以撒与利百加的婚姻，乃是基督和祂的新妇─教会的预表。在四福音中，主耶稣告诉约翰的门徒，祂就是新郎（太九15）。主耶稣来，不仅是要拯救罪人，祂最终的目的乃是要得着新妇。祂来不仅要作我们的救主和救赎主，也要作我们的新郎。为此，亚伯拉罕怎样托付他的仆人，到被拣选的新妇那里；父神也照样托付那灵，临到我们。我们都能见证，在某一个时刻，那灵在里面感动我们，使我们向神有了回应。亚伯拉罕的老仆人怎样将金环和金镯子给了利百加，那灵也将基督的丰富带给我们。当那仆人被带到利百加的家中，他见证以撒的丰富：“耶和华大大地赐福给我主人，使他昌大；又赐给他羊群、牛群、金银、仆婢、骆驼、和驴。”（创二四35）利百加听了这见证，就被以撒吸引，愿意到他那里去。最后老仆人说服利百加，使她愿意到迦南地去，嫁给从未见过的以撒。
那灵在我们里面作工，要将我们带到基督那里，献给基督作祂的新妇。今天，我们该向那灵有怎样的回应呢？我们对那灵的回应，乃是一直作祂所盼望的事；如同利百加照老仆人的愿望，为他和他的骆驼打水。当我们顺从里面那灵的感觉来作事，就是对那灵有回应。利百加接受老仆人的金器、银器和衣服（创二四53），指明我们进入教会生活，接纳了那灵的托付后，就接受基督一切的丰富，作我们的享受。利百加接受并享受这一切丰富，就跟从仆人，骑上骆驼；行经旷野，直到与以撒相会（58，61-65）。同样，今天我们也跟从那灵，行经漫长的人生旅程；直到这世代结束，基督要来迎娶祂的新妇，我们才完成这旅途。当以撒领利百加进入他母亲撒拉的帐棚里，并且爱她，他才得了安慰。这指明基督有一天要在爱里，也在恩典里迎接我们。那时，基督要得着安慰和满足，我们也要得到安慰与满足。何等喜乐，这是我们荣耀的盼望─等候基督再来，我们要在荣耀里迎接祂，作祂的新妇！
每日一问：为什么说以撒的婚姻可以预表基督和教会？
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The Type of Isaac’s Marriage – Christ and the Church – Rev. 19:7
Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah is a type of Christ and His bride—the church. In the Four Gospels, the Lord Jesus told the disciples of John that He is the Bridegroom (Matt. 9:15). The Lord Jesus came not only to save sinners; His ultimate goal is to gain a bride. He came not only to be our Savior and Redeemer but also to be our Bridegroom. For this reason, just as Abraham entrusted his servant to go to the chosen bride, God the Father also entrusted the Spirit to come to us. We can all testify that at a certain moment, the Spirit moved within us, causing us to have a response to God. Just as Abraham’s old servant gave gold rings and bracelets to Rebekah, the Spirit also brings the riches of Christ to us. When the servant was brought into Rebekah’s home, he testified of Isaac’s riches: “Jehovah has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds and silver and gold and male servants and female servants and camels and donkeys” (Gen. 24:35). Rebekah heard this testimony and was attracted by Isaac, willing to go to him. Finally, the old servant persuaded Rebekah, making her willing to go to the land of Canaan to marry Isaac, whom she had never met.
The Spirit is working within us to bring us to Christ and offer us to Christ as His bride. Today, how should we respond to the Spirit? Our response to the Spirit is to constantly do the things He desires; just as Rebekah, according to the old servant’s desire, drew water for him and his camels. When we obey the feeling of the Spirit within us to do things, we are responding to the Spirit. Rebekah accepted the old servant’s gold ornaments, silver ornaments, and clothing (Gen. 24:53), indicating that after we enter into the church life and accept the Spirit’s commission, we accept all the riches of Christ as our enjoyment. Rebekah accepted and enjoyed all these riches, followed the servant, rode on the camels, and journeyed through the wilderness until she met Isaac (58, 61-65). Likewise, today we also follow the Spirit, journeying through the long pilgrimage of life; until this age ends, and Christ comes to marry His bride, we complete this journey. When Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent and loved her, he was comforted. This indicates that one day Christ will welcome us in love and grace. At that time, Christ will gain comfort and satisfaction, and we will also gain comfort and satisfaction. What joy, this is our glorious hope—waiting for Christ to come again, we will welcome Him in glory as His bride!
Daily Question: Why is it said that Isaac’s marriage can typify Christ and the church?