This past Sunday we were in Genesis 24 looking at the story of God bringing Rebekah and Isaac together (available here). The passage led us to consider predestination in light of the love of God.
In the story Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for his son. His servant prays for a miracle to know who the woman is that God has chosen for Isaac. Rebekah comes and fulfills that miracle to his amazement. The servant quickly goes to her family, tells them about his mission and the miracle, and receives permission to take Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife. Rebekah herself also consents to go and the story ends speaking of the marriage and Isaac’s love of Rebekah.
The Woman the Lord has Appointed
Let’s take a look at a couple of verses. In vs14 the servant prays for the “one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac.” In vs44 he retells the prayer again saying “the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master’s son”. The family gives their permission in vs50-51 saying “the thing has come from the Lord …let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken”. Through the miracle the servant and the family recognised that God had chosen Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife. This is very strong language. This is the language of predestination, election, even fate. It was God’s will for Isaac and Rebekah to be married.
We normally see this kind of language applied to believers in the Bible. Ephesians 1:4-5 will tell us that God
“…chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
Another very famous passage which uses this language in reference to believers is Romans 8:28-29;
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
Are these verses saying that God saw me before I was a Christian, from the beginning of creation, that in Jesus God knew me, loved me, and chose me to be His child, that this was even my destiny to be part of His family in Christ…? Yes that is what these verses are saying to us and this is what we are reading here in this story. The servant and Rebekah’s family recognise that God appointed/chose Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife. It is beautiful and it is amazing. If God can choose a bride for Abraham’s son it should not surprise us that the bride of Christ also has been chosen by God.
Yet many people get really confused about this and get trapped in all kinds of difficult questions. This teaching becomes to some like a burden and a curse. And I understand that. Jesus himself said “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44). It is a very humbling thing to realise that if God does not draw me to Christ I’m done. Yet at the same time, it is a very joyful thing to realise that God does invite me to come to Christ even today in the Gospel! Should we not take Him up on this offer while His hand is extended?
It should be noticed also that when the Bible speaks of this teaching in Ephesians and Romans it is filled with joy and comfort. Paul is singing of God’s blessings to the church in Christ and comforting believers in trials. Now that we are in Christ we come to understand that God has loved us from eternity, chose us to be part of his family, and is even working all things out for our good… etc We hear this and we fall on our knees and say thank you, God you are amazing, You love me like this, no matter what comes I can trust in you and your plan in Jesus.
The Language of Love
If this still feels difficult for you please remember again the story here with Rebekah. Rebekah’s family hears the story how the servant met Rebekah and recognise God was in it. The language of God’s choosing is seen within a story about finding a wife; a love story. And this is how we all use this language in our lives today.
While I was preparing this sermon I looked at my wife and thought ‘wow isn’t it amazing that God brought us together.’ I mean we were living in two different countries yet somehow God drew us together. When I told her ‘I am so thankful God brought us together’ she didn’t get upset and start talking about free will. She had a big smile on her face and said ‘me too’ and then she gave me a hug. I wonder if Rebekah and Isaac liked sharing this story with their kids later on, ‘hey kids listen how God brought us together.’ All of us use this kind of language when we talk about how we met our spouses. To say it was ‘meant to be’ that it was ‘fate’ or ‘God’s plan’ is not considered wierd, it is considered beautiful and good. In the same way, as Christians, it is a joyful and comforting thing to realise that God has brought us together with Jesus. That this was His plan from long ago. We are the chosen bride. Let us say in praise ‘thank you, God you are amazing, You love me like this, no matter what comes I can trust in you and your plan in Jesus.’
A friend asked me on the weekend ‘God loves everyone right… how is this different then?’ I responded yes God loves everyone but God has a special love for his church. A husband that loves all women the same does not have a great love at all. But a husband who loves his wife above all others is to be praised. The beauty of a marriage is seeing two people forsake all others to be united and committed to one another. To speak then of God’s committed and special love for His bride, the church, is not weird but beautiful.
A Willing Bride
Please take notice. In a story which highlights God’s will and choice we also see human responsibility and choice. Everyone understands that it is God’s will and plan for Rebekah to marry Isaac yet the family’s permission is needed (vs50-51), and even Rebekah’s agreement is asked for (vs57).
There is not any conflict in the Bible between God’s plans and human freedom. We see this in a marriage and falling in love as well. When we fall in love we want to choose this person. The idea of not marrying this person becomes painful. In one sense love drives us to choose the person and at the same time choosing the person is the very thing we want to do, it is the best thing we can think of. It is true that love can’t be forced yet what a force love is! I believe it was God’s plan for my wife and I to get married and at the same time saying ‘I do’ was the most willing and free thing I had ever done. Those who are in love will often confess that God brought them together, that there was magic in the air, that it was God’s plan… etc and not see any conflict with human freedom at all. John 6:44 will tell us that no one can come unless the Father draws them and Psalm 110:3 will speak of Jesus’s people offering themselves freely to him on the day of His power. The bride of Christ is chosen by God from eternity but at the same time she is also a willing bride. She desires her husband. Like Rebekah she leaves all behind for Him. She desires Christ and looks forward to the marriage to come.
Blessings.
Nice, Tom; as always!
We’re in the last days.
This was such a blessing thank you!