In Genesis 24, Abraham sends his unnamed servant to find a bride for his son, Isaac. This historical account is a picture of the Holy Spirit's work today. For two thousand years, the Holy Spirit has been preparing a bride—the Church—for the Son, Jesus Christ.

To understand this relationship, we must look at ancient Jewish wedding customs. God did not copy human traditions; He instituted these customs to illustrate His plans. In ancient Israel, a wedding began with a betrothal. Once the covenant was established, the bridegroom would return to his father's house. There, he would build a new dwelling place for his bride.

During this time, the bride waited. She did not know the exact day or hour when the bridegroom would return. Only the bridegroom's father decided when the building was complete and when the wedding could take place. When the father gave the command, the bridegroom would go to claim his bride.

Jesus spoke of this custom to His disciples.

"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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."John 14:2-3 (NKJV)

We are currently in the waiting period. The price for the bride has been paid with the blood of Jesus. He is preparing our place, and the Holy Spirit is preparing us. We do not know the exact day of His return, but we live in constant readiness.

"'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.'This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Ephesians 5:31-32 (NKJV)

Our hope is not in the collapse of the world, but in the arrival of our Bridegroom.

We do not wait for a rescue; we wait for a wedding.