The Everlasting Covenant - 6.3 Abraham: References (Two)

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6.3 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob References
by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, February 15, 2010

References and Notes
1. What might have been
2. Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac
3. Abraham Believed Isaac would be Resurrected
4. Meaning of “yisra’el”
5. Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
7. Jacob

1. What might have been. IF:

• The law of God had never been transgressed, there would have been no death, and no need of a Saviour;
• Man had kept the law of God as given to Adam after his fall, preserved by Noah, and observed by Abraham, there would have been no necessity for the ordinance of circumcision.
• The descendants of Abraham had kept the covenant, of which circumcision was a sign, they would never have been seduced into idolatry,
• They had kept the covenant, it would not have been necessary for them to suffer a life of bondage in Egypt;
• They had kept God's law in mind, and there would have been no necessity for it to be proclaimed from Sinai or engraved upon the tables of stone.
• The people practiced the principles of the Ten Commandments, there would have been no need of the additional directions given to Moses. White EG: Patriarchs and Prophets. p. 364

2. Abraham to sacrifice Isaac:

God did offer one thing, He would show Abraham when he got to the right place.

“As they were about to begin the journey of the third day, the patriarch, looking northward, saw the promised sign, a cloud of glory hovering over Mount Moriah, and he knew that the voice which had spoken to him was from heaven.” White EG: Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 151

In the example of Job, a test or trial is allowed only by God’s permission. God has also promised that tests and temptations are measured according to our capacity.

“Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD” (Job 1:9, 12).
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

3. Abraham believed Isaac would be resurrected. He had faith to believe that if Isaac were sacrificed, God would raise him up from the dead to fulfill His covenant.

17 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 “Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (Hebrews 11:17-19).

The Meaning of the Sacrifice

Abraham had learned to recognize the voice of God and to trust Him without question. He did not know how God would fulfill His promises before Isaac was born; and He did not know how God would make him a father of a great nation if he sacrificed his only son (6). But he had learned to trust God. So they went.

There is deep symbolism in this event. In the first phase, Isaac, representing the only Son, Christ, willingly lay on the altar. He did not resist as his aged father bound him. He prepared to die. In the second phase, God redirected the procedure and ordered Isaac released. He provided the ram caught in the thicket, now representing Christ, and the sacrifice was completed. This was one of the clearest and most poignant prophecies of the coming Messiah. Abraham had passed the most severe test possible. God blessed him and again gave His covenant (Genesis 22:15-18).

“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:”
“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;
“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:16-18).

This acted parable was given to instruct another Son, who many years later would visit the temple. He would observe the sacrifices and learn their meanings. And he would remember that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son. By this means, the boy Jesus learned at the age of twelve more of His Father’s will in His own life.

4. Meaning of “yisra’el”
English Words used in KJV: Israel 2489, Israelites 16
Meaning: he will rule as God; Jisraël, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity :- Israel.
—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

5. Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:
Genesis 26:2-5; 28:13-15; 35:11, 12; Leviticus 26:42; 1 Chron. 16:14-17; Psalm 105:8-10

6. Jacob

Isaac and Rebecca had twin sons. Jacob, the younger believed God. But he also had severe personality defects. He was experienced in fraud and prevarication; exceeded in this only by his father-in-law, Laban. It took 20 years working for Laban for Jacob to begin to see himself.

When Jacob left home, Isaac blessed him with the covenant of Abraham (Genesis 28:3,4). After a day of travel, he lay at night with a stone for a pillow. He dreamed of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. In his dream the Lord stood at the top of the ladder and repeated to him the everlasting covenant (Genesis 28:12-15).

After 20 years in Padan-aram, Jacob left to return home. It became a crisis when he learned that Esau was coming with 400 men. He divided his company into two so that one might escape if the other were attacked. He sent presents of sheep and cattle in waves – the first drove would arrive and be presented to Esau, then another, then another. In making presents he was trying to tell Esau that he did not desire the wealth of his father, as he had enough already.

After sending his wives, he stayed alone by the book Jabbok to pray. During the night Jacob was attacked. Thinking that this was a common thief, Jacob wrestled all night for his life. When his assailant “touched the hollow of his thigh” and put it out of joint, Jacob knew that he had been wrestling with more than a man. As the sun came up, his assailant said, “Let me go, for the day breaketh.” Jacob answered, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

27 “And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed” (Genesis 32:27-28).

In Genesis 35:10-12 his new name, Israel (4), is given again, and the everlasting covenant of Abraham is repeated here and again in Genesis 46:3,4. From this point on the nation of Israel would refer to their heritage from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Each of these patriarchs had been given the covenant directly by God.