PROMISE TO ABRAHAM – PART FOUR
Tuesday – November 21, 2017
O the Lord is so good and merciful and kind. I hope you enjoy the wonderful fall scene as we reenter our Bible Study from the great Book of Hebrews. Remember I am talking about God’s promise to Abram and as we will see along the way not just to him but the Hebrew people to follow and to those of us who would enter this New and wonderful Blood Covenant. First let’s review our primary text.
Hebrews 6:12-15 (KJV)
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Now, let’s go to the secondary text that we left off with yesterday after Abram and Lot separated.
Genesis 13:14-18 (KJV)
14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
You might want to review the map I presented yesterday so as to appreciate that Abram was standing right in the middle of the land that God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, was granting to Abram and to his seed (Christ). The word “seed” in this passage remains masculine and singular in spite of the context. Let’s listen to the revelation given the Apostle Paul.
Galatians 3:16 (KJV)
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
The LORD told Abram to “walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it”; so what did Abram do? He did not walk the length and breadth of it instead setting up shop in Hebron. Has the LORD given the Church, us individually, things that we never bothered to step into? Do you suppose that this accounts for why the children of Israel centuries later never occupied the land given of God and do not to this day? There is a day coming however when the Messiah returns and the Jews recognize Him and submit to Him. At that time all of the land promised Abraham will be occupied, the Eden will be established again. Let me point out that those who died in faith under the Old Covenant were considered as in Christ. Following physical death, they stayed in the Bosom of Abraham until the fulness was come and accomplished. Let’s move from here to Genesis chapter fifteen (fifteen is the number of God’s provision/rest).
Genesis 15:1-7 (KJV)
1 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.
2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 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.
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
7 And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
As we move forward with the LORD’S promise to Abraham we find the LORD appearing to Abram in a vision. Abram complains that it is wonderful to have the promise of all this land however he has no child to inherit the land so it will be left to the steward of his house, Eliezer. Here we see the promise of a child, an heir. We know from Bible text at the end of Genesis Eleven that Abram’s wife Sarai is barren. It is not 100% clear if this means she could not have a child even by a different man or if the issue lay with Abram. It would seem as the story unfolds that the issue is with her. It really does not matter for a miracle is in the making. Due to the herkie jerky nature of Abram’s obedience it takes twenty-five years. None the less Abram believes God at this point and it is counted to him for righteousness. Then Abram asks a very important question and receives the answer of eternity.
Genesis 15:8 (KJV)
8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
Wow, a new beginning (number eight) is in the making! The use of the words “Lord GOD” is new and seems to signal a change in the relationship between God and Abram. Lord here is Adonay or master, ruler and GOD is the same as Elohim. The Lord GOD goes on to say we will enter into a blood Covenant. Abram appears to understand this and this is where we will pick up tomorrow.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (GW)
24 The LORD will bless you and watch over you.
25 The LORD will smile on you and be kind to you.
26 The LORD will look on you with favor and give you peace.’
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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