The Italian Memorandum

(Genesis 24)

When Abraham became old, he expressed to his oldest servant his wishes regarding a wife for his son Isaac, (Gen. 24:1-4). It is naturally presumed that this servant was Eliezer of Damascus (Gen. 15:2,3). However, since Genesis 24 does not identify this servant by name, perhaps this unnamed servant, whom we presume to be Eliezer, was meant to imply by prophetic typology–the Holy Spirit (Heb. 1:1; 10:1). This we know for sure: (1) Abraham, as a father, sought a bride for his son (24:4). (2) He sent his servant with a message (24:33). And, (3) the LORD “led” him (24:48; 24:7,40).

When we open the pages of the New Testament, we are immediately confronted with terms like: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Bible speaks in terms of a mission to take a spiritual bride for his son. The apostle Paul explains this mystery in terms of the church of Christ (Eph. 5:31,32). Recall, in the story of Eliezer and Rebekah, that Abraham gave all that he had to his son Isaac (24:34-36). John 3:35 states that God the Father has given all things into the hand of the son. There is unmistakable similarity between the story of Eliezer and Rebekah in Genesis 24 and the gospel. But, then, isn’t that one of the purposes of the Old Testament (1 Cor. 2:7; 15:46-48).

As Abraham sent his servant to seek a bride for Isaac, God seeks a bride for his son. The Bible says that Rebekah was a maiden, “very attractive in appearance” (Gen. 24:16). God would comfort Isaac after his mother’s death through the love of Rebekah (Gen. 24:67). God will comfort you today through the love of Christ and his church.

-Robert M. Housby