Gtcotr/ss032314
Briefly
tell the story of Isaac and Rebekah’s meeting and marriage. (The topic of
Sunday Circles – The Extra Mile) – Genesis 24 …
We
understand from the scriptures that Isaac is an Old Testament type of Christ while
Rebekah is the chosen bride, the Church which is the Body of Christ --- you and
me together with all the saints. So … we can afford to take this story
personally.
Genesis
24 describes Rebekah. I want to encourage you to read it for yourself but suffice
it to say that Rebekah was an exemplary woman. She was:
· Beautiful
· Hard Working
· Adventurous
· Hospitable
· Decisive
· Modest
· Prayerful
…
yet she brought trouble into her home by teaching her son to deceive his father
and cheat his brother. (Genesis 27:15ff) The story of Isaac and Rebekah also details:
The Many Facets
of a Marriage Made in Heaven
· The
guidance of God
· The
sanction of parents
· The allure
of adventure
· The
strength of consent
· The power
of attraction
· The
propriety of modesty
· The
covenant commitment
· The
feeling of love
· The
comforting hope of a better tomorrow
and finally …
· The
blessing of family
However,
even in a perfect marriage, a “marriage made in heaven” if you will, there can
still exists some struggles. The Bible tells us that Isaac was 40 years old
when he met and married Rebekah. All seemed well with one exception, twenty
years later this couple is still without children.
Genesis 25 NKJV
19 This is the
genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac.
20 Isaac was forty years old
when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram,
the sister of Laban the Syrian.
21 Now Isaac pleaded with the
LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his
plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 But the children struggled
together within her; and she said, "If all is well, why am I
like this?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.
I
find it interesting to note that we can be called to the work of God and doing
the will of God and still have struggles with some things others who appear
less connected to God never seem to struggle with.
Even
in a marriage made in heaven there can be some struggles from time to time. And,
sometimes the blessing of God and answered prayer can bring more struggles.
Take Jesus for example: He received an answer to His prayer in the Garden of
Gethsemane but it did not take away the cross.
Sometimes it can be a struggle to find God’s will and at other times
it can be a struggle to do His will but, His will is always worth the effort.
What
can we do when we face some of the common, or some not so common struggles of
life? Exactly what Isaac and Rebekah did, Go to God in earnest prayer. God will
hear your cry and He will answer you.
Count
on this one thing: God will never leave you in a
struggle that does not have a purpose worth your effort.
Especially
when it comes to family … Family was worth the Cross of Calvary – a little
struggle on our part is not too much for God to ask …
Jesus
and the Church … a marriage made in heaven well worth the effort.
