Jewish Matchmaker - Like the Holy Spirit finding a bride for Yeshua (Jesus)

Since ancient times, it was customary for the father to choose the bride for his son. In many cases, the father relied on the services of a matchmaker to help him chose a person of virtue and integrity.

The Hebrew word for "matchmaker" is Shadkhan, and comes from the root word Shidukh, which means "match."  The Aramaic translation is Sheket, or "silence," and implies tranquility or peacefulness.  The significant role of the Shadkhan can be seen from its root word, Shidukh (match).  God himself acted as the first matchmaker with Adam and Eve. 

The custom in olden times respecting marriage differed from the custom of our day.  God evidently arranged that Jewish customs should illustrate spiritual things.  Instead of Isaac seeking a bride, Abraham sought a bride for him, by sending Eliezer, his servant.  The picture is complete, as Yeshua declared in John 6:44, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him (or invite him)." 

We read in Genesis 24 how Abraham's servant Eliezer (God's helper) acted as a matchmaker, modeled after Yahweh, to find a suitable bride for Abraham's son, Isaac.

Genesis 24:2 says, "And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh." 

The Midrash explains the name "Damascus Eliezer" by dividing the word "DaMeSeK" (Damascus) into two words-a technique known as "notarikon." Thus, "Dolah uMeSek" means: "draws and gives to drink from the teachings of his teacher to others" (Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 28b). In this way, the Midrash turned Eliezer into a wise man who drew from the teachings of Abraham and imparted them to others.

The name "Eliezer" in Hebrew means "God of help or God's helper."  In much the same way, God the Father sent His helper the Ruach Ha Kodesh, or Holy Spirit, to His family and body of believers to take a bride for His son, Yeshua.  Just as Eve was taken from Adam's side, Rebekah was taken from among Abraham's kindred. So it will be for Yeshua's bride.  The Bride of Christ will come out from among the family of God (body of believers).

We see the act of the servant placing his hand under the father's thigh in verse 2, demonstrating they had an intimate relationship.  Like Elohim, God is one, but He is also the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-there is a perfect and intimate relationship between the three persons of the Godhead.

In the "covenant between the pieces," Abraham presents "Damascus Eliezer" as the "steward of my household" (Genesis 15:2), or "the son of my house" (verse 3), who will receive Abraham's inheritance after his death, if he has no descendants.

In the ancient East, a childless person would adopt someone-often a slave which he freed for this purpose-who would serve him during his life, bury him, and be his heir.  "The son of my house" therefore means a slave who was freed via a process of adoption, to perform the tasks that a son would normally have done.

We too have been adopted into the family of God, joint-heirs with Yeshua.  Romans 8:14-17 proclaims:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and join-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

It is important to note several people who were involved in the selection process.  Abraham prayed; Eliezer was sent; God directed and ordained. 

How to be Chosen for Greatness

Eliezer laid a fleece before Yahweh, communing with Him concerning this important decision.  A devoted father and a trusted servant played a vital role in the selection of the bride.  The task required God's helper, seeking a bride for the Father's son, keeping his sworn oath. Yeshua speaks of God's helper in John 15:26: "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."