Christ: The Promised Seed of Abraham
In the beginning, when the first man had been formed in the image and likeness of God, and Eve had been taken out of the man’s side to be a helpmeet for him, God made the choice of habitation for them. No big houses, just a garden was provided, planted by the Lord eastward in Eden. “Out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food: The tree of life in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden” (Genesis 2:8-10). This, then, was God’s choice of a suitable home and occupation for the man whom he had made to have dominion over the work of his hands. We greatly admire this beautiful handiwork of angels on behalf of the Lord God.
And God saw that all His work was “very good”. The sad story is of broken law and expulsion from this Garden of Eden. The hope of the promised redemption was made, and this leads us to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to whom the promises were given of the kingdom to come and a righteous seed. “Come into a land which I shall show you” was a command to Abraham. He was obedient and departed, even though he did not know where he went (Hebrews 2:8). But under guidance he, with his wife Sarai and Lot his nephew, came into the land of Canaan entering it from the north. Passing southwards, he pitched his tent at a spot between Bethel and Ai, and there built an altar unto the Lord. Though compelled by famine to go to Egypt for a while, he soon returned to this place where his tent had been at the beginning, where the altar was first (Genesis 13:4). When Abraham turned round, he viewed the south where he would see hills around Jerusalem. Among these was Mount Moriah where afterwards his faith was so severely tested in the offering up of Isaac.
Now it came to pass that Lot decided to move down into the valley. After he had gone, the Lord said to Abraham, “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 to you and your seed for ever.”Abraham was also commanded to rise and to walk through the land in the length and breadth of it, for the Lord said, “I will give it unto thee” (Genesis 13:17).
We can, in imagination, stand with Abraham and view the landscape. Imagine then the impression created in the mind of the patriarch as he surveyed that vast land. He had left his native land, and here he was, a landless stranger and sojourner among lawless, hostile tribes- yet here was God’s promise. But he staggered not because of unbelief. He believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. He believed and a seed would bring a blessing to all future nations. This would be the scene of the future kingdom.
The promise was confirmed by sacrifice when Abraham enquired of the Lord God. But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” (Genesis 15:8). By a great sacrifice, it has been confirmed and made sure to all the seed, even to all who are the children by faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 15:8).
The same promise came down the centuries as far as Moses and we can take our stand with him on Mount Nebo at the top of Pisgah, which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho. Here the Lord showed Moses all the land of Gilead, Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim, Manasseh and all the land of Judah. And the Lord said unto him, “This is the land which I swore unto Abraham, unto Isaac and unto Jacob saying, ‘I will give it unto your seed.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes” (Deuteronomy 34:1-4).
Moses described it thus, “The Lord thy God brings you into a good land; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey. A land where you shall eat bread without scarceness, a land which the Lord thy God cares for: the eyes of the Lord are always upon it from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year” (Deuteronomy 18: 79,12). Moses was permitted to view this good land from the top of Pisgah before he died in faith. Moses will come again and with many others will be with Christ in the kingdom.
The Lord Jesus Christ knew the joy set before him in the restitution of all things not only to that ‘very good state’ described at first, but actual perfection and the bringing of many sons to glory. When tempted in the wilderness he, like the prophet Moses, was taken up into a high mountain and shown all the kingdoms of the world. Christ would have seen the land promised to Abraham and his seed (then under the power of Rome). It was his by divine covenant, but the tempter said to him, “All these things will I give to you if you will fall down and worship me.” But Jesus was proof against the trial: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan. For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve’” (Matthew 4:8-10). Jesus was mindful of the promise, “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, thou shall see it. The righteous shall inherit the land to dwell therein for ever” (Psalm 37:34).
Jesus waited for God and still awaits the appointed time, now at his Father’s right hand until his enemies be made his footstool. He told the Jews that their house would be left unto them desolate until they shall say, “Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord” Matthew 8:38. He would then be seen again and acknowledged by all. Many centuries of desolation have since passed over the land of promise. During that long time large numbers of people have been taken out for Christ’s name from among the Gentiles.
God has prepared wonderful things for those who love him, yet the apostle says, “The Lord has revealed them by his spirit” (1Corinthians 2:10). The same treasures are hid for us in the prophetic writings. Let us drink at the stream of life flowing there from, and by the faith arising in our hearts thereby. May we stand and endure till the day dawn and the day star arise in our hearts.
Bro David and Sis Jacklyne Wangala (Chwele, Kenya)
