| Subject: Genesis 22 vss 15-19 Post #118 |
Author:
Hillbilly
| [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 19:34:21 10/31/09 Sat
Genesis 22:15-19 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
In order to understand God's faithfulness to the Jews and the nation of Israel this passage must be understood. Notice carefully this promise to Abraham. Everything that comes to his descendants comes because of this promise to Abraham. While the primary focus is on Jesus as the seed in the singular form notice "thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore;"
This promise because of the faith of Abraham cannot be annulled because of the sin of Israel. The promise was given unconditionally to Abraham The promise was to Abraham through Isaac and then Jacob and then to his sons which constituted Israel. This is testified to in Psalm 105:7-11 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
No matter who says that Israel is a trespasser on Palestinian lands God says I gave that land to Israel. The U.N. can decree whatever it wishes but God will bring the U.N. to "chaff of the summer threshingfloors; " (Dan. 2:35) for the wind to blow to the four points of the compass. It is a dangerous thing to try to oppose God and if you try to keep Israel from her rightful land you are opposing God and His covenant to Abraham. The United States with all it's military might cannot stop what God has decreed. If you were to combine the power of the U.S., Russia, China and all of the Nato alliance with them God would laugh at their calamity (Prov. 1:26) when His mighty power fell on them in a moment of time and devoured them. (Rev. 20:9)
After the death of Abraham God came to Isaac and reaffirmed to Isaac the covenant He had made with his father.. Genesis 26:3-5 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
If we go back up to our present passage under consideration we will see in verse 17 we have two distinct groups mentioned as proceeding from Abraham. The first group is as the stars of heaven and the second is as the sand on the sea shore. It is possible this represents the two sons of Abraham and their offspring. The stars of heaven would represent the seed of promise or if you will a "heavenly seed":. The other would represent the worldly and as such would represent the multitudes of people that sprang from Ishmael. Paul used this example in his letter to the Galatians. Galatians 4:27-31 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
While the illustration above is true it is not the only interpretation we might put to this verse. We can see in the stars those that walk by faith and not by sight. We have a heavenly goal and our heart is set on our heavenly home. Those who would be represented by the sand would be the earth bound that require something they can see before they will believe. The Jews for the most part fit into this category. They are God's chosen but they are worldly and carnal. When Jesus walked and preached in His ministry the Jews were always asking for some sign or miracle. Thomas would not believe unless he could feel the nail prints and see His side. Jesus reproached him for this and said unto Thomas: "Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20:29)
While the allegory can have several meanings applied to it I think the first would fit the situation the best historically.
If there is one thing we should learn from the passage above all others it is that God keeps His promises. Because of the promises to Abraham Israel will have and enjoy that which God gave them through Abraham.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] |
|
Feedback: 
Thanks Hillbilly
There is always a new