As we conclude this segment of Genesis, we can know and love how perfectly our heavenly Father does everything. In the story of Isaac, His father Abraham, and his bride Rebekah, we are made to understand the overreaching story of God’s unfathomable love for His creation – man. In that He had a plan to deliver us from the immediacy of our fallen state, and raise us up to be as His own, for all eternity.
Our last study, left off with Rebekah choosing to immediately leave her home, and follow the unnamed servant back to the promised land, to be the bride of the son of promise.
Genesis 24:62-67
62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide:
As Isaac came in the eventide to meet his bride, so will the Lord Jesus Christ – The Bridegroom – come for His Bride – at the eventide of the church age. Many Bible scholars also believe that the Rapture of the church will take place under darkness as well. It is entirely possible – and thrilling to contemplate!
and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
The servant finished his assignment – then he left the rest up to God.
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Isaac took Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent (tabernacle!) and so will the Lord’s Bride dwell with Him during His earthly reign in the Millennium.
This is a beautiful picture of the future of the church/Bride. The Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows the time when we will dwell with the Lord forever. It is the most joyous of all the Feasts proscribed in Leviticus 23. It is also known as the Feast of Booths, and the Feast of Ingathering! It is the great – Harvest Home – the season of rejoicing!
The Feast of Tabernacles starts five days after Yom Kippur, on the 15th of Tishri, at the full moon, usually falling in late September or early October. It is the third Fall Fast, or Latter Rain Feasts, (Pilgrim Feasts) during which all men were required to be in Jerusalem. During the Feast of Tabernacles, the Temple Mount was brilliantly lit with many torches and candles.
Deuteronomy 16:13-14
13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
The true Sukkot, or Tabernacle is not an annual ceremony of living in booths (Succoths) to Christians. It is not even a future time of peace and rest – because we know that the true Sukkot is a Person! Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:14-18
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
****Interesting side note. Two historically significant events took place during the Feast of Tabernacles – Solomon’s Temple was dedicated (2 Chron. 5:2-3, 12-14; and 1 Kings 8:1-2) and 490 (!) years later the Second Temple was dedicated on the 15th of Tishri, 515 B.C., (Neh. 8:14-18) Anyone care to venture what future event might take place on a future Feast of Tabernacles? Exciting to contemplate!
The Vine Vigil 