Tonight, just like lots of years in the past, we sat down and endured close to three hours of "The Oscars" once again. When you think of the Oscars, you think of movies that are suspenseful, dramatic, intense, humorous, sad, happy romantic and sometimes just downright stupid (and a few in languages we were clueless about). So we watched and once again, very predictable, as usual.
Then three more episodes of "Jack Baur" in season 3 of "24" which always keeps me from sleeping and thus, the reason I am writing at nearly 3AM.
As I lay in bed tonight trying to go to sleep, I began to think of the "Oscars" and my thoughts wandered to romance. And then suddenly, as if God were saying, "I've got something to say", I was reminded of one of the most impressive love stories I have ever read. Now some of you will be surprised at where this story is, in the Bible.
God began to remind me of the "love story" between Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis chapter 24. The entire chapter is dedicated to their love story so I won't type the entire chapter, just simply ask that you take 5 minutes out of your day and read the story.
But I do want to highlight some of the story because it offers the suspenseful, dramatic, intense, humorous, sad, happy romantic and sometimes just downright stupid things that I mentioned above.
What I want to get to is Isaac's "fleece" to God for a wife. In Genesis 24:12-14 Isaac says to God, "O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; now may it be that the girl to whom I say, 'Please let down your jar so that I may drink,' and who answers, 'Drink, and I will water your camels also' — may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master."
Of course, wouldn't you know it, before Isaac finished speaking Rebekah shows up at the well and this part of the story takes place in Gen 24:15-22 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder. The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar." She said, "Drink, my lord"; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink. Now when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw also for your camels until they have finished drinking." So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels. Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the LORD had made his journey successful or not. When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her wrists..."
Then finally in verse 67 "...Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mothers death." Can you envision the romance here as Isaac carries Rebekah across the threshold of his mother's tent and then he "snuffs out" the light and takes Rebekah as his precious bride.
Now, couldn't you agree with me for just one moment that this story had all the adjectives that I mentioned above: suspense, drama, intensity, humor, happiness, romance and sometimes just downright stupid?
Well, I'll tell you! That love story always makes me think of an even more dramatic, intense, romantic story of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary. As He hangs between Heaven and Earth, He consults with the Father and says to God (my own paraphrase) "Father, if they come to me and surrender their hearts, confess Me as Lord, and agree to follow Me, won't you make my journey successful here on earth? I want ALL of these precious bridesmaids so won't you please intervene?
I see two morals to the stories here. First of all, I see that not only did Rebekah recognize the required amount of water it takes to see that her master's camels are satisfied, but I also see the unconditional love she exhibited as a servant. Second, I see that the heart of Jesus Christ was so full of love for us, that He was willing to stretch out His arms and die to gain our love for Him.
Can you see it, too?
Dave
