NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 45
NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 45
It is very interesting to note the steps which lead to union - the knowledge of it. We know Christ first as Saviour; until you know Christ as Saviour fully you do not seek His company; you must be so assured of His love that nothing can satisfy your heart but company with Him. The heart assured of His grace and love soon realises that He is not here, and earnestly enquires, Where is He? Then you know Him as “great priest over the house of God” (Hebrews 10: 21); you are with Him in the assembly. You can be with Him in the assembly and not know Him as Head. You are not consciously united to Him until you know Him as Head. We ought to take it much to heart that so few [p. 94] consciously know the blessedness and climax of God’s love, even that we are united to Him who has so loved and served us. No one learns Christ as Head until he is outside of this world.
We do not get the gospel in this chapter. Abraham’s steward is sworn to bring a bride of Abraham’s lineage; no one can be of the bride who is not of Christ in life and nature. The steward found out Rebekah by her grace; when he asked for a drink for himself she volunteered to give drink to his camels also. Next, she had to break from her family; they would have detained her ten days, but she was decided, she said, “I will go”. This is a great step, but it is not all. There must be also continuance. Rebekah journeys through the wilderness. You may have broken from your family and yet not continue in the weary journey through the wilderness, leaving everything here behind, dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world. When your heart is set on Him, the more you know Him the more you will seek to be near Him. Rebekah continues; at length she sees Isaac. This is a great moment. The Spirit’s power has opened the heavenly door. Rebekah has now a new and absorbing interest. The first great effect of union with Christ is that “the Christ” dwells in your heart by faith. This is not the same as “Christ liveth in me”, (Galatians 2: 20) this latter is your state. The Christ dwelling in your heart by faith is your new interest - all that concerns Him. Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother’s tent. The church is in the place where Israel was; Isaac loved Rebekah. It is when you know union with Christ that you know His love which passeth knowledge, that you may be filled with the fulness of God. Finally, as Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death, so will you, when in union with Christ, be a comfort to Him where He has lost Israel. May each of us be more set on being to Him according as His heart desires.