In the book of Genesis. One will find that it
wasn't enough for the God of the universe to simply say what the future
would bring concerning his plan of redemption for the world, through the
sacrifice of his son. He, in his awesome abilities told it thousands
years before it happened symbolically, through the lives of individuals
and nations. This article will go into the symbolisms that prophetically
deal with the subject of the Old and New Covenants as revealed in
Genesis. Obviously this is not all the symbolism found in Genesis but it
seems to be the main thrust.
The Children of Abraham
Since this article delves heavily into the subject of Israel which
appears to be such a controversial subject in this era. It seems good to
cover up front what is plainly declared in the New Testament by Jesus
and his Apostle's teachings instead of teaching what may be a new or
controversial subject to many, via biblical symbolisms. What one will
find if they properly understand the Bible, is that the Apostles of the
New Testament are teaching exactly what the Prophets of the Old
testament were teaching, in the sense of doctrine and prophecy. That is
the main thrust of this article, to prove that what is taught about
Israel and the Old and New Covenants in the New Testament, is also what
is taught in Genesis.
In Galatians 3: The Apostle plainly teaches:
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was
accounted to him for righteousness. 7. Understand therefore that they
which are of faith, they are the
children of Abraham. 8. And the scripture,
foreseeing that God would justify the gentiles through faith,
beforehand preached the gospel to Abraham, saying, "in you shall all
nations be blessed."
As it relates to the article. The point that is being made, is that
this verse says: Whoever (Jew or gentile) is of the faith of /in Jesus
Christ, they are the children of
Abraham. Not symbolically, figuratively or even spiritually, but
literally the children of Abraham. Many will say at this point
that the word literal to describe gentiles as Abrahams children is
absurd. To which I would agree heartily; if God beforehand did not
literally have in mind all nationalities when he used the term,
"children of Abraham." Preaching the gospel to Abraham thousands
of years in advance. This is the very aim of this article, to prove that
the book of Genesis teaches this over and over. Lets observe how Jesus
sees it in John 8:
37. I know that you are Abraham's descendants;
but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. 38. I
speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you
have seen with your father. 39. They answered him, "Abraham is our
father." Jesus said to them, If you were
Abraham's children, you would do the things Abraham did. 40. But
now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have
heard of God: Abraham did not do that. 41. You do what your father
does. Then said they to him, We were not born out of wedlock; we have
one Father, which is God. 42. Jesus said to them, If God were your
Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God;
neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43. Why don't you understand
my speech? it's because you cannot hear my word. 44.
You are of your father the devil, and the
desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and lived not according to the truth, because there is no
truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a
liar, and the father of it. 45. This is why when I tell you the truth,
you do not believe me.
Jesus himself teaches exactly the same thing his apostle does in
Galatians. That God does not consider wicked men even if they are
physical descendants of Abraham, children of Abraham. A closer look at
an oft misunderstood scripture might further enlighten the reader to
this in Romans chap. 11. The reference being the physical descendants of
Abraham.
17. And if some of the branches be broken off
(Israelites), and you (Gentiles),
being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them
partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18. Boast not against
the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you.
19. You might say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be
grafted in. 20. Well; because of unbelief
they were broken off, and you stand by faith.
Be not high-minded, but fear: 21. For if God spared not the natural
branches, take heed lest he also does not spare you. 22. Look at the
goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward
you, goodness, if you continue in his
goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off. 23. And they also,
if they abide not still in unbelief,
shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24. For if
you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were
grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall
these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive
tree?
The root of the olive tree is not Abraham physically and the tree
the physical linage, but rather. The root is the faith of Abraham based
on the promise of God. This is confirmed by the references to faith as
the condition of being a branch of the tree. In other words it is what
is voluntary in us rather than our physical descent that Jew or gentile
may be called "children" of Abraham.
Based on the premise above in Galatians 3: 7-8. That the
promise/promises to Abraham were for all nations through Jesus Christ
rather than Abrahams physical descendants alone. It is then
explained in Galatians 3: 16 Now to
Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He says not, And to seeds,
as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ. Or
as the simple English version says: God made
promises to Abraham and his descendant. God did not say ``and to your
descendants.'' That would mean many people. But God said, ``and to your
descendant.'' This means only one person--Christ. It can be
clearly ascertained then that the Apostle is teaching that the promises
made to Abraham were not about or to his physical descendants (which are
the many descendants referred to.) Rather they were to Jesus Christ,
Gods one and only begotten Son. Then in verses 26 -29: he shows how God
"foresaw" that the nations would be Abrahams children:
26. For you 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 all are one in Christ Jesus.29. And if you
are Christ's, then you are Abraham's
children, and heirs according to the promise.
The Law of Moses
There is a confusion on this issue that has arisen in the last
century. As if the promises made to Abraham were to his (many) physical
descendants rather than to Jesus Christ alone and through Christ all
nations. Hopefully, the symbolic teachings in the book of Genesis later
in this article will clear this up completely. However the Apostle Paul
had something more to say on this subject concerning the Abrahams
physical descendants, the nation of Israel. What distinguishes them from
other nations. I.e. the law of Moses. In Galatians 3: 17 it states this:
17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was
confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and
thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of
no effect. Or as the New International Version puts it:
What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set
aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with
the promise.
The Apostle is teaching that God gave these promises to Abrahams one
descendant Jesus. His plan all along was for all nations through this
one descendant. God didn't add to, make a new plan or a new set of
promises to Abrahams physical descendants with the giving of the law,
(the Old Covenant.) Instead his original plan/promises/
inheritance/prophecy remained the same and they all pointed to that one
descendant and the New Covenant. Further more, as the real issue will
unfold in the symbolisms in Genesis. It will be easily seen that
the "all nations would be blessed promise" and all the other promises
spoken of also includes the physical descendants of Abraham. In other
words the nation of Israel is not separate from, but is one of those
"all nations." (Verse 28 there is neither Jew nor Greek.) This is what
God had in mind from the start. So then the question arises. "Why did
God call them out of Egypt, then separate them from the whole
world by giving them the law?" Here are some versus to answer this:
Romans 3:1 What advantage, then, is
there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in
every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of
God. The main reason stated here is to bring the Word of God
into the earth. Then the beginning of the next verse states: 3
What if some did not have faith?.....Herein lies the reason for
the law, some did not have faith. Some, many times the majority refused
the invitation God gave their nation. The verses below spell out Gods
plan to use them anyway.
Galatians 3:19. What was the purpose the law?
It was added because of transgressions, till the descendent should come
to whom the promise was made.... Hebrews 9: 10. Which stood only in
meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on
them until the time of reformation. Hebrews 10:1. For the law having a
shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things.....
Or as the New International Version says: The law is
only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities
themselves.....
The key words in these verses are: It was added, it was imposed
upon, and it was a shadow (or symbolic.) Then these key words: Until the
descendant comes, until the time of reformation, and reality rather than
symbolic rituals. Or as Jesus put it in John 4:
19. The woman said to him, Sir, I perceive that
you are a prophet. 20. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; but you
say, that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21. Jesus
answered her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither
in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father..... 23. But
the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the
Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.
The simple concept of what is being stated here is this: There was a
time factor in Gods plan for the world that he promised to Abraham
through his descendant. God's intention was to use Abrahams physical
descendants to herald the good news in advance. The majority of Abrahams
physical descendants were not willing to trust and therefore serve God
in this matter. God knew they would and not willing to be thwarted. He
imposed upon the unfaithful among them symbolic rituals and rites that
proclaimed the good news of the redeemer and redemption of mankind in
hundreds of different figurative ways. More will be said on this
particular subject in a future Bible basics article "Why the Law;" but
here are a few more versus.
Reference #1.
The Story of Abraham Ishmael and Isaac.
Having laid somewhat of a foundation of basic New Testament teaching
on what from the very beginning God had in mind when he made promises to
Abraham. Genesis can now be looked at to see if it teaches the same
thing the New Testament does in a symbolic fashion. Starting with a New
Testament account of Genesis.
Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you who want to be
under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22. For it is
written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a slave woman, the other
by a free woman. 23. The son of the slave woman was born by normal
physical means; but the son of the free woman as a result of Gods
promise. 24. These two woman are an allegory:
for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai,
which produces bondage, This is Hagar. 25. For this Hagar is mount Sinai
in Arabia, and corresponds to (symbolizes) Jerusalem
which now is, and is a slave with her children. 26 But Jerusalem
which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is
written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth
and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the
children of the childless woman than of her who has a husband." 28. Now
we, brothers, according to Isaac, are the children of promise. 29. But
as then he that was born after the normal physical means persecuted him
that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30. Nevertheless what
does the scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son: for the
son of the slave woman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31. So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of
the free.
Notice carefully the Apostles words,
"these are the two covenants." Hagar he says is
Mount Sinai. It prophetically symbolizes the literal city of Jerusalem.
Ishmael the child of the slave woman symbolizes the children of the
literal city of Jerusalem. He is clearly stating that Ishmael the
first born prophetically represents the first covenant and that Isaac
represents the second covenant. Ishmael was born first through normal
physical means. Then secondly, Isaac
born not by physical means nor the
will of man but of God. Reference #2. It is also clear by the Apostles doctrine
that Abrahams wife Sarah represents the heavenly Jerusalem. Then quoting
Isaiah 54 he declares this
prophetic chapter to speak directly about the New Jerusalem and the
second covenant as opposed to the literal Jerusalem and the first
covenant. Reference #3. The next paragraph is their story in Genesis.
Genesis 15 1. After these things the
word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I
am your shield, and your exceeding great reward. 2. And Abram said, Lord
God, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my
house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3. And Abram said, Behold, to me you
hast given no descendent: and, lo, one born in my house is my heir. 4.
And, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, This shall not be
your heir; but he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be
your heir. 5. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward
heaven, and tell the stars, if you are able to number them: and he said
to him, So shall your descendent be....
18. In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, to your
descendent have I given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great
river, the river Euphrates:.
Genesis 16 1. Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no children: and she had
an slave woman, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2. And Sarai said to
Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: so I ask of
you, go in to my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And
Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3. And Sarai Abram's wife took
Hagar her slave the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the
land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4. And
he went into Hagar, and she conceived:....
15. And Hagar bore Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which
Hagar bore, Ishmael.16. And Abram was eighty-six years old, when Hagar
bore Ishmael to Abram.
Genesis 17 1. And when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord
appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before
me, and be perfect. 2. And I will make my covenant between you and I,
and will multiply you exceedingly. 3. And Abram fell on his face: and
God talked with him, saying, 4. As for me, behold, my covenant is with
you, and you will be a father of many nations. 5. Neither will your name
any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for a father of
many nations have I made you. 6. And I will make you exceedingly
fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of
you. 7. And I will establish my covenant between you and I and your
descendent after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant,
to be a God to you, and to your descendent after you. 8. And I will give
to you, and to your descendent after you, the land wherein you are a
stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I
will be their God.....
15. And God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you will not call
her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16. And I will bless her,
and give you a son also of her: yes, I will bless her, and she will be a
mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 17. Then Abraham
fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be
born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is
ninety years old, bear? 18. And Abraham said to God, O that Ishmael
might live before you! 19. And God said, Sarah your wife shall bear you
a son indeed; and you will call his name Isaac: and I will establish my
covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendent
after him. 20. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: behold, I have
blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him
exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great
nation. 21. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah
shall bear to you at this set time in the next year.
Genesis 21: 1. And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord
did to Sarah as he had spoken. 2. For Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham
a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3.
And Abraham called the name of his son that was born to him, whom Sarah
bore to him, Isaac. 4. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight
days old, as God had commanded him. 5. And Abraham was an hundred years
old, when his son Isaac was born to him. 6. And Sarah said, God hath
made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7. And she
said, Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah should have nursed
children? for I have born him a son in his old age. 8. And the child
grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that
Isaac was weaned. 9. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which
she had born to Abraham, mocking. 10. Therefore she said to Abraham,
Cast out this slave woman and her son: for the son of this slave woman
will not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11. And the thing was
very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. 12. And God said to
Abraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the lad, and
because of your slave woman; in all that Sarah has said to you, hearken
to her voice; for in Isaac shall your descendent be called. 13. And also
of the son of the slave woman will I make a nation, because he is your
descendent. 14. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took
bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her
shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and
wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 15. And the water was used up
in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 16. And
she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a
bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she
sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. 17. And God heard
the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of
heaven, and said to her, What ails you, Hagar? fear not; for God has
heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18. Arise, lift up the lad, and
hold him in your hand; for I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 25: 16. These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their
names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to
their nations.
Ishmael having twelve sons "princes"
just like Israel formally named Jacob shouldn't be looked upon as a mere
coincidence. It would seem that God is just furthering the symbolism
that Ishmael represents the First Covenant by symbolically prophesying
the twelve tribes of Israel.
In light of current circumstances in the world it would be wise to
point out some of the other aspects of this story. What it symbolizes
according to the light of the gospel. There seems to be a natural
tendency to look at scripture in ways that leave whole races of people
condemned or blessed based on their physical decent. Students of the
Word of God can be assured that these viewpoints are the result of a
worldly disposition rather than a spiritual one. God is not so
inequitable. There are untold millions of Christians who believe the
physical descendants of Ishmael are in the disfavor with God, based on
this account in Genesis, and many other Old Testament scriptures. They
look at the Middle East today in that same light. Sighting current
events with great confidence as being a prophetic fulfillment of Genesis
and other OT scriptures. All centered on the physical descent of
Jews and Arabs. The question must be asked though. How could this
assessment be correct if Ishmael actually represents first Covenant, as
opposed to the Arab peoples that may be physically descendant from him?
The answer to this was in first sentence of Galatians 4:21.....
are you not aware of what the law says? 22.
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons. This story in
Genesis is the Torah, the law. The apostle calls the account of
Ishmael and Isaac in Genesis the Law for a specific reason. Because it
is so clear a New Testament doctrine, that the Law of Moses has been
done away. This is especially true in the case of these two peoples as
Ephesians 2:14-16 declares unequivocally: 14
For Christ is our peace, who has made both (Jew and Gentile)
one, and has broken down the dividing wall of
hostility (the law of Moses,) 15 by
abolishing in his flesh the law (of Moses)
with it's commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself
one new man in place of the two, so ending the hostility between them.
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross,
thereby bringing the hostility to an end. Then in Galatians 3:28
it says: There is neither Jew nor Greek
(or: Jew nor Arab, descendant of Isaac or Ishmael,)
there is neither slave nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.29. And if
you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's descendants, and inheritors of
all the promises made to him. In reading this one must
understand that this was the mystery that has been hidden from
generations for ages. It was revealed to the Apostles as in
Ephesians 3:3. How that by revelation he made
known to me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,) 4. So that,
when you read it, you might understand my knowledge in the mystery of
Christ 5. Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as
it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6.
That the Gentiles ( which includes the descendants of Ishmael and
Esau) should be fellow heirs (with the
Jews), and of the same body, and partakers of
his promise in Christ by the gospel.
The Account of Esau and Jacob Who Is
Renamed Israel
Romans 9:1. I say the truth in Christ, I'm not
lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Ghost, 2. That I have great
heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3. For I could wish that I
myself were cursed and separated Christ for my brothers, my own flesh:
4. Who are Israelites; theirs is the adoption, the glory, and the
covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the
promises; 5. They are descendant from the fathers, through who's
ancestry Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 6.
Not as though Gods word has failed. For not all who are descended from
Israel are Israel.: 7. Nor are they Abrahams children just because they
are his physical descendants; but, "through Isaac a descendant will be
called out to you" 8. That is, they which are the children by physical
descent, these are not the children of God: but the descendants who came
through the promise are considered children. 9. For this was the
word of promise (from God), "At this time will I come, and Sara shall
have a son." 10. And not only this; but when Rebecca and Isaac had
twins; 11. (and the children were not yet born, and not yet
done any good or evil, that according to election the purpose of God
might stand, not of works, but of him that calls;) 12. It was said to
her, "The elder shall serve the younger."13. As it is written, "Jacob
have I loved, but Esau have I hated."14. What shall we say then? Is
there unfairness with God? God forbid. 15. For he says to Moses, I will
have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom
I will have compassion. 16. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of
him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. 17. For the scripture says
to Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I
might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth. 18. Therefore he has mercy on whom he will
have mercy, and whom he will he hardens. 19. You will say then to me,
Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? 20. No, O
man, who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to
him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? 21. Has not the potter
power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel for honor, and
another to dishonor? 22. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to
make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of
wrath fitted to destruction 23. And that he might make known the riches
of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared for
glory, 24. Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also
of the Nations.
Paul starts his analysis of the prophetic symbolism concerning Esau
and Jacob by repeating the doctrine regarding the genuine children of
Abraham; saying the same thing about Israel. That just because
individuals are physical descendants of Israel, this does not make them
the Israel of God. He then uses the example of Isaac coming
miraculously via the promise of God to symbolize the messiah coming
miraculously via the promise of God. Which gives birth to the second
covenant. Ishmael once more is being used to symbolize those who are the
physical descendants of Israel who do not believe, and the first
covenant.
There is a very troubling circumstance that has arisen concerning these
verses. Since I have an great interest in this subject. Any time I hear
a pastor or teacher on the radio or TV about to use these verses, I pay
special attention. Without exception what always happens is that verse 6
is quoted:....For not all who are descended
from Israel are Israel. Then with a "the Bible is not bound by
any rules of literature" slight of hand. The rest of the verses are
disconnected from verses 1- 6 . They then go on to teach that physical
descendants of Ismael are not the children of God. Nor the descendants
of Esau. The Jews are the ones descended from Israel physically
therefore they are the children of God. Brothers and sisters. There is
great darkness across the land concerning Bible Prophecy if some of the
most popular and followed Bible teachers can get away with this. No
wonder so many Christians don't study their own Bibles themselves. It
confuses them when they read what is written in simple easy to
understand terminology. Then they hear their formally educated leaders
spin it to say just the opposite.
Therefore lets look at it a little closer. Verse 6 says: ....For
not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Israel is the
father of the twelve tribes of Israel which includes modern Jewish
people. Ishmael is Israel's uncle. He is in no way a descendant of
Israel. The subject matter is the direct descendants of Israel. That not
all descendants of Israel are true Israelites. Or as Paul is actually
teaching. Not every Israelite or Jewish person is a believer. It is
believers that are accounted as the children of God. This is what Paul
is in anguish about. That all though tens of thousands of Jews were
believers. Politically, Israel has rejecting the messiah. The same
exact thing goes for Esau. Esau is the brother of Jacob who is renamed
Israel. He is in no way a descendant of Israel. What the Apostle is
teaching is that the accounts of these people were symbolic prophecies
of the realities that were to come to the earth through Christ.
They in and of themselves were not the realities.
Looking further then at the symbolism
in that chapter. Both Ishmael and Esau were the first born. Isaac and
Jacob the second born. God rejected both of the first born and accepted
the second born. This is the pattern we will find in Genesis. The
rejection of the first and the acceptance of the second. In Gods
rejection of the firstborn Esau it goes as far as saying that he was
rejected before he was even born. This divine election of the second
over the first was that God's eternal purpose through Jesus Christ and
the second covenant might stand. Yes, God was going to bring his Word
into the earth through the physical descendants of Israel. However that
was not the goal of the mission. The goal of the mission was the messiah
and through him the salvation of all nations. The physical descendants
of Israel were but a tool to accomplish something God had planned when
the first people he made sinned. The rest of the chapter explains how
God did all these things, that through them he might show mercy to all
nations. This is the story of Esau and Jacob (Israel) in Genesis.
Genesis 25 19. And these are the generations of
Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20. And Isaac was forty years
old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of
Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21. And Isaac entreated the
Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of
him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22. And the children struggled
together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she
went to inquire of the Lord. 23. And the Lord said to her, Two nations
are in your womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from your
bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and
the elder shall serve the younger. 24. And when her days to be delivered
were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25. And the first
came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name
Esau. 26. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on
Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was sixty years
old when she gave birth to them. 27. And the boys grew: and Esau was a
cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling
in tents. 28. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison:
but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29. And Jacob was cooking soup: and Esau came
from the field, and he was faint: 30. And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me
with some of that red soup please; for I am faint: therefore was his
name called Edom. 31. And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright.
32. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of dying: and what profit
shall this birthright do to me? 33. And Jacob said, Swear to me this
day; and he swore to him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34.
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and soup made of lentils; and he did eat and
drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 27 1. And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes
were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and
said to him, My son: and he said answered, Behold, here am I. 2. And
Isaac said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3. Now
therefore please take, your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go
out to the field, and take me some venison; 4. And make me savory meat,
such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may
bless you before I die. 5. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau
his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring
it. 6. And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your
father speak unto Esau your brother, saying, 7. Bring me venison, and
make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord
before my death. 8. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to
that which I command you. 9. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from
there two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for
your father, such as he loves: 10. And you will bring it to your father,
that he may eat, and that he may bless you before his death. 11. And
Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy
man, and I am a smooth man: 12. My father might feel me, and I will seem
to him as a deceiver; and I will bring a curse upon me, and not a
blessing. 13. And his mother said to him, Upon me be your curse, my son:
only obey my voice, and go fetch them for me. 14. And he went, and
fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory
meat, such as his father loved. 15. And Rebekah took good clothing of
her eldest son Esau, which was with her in the house, and put them upon
Jacob her younger son: 16. And she put the skins of the kids of the
goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 17. And she gave
the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of
her son Jacob. 18. And he came to his father, and said, My father: and
he said, Here am I; who are you, my son? 19. And Jacob said to his
father, I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you asked of me: arise,
please, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me.
20. And Isaac said to his son, How is it that you hast found it so
quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord your God brought it to
me. 21. And Isaac said to Jacob, Come near, please, that I may feel you,
my son, whether you be my very son Esau or not. 22. And Jacob went near
to Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's
voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23. And he discerned him
not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he
blessed him. 24. And he said, Are you my very son Esau? And he said, I
am. 25. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's
venison, that my soul may bless you. And he brought it near to him, and
he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank. 26. And his father
Isaac said to him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 27. And he came
near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and
blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a
field which the Lord has blessed: 28. Therefore God give you of the dew
of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
29. Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you: be lord over your
brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to you: cursed be every one
that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you. 30. And it came to
pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was
yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his
brother came in from his hunting. 31. And he also had made savory meat,
and brought it to his father, and said to his father, Let my father
arise, and eat of his son's venison, that your soul may bless me. 32.
And Isaac his father said to him, Who are you? And he said, I am your
son, your firstborn Esau. 33. And Isaac trembled very hard, and said,
Who? where is he that has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have
eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? yes, and he shall be
blessed. 34. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with
a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said to his father, Bless me, even
me also, O my father. 35. And he said, Your brother came with subtlety,
and has taken away your blessing. 36. And he said, Is not he rightly
named Jacob? for he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my
birthright; and, behold, now he has taken away my blessing. And he said,
Have you not reserved a blessing for me? 37. And Isaac answered and said
to Esau, Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brethren have I
given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him:
and what shall I do now to you, my son? 38. And Esau said to his father,
Have you but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my
father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 39. And Isaac his father
answered and said to him, Behold, your dwelling shall be the fatness of
the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 40. And by your sword
shall you live, and shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass
when you shall have the dominion, that you shall break his yoke from off
your neck.
Other Symbolisms in Genesis That
Prophetically Reject the First and Accept the Second
The New Testament does not specifically sight the rest of these
stories in Genesis about the first born or that which is first as
prophetic symbolisms of the first covenant. Likewise it does not declare
the second born in the rest of the historical accounts as symbolic of
the grace to come to all mankind through the second covenant.
This shouldn't be a hindrance to the readers recognition though that
they are in fact symbolic of these same things. They go through the
exact same scenario of the rejection of the first and the embracing of
the second. Look at the account of Adam in 1 Corinthians 15:45.
And so it is written, The first man Adam was
made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a life giving spirit.
46. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is
natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47. The first man is of
the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48. As is the
earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such
are they also that are heavenly. 49. And as we have borne the image of
the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Then Romans
5:14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins
were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who
was to come. Adam just as the physical descendants of Israel and
the Law were heralds of the spiritual realties that were to come into
the whole earth. They're lives and the things they did being prophecies
of what was to come. God by his rejection of the first man for his
sin, showed beforehand his rejection of the first covenant. This is then
repeated through his first born Cain being condemned and rejected by God
and Abel his second born being accepted by God just like Ishmael
and Isaac, then Esau and Jacob. This is their story below.
Genesis 1:26. And God said, Let us
make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that
creeps upon the earth. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the
image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28. And
God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and
replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of
the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that
moves upon the earth. Genesis 2:16. And the Lord God commanded the man,
saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: 17. But of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in
the day that you eat from it you will surely die. Genesis 3:1. Now the
serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God
had made. And he said to the woman, Has God said, You shall not eat of
every tree of the garden? 2. And the woman said to the serpent, We may
eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3. But of the fruit of the
tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not
eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4. And the serpent
said to the woman, You shall not surely die: 5. For God knows that
in the day you eat from it, your eyes shall be opened, and you
shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6. And when the woman saw that
the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit, and ate, and
gave also to her husband with her; and he ate. 7. And the eyes of them
both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig
leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8. And they heard the voice
of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam
and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst
the trees of the garden. 9. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said
to him, Where are you? 10. And he said, I heard your voice in the
garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11. And
he said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree,
that I commanded that you should not eat? 12. And the man said,
The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I
did eat. 13. And the Lord God said to the woman, What is this that you
have done? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I did eat.
14. And the Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this,
you art cursed above all animals, and above every beast of the field;
upon your belly shall you crawl, and dust shall you eat all the days of
your life: 15. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and
between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you will
bruise his heel. 16. Then to the woman he said, I will greatly multiply
your sorrow in your conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth
children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule
over you. 17. And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the
voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded
you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your
sake; in sorrow shall thou eat of it all the days of your life; 18.
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat
the herb of the field; 19. In the sweat of your face shall you eat
bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for
you are dust, and to dust shall you return. 20. And Adam called his
wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21. Then for
Adam also and his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and
clothed them. 22. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as
one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand,
and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23.
Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to plow
the ground from from which was taken. 24. So he drove out the man; and
he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim's, and a flaming
sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Genesis 4:1. And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare
Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. 2. And she again bare
his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller
of the ground. 3. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain
brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4. And
Abel, he also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat
thereof. And the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering: 5. But to
Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very angry,
and his countenance fell. 6. And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you
angry? and why has your countenance fallen? 7. If you do well, shall you
not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And to
you shall be his desire, and you need to rule over him. 8. And Cain
talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the
field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and murdered him. 9.
And the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I
don't know: am I my brother's keeper? 10. And he said, What is this you
have done? the voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the
ground. 11. And now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened her
mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand; 12. When you plow
the ground, it shall not yield to you her strength; a fugitive and
a vagabond shall you be in the earth. 13. And Cain said to the Lord, My
punishment is greater than I can bear. 14. Behold, you hast driven me
out this day from the face of the earth; and from your face shall I be
hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall
come to pass, that every one that finds me shall slay me. 15. And the
Lord said to him, Therefore whosoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be
taken on him seven times. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any
finding him should kill him.
According to Hebrews and 1st John the difference between Cain
and Abel was that Abel's works were wrought through faith while Cain's
works were not. The murder of his brother Abel demonstrated this.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a
greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet
speaks.1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked
one, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his
own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. The
foreknowledge of God in these prophetic parallels is stunning. The very
beginning of the world prophesying the first and second covenants and
the salvation of mankind. This, through the lives of the main characters
in book of Genesis exactly the same way one after another. It staggers
the imagination that Moses could write this historical account 1400
years before the coming of Christ during at the time of laying out the
first covenant to the people of Israel. Yet he so plainly prophesied
through the book of Genesis and the rest of the 5 books of the Law that
it was all symbolic of the messiah and the age of the second
covenant. This wasn't something he was doing without any knowledge of
the future either, for it says of him in Exodus 34:28. And
he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither
eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of
the covenant, the ten commandments. 29. And it came to pass, when Moses
came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses'
hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses did not know that the
skin of his face glowed while he talked with him. 30. And when Aaron and
all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face
glowed; and they were afraid to come close to him..... 33. And so while
Moses was speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. Then in
2 Corinthians 3 it states the reason why Moses hid his face with a
veil: So they would not perceive the revelation of the end, when the
first covenant would be abolished. 2
Corinthians 3:13. And not as Moses, which put a veil over his
face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end
of that which is abolished: This was so clear to Moses that he
spoke of that Messiah when he said in Deuteronomy 18:15.
The Lord your God will raise up to you a
Prophet from the midst of you, of your brothers, like me; to
him you will listen; 16. According to all that you desired of the Lord
your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear
again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire
any more, that I die not.17. And the Lord said to me, They have well
spoken that which they have spoken. 18. I will raise them up a Prophet
from among their brothers, like you, and will put my words in his mouth;
and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19. And it
shall come to pass, that who ever will not listen to my words which he
shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. It is
astonishing that Moses new the basic theme that this article is trying
to communicate thousands of years before it came to pass, yet....Who was
one of the men standing with Jesus on the
mount of transfiguration but
Moses, and what were they doing?
Reference #4. Discussing the death of Jesus.
Then of course there was Moses' own life that illustrated the exact
same thing that the lives of those he wrote about illustrated. In
Deuteronomy 34 he was not
allowed to bring the children of Israel into the promised land.
Reference #5. While
the word says it was because he did not have faith and had to strike the
rock twice to bring water out, instead of once. One can hardly imagine
that this was his greatest display of a lack of faith. God used this
opportunity to once more prophecy his rejection of the first covenant in
favor of the predestined second covenant. This was done in the most
amazing way. First, in the very act of striking the rock. The first time
the rock was struck it did not give forth the life giving water.
Once more symbolizing that the First Covenant was not
the vehicle that brings the water
of life, but the second was. Reference #6 However in a much more amazing
way that this. Joshua the man with the very same name as our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ is the one who led the people into the promised
land. The name Jesus in Hebrew is Joshua. Every one in the New Testament
called Jesus Yashua, or Joshua (in English.) Just as it says in
1 Peter and many other verses
of the New and Old Testaments.
Reference #7. Jesus is the one who brings the people
into the promises of God. So first we have Moses representing the
First Covenant being rejected as far as who will lead the people into
the promised inheritance. Then secondly, Joshua representing the Second
Covenant leading the people into the promised inheritance. In this
light, these verses in the letter
to the Hebrews are amazing.
Reference #8
The Apostle Paul Marked For Death Because
He Taught About This symbolism in Genesis
While this article does not cover all the symbolism in Genesis
concerning the Fist and Second Covenants nor the symbolism about other
subjects, most notably Christ. Hopefully it covers enough that the mind
of the reader will be persuaded as to the validity of the subject as
written. It would not be complete however without looking into what
Apostle Paul suffered for preaching these things in his day. Paul's
conversion was accompanied by this word from the Holy Spirit. Acts 9:16.
For I will show him what great things he must
suffer for my name's sake. (Perhaps not the word that most would
want to hear when they came to Christ.) As it turned out most of the
things he suffered were at the hands of, or because of his own
countrymen who were Israelites. Paul was targeted for murder as a young
convert, there were riots, stoning's, murder, persecutors that followed
him from city to city, jealousy and hatred.
Reference #10 details some of the
Apostle Paul's Sufferings. One of the things that makes the
persecution of Paul stand out in comparison with others is that when he
went to Jerusalem, 40 men took an oath in the presence of the Jewish
leaders to not eat or drink until they murdered Paul. Acts 23:11.
And the night following the Lord stood by
him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you hast testified of me
in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also at Rome. 12. And when it was
day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a
curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed
Paul. 13. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have
bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we
have slain Paul. 15. Now therefore you with the council signify to the
chief captain that he bring him down to you to morrow, as though you
would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, when he
comes near, are ready to kill him. 16. And when Paul's sister's son
heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and
told Paul. It would almost seem that not even Jesus had this type
of rage directed at him, certainly not the other Apostles. What
could he have possibly done that seemed to single him out for such
special treatment? One need to look no further than the public outcry
that got him put in the prison in this episode. Mark his accusers words
carefully: Acts 21: 27. And when the
seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw
him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28.
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all men
every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further
brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy
place.29. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an
Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30.
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took
Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and then the doors were shut. 31.
And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain
of the band (Romans), that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32. Who
immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them: and when
they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
33. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to
be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34. And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and
when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to
be carried into the castle. 35. And when he came upon the stairs, so it
was, that he was carried by the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with
him. It can be easily ascertained through their accusations that
what really was getting Paul into a bit more trouble than the other
Apostles and believing Jews who where in Jerusalem at that time was
Paul's teaching about the First Covenant. One must remember that
Paul was preaching and teaching almost every day for many years. The
things he wrote that are noted in this article, imagine how deeply he
went into teaching them at times to the churches they started. One
can easily imagine how it might get some Jewish people up in arms
saying. "Ishmael and Esau in reality represent the Israelites who refuse
to put their faith in God, and through his grace find true repentance."
More so, imagine how Paul taught that all the good promises and
prophecies regarding Jerusalem were in fact speaking of the heavenly
Jerusalem. Moreover the earthly one is regarded as merely symbolic of
the heavenly and is destined for destruction. Indeed, would not
the response be from an ungrateful and faithless people that Paul was
preaching against this place and against the temple?
Here are a number of other
scriptures that Paul says he got via revelation about this very subject.
Reference #11. They are fascinating in the light that this article is attempting to
bring forth. These are the types of things that caused the Apostle
Peter to call Paul's letters (which contained his revelation,)
scripture. 2nd Peter 3:15. And account that
the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother
Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you; 16.
As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which
are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrestle with, as they do also the other scriptures, to their
own destruction.
For The Theologian and the Bible Prophecy
Teacher
There's a new word going round in the last
decade or two. It's called "replacement theology." There are the
accusers and the accused. This section of the article isn't created to
defend the accused. It is however aimed at the heart of the accusers.
After reading this paper, maybe not right away. One would hope that
those who accuse others of "replacement theology" will see that they
themselves are guilty of what they accuse others of. In what way? Very
simply. You have replaced those who the Word of God calls the "Children
of Abraham" and "the Israel of God," with the physical descendants of
Israel. No one is saying (at least here) that Christians should
not be whole heartedly supportive of the modern nation of Israel. After
all this was one of the great mysteries alluded to in the book of Romans
11:25. For I would not, brothers, that you
should be ignorant of this mystery......that blindness in part is
happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come
in........ 31. Even so have these (Israelites) not
believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. To
interpret this a bit: When the world reaches a point where the gentile
believers are numerous enough that their righteousness becomes a
standard for human behavior and civilization. And..... When the age of
the gentiles is over. The time when the four gentile empires (Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greek and Roman) ruled over and suppressed the gospel of
Christ. In that age, (which is the age we currently reside in,) the
physical descendants of Israel will find mercy. They will find
mercy because it is the right thing to do, to be merciful. They will
find mercy because the nations that are influenced by the gospel will be
powerful enough to help protect them. (Satan in his rage has a
score to settle with the people who brought the Word.) They will find
mercy because God has always wanted to show them mercy. (God just
needed a people who are merciful to show his mercy.) They will find
mercy because they are more righteous than those who seek their
destruction. They will find mercy because they will ally themselves with
nations that are influenced by the gospel against nations that are
oppressed by the wicked. Finally and hopefully. They will find
mercy.....some day..... because politically, they as a nation will
discover the gospel themselves. Even though many may not accept the
messiah personally. They will accept that overall, the influence
of the gospel is a good thing for them and the world in general.
Is this not what you see with your own eye's? Is this not what you hope
to see? Yet I say to you. This cannot be done ultimately, with
false teachings regarding race and descent in the hearts of God saints.
The Symbolisms in Genesis Are Not mere
Theology
This section of the article will deal with the practical
application of these symbolisms.
Christians for the most part do not know their responsibilities or the
power that has been given to them in this life. Here are two scriptures
that are an example. John 20:21. Then said Jesus to them again,
Peace be to you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22. And
when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive
the Holy Ghost: 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if
you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (NIV) Matthew 16:19.
And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and what ever
you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven. The simple meaning of these two verses
is that God put his own power to change things in the hands of his
people. He and his people are supposed to be one as Jesus and his Father
were one, (John 17:11.) This is not abstractly either, God intended this
from the beginning. God did not stop Satan from hanging around his
creation. It was Adam and Eve who were given the power and authority
to keep Satan out of their world. Because they lacked faith in Gods
word, and and embraced Satan's word; they allowed the devil to bring sin
and death into the earth. Christ came to destroy the work of Satan in
the earth, (1st John 3:8). He has chosen to do this exactly the way he started at
first, by giving his people the power to rid the earth of Satan's
influence.
There are many other versus on this subject. As far as
these two are concerned, they go so much deeper than standard
Pentecostal speak: "I bind you devil" type thing. These verses
extend to the very
heart and soul of what an individual is or is not, in Christ. Even more
than this. They stretch to what the believer allows to happen to others,
and even to nations. Putting it another way. Christians whether they
realize it or not, are giving Satan a place in the world to deal out
death and destruction. They are doing this because they are ignorant of
Gods word, and have accepted Satan's word.
"Blessed are the peacemakers" Jesus says, "they shall be called the
children of God" Yet through the embracing of lies concerning the
physical descendants of Israel and the physical descendants of Ishmael
and Esau. Christians are indirectly allowing Satan access to whole
nations of people. To kill, steal and destroy. These words not some kind
of advocacy to bring these peoples to the table to talk peace, that is
ridiculous. There are fallen angles in almost total control of hearts and minds. There
will never be peace, that is, as long as Christians allow these beings
to control this part of the world. No! God is not allowing this, his
people are. They are the ones, they carry the responsibility and
the power according to their faith. If their faith is in the words of
Satan then they are literally giving him power to control an area of the
world. Just as Adam gave Satan control of his world.
It is understandable that many will reject words such as these because
they do not have any spiritual experience in these matters, at least
that they perceive. It is advisable to not throw caution and the fear of
God to the wind as to the validity of these claims. It is the scripture
that is being quoted, "Whatever you loose in the earth is loosed."
To put it in wording that is simpler, "whatever you allow on earth is
allowed and whatever you do not allow will not be allowed." Hundreds of
millions of Christians and the vast majority; yes even the
greatest preachers and teachers of the day are proclaiming,
believing and praying according to a lie spawned in their hearts. (No
doubt by Satan himself.) They say: "The natural born descendants of Israel are Gods chosen people.
The Arabs and (Muslims in general) are cursed
by God according to their descent and is why they are at war with
Israel." They might even quote a scripture like this: Malachi 1:
4..... and they shall call them, (the
descendants of Esau) the border of
wickedness, and, the people against whom the Lord hath indignation for
ever. How can this be though? How can the scripture plainly teach
through prophecy, symbolism and apostolic New Testament doctrines: That
Esau, Ishmael and even Adam and Cain were merely prophetic symbols of the
first covenant; that God had predestined to have an end? How could the
bulk of modern day Christians and almost all of their teachers make the
exact mistake the Jews of the first century made doctrinally? How can a
whole generation of modern day Christians believe the very things that
the Jewish Nation of the first Century believed? Something that they
were rebuked for by Christ, his disciples and not to mention Moses and
the prophets. How can they throw this hostile teaching in the face of a
billion Muslims that God wants to save?
Think about this in a practical
sense, (not that Mohammed thought this.) Mohammed reads the Old
Testament and especially notices that he and his people for really
no reason that he can see are hated and cursed by God. Furthermore he
thinks he reads that the Jews are
accepted and given promises of absolute dominion over the Arabs.
Who knows if the Christians of the day were not preaching
this very thing just as they do today. Mohammed (and all men for that
matter) knew that God could not be so unjust. How easy was it for Satan
to send him a message that Abraham actually tried to sacrifice Ishmael
rather than Isaac? That the descendants of Ishmael have the blessing and
the Jews are the cursed ones? Amazing that neither Jew nor Muslim (nor
modern day Christian for that matter) have it right. The story did
not mean what any of these groups thought. Ishmael and Esau
were rejected specifically to show that the way of reconciliation and
salvation in the earth was not through the rites and rituals of the
First Covenant; but through the faith in and of the Messiah that was to
come. How tragic that the people that are supposed to be the light of
the world are preaching the Law that built a wall of hostility between
Jew and Arab in the first place, (Ephesians 2:14-16.) How utterly
amazing in a horrible way that the whole New Testament spends chapter
after chapter condemning these types of
interpretations. Jesus himself went to great lengths to
show the lack of understanding of all things scriptural to the people of
his day. Yet today this same darkness that played a part in
destruction of the Jewish nation in 70 A.D. is the message one can hear
from pulpits all over the world.
Jesus is Evangelizing the Muslim World
In case you have not heard, Jesus
himself has taken up personally evangelizing the Muslim world. He is
appearing to hundreds of Muslims every year, bringing them to his saving
grace and making them mighty soul winners amongst their own people. The
story of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus is being repeated all over
the world to the glory of God and his great mercy. It is time to
get in on what God is doing brothers and sisters. It has to start by
tearing down (once more) this wall that brings hostility between Jew and
Muslim, between Christian and Muslim. It has to start in the heart of
the believer in repentance for being a contributor to Satan's kingdom,
and not heeding the scripture that is meant to correct and bring life to
a dying sinful world. The call here is not to political action. The call is to bring down this demonically inspired notion
that resides in the spirit of the believer that the Muslim nations will not\cannot come to Christ.
When the fact is, they
are as predestined as any other people to do just that. The invitation from
the Father in heaven to his people is to contribute to his government by
thoroughly and heartily embracing the idea that God looks at Muslim and
Jew through the exact same eyes. To him they are no different and his
desire, his will, is to save. God is adamant, he will have a people
that will change the Middle East through his Word, through faith in his
Word and through the preaching of the Gospel. He invites you even now to
participate in this great endeavor through your faith and a change of
heart. Or..... you can wander in the wilderness until he finds a generation
that has a heart to follow him. There will be peace in the Middle East
when the Gospel runs it's full course there. Just as there is peace
amongst other nations where the Gospel has a strong influence. May
it be said of you at the end of your days "Blessed are you, a peace
maker, truly a child of God."
Isaiah 19:21. And the Lord shall be
known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and
shall do sacrifice and oblation; yes, they shall vow a vow to the Lord,
and perform it. 22. And the Lord shall strike Egypt: he shall strike and
heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be
entreated of them, and shall heal them. 23. In that day shall there be a
highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt,
and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the
Assyrians. 24. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with
Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25. Whom the Lord of
hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the
work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.
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