Monday: The Messianic Promise ~ Part 1
“In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen: 28:14).
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal: 3:29).
Image © Lynne Davis at Goodsalt.com
More than once the Lord said to Abraham that in his seed, his offspring, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (see also Gen: 12:3, Gen: 18:18, Gen: 22:18). This wonderful covenant promise is repeated, because of all of the promises, this is the most important one, the most enduring one, the one that makes all the others worthwhile. In one sense, this was a promise of the rise of the Jewish nation, through whom the Lord wanted to teach “all the families of the earth” about the true God and His plan of salvation. Yet, the promise reaches complete fulfillment only in Jesus Christ, who came from the seed of Abraham, the One who would at the Cross pay for the sins of “all the families of the earth.”
Think about the covenant promise made after the Flood (in which the Lord promised not to destroy the world with water again). What ultimate good would this be without the promise of redemption found in Jesus? What ultimate good would any of God’s promises be without the promise of eternal life found in Christ?
How do you understand the notion that in Abraham, through Jesus, “all the families of the earth” would be blessed? What does that mean?
No question, the covenant promise of the world’s Savior is the greatest of all God’s promises. The Redeemer Himself becomes the means by which the obligations of the covenant arrangement are met and all of its other promises are realized. All, Jew or Gentile, who enter into union with Him are accounted as Abraham’s true family and inheritors of the promise (Gal: 3:8-9, Galatians 3:27-29), that is — the promise of eternal life in a sinless environment where evil, pain, and suffering will never again arise. Can you think of a better promise than that?
| What is it about the promise of eternal life in a world without sin and suffering that has such an attraction for to us? Could it be that we long for it because that’s what we were originally created for and that by longing for it we are longing for something that is basic to our nature? |
(35)
I don't want to ignore the messianic aspects of the covenant, but it is worth considering that even in Abraham's time, and certainly post-exodus, the Hebrew nation had much to offer the surrounding nations. The Hebrews monotheistic view of diety, the move away from child sacrifices and the openly sexual worship practice offered something that should have been apealing to the nations around them. Further, many of their health and hygiene practices were demonstrably better than that of their neighbours. The could have been a blessing to the nations around them if they had taken the time to share.
Abraham settled in Canaan, essentially at the meeting place of the two major cultural groups of his time; Mesopotania and Egypt. They were strategically placed to influence both cultures. Did they influence, or were they influenced?
Yes, Maurice - God's Wisdom-presence is omnipotend and omnicent, impacting all aspects of humanity and its development. Those guided to willingly and faithfully follow His leading will always be a blessing to the world around them.
Throughout all ages, we recognize the hand of God working intelligently and strategically to bring about humanity's ultimate, spiritual enlightenment.
He establishes for all who have the eye to see the observable evidence which applied faith in His Way of Life produces. It is demonstrates by the betterment of mankind's societal development; though without being undergirded by His 'love and justice', this will not produce true progess, it will stagnate.
Life does not 'evolve' in a vacuum, the absence of intelligent forces governing its progress.
Physical, observable, intelligently designed, factual outcomes are 'only' the manifestations of the spiritual aspect of applied faith - expressing the Creator's leading in all things 'human'; after all, man is a physical creature governed by spirit.
It’s a bit of a conundrum: keep yourself separate from the world and at the same time seek to influence it.
Can it be done? Yes, theoretically it can. But to be too much in the world - enough to influence it, perhaps - is dangerous as well.
Man (and I mean the generic “man”) has a great need to be accepted and liked. To fit in. And many of us (I include myself) will bend a little in order to not stand out, to be accepted into whatever the “in” group is.
And then there is the problem of delayed gratification. It’s a hard sell to ask people to give up things that are right before their eyes in order to get some unseen future benefit. I think this problem is much worse today than it was back in Abraham’s day, but it was still a problem then.
Should the Israelites have tried harder to promote their way of life, their relationship with God? Perhaps. But they already managed to lose their way without too much mixing among the outside groups so maybe remaining separate allowed them to remain faithful for a longer time.
It’s an interesting question.
I like this view
Von, faith overcomes every obstacle. Notice the illustration of Daniel 3. Bound up and tossed into the fiery furnace, yet unharmed and not even smelling of smoke.
By faith, we can live in a corrupt world and remain unspotted through the power of God. Israel did not need to try harder, they only needed faith and the resulting obedience. God would have done the rest.
It was easier for God to take Israel out of Egypt, than Egypt out of Israel
The people of God were influence by those around them because they adopted the way of life of those surrounding nations whereas the nations ought to copy their life style by knowing the true God by their examples.
Todays lesson is a lesson of hope in a world that is ravaged by/in sin.
I was broken/shattered/devastated as to the news I hear everyday of the incessant attacks, kidnapping and killing of innocent people in my country Nigeria, one cannot sleep with his two eyes closed because of fear of the terrorists/bandits etc. My heart bleeds but upon studying yesterday and todays lesson, I'm lightened and encouraged.
The world needs nothing other than Jesus.
May God's mercy be upon you and your country
The Messianic Promise
'(Gal: 3:8-9, Galatians 3:27-29), that is — the promise of eternal life in a sinless environment where evil, pain, and suffering will never again arise. Can you think of a better promise than that?'
Many think eternal life is something distance and begins when we get to another place. To me, eternal life begins in the now, on earth here while we are alive and the Holy Ghost is living in our heart/mind. Eternal life for Jesus cont when he was on earth living and dwelling among humans, so it will be with us. Despite the surroundings is an evil place the Lord wants us to have his spirit dwelling in us. That is the beginning of eternal life.
Looking back from where we are today, not only did Abraham's Seed provide salvation to all who will accept it, it was also Abraham's seed that condemned and crucified the Promised Seed. God chose not to reveal that fact until Daniel, yet even then few, if any, understood it except for Jesus. It has always been a small remnant who kept faith in this world where few fear the Lord, and it remains that way today, as the world will soon find out. Can we understand why Jesus asked if there would be "faith in the earth" when He comes again?
In regards to final question on Mondays lesson, We yearn for heaven because that's where we can forever be with the Lord and our loved ones without sickness, sorrow, death or sin, not because that's our roots for we are born in sin. It's solely because of the suffering sacrifice that Jesus gave to us at Calvary.
In regards to final question on Mondays lesson, I yearn for heaven not because it belongs to me in anyway, for we are born in sin and shapen in iniquity. That is it Our nature, but obedience, faith, and His imputed righteousness will one day allow us to be transformed into the image and partakers of the God's original ideal for His people.
Let's us not be discouraged because few are saved. There is comfort in the words it is hard to be lost. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Christ forever interceeds for those who turn to His, saving to the uttermost. Hebrews 7:25.
Discouragement fades quickly as faith grows. And as faith grows eternal life is not so distant. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Acts 16:31. There will be a seat left on the spaceship to heaven.
I am not a Jew so I follow under the portion of the covenant, "all nations shall be blessed, even all families shall be blessed." Because I go through The Door. John 10:9.
Where do the words "it is hard to be lost" come from?
Thoughts From the Mount of blessing page 139 paragraph 1. Also Proverbs 13:15,17. As much implies it is hard to be lost.
I've heard this quote:
"When I look at myself, I wonder how I can ever be saved?
But when I look at Jesus I wonder, how can I ever be lost!"
You are right, Sarah have peace with Jesus. Praying for God's comfort on you.