As our Advent preparations move into the 21st day, we focus on
a fundamental truth at the heart of God’s plan for Salvation history. God called
Abram to leave his home and relocate his family in a new land. In Genesis 12,
God makes three promises to Abram (later Abraham). God declares that He will
give Abraham a new land (nation), a great name (dynasty) and that his family
line will be a blessing to the whole earth (nations relating to God as one
family). In Genesis 15, 17 and 22 these promises are updated to covenant
status. As we will see in this evening’s study, these covenantal assurances
would indeed come to pass – partially under the leadership of men – and perfectly
and finally under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Read on and see God’s providential
plan unfold just as He said. But, the fulfillment of God’s Word would not be
completed through the Patriarch Abraham, or Moses the prophet. Not even King
David could preside over the satisfaction of these obligations. Only through
the Incarnation would God bring his covenantal commitments to pass.
Genesis 17:1-8
When
Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I
am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that
I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then
Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my
covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No
longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I
have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will
make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings
shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant
between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations
for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after
you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after
you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting
possession, and I will be their God.”
God’s covenantal promises to Abraham
meant nothing less than having a new land (the Promised Land), having a great
name (which meant having a royal dynasty), and having his family line be a
blessing to all the nations of the earth. This meant that Abraham’s progeny would
be a unifying force to undo the division of man which came as a result the
Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). And what’s more, Abraham’s offspring would be used
to reverse the curse of Adam that divided God and man because of man’s sin. A
land, a name and an evangelistic mission – these were the covenantal promises
of God to Abraham.
Within God’s
sovereign plan, the new land promised to Abraham would come only after his
family had been in Egypt for four centuries. Toward the end of that time, the
Children of Israel (twelve tribes named for Abraham’s grandson – Jacob/Israel)
became slaves to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Moses was chosen by God to deliver
the Israelites. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, Abraham’s
offspring finally crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land. But, this was not
a permanent fulfillment of God’s promise, as we will see. Abraham’s descendants
had received a “Promised Land,” but their unfaithfulness would cause their
eviction in just a few centuries. What could be done to fulfill this promise
after such a tragic ejection from the “land flowing with milk and honey”?
Within God’s
sovereign plan, the great name promised to Abraham would come as the Israelites
clamored for a king – so that they could be like every other nation. They were
not satisfied with God as their Lord, they had to have a human ruler. God
relented and gave them Saul. King Saul proved to be an unfaithful failure (1
Samuel 13:13-14). So, God brought forward a shepherd boy named David who
reigned for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4). It was to King David that God gave the
promise, that one of his heirs would be on his throne forever (1 Kings 2:45,
9:5). Sadly, due to David’s personal failings (2 Samuel 12:10-11), his family
was never far from calamity. Solomon, who followed David as King of Israel,
exhibited poor judgment. He allowed and was involved in syncretism. Because of
this blatant disregard for God’s instruction, in 930 BC, the unified Kingdom
was separated into Israel in the north and Judah in the south. In 722 BC, the
Assyrians defeated the northern kingdom of Israel. In 586 BC, the Babylonians
brought down the Judeans in the South. With the fall of Zedekiah, the last Davidic
King had sat on the throne (Jeremiah 52). Obviously, this could not be the end.
But, what could be done to fulfill God’s promise?
Within God’s
sovereign plan, God covenanted with Abraham that his seed would be blessed and
be a blessing to the entire world. Israel, called “first born son” by God, was
meant to be a good oldest sibling to the brotherhood of nations. Through
Israel, all of the nations were to be invited to Jerusalem to worship God.
Sadly, God’s chosen people desired for their relationship with God to be
exclusive. They reviled the Gentiles, not to mention the Samaritan half-breeds!
Rather than reach out to other nations, they became isolationists, convinced of
their own self-righteousness. Given this elitist snobbery, how would God ever
fulfill His promise to Abraham?
Abraham did
not see these promises come to pass. Moses did not preside over their
fulfillment. David was unable to fulfill them perfectly. What would God do to
prove His faithfulness and fulfill His Word?
Luke 9:28-31 (The Promised
Land)
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him
Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And
as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing
became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with
him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of
his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Jesus was making his approach to
Jerusalem where he would complete his Passion. There on the mount of
transfiguration, Jesus met with Moses and Elijah. And what did they discuss?
The Greek word for departure, found in verse 31, is exodus. Jesus spoke with
Moses about the exodus he was about to lead from Jerusalem. Deuteronomy 18:15
and 18 reveal that a New Moses would come. This new deliverer would lead a new
exodus – not to an earthly promised land – but to the heavenly Promised Land!
Jesus, was about to lead an Exodus, not from bondage to Egypt and Pharaoh, to
Canaan, but from bondage to sin, death and hell, and to the Heavenly Promised
Land!
Luke 1:31-33 (A Great
Name)
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a
son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to
him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign
over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
God promised Abraham that his name
would be great. In 2 Samuel 7, God promises David, “I will make your name great.” In Luke 1:32, Mary is told that Jesus’ name “will be great.” In 2 Samuel 7:14, God says, “ I will be his father, and he shall be my
son.” Luke 1:32 states that Jesus will be, “called the Son of the most High.”
2 Samuel 7:13 says that God will, “…establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
Luke 1:32 also says that, “The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father
David.” In 2 Samuel 7:16, God says to David, “…your house and your kingdom will be made
sure forever.” Luke 1:33 says, “And he will
reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
There can be no doubt that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise
to Abraham concerning a great name. This promise was extended to David. But, it
was ultimately and finally fulfilled in Jesus!
Galatianis 3:13, 26-29
(All Nations Blessed)
Now
the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And
to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your
offspring,” who is Christ.
…for
in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For
as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and
female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are
Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Israel’s disposition toward
foreigners was one of disdain and intolerance. Jesus, however, came to bring
restoration for humanity. His was a mission to reunite man to God and to break
down the walls of animosity that brings division between the people of the
earth. Ephesians 2:11-14 gives further clarity.
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the
flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is
made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that
time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and
strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the
world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he
himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh
the dividing wall of hostility…”
Abraham was promised that, through his offspring, all
the nations of the earth would be blessed. In Galatians 3 we find that Jesus is
the offspring of Abraham through which the blessing would come. Ephesians 3
reveals to us that in Jesus those of us who were alienated from the covenant
promises of Israel are now offered these promises in Christ. We were once far
off, but now we have been brought near! Jesus is our peace – the One who has
broken down the wall that divides and causes hostility. He brings peace with
God and peace with men.
Is it
possible that the covenant promises made to Abraham are fulfilled in the little
baby born in a humble manger? Could this little babe be the One to bring it all
to pass – a Promised Land, a Great Name and through him to bless all nations?
Isaiah 9:6
says that, “For
to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon
his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Here, Isaiah
prophesies that government will be on the shoulder of the child to be born.
Governments operate in sovereign nations – and require a land (check). Isaiah speaks about this child’s great name (check)! Isaiah calls this
little one, “Prince of Peace.” Through Jesus, we have peace with God and with
man. In Christ, we are reconciled to God and to our fellow humans – there is no
greater blessing (check)!!
As we
celebrate the coming of Jesus, may we realize how astoundingly significant this
historical reality truly is. Once again we can see that God’s Word is good!
May you
revel in God’s grace and goodness on this 21st day of Advent.
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