A Promise Kept
"Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’" (Genesis 12:1-3)
"No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Genesis 17:5-8)
We really don’t know a great deal about Abraham prior to God calling him. He lived in Ur of the Chaldees with his father Terah, his wife Sarai and his brothers Nahor and Haran, the father of Lot. Haran died in Ur and Terah took the family from there to settle in the city of Haran in Canaan, where he died.
It is from Haran that God calls Abram as recorded in Genesis 12. That calling comes with promises to make him a great nation, to bless him, and to make him a blessing to all the families of the earth.
Five chapters of Genesis pass before the calling of God is sealed in God’s covenant with Abram. There is a lot of interesting history in those chapters that demonstrate to us that Abram was anything but perfect. He was willing to give his wife over to another man to save his own skin, not once but twice! Yet God is faithful to the promise He made in Haran.
The covenant God makes is one in which Abram is a passive partner. God takes full responsibility for making and keeping the covenant when He passes between the halves of the sacrifice. If Abraham was responsible for keeping the covenant, the situation would have been hopeless. God becomes the surety and the stage is set for the most incredible events in the history of our world.
In the passages above, notice that God promises to make Abram a great nation. When the time for the covenant comes, He does that and more; He covenants that Abraham will be the father of a multitude of nations.
History records that God was faithful to that pledge. However, our attention is largely focused on Abraham’s great and mighty nation and how it fits into God’s plan. Most Christians are quick to recognize that 1) Isaac was Abraham’s son of promise, 2) from Isaac came Jacob whom God named Israel after an nightlong wrestling match at the Jabbok, 3) Jacob had twelve sons who were the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel, and 4) it was through Judah that God chose to bring Messiah into the world.
In these acts we see the promise to Abraham kept in physical terms. But there is a spiritual side to the promise that must not be overlooked, for it is the ultimate fulfillment of what God had pledged.
Old Covenant Israel was a mighty nation, but God had something much greater in mind. His kingdom is a heavenly one and the mighty nation of Abraham would be a spiritual people in whom all physical distinctions were of no consequence. The chosen people themselves were unique only in their calling. Physically, they could be identified with the existing peoples of the earth. Their only distinction was that God chose them. They rejected Him, so He rejected them and fulfilled His promises spiritually.
The holy nation of faith (the "true Israel of God") is a nation whose dominion is unsurpassed and unending. It isn’t always faithful in the physical realm, but in the heavenlies in Christ, it is a glorious people.
Through physical Israel, God sent the Messiah who brought spiritual healing of the world. Through spiritual Israel, the Spirit of God works to bless the physical world. The promises are two-fold. While they are spiritual, they have serious implications for the physical world.
There is another aspect of the promises we need to address: the land: "And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. (Genesis 13:14-15) "And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Genesis 17:8)
Much has been made of this promise – too much! – at least in the physical realm. The political upheaval in the mid-east is fueled by the demands of Christians that the land still belongs to the Jews as a result of God’s promises. That is simply not the case. A biblical view of the promises to Abraham and how they were fulfilled would go a long way toward creating a lasting peace: not only in the mid-east but worldwide.
I encourage you to read commentaries written prior to the modern era of pre-millennial dispensationalism. Here is just a small sampling from Adam Clarke on this subject: "This land was given to Abram, that it might lineally and legally descend to his posterity; and though Abram himself cannot be said to have possessed it, Acts 7:5, yet it was the gift of God to him in behalf of his seed; and this was always the design of God, not that Abram himself should possess it, but that his posterity should, till the manifestation of Christ in the flesh. And this is chiefly what is to be understood by the words for ever, ad olam, to the end of the present dispensation, and the commencement of the new." (Comments on Genesis 13:14-15) Have I mentioned that word studies are important?
In their Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 1: The Pentatuch, Keil & Delitzsch say of the same passage: "The promise of God is unchangeable. As the seed of Abraham was to exist before God for ever, so Canaan was to be its everlasting possession. But this applied not to the lineal posterity of Abram, to his seed according to the flesh, but to the true spiritual seed, which embraced the promise in faith, and held it in a pure believing heart. The promise, therefore, neither precluded the expulsion of the unbelieving seed from the land of Canaan, nor guarantees to existing Jews a return to the earthly Palestine after their conversion to Christ."
That won’t play well in a lot of modern pulpits or Christian radio programs, but it was the consensus of most biblical scholars earlier in our history. Failing to understand the true nature of the promise set us up for a faulty understanding of its fulfillment.
How can we forget Hebrews 11:8-10, "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God."
Skipping down to verses 13-16, the author tells us what kind of land Abraham and his descendants were seeking: "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them."
The father of the faithful and his descendants were not seeking an earthly land! They understood the fulfillment to be spiritual because they understood God’s nature. The physical type we see in Old Covenant Judaism would have never satisfied Abraham. He sought a higher citizenship and he received it at the consummation of the ages.
Are there physical implications of the spiritual reality? Surely, but we must understand that the substance is spiritual. In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Spiritually, this promise is a reference to the kingdom (new heaven and earth). Physically, we understand that God’s people have received dominion over the earthly creation. We are to tend it and care for it just as Adam did.
Some have used this idea of dominion as an excuse for a modern group of zealots. Our admonition is to rule not by force or coercion. How we relate to the civil government is largely determined by its nature. In our country, we are the rulers (at least as far as the written code is concerned). Therefore, we have a duty to rule with all diligence as stewards of a sacred trust. Those who are born into systems where individuals are subjects of the state (regardless of its form of government), are bound to obey its dictates unless they conflict with the spirit or letter of God’s commands as revealed in scripture.
When earthly kingdoms conflict with the spiritual kingdom, Christians have a duty to uphold their heavenly citizenship by resisting supposed authorities that have usurped their office and legislated against God’s just order as described in Romans 13 and elsewhere.
Civil government is to be a bastion of moral strength and justice. It is to punish evil and preserve righteousness. When it works in opposition to those ends it is to be opposed by God’s people. We have wayward governments because Christians have been taught not to involve themselves in such matters. If we are to recover what we have lost, we have no choice but to be involved.
The spiritual reality is lived out in the physical world and that living out is what is to insure that the kingdom is evident on earth as it is in heaven. The kingdom has come, let us be faithful to expand its influence and borders.
Eschatology 101
In deference to those who wish I would quit raising questions about eschatology, I am setting up another website that will address this issue at length and, hopefully, in an organized manner. The initial effort should be up by June 1 and there will be ongoing additions to it.
That doesn’t mean you won’t see articles on the subject here any more (sorry); however, I will try to be more brief and refer you to the website link for more details as needed. The new site is www.eschatology101.com .
The home page is designed as something of a reader qualification process so that new readers can be directed to information appropriate to their concerns. After going through the introductory pages, you will be directed to the main page which will contain numerous resources for further study.
A False Prophet?
In a recent interview with Benny Hinn, John Hagee, Pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, stated that the rapture will come in the next six months. His prediction is based on the events of the on-going war on terrorism. Well, there is a countdown, but it is on the veracity of Hagee. If we were still under the law, he would be stoned six months from now.
Such ridiculous predictions are the results of years of indoctrination in unbiblical ideas. According to an article in the April 30, 1988, Houston Chronicle, Hagee professes, "In fact, trying to convert Jews is a ‘waste of time,’ he said. ‘The Jewish person who has his roots in Judaism is not going to convert to Christianity. There is no form of Christian evangelism that has failed so miserably as evangelizing the Jewish people. They (already) have a faith structure.’ Everyone else, whether Buddhist or Baha’i, needs to believe in Jesus, he says. But not Jews. Jews already have a covenant with God that has never been replaced by Christianity, he says."
Hagee is not alone in such error. The end time ramblings of commercial preachers with multi-million dollar empires should hold no sway over diligent students of the Bible. Those who argue that it makes no difference what you believe regarding "last things" need to pay careful attention to where wrong views can lead. Guard your heart and mind by prayerful, careful study.
Understanding Prophecy
Last year we considered the interpretation of prophecy briefly in the series on how to study the Bible. This short article should be considered continuing education.
As we noted previously, the language of prophecy causes us considerable difficulty, largely because we are not familiar with the figures which are used. Diligent study will lead us to an understanding of those figures. However, if our time orientation is skewed, it will be difficult to see how things fit.
There must be a harmony between the time statements involved and the nature of fulfillment of the prophecy. If we start with assumptions about the nature of the fulfillment, how we see the time statements is immediately impacted.
Old covenant Israel was a physical type that symbolized new covenant Israel. It would seem obvious from a number of New Testament scriptures that the nature of new covenant Israel is spiritual, not physical (i.e. fleshly). Still, many Christians today hold the belief that Christ is going to return and establish a physical kingdom on earth.
While He is certainly free to do so, there is nothing in scripture that tells us that He will. His statements about the nature of His kingdom should convince us that it is not physical except in our living it out in our daily lives. Because He lives within us, we take His kingdom with us wherever we go. We live and reign with Him by faith and have no need of His physical presence.
Yet, if we insist that He must return to earth physically, then the nature of His return demands that we do biblical gymnastics to make sense out of the time statements because that has obviously not happened.
On the other hand, if we understand the nature of His coming as spiritual, then it is easy to see how the specific time statements of scripture fit the events of the first century (and they are fulfilled with impeccable accuracy!).
Why do we insist on seeing the nature of Christ’s return as physical? Because we do not take the time to read the scripture and understand the figures that are used to convey the message to us. The meanings are clear if we will just take the time to study them. I hope you will.
Book Review
Stephen and Janet Bly are fellow members of Christian Writers Fellowship International. They were gracious enough to send me a copy of their latest book, The Power of a Godly Grandparent. I’ve only read about half of it (Sharon got to it first and likes it too) but I’m impressed with what I’ve read so far. You can read about them at www.blybooks.com .
.The very first chapter sets the stage for godly grandparents with the repeated admonition, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." The apt reminder is that grandchildren are added things, not first things. That doesn’t sell too well in our present culture but it is of utmost importance to remember.
The book is full of practical tips for grandparents. I love "how to" books and this one is worthy of adding to your library.
Other chapters deal with the powers of loving long distance, your family history, teaching your unique skills, knowing your place, sharing spiritual truth, loving discipline, praying for your grandchildren and more. The Book is published by Beacon Hill Press.
(My desire to have a resource site for grandfathers is still alive and well. It is still in a holding pattern at Grandfather's Chest and I do hope to have the funds to get it fully functional this year)
The Apprentice’s Journal
It is hard to believe that another month has passed so quickly. I suspect your spring has also sprung into action as well! The backyard continues to come alive as the days get longer. The woodpeckers lost their nest to a swarm of bees so I guess we won’t have any young ones this year.
The toads did make an appearance one night after a rain. I hauled about 30 to a creek about two blocks away and they haven’t returned. The good news is a co-worker of Sharon’s wants all the toads we can catch. She doesn’t know what she’s asking for but I’ll be happy to oblige.
Things are constantly changing in our backyard ecosystem and I regularly try to point out something new to Sharon. Her response is often, "I think I see what you’re talking about." A couple of weeks ago I was trying to show her a small dot between the rocks around the largest of our ponds. As soon as she saw that speck, she exclaimed, "That’s a snake! Get rid of it!" I was amazed at her quick recognition of the intruder because I had spent considerable time trying to decide what it was prior to showing it to her.
It was a harmless water snake, but no snake is harmless to Sharon (she inherited that fear from her mother). I knew it would be all but impossible to catch where it was situated. It finally stuck its head out far enough for me to take a shot with a pellet gun, but as soon as I fired it disappeared into the rocks and we haven’t seen it since. Out of sight, out of mind!
The tomatoes are blooming and the beans are about to follow suit. The caterpillars are enjoying the leaves of my Brussel sprouts and the mosquitos are enjoying my presence! There’s still much to do in the garden since I’ve only planted about half the space. Sharon has been busy with flowerbeds and the hummingbirds are appreciating her effort.
All in all, spring is a reminder that in them midst of the sameness of the annual cycle, there are seasons which bring us change and a sense of wonder. It is a glorious time to take in the beauty of the creation and praise our Creator. What a masterpiece!
It is impossible to consider the renewal of life that spring brings without contemplating the new creation that God has birthed in us. John says it well, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God...."
Apart from Christ, we were less than compost, but in Him we stand in the radiance of His glory before the Father. In Psalm 27:4 David writes, "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to meditate in His temple."
David sought the temporal with a view to the eternal. We are blessed to inhabit the eternal. Now, we are the temple of God and we see His beauty because we see flowing from ourselves that which we are incapable of in the flesh.
As we consider our lives before Christ, it is hard to look upon the "wretched refuse" we formerly revered as our lives. To realize that we once thought that somehow that repulsive existence could in any way be pleasing to the Father only adds to our amazement at what He has done.
How merciful God is that He doesn’t confront us with all our ugliness at once. Daily, He shines His light on that area where He is working and allows us to see it for what it really is. It is a painful thing because each day we know that He will further refine us. It is His work and no occasion for selfish pride. Outside the blood of Christ, His holiness would not even entertain the idea of our presence.
Thank God for spring! Everywhere He reminds us that life not only continues, but flourishes. Individually, we have our ups and downs, but God’s plan stands firm and is no way thwarted. He is faithful to do all that He has promised.
How blessed we are if we have eyes to see how He works in and through us to accomplish His purposes. Not that we have any occasion for boasting, because He can and has used the humblest of means as His instruments. God used you? What does that accrue to your account? He’s used a donkey too! Our boasting, as Paul put it, is "in the Lord" and in Him alone.
Nevertheless, it is our joy to be used by Him. It is our delight that He allows us to celebrate what He does through us as we give Him all the glory.
Whatever our calling, it is for His pleasure and for the growth of our faith. It is a source of great encouragement to observe the lives of others as God uses their yieldedness. Some receiving this newsletter have provided great examples of service for my life and I cherish those memories.
I cherish none more than my own dear wife whose daily example is a profound demonstration of what God does in a life yielded to His will. In spite of all she does, she constantly seeks to do more. Even now she is planning another medical mission trip to Peru next fall. It will be exciting to see how God honors her desire and provides the necessary resources.
Living in the presence of our gracious Lord blesses each day with a confidence that the world cannot shake. To rise each morning knowing that whether or not we see another day in this life we live, floods our hearts and minds with the assurance we are kept by God. If that doesn’t fill our spirits with anticipation, nothing will!
So, as spring is breaking out all around you, I pray that God will grant you a greater vision of how it is blossoming within you as well. Enjoy the fragrance of the blooming, and savor the anticipation of the precious fruit it will bear in due season. Till next time ... Jim