In the last post, we began to consider the unconditional nature of the covenant that God made with Abram. He pulled Abram out from idolatry and gave him assurances that these promises of land, seed and blessing cannot be annulled.
As further evidence of the unconditional nature of these promises, we see that the promises are restated even with Abram’s incomplete obedience.
In Genesis 12:10-20 we read that after coming into the land of Canaan, Abram sought refuge in Egypt due to a famine in Canaan. He had been promised all of the land in Canaan and yet he journeyed into Egypt fearful of his livelihood in Canaan. Then fearful for their lives in Egypt, he and Sarah conspired to lie to Pharaoh. This caused Pharaoh to evict them from Egypt.
The enemy of our souls and his minions are eager to point out to the unbeliever the contradictions in the believers life. This is especially true when we succumb to the victimhood of fear rather than standing in victory that faith offers. When that happens, it is not unusual to be rebuked by an unbeliever regarding our hypocrisy. Yet, it is often such stinging rebuke that the Holy Spirit uses to cause us to return to God’s Word and His chosen path for us.
In the case of Abram, along with Sarai and Abrams nephew Lot, they returned to Canaan with their families and herds. Lot and Abram eventually separated so that their herdsmen would not quarrel over the grazing land. It was then that God showed the unconditional nature of his promises to Abraham (Genesis 13:14-18). In particular, the land promise was restated.
A Land Owned but not Enjoyed
What we see then is this element of promised land is not nullified by Israel’s disobedience. They will always own the promise but as their history proves they will not always enjoy possession of the land.
It is interesting that name God gave to Adam is so closely connected with the name of land ‘Adama’ in Gen 2:7. Then in Gen 12:3 the promise to Abram is that: “all the families of the 'Adama' shall be blessed” It reminds us of God's purpose to reconnect of man back to the earth from which he came.
In that regard we see that the nation of Israel is God's chosen conduit to reconnect all of Adam's race back to that purpose for which we are created. By this, we understand that the promise of blessing all of creation is inherently connected to Abram's seed dwelling in the land.
“The biblical witness is that Israel is inconceivable without land, whether in historical or eschatological times.”
Merrill, “A Theology of the Pentateuch,”
Satan wants to remove our connection to the land and therefore our purpose. This teaches us that the idea of family ownership of property is more than a capitalist ideal. It is in fact the opportunity that each family has to realize our purpose as blessors of creation.
It is no wonder that the land which God promised to Israel is always contested by the enemy through his control of nation states. The unending war for possession of that land of promise can only be ended when He whose right it is to reign will come to bind Satan (Revelation 20:2) and bring victory to Israel:
"The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. ... The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places] with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head." Psalm 110:2, 5-7 KJV
Israel Unfulfilled
This brings us to another element of this land promise given to Abram, Isaac and Jacob: The promises are presently unfulfilled. The presence of Israel in the land today is an example of how God allows man's wrath to praise Him.
"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."
Psalm 76:10 KJV
What we are presently witnessing in the chaos of world events is the strong desire of Israel's enemies to destroy her by external attacks. Yet what often fans the flames of these external attacks are the result of internal attacks from those who have usurped Israel's identity.
Can These Bones Live?
The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of the whole house of Israel to be like dry bones scattered in the desert.These bones have had flesh and sinew placed on them, but there was no breath in them. That is, they are impossibly gathered with the appearance of life but in unbelief. They are presently without the Spirit of God empowering them in the knowledge that Jesus of Nazareth is their Messiah.
When that day of His power comes, all Israel will submit willingly to Messiah. (Psalm 110:3) They will look on that one whom they have pierced and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son (Zechariah 12:10). They will at last confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9) and say He is the Blessed One coming in the name of the Lord. (Luke 13:35)
Until that day comes however the extent of the land promised in Genesis 13:16,17 is yet unfulfilled. (Click on the highlighted link)
There is also a special significance of Zechariah's prophecy concerning Messiah's appearance on the earth. (Zechariah 14:4) The description of His feet touching the mount of olives displays His humanity while the response of land to divide at His presence points to His Divinity.
His feet will touch on the very plot of land from which He was betrayed. (Luke 22:39, 47, 48) How different is this from when He placed Himself under the control of the satanically motivated Jewish leaders. At that time He submitted to them as God's Lamb. His second appearing as God's Lion of the tribe of Judah will cause His enemies to submit to Him.
Look up Child
When the Promised Seed once again connects to the Promised Land, only then will the Promised Blessings of peace and prosperity be realized.
"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I [am] thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward. ... And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be."
Genesis 15:1.5 KJV
Abraham is told to look toward the heavens for a confirmation of the permanence of the promises. Even so, when redeemed sinners pray with an upward look, like faithful Abram, we gain the same assurance that we are partakers of the Divine nature.
Only those who have placed their trust in God's promised seed, Christ Jesus have received such exceeding great and precious promises: 2 Peter 1:4
In our times of darkness, when it seems that the forces of hell are marshaled against us; when our connection to the land is most tenuous; when our hope of salvation appears most distant, we are counseled to look to the heavens. Lay hold of God's unconditional promise of salvation and preservation unto His coming Kingdom.
"Where are you now, when darkness closes in?...
...Look up child"
Lauren Daigle
"Now it was not written for his (Abram's) sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification."
Romans 4:23-25 KJV
No comments:
Post a Comment