“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.” John 14:16
It is difficult to grasp the fathomless meaning of the essence of what God calls, “the Comforter,” much less being able to understand the extent to which this blessed gift of God can, and will work in the heart of a believer. So, in entering into this matter of God’s Comforter, this other Comforter, we rely upon the Spirit of truth Himself to lead us into all truth, and to enable us to grasp what is needful so that by Him, according to the will and purpose of God, Christ might be exalted, lifted up, adored and worshipped. The wondrous service rendered as a result of the blessed work of the Comforter will certainly be received by the Father as a fragrant aroma of God’s goodness, mercy, and love. Is it not ultimately the goal of giving the Comforter, that He should elevate Christ in the church, the body of Christ, manifesting His life, light, love, and glory? Is it not to elevate Christ as Lord and God that all men would see and know that He is God? Is it not that God would again be glorified in HIs creation, a fallen creation, by the revelation of the work of Christ on the Cross, and the outworking of His blessed, full salvation in the hearts of those who truly trust Him? Herein lies the great purpose of the coming of “another Comforter,” to elevate Christ and His work above all that is of this earth, and world, that men might look unto Him, and cry out to Him to be saved from this present, crooked generation…and this for eternity. So, where do we begin, and how can we understand the ministry of this blessed, promised, Comforter, this Spirit of truth, Spirit of revelation, this Teacher, Guide, and source of strength and power? Let us begin with the single, and simple, illustration of Isaac, the son of Abraham.
Scripture tells us that Isaac was the son of promise. He was chosen by God, according to the promise that He had given to Abraham, to be his heir, the one who would carry with him a covenant specifically given to his father, but one which would stretch down history for thousands of years, declaring and providing for the salvation of sinful man. This covenant would speak of a “Seed,” one by whom all the families of the earth would be blessed. God specifically told Abraham: “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 22:23) How is it that in the midst of declared blessing, and the revealtion of the love and goodness of God, we need to consider a Comforter?
When Isaac was about forty years old, the servant of Abraham was sent to Mesopotamia to seek a wife for Isaac. Sarah, his mother had died, and Isaac had felt very keenly and deeply such a great loss. He certainly did not fully understand his need, as he was most certainly preoccupied with what the loss of his beloved mother really meant. It would be when the servant of Abraham returned with Rebekah, God’s choice for Isaac, that Scripture tells us that, “…she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” (Gen. 24:67) Here is this man Isaac, this son of the promise, this one who is to carry on the torch of the knowledge of the saving, covenant-establishing, and covenant-keeping God, that multitudes and nations might truly be blessed with eternal salvation. And yet, when that which was so dear to his heart was removed forever, Isaac felt keenly and profoundly the need, the sorrow, the loss. Who could fill that void? His father Abraham? No. Only God could provide the perfect remedy in His wisdom, and that was to be Him working in and through Rebekah. God would comfort the heart of Isaac by His provision of Rebekah. To comfort is to heal, and to fill.
Dear Father, Fill us this day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.