In this week's Torah Portion Reading, Abraham sent his servant Eliezer out to find a wife for his son, Isaac. He wanted a wife for his son to be like the "culture" of his family. Ancient sages have taught Abraham's family was known for their kindness. Abraham dealing with his nephew lot was kind and gave Lot the first choice of land.
That was the culture of Abraham’s house. It was a culture of kindness. And that’s what his servant was in search of. Eliezer wasn’t looking for miracles. He was looking for someone who did things like they did in Abraham’s household. And based on what he observed by that river, he knew that Rebekah was a “cultural fit” for Isaac.
In the New Testament our Heavenly Father has a Bride for His son, Yeshua, King Jesus just like Abraham has a bride for His son Isaac, Rebekah.
On a meaningful level, Rebekah teaches us what sort of bride is fit for Yeshua. Details in the text that reveal her as the right choice for Isaac inform how we prepare to be wholly joined to our Bridegroom and Messiah, Yeshua.
First, Rebekah was eager to serve. In other words, it wasn’t merely that she did a good deed, but how she did it: quickly (cf. Genesis 24:18, 20). She was eager to serve this stranger. Now consider the Apostle Paul’s praise of Titus, “For indeed he not only accepted our appeal, but went to you with eagerness and on his own initiative” (2 Corinthians 8:17 emphasis added). Much like the truth the God loves a cheerful giver (not just a “giver”), Yeshua’s bride is beautiful
because of her joyful, eager service.
Second, Rebekah was pure. The text describes her as physically of marrying age, yet “a maiden whom no man had known” (Genesis 24:16). Yeshua’s sacrificial death, as described by Paul, made the Church pure in Ephesians 5:25-27, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
Finally, Rebekah went above and beyond the call of duty. Abraham’s servant asked for a drink from the well; she offered to draw up water for all of his camels as well! The bride of Messiah does not do the bare minimum. God emptied heaven for us by sending His Son. Our response is to give everything we have, from a heart that has been captured by God’s extravagant gift. We’re the people who live like the One who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine by means, through His power that works in us. Ephesians 3:20. Shalom Shalom