11
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 patri-
arch 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 right-
eousness. 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 chil-
dren 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: 7-
Christ: The Promised Seed of Abraham
9,12). 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.