Tag: Will You Marry Me?

‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Genesis 2:24(NLT)

‘Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.’ Song of Songs 8:6-7(NLT)

‘Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!’ Psalms 34:8(NLT)

‘“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. ‘ Revelation 3:20(NLT)

As we wrap up studying the story of the wedding at Cana, let’s talk about why Jesus chose this as the venue for His first miracle. 

God created and blesses marriage. Marriage is a model for us of what it’s like to be united with Christ. Jesus desires for us to have a love relationship with Him. It’s a reciprocating love like the love between a husband and his wife. When we’re eternally bound to Jesus, it will be a perfect, harmonious union—one of life, love, and eternal bliss.

It doesn’t matter if you’re married or single during your life here on earth. Spiritually, we’re designed to be united with Christ in perfect intimacy. We’re complete in Him alone.

It’s no coincidence that Jesus chose a wedding to demonstrate His first miracle. There’s great significance in Him knowing that the hour to marry His bride has not yet come. Again, through this miracle, He’s hinting to us that there’s a great wedding coming. He’s telling us that He’s the master of the banquet and our beloved bridegroom, and that you’re not the bridesmaid. You, my dear—yes, you!—are His bride. 

When Jesus looks at you, He sees beauty, love, affection, desire, power, and holiness. He made you lovely, and He’s fought for you to the point of death. He waits for you in His kingdom and can’t wait to celebrate with you. You’re worth it to Him. 

Let’s review what we’ve learned from this story: 

Jesus came to bring the joy, grace, and new wine of His spirit. He washes away our sin and covers our shame. When we accept His invitation and drink the cup He offers us, He gives us His spirit without limit. 

Jesus will come back to marry you. He saves the best for last, just as He did with the wine at this wedding. We can’t even comprehend what’s coming, but we do know that He’s good and that we want a seat at His table. 

Take a moment right now to reflect on Christ’s goodness. He’s knocking on the door of your heart. He’s down on one knee, asking for you to enter into this love relationship with Him. He’s jealous for you and wants you all to Himself. He wants you set apart for Him and His highest purposes for you. 

When you say yes, you’ll be filled with His spirit, living water, and new wine. You’ll forever be His bride. 

Jesus wants to come in and dine with you. He desires fellowship with you. Open the door of your heart to Him today! 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”’ John 2:6-10(NLT)

‘You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,#23:26 Some manuscripts do not include and the dish. and then the outside will become clean, too.’ Matthew 23:26(NLT)

‘For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.’ Hebrews 10:10(NLT)

Today, let’s learn more about the significance of the water pots at the wedding in Cana. 

These stone water pots were used by the Jews for ceremonial washing. In this culture, the Jewish people would wash their hands before and after meals, and if this failed to happen, it was considered a transgression. Being ceremonially clean was a must to obey Jewish law. 

The water stored in the stone pots was pure and preserved for cleansing. These pots were large and held twenty to thirty gallons of water each. Jesus told the servants to fill the pots with water, and they obeyed. 

It’s important to note that the pots were completely filled to the brim; no other substance would have fit into them. They were filled with water alone. 

Based on what we’ve learned about the Old and New Covenants, why do you think it was symbolic that Jesus chose the pure cleansing water in these ceremonial jars to be turned to wine? 

This miracle foreshadows that the people would no longer need the outward washing of water to be ceremonially clean. Jesus sent His spirit—also called the “living water”—after His mission on earth was completed, and we can receive an inward cleansing from our sin. 

By turning this ceremonial water into new wine, He gave a picture of the New Covenant to come. The water used in the old system for cleansing became obsolete when the living water of His spirit came. Jesus did all the cleansing through His sacrifice. 

We can see more about how this new method of cleansing compares to the old method in today’s passage in Matthew. 

The old water cleaned only the outside. The new wine of the New Covenant foreshadowed in this story cleans us from the inside out, once and for all. 

After the pots had been filled, Jesus told the servants to draw some water out and take it to the head waiter. They did what He asked, and when the head waiter tasted the wine, he mentioned that everyone usually brings out the best wine first, then saves the cheap wine until after the guests have had too much to drink. They had saved the best until now.   

As believers, we’re betrothed to Christ here on earth and look forward to our future marriage and wedding feast. What the head waiter said is still true for us today: The best is yet to come. 

Jesus’ disciples saw this miracle, understood that it was supernatural, and put their faith in Him. When we put our faith in Jesus, we become clean on the inside, we’re made pure by His blood, and He washes our sins away. 

He makes all things new—and the best is still yet to come! 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken!’ Isaiah 25:6-8(NLT)

‘My lover is dark and dazzling, better than ten thousand others! His head is finest gold, his wavy hair is black as a raven. His eyes sparkle like doves beside springs of water; they are set like jewels washed in milk. His cheeks are like gardens of spices giving off fragrance. His lips are like lilies, perfumed with myrrh. His arms are like rounded bars of gold, set with beryl. His body is like bright ivory, glowing with lapis lazuli. His legs are like marble pillars set in sockets of finest gold. His posture is stately, like the noble cedars of Lebanon. His mouth is sweetness itself; he is desirable in every way. Such, O women of Jerusalem, is my lover, my friend.’ Song of Songs 5:10-16(NLT)

‘Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. ‘ Revelation 19:11(NLT)

‘The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.’ John 10:10(NLT)

Jesus is the man. He’s not just a guest at this wedding; He’s Lord of the banquet.

He comes to the wedding, saves the party, doesn’t draw attention to Himself at all, saves this family from public humiliation (which only the disciples, Mary, and the servants know about), and makes the wine better than ever. Let’s just say, “Boom!”

His job is done here. Drop the mic.

He saved this family from shame, brought joy and feasting, and kept the party going. This is what He does for our lives as well.

In that day, the master of the banquet would be the father of the bridegroom, and he would be in charge of the great feast that took place after the wedding ceremony. The bridegroom of this wedding got the glory, but behind the scenes, Jesus was showing His disciples that He’s the one in charge. 

Jesus proved through this miracle that this party—and in the party of life, so to speak—He’s our true provider and He has more in store for us than we could ever ask, think, or imagine. He alone provides the best wine for us, which we learned yesterday is His spirit. 

Wine in the Bible is a symbol of abundance, joy, and celebration. Jesus wants us to enjoy our lives. He came not to just give us life, but life to the full. He has good in store for us. He’s our bridegroom, and He wants to celebrate with us, His beloved bride. 

Let’s switch gears for a moment and look at the passage from Song of Songs in today’s reading. Solomon’s bride is describing his appearance. Who else does this appearance remind you of? 

I can’t help but picture Christ, our bridegroom, looking something like this on our wedding day. Jesus is fierce, mighty, powerful, and a true warrior. Words fail to describe Him in all His glory. 

Imagine how humble Jesus was in His earthly body. When we get a glimpse of who He really is, we can appreciate His frustration in knowing that the time had not yet come for Him to reveal His full glory. The full story of the Bible still isn’t finished. We’re still here, and there’s so much to come. 

The glorified, majestic, beautiful, strong yet gentle, and loving Jesus is coming back for us. We are His beloved, and He’s the master of the banquet and our bridegroom. I’d say that’s definitely worthy of dropping the mic. 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. ‘ John 2:5-9(NLT)

‘And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”’ Matthew 26:27-29(NLT)

‘Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.’ 1 Corinthians 12:13(NLT)

‘“Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.’ Joel 2:28-29(NLT)

‘For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. ‘ John 3:34(NLT)

Ready for Day 2 of the wedding at Cana? So far, there’s a party and the wine has run out—an embarrassment to the family hosting and a violation of Jewish hospitality laws. In today’s terms, this would definitely fall into the “party foul” category. 

As we read again today, the servants filled the six water pots to the brim. That’s a lot of water. They immediately and fully obeyed Jesus’ orders because they trusted Him. He held an authority that people responded to.

When Jesus asks something of us as His servants, let’s be just as obedient. Let’s obey Him to the full measure of our ability and fill our pots to the brim. There’s always blessing in obedience.

After the servants filled the pots, they drew out some water and gave it to the master of the banquet to taste. He tasted the water (now turned to wine), and in his delight, he called the bridegroom.

This miraculous event revealed God’s glory. Jesus was showing His disciples who He is, because only God could change water into wine. This was a supernatural occurrence!

To understand more about the significance of this miracle, let’s take a look at the Last Supper.

Jesus told His disciples after the Last Supper that He wouldn’t share a cup of wine with them again until they were together at the wedding feast. Remember, during this time, a bride and groom would share a cup of wine at their wedding ceremony to seal their vows.

Ellicott’s Bible Commentary says it like this: “Never afterwards while he tarried upon earth was He to taste of the wine cup with His disciples. But in the kingdom of God, completed and perfected, He would be with them once again, and then Master and disciples would be alike sharers in that joy in the Holy Ghost, of which wine—new wine—was the appropriate symbol.”

Jesus offers us a cup of acceptance, and when we drink the “wine” of the Holy Spirit, we become betrothed to Him. Then, one day, we’ll share a cup of wine with Him again at our wedding ceremony. We’ll join Him in marriage and become fully submitted to Him. That’s when we’ll reach the fulfillment of our love relationship with Jesus. 

The cup Jesus offers us—His spirit—is a fulfilment of the old sacrificial system and law. Now, we have the living water, or “new wine,” which is poured out without limit on all who will drink of Him. 

Like a well that never runs dry or a party that never runs out of wine (the best wine!), Jesus gives in abundance. He gives us exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask, think, or imagine. He gives His spirit to us fully and completely, and He wants us to give our lives to Him in return. He wants a mutual love relationship with us. 

The God of the universe wants to be your bridegroom. Drink Him in.

from Will You Marry Me?

‘The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.’ John 2:1-11(NLT)

‘Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.’ John 8:20(NLT)

‘Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. ‘ John 13:1(NLT)

‘After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. ‘ John 17:1(NLT)

‘When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.’ John 19:30(NLT)

Weddings are magical. No matter who’s getting married, there’s something sacred and fairy tale-like about the whole experience. 

As special and wonderful as weddings are, we’ve all been the single person at one. When I was in my early twenties, I was literally in twelve weddings. I had a variety of bridesmaid dresses and interesting hair updos. Thank goodness we didn’t have Instagram back then!

While I was always happy for the bride, I couldn’t help but look forward to the day I would be the bride. Jesus understands this longing. He put this desire in our hearts before time began. Whether you’re married or single in this present world, when you say yes to Him, you become His bride for eternity.

Over the next few days, we’re going to dive into the story of Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana. At this time, Jesus lived about 8 miles away in Nazareth and had not yet performed any signs or wonders. Many scholars believe that because Jesus, His mother, and His brothers were all present at this wedding, it was quite possibly a relative of Jesus that was getting married.

Much like weddings today, in this culture, weddings took a great deal of intricate planning and were a reflection on the family hosting them. If the host ran out of wine, it would not only be an embarrassment, but also bring shame upon the family.

 

If this was indeed a family member’s wedding, then we can assume that Mary, Jesus’ mother, might’ve been somewhat involved in the planning process. She seems to take responsibility for the wine dilemma. She informs Jesus that the wine had run out and, knowing who Jesus is, asks Him to save her family from shame. 

Let’s look at how Jesus responds to Mary: “Why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come.” 

In our reading today, we learned that when Jesus said “my hour,” He was referring to His crucifixion and resurrection. He came to this earth to complete a mission: to save us from our sins so we can spend eternity with Him. On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” In other words, the hour of His death had finally come. 

When Jesus responded to His mother, He was looking ahead and seeing the bigger picture. Sure, He could’ve fixed the immediate wine mishap, but He hadn’t yet covered our shame for good. This was just the beginning. 

When Mary asked Jesus to get involved in this wedding, it seemed to strike a personal nerve within Him. At this point, He wasn’t even in the betrothal stage with His bride. I believe He might’ve felt frustration, heartache, or jealousy for His bride. He’s waiting for our wedding and feast, and they’ll be the celebration of a lifetime! 

Trust me: our bridegroom won’t just be attending as a bystander or working miracles behind the scenes. He’ll be the Lord of the feast, the King of Kings, getting married to the love of His life—and that, my friend, is you. 

Note: Information in today’s devotional is referenced from Timothy Keller’s sermon “A Wedding Party Encounters Jesus.” Be sure to check it out online if you’d like to learn more on this topic. 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.” Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.” “Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.” So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days. Finally, the time came for him to marry her. “I have fulfilled my agreement,” Jacob said to Laban. “Now give me my wife so I can sleep with her.” So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.) But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?” “It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. “But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.” So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. (Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.) So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.’ Genesis 29:15-30(NLT)

‘“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ ‘ Luke 15:4-6(NLT)

If you think you have dysfunctional relatives, let’s read the rest of Jacob and Rachel’s love story and all feel better about our family situations. If your in-laws are worse than this, I suggest therapy—lots of therapy! 

Remember when we learned that if you couldn’t pay a bride-price to purchase your bride, another option would include working for the bride? That’s exactly what’s happening here. This story doesn’t include all the steps of the Jewish wedding process, but we do get glimpses of the negotiations along the way. 

The Bible says that Jacob’s seven years of work flew by because of his love for Rachel. He was head over heels for this girl. 

On their wedding day, Jacob’s bride’s veil (and possibly being over-served at the banquet) totally tripped him up. He ended up marrying Leah, Rachel’s older sister, thinking it was Rachel. Wowza! Laban, his father-in-law, had put her up to this and totally tricked Jacob. 

Jacob completed the week of intimacy in the bridal chamber with Leah and was told that he could still marry Rachel, but he’d need to work another seven years for Laban. 

Jacob worked 14 years for this girl to earn Rachel. 14 long years. It’s super romantic, but also so cruel for Leah. 

I have two sisters, and we don’t even like to share clothes. I can’t imagine what these girls went through sharing a husband! It’s weird, gross, and complicated. This was a nightmare for everyone involved. 

These are real problems, and I don’t want to just brush over the Leah dilemma. The Lord provided for her and met her in her pain by blessing her with four sons. I love that God can make good out of anything. 

Let’s look now at the parallels between the story of Rachel and Jacob and our lives today. 

Just as Jacob willingly worked for Rachel for 14 years, Jesus is relentless in His pursuit of us. He works for our hearts and continues to chase after us, wanting us for His own. He already gave us everything: He came down from heaven and died a sinner’s death to pay for our sins—all in the name of love for us, His bride. 

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, will never give up on you. He wants us, but there’s an enemy—a Laban—in each of our lives who desperately wants to confuse us and thwart God’s plans. Satan wants to keep us from our marriage to Christ. He wants to deceive us and trip us up so we feel unlovable and unworthy, but Christ will always fight for us. He’ll never stop pursuing us. 

Let’s close out this story with this thought: 

Rebekah and Rachel both came to a well, a source of water and life, and there they found their husbands. They were chosen as brides by men who loved them individually and uniquely. They were known, prayed for, sought after, served, loved, desired, and chosen—just as you are by Jesus.

from Will You Marry Me?

‘Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well. It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?” “We are from Haran,” they answered. “Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked. “Yes, we do,” they replied. “Is he doing well?” Jacob asked. “Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.” Jacob said, “Look, it’s still broad daylight—too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?” “We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.” Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd. And because Rachel was his cousin—the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother—and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncle’s flock. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud. He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin on her father’s side—the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father, Laban. As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!”’ Genesis 29:1-14(NLT)

‘But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” Then they remembered that he had said this. ‘ Luke 24:1-8(NLT)

‘But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”’ John 4:14(NLT)

‘And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. ‘ Ezekiel 36:26(NLT)

Are you sick of love yet? I didn’t think so. Here goes love story #2! 

We have a few of the same characters in this story. Jacob was one of Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons, and just like his father, he also met his bride at a well. Laban is Rebekah’s brother and has a daughter named Rachel. He’ll soon become Jacob’s father-in-law. This is quickly becoming a small-town scenario where everyone knows everyone and they’re all becoming relatives. 

I love how this story is set up: Jacob is coming from a distant land and is weary from his travels. It’s midday, and he stops at a well to grab a drink of water and refresh. He runs into several local shepherds at the well and begins to socialize with them and do some name-dropping. 

While he’s talking to the shepherds, he sees a beautiful young shepherdess approaching with her sheep and turns on his charm. Jacob had some game! 

He tells the shepherds that this isn’t a good time for them to be at the well, but they don’t get the hint. When Rachel arrives, Jacob is instantly enamored with her. He immediately rolls the large stone from over the mouth of the well and waters her father’s flock of sheep. (The over-achieving gene must’ve run in the family!) 

And yes, you read it right: After watering his uncle’s sheep, Jacob lays one on Rachel. To be fair, it was customary in this culture to kiss as a greeting, so he was being politically correct—but you know he was dying to kiss her! 

Jacob wept when he greeted Rachel, which reveals so much about his personality. He was open and vulnerable with his feelings. I love that he was a passionate man who didn’t hold back. 

Let’s take this story and apply it to our lives spiritually. 

I love that Jacob saw Rachel and immediately wanted her to himself. Jacob is a patriarch of our faith and a prototype of Christ, who sees us, is in love with what He sees, and wants time alone with us. 

And just as Jacob removed the well’s stone for Rachel, Jesus rolled the stone away from His tomb and rose from death so we could access the living water of His Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us water from a well that never runs dry. 

Jesus also serves us, His bride, just as Jacob served Rachel. He not only gives us living water, but also uses us in other people’s lives. Like Rachel, you have people to shepherd, whether you’re a mom with children, a teacher with students, a doctor with patients, or an encourager to friends in your circle. God will water you, then use you to refresh others spiritually. 

Finally, Jesus wants intimacy with us. Just as Jacob kissed Rachel and wept, Jesus also rejoices and grieves with us. He wants vulnerability in our relationship with Him. He desires to know us and be known by us. 

Know this: Jesus is enamored with you. He loves you and thinks you’re beautiful and marvelous. He saves you and He saves me. 

Through Christ, the stone of sin that covered our hearts is rolled away and we have full access to God. He died so that we can live! 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi. One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming. When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel. “Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?” she asked the servant. And he replied, “It is my master.” So Rebekah covered her face with her veil. Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done. And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.’ Genesis 24:62-67(NLT)

‘You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead. Your teeth are as white as sheep, recently shorn and freshly washed. Your smile is flawless, each tooth matched with its twin. Your lips are like scarlet ribbon; your mouth is inviting. Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil. Your neck is as beautiful as the tower of David, jeweled with the shields of a thousand heroes. Your breasts are like two fawns, twin fawns of a gazelle grazing among the lilies. Before the dawn breezes blow and the night shadows flee, I will hurry to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way. Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Come down from Mount Amana, from the peaks of Senir and Hermon, where the lions have their dens and leopards live among the hills. You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace. Your love delights me, my treasure, my bride. Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than spices. Your lips are as sweet as nectar, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue. Your clothes are scented like the cedars of Lebanon. You are my private garden, my treasure, my bride, a secluded spring, a hidden fountain. Your thighs shelter a paradise of pomegranates with rare spices— henna with nard, nard and saffron, fragrant calamus and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, and every other lovely spice. You are a garden fountain, a well of fresh water streaming down from Lebanon’s mountains. ‘ Song of Songs 4:1-15(NLT)

‘He escorts me to the banquet hall; it’s obvious how much he loves me.’ Song of Songs 2:4(NLT)

‘It was Moses’ practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the Lord would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. ‘ Exodus 33:7-9(NLT)

‘There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now. When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. ‘ Hebrews 9:2-7(NLT)

‘With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.’ Hebrews 9:12-15(NLT)

Let me catch you up to speed. Isaac and Rebekah are betrothed to be married, but they’ve never met. Talk about a leap of faith!

Isaac was also at a well: Beer Lahai Roi, which means “The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me.” God sees our needs and knows what’s best for us. It’s not a coincidence that the servant found Rebekah at a well and Isaac came from a well to meet her. God designed them for each other.

I love when they meet for the first time. It reminds me of the scene in the film  Pride and Prejudice where Mr. Darcy walks toward Elizabeth Bennet in a beautiful field at twilight. It’s beyond romantic. If you haven’t seen it, please rent it today. You’re welcome.

Let’s switch gears now and explore the passage written by King Solomon to his bride. It paints a beautiful picture of what Isaac could have been thinking when he first met Rebekah. It also represents the promise that love is so much sweeter when you wait on God’s perfect timing.

Solomon’s seductive words of desire for his bride can still make a girl blush. He eagerly anticipates their wedding night. Who says the Bible is boring? This is racy stuff, people!

 

Back in Genesis, we see the second part of Isaac and Rebekah’s wedding process, which includes the marriage and consummation. Isaac was grieving the death of his mother Sarah. In His perfect timing, God comforted Isaac by bringing him his bride during this time of loss. 

The Bible goes on to say that Isaac loved Rebekah. I love this. He didn’t just marry her to reproduce or to have a woman in his life. He really loved her. He cared for her. He desired her. 

Song of Songs 2:4 gives us a beautiful picture of Christ’s love for us, His bride. He’s proud of us and shows the world that we belong to Him like a banner flying high. He proclaims His love for us like a flag over a nation. 

Jesus brings us into his family and loves us, just as Isaac brought Rebekah into his tent and loved her. But what was the spiritual meaning of a tent? 

In our reading today, we learned about the “Most Holy Place” in the tent of meeting. Only the “high priest” could enter it once a year to offer a blood sacrifice. God’s glory rested there, and no man could stand in His presence and survive without first being ceremonially cleansed. 

In the New Testament, Jesus came as our high priest and through His blood sacrifice on the cross, the curtain that separated the “Most Holy Place” was torn, symbolizing that we can now enter into God’s presence on earth because Jesus makes us clean. 

When we accept Jesus’ invitation to marriage, His spirit comes to dwell inside us. In other words, we become the sacred tent of meeting. One day, when He returns, we’ll step into the tent of His Kingdom to be joined to Him in marriage for eternity. 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to meet the man at the spring. He had seen the nose-ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said. So he rushed out to the spring, where the man was still standing beside his camels. Laban said to him, “Come and stay with us, you who are blessed by the Lord ! Why are you standing here outside the town when I have a room all ready for you and a place prepared for the camels?” So the man went home with Laban, and Laban unloaded the camels, gave him straw for their bedding, fed them, and provided water for the man and the camel drivers to wash their feet. Then food was served. But Abraham’s servant said, “I don’t want to eat until I have told you why I have come.” “All right,” Laban said, “tell us.” “I am Abraham’s servant,” he explained. “And the Lord has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The Lord has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys. “When Sarah, my master’s wife, was very old, she gave birth to my master’s son, and my master has given him everything he owns. And my master made me take an oath. He said, ‘Do not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my father’s house, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son.’ “But I said to my master, ‘What if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to go back with me?’ He responded, ‘The Lord , in whose presence I have lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family. Then you will have fulfilled your obligation. But if you go to my relatives and they refuse to let her go with you, you will be free from my oath.’ “So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: ‘O Lord , God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission. See, I am standing here beside this spring. This is my request. When a young woman comes to draw water, I will say to her, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.” If she says, “Yes, have a drink, and I will draw water for your camels, too,” let her be the one you have selected to be the wife of my master’s son.’ “Before I had finished praying in my heart, I saw Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’ So I drank, and then she watered the camels. “Then I asked, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, and my grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.’ So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists. “Then I bowed low and worshiped the Lord . I praised the Lord , the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me straight to my master’s niece to be his son’s wife. So tell me—will you or won’t you show unfailing love and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no, and then I’ll know what to do next.” Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The Lord has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.” When Abraham’s servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the Lord . Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother. Then they ate their meal, and the servant and the men with him stayed there overnight. But early the next morning, Abraham’s servant said, “Send me back to my master.” “But we want Rebekah to stay with us at least ten days,” her brother and mother said. “Then she can go.” But he said, “Don’t delay me. The Lord has made my mission successful; now send me back so I can return to my master.” “Well,” they said, “we’ll call Rebekah and ask her what she thinks.” So they called Rebekah. “Are you willing to go with this man?” they asked her. And she replied, “Yes, I will go.” So they said good-bye to Rebekah and sent her away with Abraham’s servant and his men. The woman who had been Rebekah’s childhood nurse went along with her. They gave her this blessing as she parted: “Our sister, may you become the mother of many millions! May your descendants be strong and conquer the cities of their enemies.” Then Rebekah and her servant girls mounted the camels and followed the man. So Abraham’s servant took Rebekah and went on his way.’ Genesis 24:29-61(NLT)

There’s so much amazing imagery found in the story of Isaac and his betrothal to Rebekah. We can really see the Jewish wedding customs at play here. 

To recap, Abraham sent his servant to find his son Isaac a Jewish bride. His servant was extremely prayerful, asking God to show him the right woman. Rebekah was Jewish and a distant relative of Abraham. She was said to be very beautiful and a virgin. 

The servant spotted Rebekah by the well and she immediately offered him a drink of water from her water jar. How did God make it clear that Rebekah was the right choice? She not only gave him a drink—she went on to water all 10 of his camels. This girl was a total overachiever! 

To appreciate the full gravity of this task, it’s important to note one camel can drink 53 gallons of water in 3 minutes. It could have amounted to 530 gallons of water to satisfy these thirsty camels, so this would have required a lot of work on her part going back and forth gathering water for them. It was a true act of sacrifice. 

Rebekah went above and beyond to serve a man she didn’t know without expecting anything in return. We see so much of her amazing character revealed in the way she treated a stranger. 

I can assure you that based on this evaluation, I would not have been chosen. I get stranger danger, plus camels scare me. I think they’re cute, but I don’t want to pet them. They smell. (Moving on.) 

As Abraham’s representative, his servant discussed the wedding contract, bride-price, and wedding gifts with Rebekah and her family. She had a choice in this process—and she accepted! 

Let’s now look at the many parallels between this bride, Rebekah, and the bride of Christ. 

First, the father chose the bride, just as our heavenly Father chooses us. Jesus will return for a pure bride made new in Him. 

Rebekah was found to be faithful, going above and beyond with a servant’s heart. Her heart was pure and God blessed her for her hospitality. Let this be a reminder to us all to remain faithful to God right where we are. We never know when a divine assignment is on its way! 

The servant found her at a well, which we learned yesterday holds rich symbolism of life. He then paid a bride-price for her, just as Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. 

Rebekah had the choice to become betrothed to Isaac, a man she had not yet seen. As believers, we haven’t yet seen Christ, but we choose Him by faith and become betrothed to Him when we say yes. 

Finally, the servant showered Rebekah and her family with gifts, just as Jesus gives us the gift of His Spirit and covers us with a garment of salvation. 

Isn’t the symbolism in this story so amazing? There are so many parallels between this betrothal and our relationship with Christ. I love how God gives us glimpses throughout His Word that apply to our spiritual life with Him. 

We’ll pick back up and explore the ending of this betrothal scene tomorrow! 

from Will You Marry Me?

‘You are a garden fountain, a well of fresh water streaming down from Lebanon’s mountains. ‘ Song of Songs 4:15(NLT)

‘Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. Swear by the Lord , the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.” The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?” “No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. For the Lord , the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.” So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions. Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled. He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water. “O Lord , God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.” Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah. Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again. Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.” “Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels. The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission. Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists. “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?” “I am the daughter of Bethuel,” she replied. “My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah. Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests.” The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord . “Praise the Lord , the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.” The young woman ran home to tell her family everything that had happened. ‘ Genesis 24:1-28(NLT)

Over the next few days, we’ll continue our study by looking at two patriarchs of our faith: Isaac and Jacob. They were both Jewish and married to Jewish women, which means they would have undergone the Jewish marital customs we learned about earlier.

Both Isaac and Jacob found their future wives at a water well. Moses, another patriarch of the faith, also met his wife at a well, and later in this study, we’ll learn that Jesus met the Samaritan woman at a well, too.

When studying the Bible, you’ll find that when something happens more than once, it’s not a coincidence. Let’s take a look at wells today and see why this meeting place is significant.

In biblical times, wells were usually located outside of town and required a one- to two-mile walk to get to them. They often served as boundary lines to mark that a village was close by.

Women of the village would take two or more trips to the well each day to gather water for their family’s daily needs, such as drinking, washing, agriculture, and cooking. Wells were a crucial life source for a community in that day.

A functioning well was not only a necessary and life-giving source for a community; it was also a social hub, kind of like Starbucks is to us today. (I need coffee like I need water. Just saying.) Travelers would come from near and far to drink water and refresh their animals.

The well, being just far enough outside of town, was an acceptable place for young men and women to meet, visit, and flirt outside of the watchful eye of their elders (just keeping it real). You could often find a shepherd hanging out around midday or evening time resting and watering his flock before heading back on the road.

 

Water in the Bible symbolizes life. In the book of John, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “living water.” The Holy Spirit brings eternal, supernatural life. On the other hand, an empty well in the Bible is referred to as a “pit”: a symbol of death with no life-giving source or water dwelling inside. Pits were empty, dark, dry, and deadly. 

In today’s reading, King Solomon speaks of his bride as a well flowing with streaming water. Being “like a well” was considered a great compliment in this culture. It implied that you were refreshing and life-giving, and that all who come in contact with you were filled with life. 

When we, the bride of Christ, have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us, we’re like the well in this verse. It’s truly a beautiful picture. 

Today, we’ll start reading the story of Isaac and Rebekah, which we’ll cover over the next couple of days. It’s a lot of reading, but trust me—it’s very romantic! 

from Will You Marry Me?