Sermon Central
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Story Within A Story
Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Sep 30, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: God is speaking to you today God is asking you, “Will you follow Him?” “Will you be in a relationship with Him?” please enter a brief summary that helps other preachers know the focus of your sermon
Like many things in the bible, this story has a two-fold meaning!
Just like a parable has a physical application and spiritual application. (Sower and the seed, prodigal son, parable of the lost sheep….)
I believe each person in this story represents something, a picture of something, a symbol of something!
Today I would like to see what these individuals are depicting!
Father-Abraham-Represents God, or a better description is, a picture of God, or image of God.
Son-Isaac-Represents Jesus, or a better description is, a picture of Jesus, or image of Jesus.
Servant- Represents the Holy Spirit, or a better description is, a picture of Holy Spirit, or image of Holy Spirit.
Wife-Rebekah- Represents the church, or a better description is, a picture of church, or image of church.
Camel- Represents grace, or a better description is, a picture of grace, or image of grace.
Brothers and the Mother- Represents the world, or a better description is, a picture of world, or image of world.
Since Jesus has died on cross, on the third day arose from the grave, and has ascended to Heaven, God has sent the Holy Spirit to invite people all through the ages to come and be the bride of Christ (That’s what the church is! That’s what we are as individuals and what we are as a group of believers), it also means the New Jerusalem which the description is found in Revelation, but do not be confused because what is a city without people.
In the story Abraham will not allow his son to go back to the homeland to get a bride, instead he sends his servant. That is what has been happening since Jesus has left the earth, the Holy Spirit has been searching for those who would be in a relationship with Jesus!
Genesis 24:17-21-And the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher."
18 So she said, "Drink, my lord." Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink.
19 And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."
20 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21 And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
Just like the servant communicated with Rebekah, and waited for her response, so does the Holy Spirit speak to us (Thru songs, the bible, preaching, devotions, testimony) and then waits for our response!!
Genesis 24:58-Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go."
The Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts, first of all to see if we will be in a relationship with Lord, then the Holy Spirit is always asking us to follow Him, follow Him where He leads!
Just like Rebekah is asked permission, if she will go, the Holy Spirit asked our permission, “Will we follow Him? Because God give us a free will, even after we are saved!!
Let’s look at Rebekah for a moment, (Who does she represent? The Church!)
Genesis 24:17-21-And the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher."
18 So she said, "Drink, my lord." Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink.
19 And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."
20 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21 And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
I want you to notice something about Rebekah, she went beyond doing what was asked of her…He asked for a drink for himself, she did that and watered the camels!
The Holy Spirit is looking for people who will go beyond what they are asked to do!!
Christian, when was the last time, you did more than what was required of you?
Genesis 24:22- So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold,
They say one camel can drink 30 gallons of water.
He rewards her for her service, for her kindness but he has not told her why he is there!
That’s important because I want you to think of all the times God blessed you, protected you, and helped you before you became a Christian!!
