Types of the Bride of Christ: Zipporah

Zipporah was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Reuel, who was the priest of Midian.  She was one of Jethro’s seven daughters.  There is far less written about her than other bride types, yet there is still much to glean from Scripture.

After killing an Egyptian who struck a Hebrew, Moses fled to Midian.  There he helped Zipporah and her sisters who were being pushed away from a well as they were trying to get water for their flock.  This is reminiscint of Rebekah, another type of the bride of Christ, who also meets her bridegroom by the well. 

Reuel opens his home to Moses and gives him Zipporah as a wife — a Gentile bride.  We see a similar pattern with Asenath, the Gentile bride given to Joseph (another type for Christ) who was also the daughter of a priest.  Zipporah coming out of her family of seven sisters has been compared to the bride coming out from the church.  Zipporah was also given to Moses during the time of his rejection.

Zipporah and Moses had a son named Gershom, “for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.” (Exodus 2:23)  Their second son was Eliezer, which means God is my help.  When Moses returns to Egypt, Scripture tells us that the Lord “met him and tried to kill him.” (Exodus 4:24)  The Hebrew verb for “kill” used here is also sometimes used to mean the death of wisdom.  Blumenthal writes: “At this moment what God expressed to Moses by threatening to “kill” him is the demand that the prophet dedicate himself totally and irrevocably to the people he is about to lead.”     

That may explains what happens next.  Zipporah takes a sharp stone and cuts off the foreskin of her son (which one we do not know, some suggest her firstborn) and casts it to touch Moses’ feet, saying, “Surely a bloody husband art thou to me” (Exodus 4:24-26).  Extra sources tell us that Moses had failed to circumcise one of his sons, because Zipporah was opposed to it.  As far as we can tell, however, she was the first woman of the Bible to circumcise her son. 

The NET Bible notes suggest that Zipporah was telling Moses, “I have delivered you from death, and your return to life makes you my bridegroom a second time, this time by blood bridegroom, a bridegroom acquired by blood.”  Christ is our bridegroom acquired by blood, but I need to dig deeper because I think there is more to this passage that is not yet clear. 

Later, Zipporah is secure at her father’s house during the time when God delivers His judgments on Egypt.  This is a type for the bride being raptured and spared during the tribulation period.   

Chitwood writes in “The Bride in Genesis,” “Zipporah did not accompany Moses to Egypt when he appeared to his brethren the second time and was not present during any of this dealings with his brethren in Egypt… she was separated from Moses during this time and reunited with him only after the Exodus.”  

I know this post is about Zipporah, but in reading Exodus 4, I had to chuckle as Moses tries his best (three times) to back out of what the Lord has asked him to do.  We all may have doubts at times, but I cannot imagine actually standing before the Lord, trying to convince Him to change His mind!   

Types of the Bride of Christ: Asenath

Asenath was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.  Her marriage to Joseph certainly allied him with one of the most powerful priestly families in Egypt.

Asenath’s name is of Egyptian origin and it may mean that she belongs to the goddess Neit.  She is only briefly mentioned in Scripture.  

From historical accounts, we know that she was a pagan.  Some Jewish writers believe that she was a proselyte (a convert).  These writers suggest that she was first spurned by Joseph and repented of her idolatry by wearing a sackcloth and ashes and disposing of her wealth.  Jewish legend goes on to say that she lost her beauty, until she washed her face in pure water and became marvelously beautiful.  Then she married Joseph. 

Another Jewish legend is that bees covered her and stung her lips to remove her false prayers.  Other non-Biblical stories are that she saved Joseph’s life when Potiphera was going to slay him, testifying that her mother lied about her accusations.  Or that she was really a member of Jacob’s family — the daughter of Joseph’s sister, Dinah — and conceived in her rape by Shechem.

Joseph is one of the strongest types for Christ in Scripture.  What we do know from the Bible is that Asenath becomes Joseph’s bride during the time of his rejection.  He also marries her before the seven years of famine. 

In fact, we do not hear of Asenath again until after the famine, which I believe is telling us that the bride will be removed from the earth before the Tribulation. 

Reference: Jewish Encyclopedia

Types of the Bride of Christ: Rachel

Rachel was the younger daughter of Laban and the wife of Jacob.  Jacob — a type for Christ — first meets her at the Haran well.  This is another type of the bride being taken from those who draw from the well, which is the Word of God.

One of two brides

Jacob served seven years to be able to marry Rachel, just as Christ has come first as a servant, prior to marrying His bride.  Laban deceived Jacob and gave him his other daughter, Leah, because it was the right of the firstborn.  Leah represents Israel (the firstborn, which will be dealt with first) and the bride of God the Father.  Rachel typifies the bride of Christ. (Arlen Chitwood)

Jacob had to serve two periods of seven years to claim his bride.  Jesus will also complete two periods of time before he claims His bride: first as prophet and second as our High Priest in Heaven. (Arlen Chitwood)

Jacob had to work another seven years to marry Rachel.  He preferred Rachel and God favored Leah by giving her children.  When Rachel could not conceive, she gave her handmade Bilhah to Jacob and she bore Dan and Naphtali.  Then Rachel became pregnant with Jacob. 

 A perplexing mystery

When Jacob and his family ran away from Laban, Rachel stole her father's household gods (teraphim) and concealed them when he searched her tent.  

Scripture does not explain why she stole them. Did she want to prevent her father from practicing idolatry?  Or is Scripture telling us that even a bride of Christ can be tempted by idols of this world?   

The Little Children

I was reading 1 John (KJV) and noticed that the author addresses multiple audiences:

• My little children (my dear children in the NIV)
• Brethren and my brethren (dear friends in the NIV)
• Fathers, young men, and children (The IVP Bible Background says this represents different stages of faith; fathers held positions of honor and authority; young men had strength and vigor, but were still vulnerable to temptation; children were still learning)
• Beloved (Rabbi Meir says beloved is Israel) 

I created a table so I could look at the passages side-by-side and noticed that the Greek word for little children was different in just one verse.

1 John 2:1	Tekníon
1 John 2:12	Tekníon
1 John 2:18	Paidíon
1 John 2:28	Tekníon
1 John 3:7	Tekníon
1 John 3:18	Tekníon
1 John 4:4	Tekníon
1 John 5:21	Tekníon

1 John 2:18: Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come even now are there many antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time. (KJV)

I looked up the Greek words using the Complete Word Study Bible:

• Tekníon: Child, a little child.  Used only figuratively and always in the plural.  A term of affection by a teacher to his disciples

• Paidíon: Child, a little child, either male or female. A child recently born, a baby, an infant.  Metaphorically in 1 Cor 14:20, “be not children in understanding,” meaning weak, ignorant, childish.  As an endearing appellation for the followers in Christ

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus says: Verily I say unto you Except ye be converted and become as little children [paidíon] ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (KJV, notation added)

The late pastor John White preached that it is the little children [paidíon] who are entering the kingdom. They are submissive to the Lord.  He also refers to little children as "a body of believers taken out of the body” who will be great in the kingdom.  

Little children are also the sons and the brethren or brothers of Christ, who are those who are seeking to enter the kingdom by doing the will of the Father (Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:21; 18:3; 19:23-24, Mark 9:47; 10:23-25; Luke 18:24-25; John 3:5; Acts 14:22). 

Scripture tells us that some will only see the kingdom and not everyone will enter the kingdom:

John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Matthew 7:21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

If we are striving to be little children and enter the kingdom, how do we know what the will of the Father is? White says we discover it by studying the Bible.

Will We Follow Him?

So they called Rebekah and said to her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go. (Genesis 24:58, Amplified Bible)

I will go. Three simple words that epitomized Rebekah’s faith in her bridegroom, a man she did not even know! She was willing to leave her home and her people, a type of those believers who are wiling to leave everything behind to follow Christ and become His bride.

And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16, emphasis mine).

Ruth clung to Naomi, and professed that she would follow her while Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and returned to her people, a type of those believers who remain faithful in Christ and those who turn back to the world.

Then the Lord rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of the heavens. He overthrew, destroyed, and ended those cities, and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But [Lot’s] wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19, 24-26)

This is another type of the saved believer who does not seek first the kingdom and looks longingly back to this world. Throughout Scripture, we see people who falter at some point during their race. Esau sells his birthright for a mere cup of stew. Moses disobeys the Lord by striking the rock twice and is not allowed to enter the Promised Land. In fact, of the estimated 2.5 million Israelites who were believed to be living in the desert during that time, only two men followed God and are able to enter the land: Joshua and Caleb. The others who did not harken to God’s voice are not even allowed to see it (Numbers 14:22-30).

Paul mentions a thorn in his flesh that the Lord refuses to remove despite his pleas on three occasions. I can imagine him crying out:  Lord, give me the strength, endurance, and faith to follow You in all ways and to seek first Your kingdom no matter what the cost.

Satan’s plan remains the same as it was in the garden, which is to disqualify man from inheriting the kingdom. He attacks each of us in different ways. Learn more and be encouraged by John Herbert’s excellent sermons about the three enemies that can disqualify us from the race: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

A Double Portion

I have been thinking about how blessed I am to be gaining deeper insights about the gospel of grace — the milk, salvation of the spirit, and the free gift of eternal life, plus the gospel of the kingdom — the meat, salvation of the soul, and the reward of entrance into the Millennial Kingdom; knowledge that I consider to be my “earthly” double portion.

Had my eyes and ears not been opened to see and hear the gospel of the kingdom, I would have spent the remainder of my Sundays in a Laodicean church, hearing subtle variations of the same message week after week.

I would have continued to struggle wearily under weight of this world without any real encouragement or the lasting comfort of our blessed hope, which is the visible and earthly return of our Lord Christ Jesus.

I would not have been warned that the hour is growing very late and that I need to be in the Word and resting in God every day, allowing Him to work through me to produce works of gold and silver — and not self-driven works of hay and stubble — so that when I stand before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ, I have a chance to receive the reward of salvation of my soul, my heavenly double portion.

I would have continued to believe that all Christians are the bride of Christ, that we are all overcomers, and that we will all receive the same inheritance.

I would have been one of the five foolish virgins, awakened from my slumber at the midnight hour, begging the five wise virgins to give me some of their oil before the door was shut forever. I would not have understood that I must buy that oil for myself by studying Scripture from beginning to end, learning more about the Bridegroom and the things that I must bind and loose if I hope to be found worthy enough to become His bride.

Through the parables in Matthew, Jesus tells me that if I am a wise and faithful servant who provides meat in due season, and if I am faithful over a few things, I can become a ruler over many things in the Millennial Kingdom. It is hard to imagine.

I think it would be humbling enough just to gain entrance into the kingdom and feel His presence from behind, like the woman who touched his garments in Mark 5:21-34.