The Bride

by Oxley, C. B. | Category: Temporal Foreshadowings Of The Eternal | Sept 1936

In our last contribution we referred to Abraham, Isaac, and Eliezer in a manner consonant with the title of our series of short articles-" Temporal foreshadowings of the Eternal." We now add a word in reference to Rebekah, and here we may remark that the shadows found in Old Testament Scripture were not and could not be the very image of the things foreshadowed; yet by their aid we may see "as in a glass darkly," and they do greatly assist our understanding by the help of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.

Rebekah the bride of Isaac, was a great acquisition: and as Isaac was comforted in his bride, so, we are told, that Christ shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied.

Rebekah was to Isaac a special and personal treasure and pleasure. But more than the personal aspect, there were vast far-reaching and far-spreading purposes to which the union of Isaac and Rebekah was a necessary part. This was a comparatively small part, yet absolutely essential as part of a vast plan and purpose. And as it was with Isaac and Rebekah, so it is, we suggest, with Christ and the Church, only in a greater and grander way. Surely that hidden mysterious union-the oneness of Christ and the Church, must be with a view to far-reaching and far-spreading purposes throughout the ages to come.

THE NATION.

Out of the union of Isaac and Rebekah, sprang through Jacob, first the twelve-a significant number. Then seventy souls went down to Egypt, and there the "Great Nation" began to be formed.

God, who made the people of Israel a great nation, brought them out of Egypt unto Himself; and afterwards brought them into the land. Great and many were Jehovah's purposes in so doing, and the fundamental reason for His choice of Israel unto such great ends, lay in the fact that He loved them, "I have loved you, saith the Lord" (Malachi 1. 2).*

They were to carry on the worship and service of God, for His glory and pleasure, and for the guidance and blessing of humanity. The House of God was to be a house of prayer for all nations. It was to be a place where earth's teeming millions could come to know God and learn His ways and do His will. And above all, of that Nation Christ was to be born according to the flesh: Son of Abraham, and Son of David; Son of Man, and Son of God.

He was to be the Ultimate Object, the Outstanding Personality, the Preeminent One: the Centre and the Sum; the Foundation and the Head; the Saviour and the Lord.

Here also, in "The Nation," its origin, formation and purpose, is there not a "shadow" or suggestion of the "Nation" of the New Testament first spoken of by the Lord in Matthew 21. 43? "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." This, we understand, is explained and amplified by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2. 9, 10, "But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession." Again, we read in Revelation 1. 5, 6, "Unto Him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by His blood; and He made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

DIVINE PURPOSE.

God is light, God is love. God is the Sovereign Lord of the universe : He doeth His will in the armies of heaven and among the children of men. His greatness is unsearchable, His understanding is infinite. If one make his bed in hell, He will find him. If one make his nest above the stars of God, thence His hand will fetch him. His eyelids never grow weary, nor His ear heavy, nor is His arm shortened. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? No! With God all things are possible! Love and Mercy met the claims of justice and judgement at Calvary. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten,-spared Him not, but delivered Him up for us all. God Himself provided the Lamb for a burnt offering; and now sets Him forth as the propitiation for our sins. Through faith in His blood we are justified; justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. What justice demanded, grace provided : and mercy rejoiceth against judgement-what joyful news!

In all this, Infinite Wisdom works on an eternal plan; to an eternal purpose. Eternity alone will reveal in all its fulness the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. In the ages to come He will shew this. To whom? To the subjects of His grace? Yes! And also, we judge, to the unfallen angels who saw Satan fall (and angels who fell with Satan, will they not know?). Will not the wonders of Divine grace be displayed before wondering worlds of unfallen beings, whose number is given in Revelation 5. as ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands? What marvellous wonders will meet their eves in those ages to come ! And will not this be the complement of what we read in 1 Peter 1. 12, "Which things angels desire to look into"? Having seen the human race captured by Satan; having seen "the Word" become flesh; the Son become the Servant, the Sacrifice, the Sin-hearer; Crucified, Raised and Glorified, is it any wonder that the angels desire to look into the marvellous things comprehended in the Gospel of Christ? was not their interest roused to a high pitch of sacred concern in the Gospel ? Seeing the wonders of the Incarnation, the Atoning Death, the Resurrection, and knowing also the blessing bound up with these things as declared in the wondrous Gospel of the grace of God, may they not well begin to wonder to what heights of bliss and glory men will finally be brought -even men whose degradation, sin and shame on earth they were acquainted with? What an answer to all this will be supplied when, in the ages to come, God will shew before innumerable hosts of angels, "The exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Their wondering eyes shall for ever behold in the glorified sons of men the riches of His grace. What holy joy will be theirs that they fell not with Satan, to perish with him from God's presence as sharing his doom! Will they not also marvel for ever at the manifold wisdom of God? Even in this age, as Ephesians 3. 10, states, it is God's intention that the principalities and powers in the heavenly places should know through the Church the manifold wisdom of God. When

the Lord was on earth He indicated plainly the intense interest which angels have in the salvation of men-" There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15. 10), and in Revelation 5. 12, the vast concourse of angels is seen and heard by John to join together in mighty acclaim, "Saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Then in verse 13, the circle of praise widens out so as to embrace the whole universe- "And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, Unto Him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever."

The cross of Christ, and the grace of God to men, will have effects beyond all our imaginations, in all places of His dominion for all eternity.

*Author's Note. To them was given among much else the kingdom, the covenants,, and the priesthood. They should have been a kingdom of priests, but because of their weakness and failure the priesthood was confined [to the Aaron line of one tribe, Levi.

Oxley, C. B. | Sept 1936
Temporal Foreshadowings Of The Eternal