Genesis Types: 6. Events in the Life of Isaac That Point to Christ

(Genesis 21, 22, 24). His birth was supernatural and so is a type of Christ’s birth. "And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him" (Genesis 21:1, 2). Sarah was ninety, and Abraham about one hundred. Thus the birth of Isaac was indeed supernatural. God performed a miracle to fulfill His promise to Abraham and Sarah that they should have a son. In this respect the birth of Isaac was a type of the birth of Jesus. "And the angel answered and said unto her. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). Actually, Jesus was the Son of God and not the son of Joseph. Jesus was virgin-born, thus His birth was supernatural. Of course, we must be careful to note that the birth of Isaac and that of Jesus were not alike in every respect, but both were supernatural births. The one was a type of the other in this respect only. Isaac’s being offered up by his father is a type of Christ’s death on Calvary. He was considered to be the only son of Abraham. "And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son" (Genesis 22:16). These were the words of the Lord Himself. Isaac gave himself willingly. There is no record of his refusing to be tied on the altar as a sacrifice. In the same way Jesus gave Himself willingly to die. "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again" (John 10:17, 18). His being received back as it were from the dead is a type of the resurrection of Christ. "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure" (Hebrews 11:17-19). In God’s sight Abraham offered up his son Isaac, and then received him back as it were from the dead. And this was a type of Christ rising from the tomb triumphant over death. The seeking of a wife for Isaac is a type of the divine seeking for those who will be united to Christ. Abraham’s servant who sought a wife for Isaac is a type of the Holy Spirit who seeks those who are to become the Church, Christ’s Bride. "And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: and I will make thee swear by the Lord the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my country, and my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac" (Genesis 24:2-4). The servant used the testimony concerning Isaac to win Rebekah for his master, Isaac. "And he said, I am Abraham’s servant. And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath" (Genesis 24:34-36). In order to win Rebekah, the servant talked about how rich Isaac’s father was. And all that wealth was to be inherited by Isaac, and this would be shared by her if she married him. Similarly, the Holy Spirit uses testimony concerning Christ to win those who become a part of the Bride of Christ. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he will not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine" (John 16:13-15). Christ’s Father in Heaven is rich, and all that wealth is His, and will be shared by those who make up the Church, His Bride. Thus the Spirit paints a picture of Christ to the one who is ready to receive Christ as his Saviour. From the time Rebekah consented to marry Isaac until the wedding took place is a type of the life of believers until the marriage supper of the Lamb is celebrated in Heaven. The servant took the things of Isaac and showed them unto Rebekah. "And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah" (Genesis 24:53). Thus does the Holy Spirit take the things of Christ and show them unto believers. "Therefore said I, that he [i.e.], the Holy Spirit shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:15). The things of Christ are to be found in His Word. Rebekah did not see Isaac until their marriage, but loved him because of the testimony of the servant. Thus we have not seen Jesus with our physical sight, but we love Him because of the testimony of the Holy Spirit. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (I Peter 1:8). As Isaac came out to meet Rebekah, so Christ will come down from Heaven at the rapture to meet His Bride in the air and escort her to Heaven. "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming" (Genesis 24:63). Thus Isaac met the caravan, and escorted his bride to her new home. And Christ will do this for His Church, the Bride, for whom He is coming down from Heaven. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17). We shall ride on the clouds of Heaven with Christ to our home in Heaven. The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah is a type of the future marriage of Christ and His Bride, the Church, at Christ’s return. "And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her" (Genesis 24:67). And this is a type of that happy event in the happy future of true believers in Christ which John describes for us in Revelation 19:7, 9: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." [Old Testament Types - FHW]