In a powerful teaching on the biblical account of Rebekah and Isaac, Jonathan Cahn revealed how the ancient story points to a deeper mystery: the preparation of the bride of the Messiah.
Drawing from Genesis 24, Cahn explained that Abraham’s servant being sent to find a bride for Isaac is a picture of the Holy Spirit leading believers to the Son of God. Just as the servant’s mission was to bring Rebekah to Isaac, Cahn said the Holy Spirit’s mission is to bring the people of God closer to Jesus.
“The servant is there to lead Rebekah to Isaac,” Cahn said. “The servant is there to lead you to the Son of God, Messiah.”
One of the central warnings Cahn gave was not to delay when the Spirit of God calls. When Rebekah’s family wanted her to remain longer before leaving, the servant urged them not to hinder the journey.
“The Spirit says the same thing,” Cahn said. “Do not hinder Me. Do not delay the Spirit.”
Cahn emphasized that obedience to God must not be put off for another day. When the Lord convicts, leads or calls, believers must respond in the moment.
“When the Spirit knocks on your door, you open it,” Cahn said. “When the Spirit moves you to go, to do, you don’t say no, later I’ll do it. You do it now.”
Rebekah’s response becomes the heart of the message. Asked whether she would go with the servant, she answered, “I will go.” Cahn described this moment as a prophetic picture of every believer’s decision to follow the Holy Spirit, even when the destination is unknown.
“The bride is the one who says yes,” Cahn said. “The bride is the one who leaves the old for the new. The bride is the one who journeys to the son.”
For Cahn, the Spirit-filled life is not stagnant. It is a continual journey away from the old nature and toward the Bridegroom.
“If you belong to God, you have to be journeying,” he said. “If you’re not journeying, you’re in trouble.”
He connected this to the Hebrew word ruach, meaning “wind,” or “spirit,” explaining that the Spirit is always moving. A believer who refuses to grow, obey or change risks becoming spiritually stagnant.
“The wind always moves,” Cahn said. “If it stops moving, a wind that is not moving is not a wind.”
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Yet Cahn also warned against two extremes: trying to live the Christian life completely in one’s own strength or waiting passively for God to do everything. Instead, he said the true Spirit-filled life is cooperation with God.
“It’s you and God together doing it,” Cahn said. “In the Spirit, you do as the Spirit does.”
Just as Rebekah had to trust the servant through the wilderness, Cahn said believers must trust the Holy Spirit through the unknown places of life. The Spirit knows every danger, every temptation and every provision needed for the journey.
“You have to trust the Spirit because the Spirit’s job is to get you there,” Cahn said. “He knows your journey. You don’t.”
The message ultimately points to the coming wedding of the Messiah and His bride. Cahn said Rebekah lifting her eyes to see Isaac foreshadows the believer seeing Christ face-to-face.
“For believers, the apocalypse is a wedding,” Cahn said, “the removing of the veil when we will see Him face-to-face.”
For Christians today, Cahn’s teaching is a sobering and hopeful reminder: the Bridegroom is coming, the Spirit is leading, and the bride must be ready to say yes.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
