Module 4 lesson 1 Bride of Yeshua

BRIDE OF YESHUA

YHVH’s word is perfect, steadfast and true.

His promises and prophecies are being fulfilled daily.

He is a sovereign God and He is the Bridegroom who is coming to fetch His covenant bride.

That is 1, if not the biggest promise in YHVH’s Word for His bride.

John 4:1-21 KJV

[1] When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, [2] (though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) [3] he left Judæa, and departed again into Galilee. [4] And he must needs go through Samaria.  [5] Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. [6] Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. [7] There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. [8] (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) [9] Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. [10] Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. [11] The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? [12] Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? [13] Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: [14] but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. [15] The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. [16] Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. [17] The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: [18] for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. [19] The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. [20] Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. [21] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Its important to realize  the Word of YHVH  is a covenant.

Terms Old Testament and New Testament which we use today to refer to the two parts of the Word of YHVH actually mean old covenant and renewed covenant.

 It’s a covenant book of love containing the greatest love story ever told.

 We cannot understand the word of YHVH if we do not understand covenant as the Word of YHVH is a covenant.

 In Isaiah 62:5 we find a promise that is repeated in many other books of the Word of YHVH that says YHVH will rejoice over us like a Bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

Isaiah 62:5 KJV

[5] For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

We read about the very first marriage in the Word of YHVH in Genesis 2 verse 21 to 24

Genesis 2:21-24 KJV

[21] And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; [22] and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. [23] And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. [24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

ABBA Father Himself brings the bride to Adam.

 Revelation 19-22 describes the last marriage that will ever take place in the universe.

 In Revelation 19:7-9 we read the following

Revelation 19:7-9 KJV

[7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. [8] 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. [9] And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

In Revelation 21: 2-3 & 9 we read the following:

Revelation 21:2-3, 9 KJV

[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

[9] And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

We furthermore see the word of YHVH teach us in Ephesians 5 verse 31 to 32

Ephesians 5:31-32 KJV

[31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. [32] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

this is a portrayal of Yeshua and his bride, His body.

 ABBA Father is gathering his bride.

 He is gathering his children, His body, so they can spend eternity with him, Jew and non Jew.

 House of Judah and House of Israel, one bride!

 In Galatians 3 verse 26 and 29 we read about the promise according to which we are heirs or in Yeshua Messiah and Groom:

Galatians 3:26-29 KJV

[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Romans 11  And many other scriptures in the Old Testament confirm these verses.

YHVH uses marriage and the relationship between a bride and bridegroom right through His word to illustrate covenant with us.

 Marriage on earth portrays the love relationship which is similar to Yeshua and His bride (body of Messiah) according to the word of YHVH.

For this very reason the enemy will always oppose and attack the covenant of marriage.

 The word of YHVH makes it clear that the enemy will always oppose the children of YHVH till the day when he is thrown into the lake of fire. 1 John 3 and Ephesians 6.

 However greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.1 John 4:4.  This is a promise of YHVH.

 A healthy relationship founded in love is the safest place on earth to be in.

 It is appliance of intimacy, unity and true friendship.

 It is a place of protection and provision for the bride and appliance of adoration and respect for the bridegroom.

Although the enemy attacks our marriages, marriage remains secretive YHVH and His Word is clear about His dream and purpose with regards to the covenant Marriage.

 However because we do not always understand this covenant of marriage that YHVH has with us we are easily brainwashed by religious systems and artificial relationships with YHVH.

 We often hear people teaching things with good intention but which are simply not the truth when we compare them to what the Word of YHVH really teaches.

 We are the covenant bride of the sovereign Elohim.

 Consider this for a moment: the God who created heaven and earth, YHVH Elohim said “I am making a covenant with you that I would love and protect you and provide for you here on earth.”

A bride does not have to beg for something to eat within the covenant of marriage.

 Neither does she need to constantly ask her bridegroom to provide for her.

 it is part of the covenant.

 it is the bridegroom's heart to provide for her and to protect her.

 Is that how we see YHVH?

 if we do not understand covenant we will never experience Him like this.

 It is part of YHVH’s covenant that we do not need to be concerned about what we will eat, drink or wear, Because he is God the one who provides for us.

 The word of God says that He will build a hedge around those whose hearts are in covenant with Him.  Psalm 91:1-4.

If we do not understand covenant we cannot understand this relationship that YHVH calls Us to.

 this does not include the name it and climate prosperity nonsense being preached that is unbiblical.

 It concerns the love covenant between a Bridegroom and His Bride, where the Bridegroom says, “if you will be my love, I’ve promised to protect you and provide for you. I will be there for you. you are mine.”

YHVH confirms this throughout his word.

 In the word of YHVH, he promises to protect His bride and provide for her and in the Psalm 138:2 he places His word above His name.

Psalm 138:2 KJV

[2] I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

His name is YHVH Elohim and He places His Word above His own name.

 It is the Word that teaches us that He will guide us, protect us and provide for us.

 Yet we sometimes live our lives as if we are completely unaware of this covenant and have no idea what it entails.

 this lack of knowledge destroys us Hosea 4 verse 6.

 Maybe the church buys too much attention to the one prayer that we have to pray to give our hearts to the Lord and get saved that we forget about the covenant and completely overlooked the love relationship that follows.

 We think because we have prayed the prayer of salvation and given our hearts to the Lord everything is sorted and we can carry on to live our lives as we please because everything is okay and acceptable to YHVH.

 This is not what His Word teaches us.

 It is not okay with YHVH that we carry on and live as we see fit and in a way that pleases us in flesh.

 It is in life from the enemy.

 You will not find it anywhere in the word of YHVH. It is a theology that the westernised church came up with.

Is the marriage covenant merrily a single ones of promise?

 During the marriage ceremony the bride and bridegroom promised in the presence of witnesses and YHVH to love and to be faithful to each other under all circumstances.

 Does the marriage end there?

 no it starts there does it not?

 How could we then regard the single promise which we saw many times don’t even keep the single prayer as the end of our covenant with God? How can we be so brainwashed to think that they are now deeds of obedience that ought to flow from this covenant?

 suppose a couple has an awesome wedding ceremony.

 The promise to be faithful to each other in the presence of YHVH and witnesses.

 After the ceremony they shared a wonderful feast with their friends.

 they go to bed wake up the following morning and can't stop staring at each other. Everything is just wonderful and perfect.

They talk about their wedding and how awesome everything was.

 At 5:00 that same afternoon the bride starts preparing herself and dressing up.

 The bridegroom ask her where she is going and she replies that another man who wants to get to know her better ask her out.

 She says she's just going to have dinner with him.

 Will her husband be pleased with that?

 definitely not.

 So I ask you why do we do that to YHVH?

 The prayer of salvation means nothing without the relationship, without the love covenant that follows.

 Without covenant it has a bunch of meaningless words that I prayed.

 After the marriage the married couple can no longer diet people of the opposite sex.

 Their old lives have passed away and they are in a new covenant with their spouse.

It is time for the bride of YHVH to seek His face to find out what He likes and to avoid that which He hates.

In marriage a wife would often prepare food in a certain way because her husband loves it.

 through her relationship with her husband she has discovered what he likes and dislikes.

 Unfortunately we often want the protection and provision from our Groom in our relationship with YHVH but  when night falls we still want to dress up take off our rings and spend time with someone else (worldly things) while our spouse (Groom) wait for our return home.

 The Word of YHVH says that a covenant remains a covenant.

 Perhaps it is time for us to find out what our Bridegroom likes and to strive to please Him obedience not in perfectionism but in love.

 When we do this it would imply that we are beginning to understand covenant.

After a marriage the married couple do not ask other people what their spouse likes or dislikes. They rather ask their spouse.

it is no use asking the opinion of other people outside covenant.

 since the bride of Yeshua is in covenant and love relationship it is perhaps time for the bride to find out what her Bridegroom likes and dislikes.

 Maybe we would then also find the obedience which YHVH planted in our hearts to do what He likes and avoid what He dislikes.

 we will then be able to say that we are seeking the face of our Bridegroom because we know to an extent what His heart for my covenant with him is.

 In John 4  which we read earlier ABBA Father shows us this beautiful picture of how He is calling his bride to covenant.

 The word of Yeshua was on his way to Galilee and that He had to pass through Samaria.

 The road through Samaria was not the only way to Galilee.

 It is interesting that the original Greek expression for needed to go through needed to go through  means that it was the wall of YHVH for them to go through Samaria.

 Why? Because it was always will that His son Yeshua should have an appointment with the Samarian woman.

She was on her way to the well. nobody even looked at her. Her life was a mess.

 In those times women went to draw water from the well early in the morning.

 maybe she went later to avoid them.

 however someone was waiting for her at the well and His name was Yeshua. The word of YHVH teaches us He was tired which shows that He was human like us.

 He was sitting at the well when the woman came and He asked her for water.

 Note that the well was on the land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. we read about this in Genesis 48:22.

Genesis 48:22 KJV

[22] Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

The woman wanted to know why yes you are a Jew was asking her a Samaritan woman for water.

The Jews avoided the Samaritans because they were a mixed race from out of the Hebrews and Assyrians.

Furthermore in the Jewish culture a rabbi and teacher which he Yeshua was did not even come near a woman and would not speak to any women LET alone a Samaritan woman who was an outcast in the eyes of the world.

 However her Bridegroom the Son of YHVH starts this amazing conversation with her.

 Sometimes we sit at a well in our lives and feel like saying to ABBA Father “ Abba Im Sitting at the well. I messed up badly. I do not even understand covenant.”

Maybe we find it hard to belief that YHVH wants to speak to us or enter covenant with us, because we are mixed race in the spirit and all of us have messed up badly in areas in our lives.

However Yeshua was waiting for us at the well. he is waiting for us to bring us this covenant, Because when the Samaritan woman asked why he would ask her for water he answered, If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you give me a drink you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. yes you are is her gift from ABBA father but she still does not understand and asked Him to give her of the living water so she would never thirst again.

 Yeshua is inviting her into a faith covenant that she is interpreting his words in the flesh. does that sound familiar?

 It is interesting to note that the woman mentioned twice that she is not a Jew but it changed all but also refers to her ancestor Jacob twice who is also the ancestor of the Jews.

 why does she do this?

 YHVH is indeed the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. perhaps it is because neither Abraham,Isaac and Jacob where Jews as the Jewish nation came only later.

 Furthermore because there is only one bride and her ancestors as well as those of the Jewish nation or House of Judah who at Mount Sinai when the wedding covenant was received.

 We sometimes fail to see that you always redemption plan is for everyone who wishes to enter covenant and not limit to a race or nation.

 The woman says that Yeshua could not possibly be greater than her ancestor Jacob but he is.

 He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and he is speaking to her.

 in her mind the conversation does not have anything to do with marriage because she asks Yeshua to give her some of the living water so that she would not have to return to the wild everyday.

 She is completely unaware of the actual proposal yes she was busy making to her but Yeshua is about to invite her to covenant when he asks her to call her husband or as they would have said it with whom you are in covenant?

She asks for living water but yes she wants to know with whom she is in covenant. is this a strange change of events or what is happening here?

 suddenly everything starts falling into place because she says that she does not have a husband. Yeshua says that he is fully aware of the fact that she currently has now husband but that she had been in covenant with 5 already.

 When we return to Exodus 19 where YHVH first schools his children together for a marriage proposal and says that he will be their God and they will be his children. he furthermore says that he will be like a husband to his wife, a bridegroom is to his bride to them, his children.

 Here at Mount Sinai he always gives his bride and marriage contract (Ketubah), The Torah, or in Greek known as the Pentateuch – the first 5 books of the Bible.

he gives it to his children, his bride and she's his heart and character with them.

 But his bride chooses to walk away from Mount Sinai and turn her back on him.

 Then he says in Jeremiah 3:8 that his bride chose to commit adultery by worshipping other gods and to behave like a prostitute and that he would give her a bill of divorce:

Jeremiah 3:8 KJV

[8] And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

However later in Jeremiah 31:31-33 he says that he will make a new covenant with the House of Judah and the House of Israel that they will return to him and be his bride and that he will be their bridegroom.

 Note what he says about his marriage contract in verse 33:

Jeremiah 31:31-33 KJV

[31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: [33] but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

We have to understand that it is this love relationship that brings obedience in our relationship with YHVH.

We saw that Yeshua asked her with whom she was in covenant and indicated that he knew she had entered into a covenant five times before and that the man she was living with at the time of their conversation was not her husband.

 The Samaritan woman was not in covenant. likewise YHVH bride is living outside his covenant.

 we got so used do living like that and we are many times so afraid of making this commitment to him.

 we are many times so afraid of the word obedience as many live under the law that it means being under the law.

 we are so afraid that obedience means legalism and partaking in allsorts of rituals again that we runaway from obedience.

 Obedience to the word of YHVH and legalism or not the same in the word of YHVH.

 it is not like that at all because the love covenant is written on the tables of our hearts.

 a covenant cannot exist without obedience.

 a covenant is an agreement

 I promise you and you promise me and if I do not keep my promise the covenant is broken and dishonoured.

 I turned my back on covenant by not obeying the content thereof.

 we have a twisted perception

we are so afraid of the covenant while it is actually given by YHVH to be our safe haven.

 the enemy wants to deceive us so we would be blinded to the truth.

 he knows that once we entered into this covenant and keep our side of the contract there is a hedge around us and he would not be able to touch us.

 so he focuses our attention on unimportant matters, like the foster who worships while he is covered with a prayer shawl for example.

 Do we really think that it is dangerous to isolate ourselves  Set ourselves apart for YHVH the very purpose of a prayer Shoul do you seek intimacy with him shut out the world and to ask him to teach us?I think not.

 we want the provision and protection of our groom and would pray for this all day long.

 when it comes to obedience however we sing a different tune.

 We forget very quickly that ABBA father provides for and protect those who are in covenant with him not those who ignore his covenant.

 When a bride and groom say their marriage vows the covenant promise of the groom is for the bride only.

 We can love other people of the same and opposite sex with the love of Messiah as our brothers and sisters in Yeshua but the covenant promise is for our spouses only.

 He always would is no different. It is blatantly clear creation of YHVH.

 his covenant promise is for his bride only.

 Yeshua tells this woman that she has been part of the covenant before but that she is now outside covenant.

 he also tells her that he will give her the living water and that she will never thirst again.

he knows that she is a gentile but asked her to enter into covenant with him anyway, why?

 because his covenant invitation is for all.

 Then she speaks of Mount Gerizim The mountain way her ancestors worshiped. we read about it in Deuteronomy 11 verse 29 to 30

Deuteronomy 11:29-30 KJV

[29] And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal. [30] Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?

At this very mountain they declared that obedience would bring blessing and the disobedience would bring curses.

 The Samaritan woman knows this and she is well aware of the fact that she is outside covenant. He issue and then says to her in John 4:22-24

John 4:22-24 KJV

[22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. [23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

He always says that we do not even know whom we worship but that there will come a time that we will worship neither on Gerizim nor Jerusalem but when we will worship in spirit and in truth.

We are the bride of YHVH and he has this covenant with us. why are we so afraid of this covenant?

 we furthermore cannot share our covenant love which is for marriage) with just anybody.

It is meant for one spouse only.

 the same is true for you always covenant promise to his children, are we part of it or not?

 there is no other choice, we are either part of the covenant or we are not.

 intimacy can only exist inside this covenant while lust exists outside the covenant.

Intimacy can only exist inside the covenant and loyalty and obedience in the covenant leads to intimacy.

 How can we expect it to work differently with ABBA father?

 he gives us this marriage covenant, the ketubah.

 do we accept it or not? it is not complicated it's plain and simple, we have to choose.

 let us look at biblical marriage, since he always based his whole redemption plan on this in the perfect way.

 The Hebrew word for bride is kalah  Which means the completed or enclosed 1. we are the bride.

The Hebrew word for bridegroom is chatan which means he who enters into covenant.

 this means that the covenant is initiated by the bridegroom.

 the bride cannot approach the bridegroom and say that she has a covenant for him.

 that's not the way government is designed.

 the groom visits his bride to be and offers covenant to her.

 This picture comes from the Hebrew word for bride and bridegroom.

 the bridegroom offers covenant to the bride, if she accepts, she becomes the completed and enclosed of her groom.

YHVH’s plan is perfect.

 In biblical marriage the bridegroom’s father would choose the bride.

 When the bridegroom saw someone he finds it he had to asked his father to consider her as a bride for him.

 his father had to choose the bride.

 We read the following in John 15:16.

John 15:16 KJV

[16] Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

The bridegroom's father chose the bride.

 We find another example of this in Jude 14.

 the example however that we want to look into is the beautiful example given to us in Genesis 24 where Abraham chooses a bride for his son Isaac.

The father of the groom often had a friend who assisted him in choosing a bride for his son.

 Abraham had a most reliable worker named Eliezer.

 Since Abraham was old he sent Eliezer to the city of

Nahor (Nachor in Hebrew) in Mesopotamia (Aram Naharayim in Hebrew) to choose a bride for Isaac on his Behalf.

Eliezer agreed to go and left with 10 loaded camels.

He eventually arrived at a well in Mesopotamia.

However he did not know how to choose this bride, so he asked YHVH Elohim to confirm the identity of the bride to him by sending her to the well.

If she asked him whether she could give him some water and also offered to draw water for his camels, he would know she is the one, the bride to be.

Rebekah (Riv’kah in Hebrew) came along to the well did just that.

She also invited Eliezer to her home and family, where he firstly told them about Abraham, the father of the groom, and secondly about his son Isaac.

Eliezer then asked Rebekah if she would be Isaac’s bride.

 Likewise ABBA father sent us a comforted in the form of the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha’Kodesh) who testifies About the Father, (YHVH)  and the bridegroom, (Yeshua), As we wait for the Bridegroom to return.

 it is interesting to note here in Genesis 24 that Eliezer, who had to find or identify the bride for Isaac means comforter or helper in Hebrew.

 He therefore had to comfort the bride and told she would meet the bridegroom face to face.

 In John 15:26,Yeah sure says the following about the Holy Spirit or comforter:

John 15:26 KJV

[26] But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

He furthermore says in John 6:43-44 that no one will follow him unless the Father has drawn him closer to Him:

John 6:43-44 KJV

[43] Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. [44] No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Rebekah agreed to be Isaac’s wife.

 in a biblical marriage, the father of the bridegroom would arrange the marriage, but the bride had the choice whether or not she would accept the proposal of the groom.

 Likewise ABBA Father chose His bride by saying “this is My bride”.

 Holy Spirit testifies about the Father (YHVH) and the Son (Yeshua).

 ABBA Father is gathering His bride the bride who has chosen to enter into covenant with Him.

 Rebekah agrees to the marriage covenant without laying eyes on Isaac, and from this perspective 1 Peter 1:8 makes so much more sense.

1 Peter 1:8 KJV

[8] 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:

We agreed to become the issue as broad without seeing him, because the Holy Spirit convinces us through the word of YHVH.

 He’s truth convinces us to enter into this covenant because the issue is the fulfilment of all YHVH’s Promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20 KJV

[20] For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

We said that the bride could choose whether or not to enter into covenant this is clear in Genesis 24:57-58

Genesis 24:57-58 KJV

[57] And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. [58] And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

Rebekah’s family called her to determine whether she would say yes to the groom and she accepted. the marriage proposal had to take place at the home of the bride. Therefore, Eliezer Had to go from the wild to Rebeka’s home. We read the following regarding Father God and Yeshua in John 3:16

John 3:16 KJV

[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Yeshua came to the home of the bride (earth) to propose and to bring the covenant as the living word of YHVH (John 1:14) to the bride.

there is only one covenant.

 he came and he proposed by bringing the covenant.  we need to answer.

Exodus 19:16-19 KJV

[16] And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. [17] And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. [18] And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. [19] And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

We need to realise that YHVH is serious about covenant.

 Today many churches or teaching that grace has replaced obedience.

 However, you always were does not teach that and therefore it is unbiblical to teach.

 YHVH never intended his grace to replace obedience.

 grace draws as from son and office asked the opportunity to live and inter covenant something we cannot and do not deserve.

However, we still have to be obedient to you always word after entering covenant we still have to keep our side of the covenant.

 Both Deuteronomy 28:13 and John 14:15 make it clear that if we are in covenant with YHVH and we claim to love him we will obey him.

Deuteronomy 28:13 KJV

[13] And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

John 14:15 KJV

[15]  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

It is very important to understand this.

We’ve already seen in Joh 4, when the Samaritan woman asked Yeshua to give her the water of life. Yeshua seems to change the topic by asking her whom she is in covenant with.

We know however that He did not change the topic but was talking about her coming into covenant with Him from the very start.

We’ve seen that YHVH uses marriage to teach us about this covenant. marriage has always been part of YHVH character, being the blueprint of his plan for our salvation.

A BIBLICAL MARRIAGE CONSISTED OF THE FOLLOWING

1.      The engagement

2.       the marriage ceremony

3.       the wedding feast.

 We will start at the engagement process and will then return to the marriage proposal at Mount Sinai and see how you always hurt for covenant has always been the same.

 he does not change but remains the same, yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

 The engagement process started when the bridegroom and his father took the written marriage covenant proposal (Ketubah) to the home of the bride to present it to her.

 At her home, they talked about the Ketubah, which consisted of three parts:

·        The price to be paid for the bride:

 The price that the groom was offered for the bride was an indication of the bridegroom’s love for the bride and could be considered as the most important part of the ketubah. (see Exo22) or the engagement.

The bridegroom and his father negotiated the price to be paid although the bridegroom’s father had the final say.

 when we return to the garden of Gethsemane, we see Yeshua discussing the price for His bride with His Father (Luke 22:42)

Luke 22:42 KJV

[42] saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Remember that in a biblical marriage the father of the bridegroom had the final say when it came to the price to be paid for the bride.

 Hebrew word for price: mohar

Gethsemane, His “His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground”.

 The price for the bride indicated the bridegroom’s love for her and the price issuer paid for us his bride was his blood and his life.

 This is confirmed in Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 1:18-19.

Acts 20:28 KJV

[28] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV

[18] forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

·        The promises the bridegroom made to his bride

this was the second part of the engagement.

 this would include promises to support and honour her, lead her in truth, provide food, clothing and protection, and live in harmony with her as his bride for example.

 The word of YHVH is full of the promises that he makes to us his bride.

 what an amazing covenant of promises made to us.

·        what's the bridegroom expected of the bride

this was the third board of the engagement process.

 this was what the bridegroom expected the bride to promise him.

 things like absolute loyalty, that she would love the bridegroom only.

 We read the content of YHVH’s Ketubah to his bride in Exodus 20:2-5

Exodus 20:2-5 KJV

[2] I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [5] thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

at home of the bride, at the time of the proposal, the parties opened the Ketubah and presented it to the bride.

 Then the bridegroom followed by the bride which signed the agreement in the presence of two witnesses.

 We cannot change the Ketubah that YHVH gave us, his word.

 he said that if we loved him, he wanted absolutely loyalty from us.

 we belong to him, and he is not prepared to share us with anyone most definitely not with any other gods or idols.

 we either belong to him or we do not.

 we could sign or decide not to sign.

 the bride could choose whether she would accept the covenant. if she agreed she would enter into the provision of the groom.

 Look at the provision YHVH promises to us in Matthew 6:28-30 and Philippians 4:19:

Matthew 6:28-29 KJV

[28] And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: [29] and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Philippians 4:19 KJV

[19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

We do not have to be concerned about what to eat, drink, or wear, because our Father and Groom promises that He will meet all our needs – but only to those who are part of the bride and have entered covenant. This is a detrimental part that we often miss in church.

 The next step of the engagement stage was drinking from the cup of the covenant, (Hebrew term for this is Kidushim).

 The bride was given a cup containing the fruit of the vine or grape juice, (Hebrew word Tirosh) And had to agree to entering into the covenant by taking the cup and drinking from it.

 if she decided not to enter into covenant with the groom, she would push away the cup and not drink.

 Despite everything the groom and his father had done and offered up to that point the bride still had to choose by either drinking from the cup of covenant or refusing it.

 she had to do this in the presence of the witnesses.

 Our bridegroom Yeshua says the following in Luke 9:26 regarding our acceptance or rejection of his Ketubah:

Luke 9:26 KJV

[26] For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

The bride had to confirm that she accepted him as her groom, that she accepted the proposal and that she would become his bride.

 In Matthew 26 we see how Yeshua pours the cup of covenant, (communion), gives it to his disciples and tells them to all drink from it because it represented his blood shed for his bride and the renewed covenant. we read how they all drank from the cup.

 We also read about this new covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-33:

Jeremiah 31:31-33 KJV

[31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: [33] but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

In Matthew 26:29 we read:

Matthew 26:29 KJV

[29] But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

The word henceforth comes from the Hebrew word arti, which means “here, now, at this present moment”.

Why does he show us say that when he drinks from this cup again it will only be in his father’s Kingdom?

 this is because once the pride had accepted the covenant and had drunk from the cup, and once the bridegroom had also drunk from it, it secured her as his bride, and it was to be a sure thing that the wedding would take place in future.

 the bridegroom would furthermore leave to go and prepare a place for them, and they would only drink from the cup again at the consummation of the marriage after he would come to fetch his bride.

 Yeshua has given us the cup of covenant as part of his proposal to us.

 we will only drink from the cup with him again at the wedding feast of the lamb.

 This is why he says that he would only drink from the cup again when he is in his father’s Kingdom with his bride.

 our bridegroom gives us a chance to become part of the bride and will drink from the cup with us in heaven.

 The word of YHVH says in 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 KJV

[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Once the Hebrew couple has drank from the cup they were officially engaged, and the bridegroom will leave the brides home with the following words I go to prepare a place for you.

 Yeshua uses these very same words in John 14:2

John 14:2 KJV

[2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 After preparing a place for his bride the bridegroom would return to fetch his bride and take her to the place prepare.

the engagement usually lasted between one and two years.

 during this time the bride was separated from the bridegroom.

 they were engaged because she had signed and thus entered into covenant.

 although they did not live together as yet she already belonged to him because she had promised covenant to him.

 During the approximate 2 years of their engagement the bridegroom would go to his father’s home to build a marriage chamber where they would enter to consummate the marriage.

 the groom built what was called a Chuppa (marriage chamber) Under which the marriage ceremony would take place.

 the father of the bridegroom determined the standards for the marriage chamber which were very high, and he had to inspect and confirm that the building work had been completed to their quiet standard before the bridegroom could return to fetch his bride.

 during the marriage ceremony the couple would stand under the Chuppa And listen to the ketubah being read.

 they would then enter into the marriage chamber and stay there for seven days to consummate the marriage (to become one in flesh).

 The wedding feast lasted for seven days.

 The bridegroom himself did not know when the marriage would take place because it depended on his father’s approval of the marriage chamber.

 the full only his father knew when the wedding would take place.

 it is actually amazing to read that in history during this engagement period of approximately 2 years if the people were to ask the groom when he was getting married, he would merely say only my father knows.

 We read the following in Matthew 24 verse 36:

Matthew 24:36 KJV

[36]  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Yeshua our bridegroom, indicates that neither he nor the angels know when he would return to fetch his bride. only the father knows.

 when you sure had come to fetch his bride the wedding ceremony and feast of the Lamb will take place, for seven years while judgment is poured out on earth.

 Before the Hebrew bridegroom left the home of his bride to prepare their place, he would give her gifts to remind her of him while she waited for him to come and fetch her.

 during this time that the bride waited for her bridegroom to prepare a place for her and then returned to feature she used these gifts and had certain tasks to complete.

 We read some of these in the book of Esther.

 1st the bride had to undergo a process called sanctification by going through a baptismal bath, Hebrew word mikva.

She had to immerse and wash herself in water during this process of cleansing.

 this purification process he’s mentioned in Esther 2:9:

Esther 2:9 KJV

[9] And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

the bride had to avoid certain foods and sometimes fasted because she wanted to look her very best when her bridegroom would come and fetch her.

 In Matthew 9 verse 15 Yeshua says the following regarding the bride, fasting and the bridegroom:

Matthew 9:15 KJV

[15] And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Romans 6:1-10 teachers ask that through baptism we become part of the death of Yeshua on the cross and then share in the resurrection and a new life in him.

 Is for the very reason that we as the broader fear she will go through our baptism mikva.

The word of YHVH teaches us Ephesians 5 :26 that we are washed by the word of YHVH and through prayer, worship and fasting because we the bride want to look our best when the bridegroom returns to take us home.

 without spot or blemish.

This is the process of sanctification which we the bride are undergoing while we wait for our bridegroom to return.

 During this time of waiting the Hebrew bride would set herself apart for her groom.

 She lay down her former ways of being single and looked up her new way of life with her bridegroom and the waiting for him to fetch her.

 Whenever she would leave her home during this time of waiting, she would rape and wear a veil over her face.

 by doing this people acknowledge her as being set at port for her groom because the bridegroom had paid the price for her.

 The word of you always says that those who are part of the bride or to be set apart for him. Leviticus 20:26, 1 Peter 1:16, 1 Peter 2:9

 we no longer belong to this world but to him John 15:19.

 We find an example of this in Genesis 24:65 where Rebekah put servile over her face and prepares herself to be ready when the bridegroom Isaac meets her to take her to his home.

 in this period of waiting the bride must have also become desolate at times.

 Times that she would be in despair and doubt whether her bridegroom would ever return for her, but the bridegroom had given her his word and that was all she had. His word and the promise.

 this was enough for her. why is this not enough for us when it comes to our groom?

 we must wait for our bridegroom to return in a similar way.

 sometimes we lose hope and are in despair, but the word teaches us that those who persevere until the end will receive the crown of life and share in him and in his love.  James 1:12 and Matthew 24:13.

 The Hebrew bridegroom had two friends who accompanied him.

 One of these friends also accompanied the brought to a new home when the bridegroom came to take her home while the other accompanied the bridegroom.

 the friend accompanies the bridegroom went ahead of him to make the announcement when the bridegroom had made certain decisions regarding the marriage.

 the bridegroom had meetings with his two friends regarding the marriage ceremony and shared his plans with them during the time that he did not see his bride.

 his friends also delivered certain messages to the bride.

 After the friend of the bridegroom had accompanied the broad and her bridegroom to their new home he waited outside as the bride and bridegroom entered their new home.

 When we look back at the wedding ceremony at Mount Sinai, we have to realise that YHVH only has one word which is perfect.

 the word portrays the intertwined story of one promise, one plan for salvation and one covenant.

 At Mount Sinai he always told Moses exactly what his people had to do.

 Jeremiah 2:2 tells us that the Israelites became his bride in the wilderness.

Jeremiah 2:2 KJV

[2] Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

In Exodus 19:17 Moses brings the bride to the bridegroom just like their friend accompanies the Hebrew bride to the place where the marriage ceremony would take place, and which would become the couple’s new home.

Exodus 19:17 KJV

[17] And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

later in Exodus 33:11 YHVH called Moses and asked him to bring his bride.

 Moses is called a friend of YHVH and this friend of YHVH takes the bridegroom’s bright to Mount Sinai.

Exodus 33:11 KJV

[11] And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

 Remember the Hebrew bridegroom would discuss his wedding plans with his two friends.

 In Matthew 17 we read that Moses and Elijah were with the issuer on the mountain where he was transfigured.

 they were the friends of the bridegroom.

 Moses accompanied the bride and Elijah made way for the bridegroom and announced what would happen.

 We read in Malachi 3:1 about the messenger who would prepare the why for the Lord.

Malachi 3:1 KJV

[1] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Luke 7:27 confirms that this messenger was John the Baptist.

Luke 7:27 KJV

[27] This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

How could the messenger be John the Baptist if we had seen Yeshua two friends on the mountain where Moses and Elijah though?

 It is on set in the word of YHVH.

 In Luke one verse 17 we read that John the Baptist would have the same spirit and power as Elijah, and that he would prepare the nation of Israel for the coming of the Lord.

Luke 1:7 KJV

[7] And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Knowing that John the Baptist went ahead of the bridegroom and made announcements for him gives new meaning to John 3:29 we join the Baptist says that the bride belongs to the bridegroom but that friend of the bridegroom is listening to hear when the bridegroom comes.

John 3:29 KJV

[29] He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

Yeshua came to fulfil this.

 we saw that 2 friends would announce the coming of the bridegroom. We see yes you are speaking to Moses and Elijah on the mountain of transfiguration in Matthew 17.

 Then again, we read in Revelation 11 about the two witnesses who are Moses and Elijah.

 We see the golden thread of you always plan for salvation portrayed through the imagery of biblical marriage, his promise of a bridegroom for his bride and the involvement of two friends of the groom.

 Let us summarise what happened at Mount Sinai where YHVH was making his children his bride.

 In Exodus 19 we read that the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai three months after leaving Egypt and travelling through the desert of Sinai.

 Moses the friend of YHVH accompanied the bride to the place where the ceremony would take place.

 remember before the bride went to the ceremony to stand with her bridegroom under the  Chuppa (thick cloud on mount Sinai)Exodus 19 :16. she had to undergo a process of sanctification.

She had to wash herself and in Exodus 19:10-11 YHVH told Moses that the people had to sanctify themselves and washed their clothes in preparation for when he would come down to meet them at Mount Sinai.

Exodus 19:10-11 KJV

[10] And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, [11] and be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

On the third day a cloud covered the mountain and Thunder, lightning and smoke came from it as YHVH spoke.

 on the third day the bride and bridegroom became one.

 our bridegroom was raised on the third day so that we could become one with him, have life and become part of the bride.

 The Chuppa symbolises you always promised that we would be under his covering that we would be in folded in the glory of YHVH.

 On Mount Sinai ABBA father built his own Chuppa in the form of a thick cloud covering the mountain as he calls on his bride.

 He always thought giving the Ketubah or marriage contract, (Pentateuch/Torah, 1^st 5 books in the Bible) To his bride by writing with his finger on the 2 tables of stone.

 He calls his bride to the foot of Mount Sinai and starts giving her the ketubah.

She agrees to be His And to do everything that he has specified in his instructions, Torah.  Exodus 24:3

 Remember in module one we saw the very making of the Torah as a picture of your show on the cross.

 Remember the signing of the Ketubah Had to take place in the presence of two witnesses.

 to this day there must be one witness for the bride and one for the bridegroom during a marriage ceremony.

 As your way writes this Ketubah for his bride, he calls heaven and earth as witnesses, he’s 2 witnesses.

Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV

[19] I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Deuteronomy 30 gives you always promised to his bride and stipulates what would happen if she does not keep her promises and become part of him.

 your way cause heaven as the witness for the bridegroom and earth as the witness for the bride.

 The friend of the Hebrew bridegroom would accompany the married couple to their new home and wait outside when they entered the marriage chamber.

 Moses the friend of YHVH accompanied the bride to the ceremony and led her to YHVH’s promises.

 He always said that he would take his bride to the promised land that the Israelites would live there as his bride and that he would be their God.

 Moses the friend of the bridegroom accompanied the bride to the door of the promised land.

 he never entered the land though.

 Moses remained outside as the friend of the groom so YHVH said that he himself would Bury Moses.

 Moses could not enter because he had brought the bride and had accompanied her.

 he had completed his task as the friend of the groom.

 Deuteronomy 34 tells us that Moses had good eyesight and that he was in good health at the age of 120.

 Joshua whose name means salvation like Yeshua had to lead the Israelites into the promised land.

 the friend of the groom was to lead the bride to the promise, but the groom is to take her in. what an amazing picture.

 He always calling us to accept his Ketubah which he has written and presented to us. he wants us to share in his covenant by entering it and signing the contract.

The text portrays several key biblical characters in the context of the marriage covenant between YHVH (God) and His people, often referred to as the bride:

1. YHVH (God): The Bridegroom who initiates the covenant and promises love, protection, and provision to His bride.

2. Yeshua (Jesus): The Son of God, representing the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant, who offers living water and invites all to enter into a relationship with Him.

3. The Samaritan Woman: Represents those outside the covenant who are invited to enter into a relationship with YHVH, symbolizing redemption and acceptance.

4. Moses: The friend of the Bridegroom who leads the bride (Israel) to the covenant at Mount Sinai, acting as a mediator.

5. Rebekah: Represents the ideal bride who willingly accepts the covenant, paralleling the acceptance of YHVH's promises.

6. John the Baptist: The messenger who prepares the way for the Bridegroom, symbolizing the call to repentance and readiness for the covenant.

These characters illustrate the themes of covenant, commitment, and the relationship between God and His people.

Key Characters and Their Roles

• YHVH (God): The Bridegroom who initiates the covenant, promising love, protection, and provision to His bride.

• Yeshua (Jesus): The Son of God, fulfilling the covenant, offering living water, and inviting all to a relationship with Him.

• The Samaritan Woman: Represents those outside the covenant, symbolizing redemption and acceptance into YHVH's family.

• Moses: The friend of the Bridegroom, mediating and leading Israel to the covenant at Mount Sinai.

• Rebekah: The ideal bride who willingly accepts the covenant, paralleling the acceptance of YHVH's promises.

• John the Baptist: The messenger preparing the way for the Bridegroom, symbolizing the call to repentance and readiness for the covenant.

• Joshua: The leader who succeeds Moses, guiding Israel into the Promised Land, symbolizing faithfulness and fulfillment of God's promises.