In The Beginning

This book is the second of my father's books, written in 2001. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are my father's words.

Acknowledgments 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

We are deeply indebted to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for allowing us to experience and understand a small measure of His Truth, as written in the Word and as revealed by the Holy Spirit. NO man can understand the Word of God or the ways of God unless they are revealed to him by His Spirit. 

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

I would also like to acknowledge my wife, Linda, who provided me with great encouragement and support and gave me her valuable comments for improvement. 

All verses quoted herein are taken from the Authorized or King James' version, except as specifically noted at the appropriate places. 

Permission is freely given to anyone to copy all or parts of this book and to distribute this word in any way that you desire to whomever you desire, PROVIDED that you do so without any monetary remuneration. The word of God is free, or at least should be. "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). 

The Unfolding: Volume 2

This book represents the second in a series of books centered around the unfolding of the word of God and the revelation or manifestation or unfolding of His great grace and glory. 

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Luke 12:2 

God has revealed more of Himself and His word over the years. But there is coming a time when God is going to roll everything back up into Himself. A possible analogy is that of unrolling a scroll so as to read what is written thereon and then rolling the scroll back up. That was the inspiration for the front and back covers of this book and for those volumes in the series yet to come. 

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll. Isaiah 34:4

God's purpose is to manifest His glory. Everything is designed to show forth the glory of God.

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:5 

Some verses that clearly show that God has chosen to reveal more of Himself and His word over a period of time are: 

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. 1 Peter 1:20

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Romans 3:21

The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. Hebrews 9:8

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Ephesians 3:5 

God's revelation, by His Spirit, is not simply TO us, but WITHIN us. The Word of God must become flesh; for example, 

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace,
16 To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Galatians 1:15-16

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:26-27 

There is still more that God intends to reveal of His glory. 

Father, glorify Thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. John 12:28

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Romans 8:19. 

But there will come a time when God folds everything back up. Many believers sense that folding up is near at hand. 

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed ... 

Hebrews 1:12

And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28 

"For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29), and everything shall be consumed by the fire of His Spirit, that God may be all in all. 

Foreword 

This second book of unfolding focuses on the book of Genesis. We make no claim that this word is exhaustive in nature. In fact, we have deliberately NOT included a number of valuable truths which have their roots in the book of Genesis. We have chosen to include some of these truths in later volumes of this series. Furthermore, there are some topics taken from the book of Genesis which we will omit, simply because the Holy Spirit has not yet shed sufficient light in our hearts in those areas. Finally, there are some topics from the book of Genesis that Christians have argued about for many years but which we believe are NOT important that we understand. Unfortunately, Christians like to major in minors and argue about topics that are, in our opinion, neither here nor there. For example, we really don't believe it is important whether God created everything in six days as we know a day (24-hour days) or whether each of those six days were one thousand days or some other number. A good question to always keep in our minds concerning ANY topic from the bible is, "How does this relate to the Lord Jesus Christ and how does it relate to furthering the kingdom of God?" 

In addition, readers should ALWAYS be encouraged to hear what the Spirit is saying to them as they read ANY written book or article, such as this one. NO MAN IS PERFECT and NO MAN HAS ALL OF THE TRUTH. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth. Many years ago a brother asked me if I had believed every word that two men had prophesied over me. I replied that when I eat a grape I eat the pulp and spit out the seed. A major key in Christianity is that each believer should be fully persuaded in his/her own mind. 

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Romans 14:1-3, 5 

This word simply represents that which we have received from the Lord on the enclosed topics as of this point in time. Our sincere desire is that this word will be a blessing to all who read it. We all learn some things through personal experience. Hopefully, we can also learn through the experiences of others. 

There are a multitude of scriptural principles that we do well to heed UNTIL the day star arises in our hearts ... until the Word becomes flesh in a particular area in our life. After the Word becomes flesh, we no longer do things because it is written in scripture ... we do things because they have become supernaturally natural to us. It is like learning to drive a car with a stick shift. At first there are so many things ... so many rules that we must remember ... let out the clutch slowly as you press on the accelerator slowly ... keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel ... change the gear at the proper time. But after sufficient practice we are no longer conscious of the "rules" of driving a car which has a stick shift. It just comes naturally. 

Many believers have noted that a solid guideline that can be used to understand scriptural principles is to see when a particular principle is first mentioned in the bible. The book of Genesis contains a multitude of principles which have never changed. They are very valid for believers today and forever. Indeed, Genesis is the seed-plot of the whole bible. In addition, more than HALF of human history is covered in the 50 chapters of Genesis. In order to understand what the Spirit says through the written word, we MUST understand the foundation of all Truth, as set forth in the book of Genesis. 

In order to rightly divide the word of God, we must ALWAYS keep in mind the first verse in the book of Genesis ... In the beginning God. Everything MUST be related to Him who was in the beginning. That is the starting point for Chapter 1 of this Volume. Next we consider the acts of God which reveal God's divine intention ... In the beginning God created. This second volume of unfolding then focuses on the ways of God ... the significance of the Seed, how the enemy from time to time attempted to destroy the Seed, and how God has destroyed the works of the enemy. 

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel. Genesis 3:15 

This volume also contains some gleanings available to believers through the lives of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The book of Genesis is RICH in object lessons for all Christians to profit by. Chapter 4, concerning Abraham, is by far the longest of the chapters in this volume. This is probably because Abraham may be the most important figure in the old testament (excluding Melchizedek). 

Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9

11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 8:11-12

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. Luke 13:28

19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:19-20 

Over HALF of the great people of faith listed in Hebrews 11 are those described in the book of Genesis. In case you have never noticed, 

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which appear. Hebrews 11:3 

Some have noted that the above does NOT refer to creation. (We will expand on this in a later volume.) In any event, the FIRST great Person of faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. Other great people of faith recorded in Genesis, and specifically noted in Hebrews 11, are Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. 

At the end of each Chapter in this volume, we discuss, very briefly, some significant points for us today as believers. Although there is value in reading scripture and seeing how God dealt with the people of faith as recorded in Genesis, we should be MUCH more concerned with what the scripture signifies to us personally. Obviously we would never presume to be able to cover the significance to each and EVERY believer who may read this book. That is one of the functions of the Holy Spirit. So before you read each Chapter, we suggest that you ask the Lord to show you, by His Spirit, the significance to you as a believer. We particularly encourage the reader to ask the Lord to show you any personal relevance of the section in Chapter 4 on "Significance for Today." 

Chapter 1: In The Beginning, God 

In the beginning God ... Genesis 1:1 

Genesis is the book of the beginning. In the beginning, God. In the end, God. Bullinger has identified 30 different complements in the book of Revelation to their counterparts in the book of Genesis. 

I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Revelation 22:13 

We human beings tend to interpret scripture as it pertains to US. This approach will inevitably lead to errors. ALL scripture must be interpreted in terms of His Son, Jesus. Christ is the ONE great subject of the whole bible. 

And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. Luke 24:44 

Volume 1 of this series, “The Love of a Man for His Wife,” describes, to a limited degree, the love of God. Certainly the love of God is a marvelous expression of who God is His nature. But God is infinitely greater than any one or ALL of His attributes. We can go through all of scripture, list all of the names of God, list all of His attributes (such as the love of God, His faithfulness, His sovereignty, His grace and mercy, etc.), and list all of the actions of God as recorded in scripture, but still fall short of describing or defining who God is! How can the finite describe or understand the Infinite? How can we describe the Indescribable? How can we know the Unknowable? How can we understand Him who cannot be known unless He reveal Himself to us? 

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

Let us return to the first verse in Genesis and read one more word than before.

In the beginning God created Genesis 1:1 

Certainly one of the attributes of God is His creativity. The very first verse in Genesis proclaims the fallacy of the theory of evolution! Although man, particularly spiritual man, was designed to be creative, there is a realm of creativity which was never intended for man. 

Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 2:3 sometimes has been called the Introduction to Genesis. This is probably because God is the ONLY Worker! Man has NO part in that part of history. In this Introduction, scripture says that God created, moved, said, saw, divided, made, called, set, blessed, ended, rested, and sanctified. These actions, twelve in number, represent governmental perfection. 

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made. Genesis 2:3 

Note that five of the twelve actions of God are contained in the above verse; i.e., blessed, sanctified, rested, created, and made. Five represents the grace of God. Bullinger notes that five is four plus one. Four represents creative works. So five represents the creative works of God plus the Creator Himself. It signifies God adding His gifts and blessings to His creative works. 

In the subsequent chapters of this book, one attribute of God jumps out as we look at the lives of the men and women in Genesis who were chosen by God. That attribute is the sovereignty of God. From the time that the Lord apprehended me, He has emphasized to me His sovereignty. He sovereignly apprehended me. I do not recall ANY man who ever told me about Jesus. No man ever suggested to me that I should read Romans 10:9-10 or pray the “sinner’s prayer.” Neither can I say that I was seeking Him. He just sovereignly touched my life, and in a way that I did not at first understand. But I knew that something had happened. I had two overwhelming sensations. It was like I had entered a world that I never knew existed (which was a fact), and I remember saying to myself, “Surely this is the peace that passes all understanding.” 

A few weeks after the Lord apprehended me, He sovereignly delivered me from smoking, on September 13, 1967. NO man went through any deliverance ministry. NO man even suggested that I needed to be delivered from smoking. It was an instantaneous, sovereign work of God, in the same manner that He had earlier apprehended me. Even the desire for nicotine immediately and instantaneously left me. I have never smoked another cigarette since. I have never even held one in my hand! A few years later I shared with another elder all the details of how and when the Lord sovereignly delivered me from smoking. That elder, who also had a ministry of deliverance, told me that I had not been delivered because no man with a ministry of deliverance had been involved. Well, I believe that the Lord can do things all by Himself! It is like the man in John 9 who was born blind. The Pharisees were very skeptical that Jesus had opened the eyes of the blind man. The man born blind said, 

Whether He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. John 9:25 

A few weeks after the Lord sovereignly delivered me from smoking, He sovereignly and instantaneously healed me of a sinus condition. Just prior to that sovereign healing, a Spirit-filled medical doctor had just told me that he could do nothing for me. 

The Lord has also continued to sovereignly reveal more of His word to me. I will never forget the first occurrence. As I was reading Matthew 5:13-16, the Spirit of God revealed part (I dare not say all!) of the significance of those verses. I got so excited that I called another brother and drove over to his house to relate what the Lord had just revealed to me. 

Many years ago, a few hours after I finished teaching about the sovereignty of God in our "neighborhood" bible study group, the Lord taught me something more about His sovereignty. More specifically, the Lord taught me the relationship between His sovereignty and man's responsibility. Where does one end and the other begin? Surely we are not to just sit back and say, "Okay, Lord, I will just watch your sovereignty at work." 

At that time we had two very large willow trees in our side yard. The gutter on that side of our house would always get clogged with willow leaves, despite our best efforts to keep the gutter clean. Moreover, directly beneath this gutter is a stairwell, with a door that leads into our basement. The drain in that stairwell also used to get rather clogged with leaves and other debris. Any time that we had a heavy thunderstorm the water would spill over into the stairwell. Having no place to go because of the clogged drain, the water at times would come under the door into our basement. Well about midnight, after I had finished teaching about the sovereignty of God, a very heavy thunderstorm with huge quantities of rain struck our area. My wife and I and our son all got up to check the basement. Sure enough, the basement was flooded with water that had seeped in under the door because the stairwell drain and the gutters were both stopped up. So my wife got all of the towels that we had and started mopping up the water in the basement floor. My son and I got a big garbage can and two gallon-size buckets and went outside, in the pelting rain, and starting bailing water from the stairwell into the garbage can. Both my son and I were bailing the water as fast as we could, but we seemed to be making little progress because of the heavy rain. We were, at best, staying "even." 

The Lord spoke to me through that incident. It was NOT our bailing the water out of the stairwell that got the situation in our basement under control. It was the sovereignty of God that caused the rain to stop! At the same time, all three of us had a responsibility to do our part ... to bail the water and to mop up the basement floor. But without the sovereignty of God intervening to stop the rain, we could never have got that situation under control! 

There are numerous scriptures that clearly show the sovereignty of God at work. One such scripture is in the ninth chapter of Romans. 

15 For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Romans 9:15-16

There are many examples of the sovereignty of God recorded in the book of Genesis. My favorite example is from Genesis 13:17 through Genesis 14:15. See Chapter 4 on Abraham for a discussion of this sovereign work of God to get Abram to do what He had told him to do. 

Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Genesis 13:17 

Significance for Today 

God is not asleep! He is Eternal and He is in control! NOTHING can deter or delay God's timetable for Himself! God is SOVEREIGN! We do well to remember that He has created EVERYTHING to show forth His glory! We also do well to remember: 

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood. 

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:5-6 

Finally, we do well to remember that the lessons to be learned from the lives of the great people of faith, as recorded in the book of Genesis, have great significance for us today. Many years have passed, people have come and gone, but thy Word, oh Lord, is forever settled in the heavens! 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 

Chapter 2: The Seed 

When we first began to think about the "seed," we had somewhat of a conflict. Jesus, of course, did not come to this earth through ANY man's seed. Yet there are some scriptures that SEEM to indicate this, such as, 

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel. 2 Timothy 2:8 

Jesus Christ of the seed of David. The difficulty arises in the natural mind unless we understand, by the Spirit, the meaning of the word which is translated seed. In scripture, only ONE word is used which is translated "seed." But that word (zer'a in the old testament and sperma in the new testament) MUST be interpreted in at least THREE different ways if we rightly divide the word of God. "Seed" is sometimes used in a purely natural, agricultural way; for example, 

And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. Exodus 16:31 

"Seed" is also used in a purely natural way to refer to that which produces offspring. Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees, 

I know ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you. John 8:37

Ishmael came from the seed of Abraham. This was another fleshly attempt to bring forth the promised seed.

The first mention of "seed" in Genesis is found in Chapter 1. 

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. Genesis 1:11

In the "natural" realm, God made grass, herbs, trees, and every living creature, as well as man, to have the ability to reproduce through seed. Moreover, God told all living creatures, as well as man, to "be fruitful and multiply." 

"Seed" is also used in a spiritual sense to denote that which comes from God. Ishmael was a result of the natural flesh trying to bring forth the promise of God ... the seed. But "in Isaac shall thy seed be called." Only that which is born of the Spirit is acceptable in God's sight. Our failure, as believers, to separate the natural from the spiritual, inevitably leads to errors. Returning to the verse in 2 Timothy, 

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel. 2 Timothy 2:8 

The word "of" in "Jesus Christ of the seed of David," is the Greek word ek, which means out from. There is a difference between "of" and "by," which signifies causation. Jesus was born out from a woman but the seed was from (by) God. Jesus took on Him the seed of Abraham (Hebrews 2:16). He partook of the same flesh and blood as the children (Hebrews 2:14). 

But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of [ek] a woman, made under the law ... Galatians 4:4 

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. 1 Peter 1:23 

In Matthew 13 Jesus declares several parables which involve seed. In the parable of the sower, the seed is the word of the kingdom, which is sowed in the hearts of men. In the parable of the good seed and the tares, the good seed are the children of the kingdom, who are sowed into the world. "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of Man" 

(Matthew 13:37). 

Paul, speaking of our bodies with respect to the resurrection said, 

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. 

45 There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 

... 

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:44-46 

After the fall of man, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the Lord God spoke forth a word which is unfolded throughout the history of mankind and which has been fulfilled by and in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and His atonement. The final culmination of this word will be effected when Satan shall be bruised under our feet (Romans 16:20). 

And I will put enmity between thee [the serpent] and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; It [Christ] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel. 

Genesis 3:15 

In the natural realm, a man, not a woman has seed; so "her seed" should be interpreted as her "offspring" ... that which comes forth out OF woman but BY God. This verse is also the first specific mention of the Lord Jesus Christ in His character as Savior of mankind ... our Redeemer. This is also the first great promise and prophecy recorded in scripture. Bullinger, in his Companion Bible, states that the corruption of "It" in Genesis 3:15 in the Vulgate into "she" lies at the root of Mariolatry, which is the undue adoration and exaltation of Mary. Bullinger says that the verb, shall bruise, in the singular masculine shows that zer'a (seed) is here to be taken in the singular; i.e. Christ. The use of head and heel is not to be taken literally. (There are numerous scriptures which cannot be interpreted literally. The letter of what is written should never be substituted for the truth that is conveyed by the letter. "The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). This will be developed more fully in a later volume of this series.) Bullinger says that the head is symbolic for the vital part; heel is symbolic for the lower part. They signify the temporary sufferings of the Seed and the complete, ultimate destruction of Satan and his works. 

Eve had heard what the Lord had said about the seed. So when she conceived and bare Cain she probably thought that Cain was to be the seed. She called his name Cain, which means acquired or gotten. Although we do not know for sure, Cain and Abel COULD have been twins, since conception is mentioned only once. When Eve bare Abel, she was probably a little unsure as to which of the two would be the seed. This is also the first mention in scripture of a principle that the false (Cain in this case) emerges before the true (Abel, then Seth). This principle of the false emerging before the true will be discussed in great detail in a later volume of this series. But after Cain slew Abel and Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, Eve was probably convinced that Abel was to have been the seed. 

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Genesis 4:25 

This probable confusion in the mind of Eve concerning who was to be the seed illustrates a principle that we believers need to recognize. The Lord never told Eve that Cain or Abel or even Seth was to be the seed. We believers frequently hear a word from the Lord and hear it correctly, but then we tend to apply our OWN interpretation to that word or try to "help God" to fulfill the word with our well-intentioned, but fleshly efforts. Moreover, Eve was thinking in the natural realm, but God works in the realm of the Spirit. 

Our adversary also has been well aware of what God spoke forth and what is recorded in Genesis 3:15. So on many occasions, our adversary has attempted to destroy that Seed. Each time, however, our God has not been asleep, but has thwarted the efforts of Satan. The first attempt came when Cain slew Abel ... but God raised up Seth, which means substituted. Then the adversary tried to contaminate the seed by sending forth an irruption of fallen angels to intermarry with the daughters of men (Genesis 6:4-5). This plan was ALMOST successful, but failed because God had preserved Noah, a just man and perfect in his generations (Genesis 6:9). All flesh had been corrupted EXCEPT for Noah. All of the corruption was destroyed in the flood. The Seed was then preserved through Shem. Luke, Chapter 3, lists the genealogy of the Seed, beginning with God Himself, through Adam, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David, and finally Jesus. 

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. 

7 For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 

8 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children; but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 

9 That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Romans 9:6-9 

God revealed to Abraham that he would have a direct descendant who would be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3). Then the Lord made known that “in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Romans 9:8). Then God revealed to Jacob that the Messiah would come through one specific tribe, Judah (Genesis 49:10). His family credentials were narrowed even more, from the tribe of Judah to the family of David, and then to David’s son Solomon. This prophecy was given to David through the prophet, Nathan. 

I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 1 Chronicles 17:11

Another tremendous effort by the adversary to try to prevent the Seed from coming forth was when Herod slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof. By doing so, Herod, motivated by the adversary, tried to slay The Seed, Jesus. When that failed, the adversary tempted Jesus, probably on at least TWO separate occasions (Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13). But Jesus secured TOTAL victory for us when He died on the cross of Calvary. 

... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Galatians 3:16 

Ever since the atoning work of Christ on the cross, our adversary has continued his attempts to destroy the seed, but now only through lies, bluffs, doubts, etc. For our adversary no longer has any real power or authority, PROVIDED we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and walk in the Spirit. 

Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and fear Him, all ye the seed of Israel. Psalm 22:23 

Jacob represents the natural man or carnal Christian; Israel represents the spiritual, mature Christian. Numerous scriptures mention this comparison between Jacob and Israel. 

A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 

Psalm 22:31 

The above verse explains why there are 14 generations from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ, as stated in Matthew 1:17, when only 13 are actually recorded. The fourteenth generation consists of those genuine believers who serve the Lord, not those who serve themselves! 

Significance for Today 

Just as Jesus Christ was born of the seed of David, OF a woman, but BY the Spirit of God, so likewise are we as believers. It is a miracle birth when we are born again by the Spirit of God. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1:13). His Seed was placed within us when we became, by His grace, a new believer in Christ. In the natural realm, any seed must receive proper nourishment if it is to germinate, sprout, and grow into its full potential. So it is with us. Paul said, 

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you ... Galatians 4:19 

The Seed is planted in us by God; the Seed is nourished by God; the Seed grows into full stature by His enabling power. Our part is simply to hear what the Spirit says to us, be obedient to act on whatever the Spirit says to us, and accept by faith that which He is working within us. 

1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 

2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Isaiah 35:1-2 

Now do you really think that God wants to turn a NATURAL desert into a blossom that rejoices? The desert, with its wilderness and solitary place, is YOU, beloved believer in Christ! The Seed within YOU shall bud and blossom and bring forth fruit unto God! 

Chapter 3: Noah: A Preacher of Righteousness 

Lamech called his son's name Noah, which means rest, comfort, or consolation. Lamech prophesied over Noah that, 

This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed. Genesis 5:29 

This was the second prophecy given by a human being, as recorded in scripture. Eve gave the first prophecy (Genesis 4:25) when she affirmed that God had given her another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 

Noah had three sons ... Shem, Ham, and Japheth. This is the second instance in scripture where the youngest son, Shem in this case, was chosen for the blessing. (The first was Cain and Abel.) We know that there were giants (fallen angels) in the earth in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:4). 

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 

Therefore God brought rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights to destroy every living creature, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 

... Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9 

Noah was the second person after the fall to walk with God ... Enoch was the first (Genesis 5:24). God told Noah,

But with thee will I establish My covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. Genesis 6:18 

Both Ezekiel and the author of Hebrews describe Noah as one of the great men of faith. 

By faith, Noah, being warned of God, of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:7 

14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. 

... 

20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. Ezekiel 14:14, 20 

So God caused rain to come down for 40 days and 40 nights, and all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man, except for those in the ark. 

And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. Genesis 7:24 

If we multiply those 150 days by 40, we get 6000. Could this parallel the approximate numbers of years between the creation of Adam (according to Usher) and the second coming of Christ? (See the last part of Chapter 4 for a brief discussion of Usher's chronology associated with scripture.) 

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1 

After Noah and his family came out of the ark on dry ground, the FIRST thing that Noah did was to build an altar unto the Lord and offer burnt offerings on the altar. This is the first mention in scripture of an altar. 

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Genesis 9:1 

Notice please that something is missing from this commandment as compared to the similar commandment BEFORE the fall of Adam and Eve. Before the fall, 

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Genesis 1:28 

So man no longer was charged to subdue the earth or to have dominion over all other living creatures. Man had lost that right to Satan as a result of the fall. 

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish My covenant with you, and with your seed after you ... 

Genesis 9:8-9 

Peter calls Noah a preacher of righteousness. 

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness. 2 Peter 2:5

But the ONLY recorded scripture where Noah ever opened his mouth was when he prophesied over his three sons (Genesis 9:25-27). There is NOTHING recorded in scripture that even hints that Noah may have preached to anyone in the sense that we today think about preaching. So Noah was a preacher of righteousness because of his LIFE ... his ACTIONS ... NOT because of his words! 

Significance for Today 

Like Noah, we must be safely in the Ark (Christ). We also need to have our faith increased ... to become a great person of faith as Noah was. 

Another great lesson for us is the suffering that Noah patiently endured. As Noah was in the process of building the ark, he must have been laughed at, jeered, made fun of, and ridiculed on a daily basis. 

5 for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth ... 

6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. Genesis 2:5-6 

No one had seen rain at that time. All of the other people could only see with their natural eyes. But Noah believed the Lord. Furthermore, Noah and his family and all of the animals were shut up in the ark for seven days before the rain came (Genesis 7:10). The people must have REALLY laughed at Noah during those seven days! 

Moreover, Noah was in the ark for about one year and 17 days. (Compare Genesis 7:10-11 and Genesis 8:14.) In addition to Noah and his seven other family members, there were two unclean beasts and seven clean beasts of every kind in the ark, as well as seven of each kind of fowl. That was a lot of animals! The ark had one window and one door, which was shut. There were NO newspapers, NO television, and NO comforts of home that we take for granted today. The ark had NO air conditioning; the ark had NO refrigerators to hold the food for Noah and his family and all of the animals. God sovereignly kept the food from spoiling for more than one year. What did they eat? Well some think that Noah and his family ate some of the seven clean animals, but certainly not all animals and fowls eat meat. 

Just think about having to feed all of those animals for more than a year. Just think about being shut in with all of those smelly animals for more than a year. Just think about the waste products that every living thing in the ark must have produced during that time period. Just think about not being able to take a bath for more than a year! In the natural realm, the stench must have been almost unbearable! But Noah had heard the word of the Lord! And Noah patiently endured and was saved. 

Likewise, we today must endure suffering of all different types. If you really hear the word of the Lord and are obedient to Him, you will be laughed at by the world. You will be different. You will be a fool in the eyes of the world. 

We are fools for Christ's sake ... 1 Corinthians 4:10 

But in the process you will reap a crown of glory! All of us must count the cost! 

Finally, we ALL need to be preachers of righteousness by our lives to a lost and troubled world. We sometimes have a stereotype view of a pastor or a preacher as someone who stands behind a pulpit and preaches sermons. But we speak MUCH more loudly with our lives and our actions than we ever do with our words. If you are a believer who is making an attempt to live your life as the Lord would desire, then believe me, MANY non-believers are watching you! watching the actions of your life. People in the world are watching us as Christians. Non-believers, particularly, are little impressed by our words, but our lives speak volumes to them. 

Very shortly after the Lord apprehended me, the Lord arranged for me to meet a man named Lyman, who had a genuine pastor's heart. He has gone on to be with the Lord, but the Lord used him mightily as my first "pastor" and until such a time that I came to know that the LORD is my Shepherd and Pastor. That man could never accept that he had been called to the ministry of a pastor, even though I, and I am sure many others, tried to convince him of his ministry. But the hand does not need to know it is called a hand in order to function as a hand. I never remember ANY word that he "preached." But through the lives of Lyman and his wife I saw the love of God in action. Moreover the timing was perfect for me. Note that the following verse says "see your good works," NOT "hear your good words." 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 

Chapter 4: Abraham 

Genesis 11 records the ancestry of Abram, which means "high father." 

Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. Genesis 11:27 

Abram was born around 1996 BC in Ur of the Chaldees. Ur was a city of great luxury, idolatry, and attainments. Terah, Abram's father, was an idolater. Abram was the youngest of the three sons of Terah, but is mentioned first in scripture. In a number of cases in scripture, the youngest (such as Shem, Abram, Jacob, and Ephraim) is chosen for the blessing and also because his lineage is to be continued. 

The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, who was barren. In Volume 4 we will expound on the barren woman more fully. Sarai was Abram's half-sister. 

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came into Haran, and dwelt there. Genesis 11:31 

Terah apparently had good intentions, but the luxury and idol worship were too much for him. The frontier town of Haran was devoted to the worship of the moon-god. So Terah intended to go into Canaan, but he never made it. He got side-tracked and died in Haran. 

1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: 

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing: 

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:1-3 

This promise to Abraham is one of the most significant passages in the bible. This promise was formalized in a covenant (Genesis 15:18-21), and was repeated four additional times ... to Abraham twice, to Isaac, and to Jacob. One of the promises to Abraham is that he will BE a blessing. Perhaps one of the first prophetic words spoken over my wife, many years ago, was that she had a ministry of blessing. For a long time she thought that meant she was to go around to believers and bless them in the name of the Lord; i.e., to SPEAK a word of blessing. But after a few years the Lord made it clear that SHE was the blessing, simply by her presence (or perhaps more accurately, Christ in her was a blessing to others). 

Genesis 12 records the second instance of a man building an altar to the Lord. 

And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, Who appeared unto him. Genesis 12:7 

This chapter also records the first famine. 

And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. Genesis 12:10 

At this point in his life, Abram was a rather immature believer. When the famine became very grievous, Abram went down into Egypt ... a self-preservation move on his part. Notice please that the Lord never told him to go to Egypt. He just went. Abram, in another self-preservation action, told Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she was his sister, not his wife. Abram was afraid that the Egyptians might kill him if they thought that Sarai was his wife, because Sarai was very fair to look upon. So Abram compounded his mistakes. Nevertheless, the sovereignty of God intervened, and Abram and Sarai, as well as Lot, were all spared by Pharaoh. 

So Abram went up out of Egypt, back to Bethel, where his tent had been at the beginning, unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first ... and there Abram called on the name of the Lord (Genesis 13:1-4). In other words, Abram repented of his works of the flesh. He had not trusted the Lord to save him alive and he had moved into Egypt without seeking the Lord. This is a good principle for us as believers. If we get out of the will of the Lord, we need to repent and seek the Lord in that place where we last had communion with Him. 

Genesis 13 also tells of the separation of Abram and Lot. Abram represents the spiritual man. Lot represents the natural man. Abram walked with God; Lot walked with Abram (12:4, 13:1, 5). The same was true of Elijah and Elisha ... Elijah walked with God ... Elisha walked with Elijah. (We will expand greatly on this truth in a later book.) But if faith is to increase there must be a separation between these two. This separation occurred in Genesis 13. 

This chapter is the first place that wealth is mentioned in the bible. Abram had riches (13:2) and despised them (just as did Moses, who esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt). Abram's eyes were on the promises, while the things of earth grew strangely dim. Abram had flocks but the flocks did not have him. Lot also had flocks (13:5) but the flocks possessed him. It is a terrible thing when a Christian is possessed by his possessions. The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). If riches are honestly obtained, held as belonging to God, and used by us as good stewards, they are right. But if they are falsely gained and/or held and used for unrighteous self, they are wrong. Lot's riches are the occasion of strife (13:7, 8). Since he is a believer he will have to learn by losing them all. A faithful God will see that they are taken away from him. 

Note that it was Abram who said to Lot, "separate thyself, I pray thee, from me" (13:9). The man who lives for the world cannot tolerate the presence of him who is determined to live for God. Even the believer who refuses to go on with God is uncomfortable in the presence of a man who dwells close to God. But it is the spiritual man who recognizes the need for separation. And so Abram gave Lot first choice as to where to dwell. Frequently we are given what the world considers to be the leftovers. But the blessing of the Lord will always be upon us as we walk with Him. The Lord Himself is our satisfaction and our blessing. 

When Lot lifted up his eyes (13:10), his mind illustrated the natural mind at its best. Abram had left Egypt behind and forever. Lot was still comparing portions of the promised land with what he saw in Egypt (13:10) and chose that which seemed well watered every where (13:10). The man who learns that all his springs are in the Lord (Psalm 87:7) never needs to fear the desert. He carries with him his own water supply! "He who believes in Me ... Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). This characteristic of Lot, the natural man, has been a fatal flaw of many ministries and movements over the years ... an attempt to incorporate the best ways of the world to help "promote the gospel." We have seen this FIRST hand, up close, with some nationally "prominent" evangelists, as well as some "would be prominent" preachers. It never works and never can work. Oil and water do not mix. Within our hearts we also have this same struggle of Abram and Lot, the spiritual and the natural, and it is only when the carnal is allowed to depart that faith receives, in place of the affections of the emotions, the communion of the Spirit. Then God reveals to us the fullness of His desire for our possessions and our fellowship with Him. 

Now note please, that Abram did not receive the blessing and promise of God until AFTER he had separated from Lot. It makes all the difference when the Lord tells us to "lift up now thine eyes" (13:14) as compared to when WE lift up our eyes, as did Lot (13:10). The place of separation becomes a place of vision. And then the promises of God came to Abram (13:15-16). (An article in a subsequent Volume of this series will talk about the RESTRICTIONS that we encounter if we do NOT separate ourselves, at the proper time, from those people and man-made systems that would hold us back from increasing in the faith.) But the key verses seem to be when the Lord told Abram: 

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 

18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. Genesis 13:17-18 

When Abram first entered the land, he pitched his tent at Bethel, which means "house of God" (12:8). He left that place for Egypt, which became a "house of slaves." Now he was back in Bethel (13:3), a wiser man than before. He has retraced his steps to recover the lost ground of going to Egypt. He has been uncompromising and has fully obeyed the Lord by separating from his kindred. He now dwells in Mamre, which means "vision" and pitches his tent in Hebron, which means "joined together" or hence "communion." At Bethel, Abram had worshipped; at Hebron he knows true fellowship with God. Thus faith moves on to greater faith. 

Now who can argue with vision and communion with God? Yet Abram has slipped once more, and very subtly this time. Why? Because the Lord had told Abram to "walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it" (13:17). Instead, Abram pitches his tent and settles in comfortably in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and builds there an altar to the Lord (13:18). Very admirable, but that was NOT what the Lord told Abram to do. "To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22). But God is sovereign. He will still have His will fulfilled, as we have already noted from the fourteenth chapter of Genesis (see Chapter 1). 

Genesis 14:1-12 tells of a war between four kings (14:1) and five kings (14:2). This is the first recorded war in the Bible. This war undoubtedly involved tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of men. The four kings represent the "good guys." They were descendants of Shem. Amraphel, the first "good" king mentioned, was king of Shinar, which was in the fertile plain of Babylon. Amraphel has been identified historically to be Hammurabi. The code of laws which Hammurabi set forth were indeed "good." This code of laws included nearly 300 paragraphs of legal provisions touching commercial, social, domestic, and moral life. Many bible students have compared Hammurabi's code with the Mosaic law, and indeed there are many similarities. Just as with Lot, this code was the best that man had to offer. 

The five kings in verse 2 represent the "bad guys" and included the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah. They were descendants of Ham. The five kings had served Chedorlaomer for 12 years (14:4), and they should have, for God had pronounced the curse of servitude upon them through Noah. In the 13th year they rebelled. 

The important point here is that Abram was part of NEITHER. He was not associated with the good guys or the bad guys. (See Significance for Today at the conclusion of this Chapter.) There are three parties in view ... the world, the flesh, and the man of faith. Abram remains set apart from both the good AND the evil, even as God told Adam and Eve that they were not to partake of the tree of knowledge of GOOD and evil. The good and the evil will always war against each other, but we must be careful not to get pulled into their war, which is at a carnal level. The world (the good guys) wants to enlist the man of faith as an ally, but the true man of faith will not join the world in its efforts to subdue Sodom, nor will he join Sodom in its efforts to throw off the yoke of the world. The man of faith has no place even in moral controversies that occupy much of the thought of the world. The world cannot understand why the true pilgrim will not join in the fight against evil. The moral victory of the religious world must not be confused with the spiritual victory of the man of faith. The spiritual man must remain aloof, misunderstood by all but God. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). 

In that first big war, the good guys won (14:10) and took captive not only all of the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah but Lot as well. Note that the man of faith did not move until his fellow believer was in danger. Now Abram COULD have said, "It served him right"; or "He had it coming to him." After all, Abram had allowed Lot to come with him all the way from Ur; Abram was undoubtedly the reason why Lot had prospered and accumulated much riches; and then Lot, stirred on by his desire for earthly riches, had been the cause of great strife between the herdmen of Lot and the herdmen of Abram. But the man of God is a man of compassion. And so when Abram heard that Lot had been taken captive by the good guys, he armed his 318 trained servants and pursued the good guys unto Dan (14:14). Abram was a spiritual man and set out to restore Lot in a spirit of meekness (Galatians 6:1). The yielded believer cannot have within him a root of bitterness. Even though Lot had been the source of great anguish and strife to Abram, Abram returned good for evil. There is nothing that marks a man as being like Christ more than his genuine love for someone who has been the cause of a deep wrong. 

There are at least two significant points about Abram's pursuit of the good guys in order to rescue Lot. The first is that Abram had only 318 trained servants, and they pursued at least tens of thousands. The second is that Abram had made no attempt to rescue Lot from the bad guys in Sodom prior to this war. Does that indicate that the good guys are more of a threat to us as believers than are the bad guys? I believe so. Why? Because the ways of the world (the good guys) are so subtle and so hard to distinguish from the ways of the Lord. That is why we must exercise our [spiritual] senses to be able to discern BOTH (NOT between) GOOD and evil from the path of the just (Hebrews 5:14). It is not too difficult to discern evil. Discerning between good and the ways of the Lord is the hard part. It takes vision and a communion with the Lord. Jesus had compassion on the publicans and the harlots, but he assailed and judged the Pharisees. The moral Pharisees called Jesus a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners (Matthew 11:19). 

And so Abram in his compassionate rescue mission, "pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus" (14:15). And "Abram brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods" (14:16). How does the meek and lowly Abram, who had yielded his rights to Lot, suddenly display such courage, initiative, and tenacity? And how did Abram, with only 318 men, slaughter armies probably hundreds or even thousands of times larger than his own (Genesis 14:17)? The answer, of course, is that all of his resources are in God. 

3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 

... 

7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 

8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 

Leviticus 26: 3, 7-8 

So a hundred shall put ten thousand to flight. This is a ratio of 1 to 100. Therefore, it should be NO surprise if Abraham and his 318 men chased an army of 31,900 (319 times 100). So after his amazing victory and rescue of Lot, two kings came out to meet Abram. The first was the king of Sodom ... the second was the king of Salem ... Melchizedek. Note that this is yet another example of the false emerging before the true, a topic which we will expand upon in a later volume of this series. Some people might have their heads turned by worldly recognition from a worldly king. But not Abram. I have read that when John Knox was asked if he were frightened by the prospect of meeting the Queen of Scotland, he replied that he had just spent four hours with God. Such a man cannot be much impressed by a mere worldly king or queen. Spiritual insight made Abram aware of the difference between these two kings. Before the king of Salem, Abram was humble and deferential; before the king of Sodom, he was firm and uncompromising. 

We are also told that Melchizedek "brought forth bread and wine" (14:18). Bread is the symbol of life (John 6:50); wine is the symbol of joy (Psalm 104:15). Melchizedek was the King of Peace and the King of Righteousness (Hebrews 7:2). These four go together ... the fullness of His life along with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Now did Melchizedek bring forth natural bread and wine to Abram? Perhaps. But let us think about what Abram had just done in this account. First and most important, Abram had obeyed God. When Abram was faithful, God revealed Himself even more to him. But Abram had just spent some number of days walking through the length and breadth of the promised land, chasing after the four "good" kings, and had slaughtered Chedorlaomer. Abram and his 318 servants MUST have been exhausted. Moreover, the effects of what they had just done had probably just begun to sink in ... they had defeated an army hundreds of times larger than their own. And so they were undoubtedly exhausted both physically and emotionally. Would they have been satisfied with a little snippet of bread and a little sip of wine? Not very likely! We do not know from scripture how much natural food was brought forth by Melchizedek. But to even think that what Melchizedek brought forth was on a purely natural level would do injustice to our walk as believers. When we are empty, we need to be filled. Filled with the bread and the wine of God, the soul wants nothing more. The bread and wine of the King of righteousness and peace so fills us that we turn away from the food that the world offers. Abram refused to take any of the spoils or eat any of the food that had originally belonged to the king of Sodom (14:23, 24). Abram said, 

That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Genesis 14:23 

May we share an illustration from first hand knowledge. Many years ago a woman was cut out of her father's will because she was a Christian. She and her husband did not know of this until the reading of her father's will after his death in 1986. Her father was a very wealthy man, just like the king of Sodom, but was possessed by his possessions, just like Lot. Her rightful inheritance from her father's estate would have easily exceeded one-half of a million dollars. But that never happened. One of the woman's brothers told her that their father "was afraid that she might give away his empire to the 'church'." So her father cut her out of his will. 

Now there is no greater "hurt" than to be rejected by your father. This was also the greatest agony that Jesus experienced. Just prior to the death of Jesus on the cross, Jesus became sin for us. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). And sin cannot be in the presence of God. This is why Jesus cried on the cross, "my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34) At that instant Jesus experienced the rejection and separation from His Father, something He had never known before. 

Around the same time period when the woman had been cut out of her father's will, her husband experienced a similar situation, but on a much smaller scale. He was aware that he had been defrauded of perhaps tens of thousands of dollars. He was also aware that if he had gone to the person responsible, they would undoubtedly have restored the money which was rightfully due to him. But he decided to trust the sovereignty of God and never mention the situation. In recalling this series of events, I am reminded of the principle in Genesis 14:23, and how no man can say that they have made this couple rich. They have the true riches ... Christ Himself ... and He is quite sufficient. 

Now there are at least two important principles to be gleaned from chapters 13 and 14 in Genesis. The first is the sovereignty of God. Although there are dozens of scriptures that talk about the sovereignty of God, the verses in Genesis 13:17-18 through Genesis 14:1-16 cry out loudly about His sovereignty. Recall, please that the Lord had told Abram, in Genesis 13:17, to "walk through the land in the length of it and the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee." But Abram went and dwelled in Mamre and did NOT do what the Lord told him to do. And so God, in His sovereignty, stirred up the first war recorded in the bible, involving perhaps hundreds of thousands of men. For what purpose? To get Abram to do what Abram had neglected to do. Abram, in order to rescue Lot, had to walk from Hebron, in the southernmost part of the land, all the way up to Dan, in the extreme northernmost part, and over eastward close to Damascus. In doing so, Abram finally fulfilled the word of the Lord to him. 

The second great principle, it seems, is the compassion of God. Volume 4 of this series will discuss compassion much more fully. The Lord had already worked great compassion into the heart of Abram for his brother Lot. And the compassion of God for Lot was also at work when this amazing rescue mission was initiated. God "delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked" (2 Peter 2:7). 

1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 

2 And Abram said, Lord God, what will thou give me ... ? Genesis 15:1-2 

Abram had progressed much in his walk by faith at this point in time. But God still had some more work to accomplish within Abram before the greatest promise of all to Abram was to be fulfilled. Recall, at the end of Genesis 14, Abram had rescued Lot, was physically and emotionally exhausted, and had taken no food or any of the spoils that had belonged to the king of Sodom. Was it possible that Abram had a little fleeting moment of self-righteousness at this point? Did it occur to him that he had fully obeyed God throughout this whole episode but apparently had received nothing in return? only a little bread and wine? And was Abram feeling an after shock of fear after realizing how he had pursued so many thousands of good guys and slaughtered them? Was Abram fearing reprisal on the part of the "good guys?" Was he afraid the "good guys" might regroup and come back after him with an even larger force? We think more than possible. So our all-compassionate God comes to Abram in a vision and says, "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward." Well, Abram was not yet the mature spiritual man that he was to become. The Lord still had some more work to do within Abram. So Abram asked the Lord, "what are you going to give me?" what is in this for me? Abram was still looking at the natural level. He did not fully understand yet that the Lord Himself was Abram's shield (in battles) and his "exceeding great reward." But God, in His sovereignty and compassion was going to make even this real to Abram, who was to soon become Abraham, the father of many nations, and perhaps the greatest figure in the old testament (except for Melchizedek). 

Now this same God of Abram is our God too. And He is no respecter of persons. All that God worked within Abram, he desires to work within each of us. The sovereignty of God and His compassion are at work within each one of us. But we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit. For He, Himself, and He alone is our shield and our exceeding great reward. What a mighty God we serve! 

In the remaining verses of Genesis 15, the Lord made a covenant with Abram (verse 18), and reaffirmed that the land from the Nile River to the Euphrates River would belong to his seed. The Lord also gave Abram a preview of events that would occur in his family's future up to the point of their possession of the promised land. It is the grace and mercy of the Lord to give us, from time to time, a preview of future events in our lives. I experienced this early in my walk as a believer in a general, overall preview of what God intended for my life. Moreover, there are times that God is merciful to give us a preview of some specific details that will unfold in our lives. I remember a time, many years ago, when I felt greatly impressed to call a number of believers over to our house to share a specific word from the Lord. The Lord also told me that the word that I was to share would NOT be accepted by those who came. Well I was obedient and called the believers I was supposed to call. They all came over to our house. As I was sharing the word the Lord had given to me, I began to question whether I had heard the outcome correctly or not, because everyone seemed to be accepting and agreeing with the word I was sharing. At the very last minute, however, one brother spoke up in opposition to that word I had just shared. Suddenly EVERYONE there did a COMPLETE flip ... such that they all rejected the word of the Lord. After everyone except my wife left, I wept deeply for a lengthy period of time ... saddened by the lack of acceptance of the word from the Lord. Then my wife told me that the Lord had told her that not only would all of those believers reject the word of the Lord but that I would weep afterwards. What great grace and mercy of the Lord to show me the result before it happened!!! For if I had NOT been prepared by the Lord that those believers would reject His word, I would have been totally devastated! 

Genesis 16 speaks of the birth of Ishmael, which means, "God shall hear." Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born. It is most likely that Abram thought that Ishmael was to be the promised seed. There is a gap of 13 years between the end of Genesis 16 and the first verse of Genesis 17. Thirteen (13) in scripture signifies rebellion (see Genesis 14:4). In Genesis 17:1, after what must have been 13 long years of frustration and reflection on the part of Abram, the Lord appeared unto Abram again. This was the third time that the Lord had appeared unto Abram. The first time was in Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2) before he dwelt in Haran. The second time was in Canaan, in Shechem (Genesis 12:7). So after Abram had seen the Lord twice, and had heard His voice on several occasions, there were 13 long years of silence. We can imagine what must have run through Abram's mind during those 13 years. He must have thought, "What did I do wrong? Was Ishmael a mistake?" These kind of thoughts are indicated by Genesis 17:3 

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him 

Abram was undoubtedly overcome with thanksgiving because he had finally heard and seen the Lord again. Then the Lord changed Abram's name to Abraham, or father of many nations. And the Lord said, 

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Genesis 17:7 

The Lord at that time also instituted circumcision as a sign of that covenant; changed the name of Sarai to Sarah, meaning princess; and told Abraham that Sarah would bear Abraham a son, to be called Isaac. 

Genesis Chapters 18 and 19 describe the sharp contrast between the spiritual, mature believer (Abraham) and the carnal Christian (Lot). Chapter 18 relates Abraham's experience with the Lord (verse 1) and two angels, called men, during the heat of the day. 

And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; Genesis 18:1 

When Abraham saw them he RAN to meet them. This theophany (appearance of God to man) was most probably Christ. Jesus said to the Jews, 

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. John 8:56 

Abraham then provided water for them to wash their feet. After the three guests agreed to eat a meal, Abraham RAN to fetch a calf to provide meat for them. The menu consisted of cakes made from meal, butter, milk, and a tender calf. It was a feast fit for a King! Should we provide no less than our BEST for the Lord? The Lord then told Abraham that Sarah would have a son. Then the Lord told Abraham that He was going from there to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. 

And the [two] men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. Genesis 18:22 

Abraham, knowing that Lot was dwelling in Sodom, then interceded on behalf of Sodom, and the Lord agreed not to destroy the city if He could find 10 righteous within the city. In Genesis 19, 

And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom; and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; Genesis 19:1 

Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. The gate was the place that the elders sat. This indicates that Lot had become a solid citizen of this city of iniquity. Notice also that only TWO angels came to Sodom. The presence of the Lord still abided with Abraham. Lot did not know of the presence of the Lord. His conscience had been seared. Please note that Lot ROSE up whereas Abraham RAN to meet them. Lot, representative of the carnal Christian, was simply going through a formality ... a tradition. Please note also that Lot never offered water for the two men to wash their feet. Of course what follows is a great expression of the grace and mercy of God toward Lot and his wife and two daughters. 

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly: 

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 

2 Peter 2:6-7 

Now the Lord was not through working within Abraham because Abraham had not yet fully matured. In Genesis Chapter 20, we read of the next big assault by the enemy to try to destroy the promised seed of the woman. Once more, Abraham feared for his life. 

And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. Genesis 20:11 

Note that it was Abraham's THINKING that got him into trouble ... "because I THOUGHT." Our minds are a battleground and we MUST learn to discern between that which is from God and that which is of the flesh or from the enemy. 

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 

So Abraham told Abimelech, king of Gerar, that Sarah was his sister. And once more the sovereignty of God intervened. Note also that this was one of the LAST points of maturity that the Lord needed to work into Abraham ... that he would no longer have any fear of death. 

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:15 

Genesis 21 describes the birth of Isaac, when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old. Please note that this miracle birth, and subsequent weaning, was the work of God, but BOTH Abraham AND Sarah had faith for Isaac to come forth. 

19 And [Abraham] being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 

21 And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. 

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Romans 4:19-22 

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful Who had promised. Hebrews 11:11 

After this miraculous birth and weaning, the bondwoman and her son were cast out, for "in Isaac shall thy seed be called." 

Perhaps the prime example of the sacrificial love for God on the part of any person (other than Jesus) was Abraham, as recorded in Genesis, Chapter 22. 

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. 

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Hebrews 11:17-19 

In Genesis 22, Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his ONLY son, Isaac, (Genesis 22:16). As a result, God greatly blessed Abraham. Note that God did not consider Ishmael to be Abraham's son, because Ishmael was a work of the flesh. 

15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time. 

16 And said, By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice. Genesis 22:15-18

In like manner, we as Christian men should be willing, in our hearts, to lay down our life for our wife. 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 

A man's first priority must always be to the Lord Himself. But among all other people on earth, a man's first priority is to his wife. Abraham presents a good example of this, in his relationship to Sarah. 

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. Genesis 16:2 

And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Genesis 21:12 

In the time period between Genesis 16:2 and Genesis 21:12, both Sarah and Abraham had learned some things. They were now more spiritually mature. In Genesis 16, their names were Sarai and Abram; in Genesis 21:12, they had been renamed Sarah and Abraham. Abraham had learned not to accept, superficially, anything that his wife told him, without first hearing from the Lord. So it is today. A husband should listen carefully and joyfully to anything that his wife has to say concerning situations that require a decision. But the husband should never abdicate his position as head of the family (Ephesians 5:23). The husband MUST take EVERYTHING of any consequence to the Lord and hear what the Lord says for them to do. 

Sarah had also learned some things over time. She had acquired more wisdom from the Lord. We also believe that Sarah had come to realize her "mistake" in pushing Hagar onto Abraham, with the resulting offspring of Ishmael. That which she originally desired (which resulted in Ishmael), she now could not accept. So Sarah said, "cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac" (Genesis 21:10). It is more than possible that Sarah had received a revelation from the Lord, for the Lord told Abraham to hearken to Sarah his wife in that situation. 

Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. John 2:5 

This is a cornerstone of Christianity! We MUST hear the voice of the Lord for ourselves and then act upon that word, by faith. Volume 3 of this series will contain a chapter about hearing the voice of the Lord. 

Genesis, Chapter 23, records the death of Sarah, at age 127, and her subsequent burial in the cave of Machpelah, which was bought by Abraham. Sarah is the ONLY woman in scripture whose age is given. I do not know the special significance of her age at her death, but I DO believe it is prophetic concerning the length of the church age (see below). 

In Genesis, Chapter 24, Abraham sent his eldest servant back to Mesopotamia and to his brother Nahor's land to find a wife for his son Isaac. Once more the sovereignty of God prevailed and Rebekah returned to be Isaac's wife. 

Genesis, Chapter 25, states that Abraham took another wife, named Keturah. Abraham was 150 when he married Keturah. This was 13 years after Sarah had died. There is very little in scripture about Keturah; e.g., where did she come from? What was her ancestry? When did she die? Scripture does not tell us. Keturah's rather mysterious appearance and disappearance is similar to that of Melchizedek. It is also probably significant that Abraham married Keturah in the same year that Shem died. Shem was 600 years old when he died. That may well correspond by type to the end of the church age (after 6000 years). A few believers have suggested that Shem may have been Melchizedek. We do NOT subscribe to that belief, although Shem may well be a TYPE of Melchizedek. In 1 Chronicles 1:32, Keturah is called Abraham's concubine, but she was still his wife. But surely Abraham knew NOT to take a wife from the Canaanites because he had applied that principle when he sent his eldest servant to get a wife for Isaac. We have just traced through the life of Abraham and noted how he had greatly matured as a believer, to the point of being willing to sacrifice the very promise of God to him. So either Abraham had fallen into rebellion and apostasy after Sarah died or it was the will of God for him to marry Keturah. Now let us consider the fact that Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. The birth of Isaac was indeed a miracle in the natural realm, but it was the fulfillment of a promise from God. Moreover, Abraham believed God for this miracle, despite his dead body. So 50 years LATER, LONG after his body was dead, Abraham had 6 MORE sons by Keturah. We have difficulty believing that God would allow Abraham to have 6 more sons if he (Abraham) had been in rebellion. Moreover, we find it difficult to believe that Abraham was so fleshly minded and his sex drives were so important to him (at age 150) that he HAD to have another wife. There CERTAINLY is nothing in scripture to indicate that Abraham had fallen away from the faith. 

Bullinger states that the six sons born to Abraham and Keturah were the tares, sown after Isaac, the good seed. That MIGHT be a logical conclusion IF the Abraham/Keturah marriage was born out of rebellion and apostasy. We have many difficulties with that possibility. Keturah is one of the very few people in scripture whose ancestry is not mentioned (Melchizedek is the first). The name Keturah comes from a root word which means "to turn into fragrance by fire, especially as an act of worship." Let us look at the names of their six sons, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. "Zimran" comes from a root word which means "to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music: to give praise, sing forth praises or psalms." "Jokshan" means "insidious, or to lay a snare." "Medan" means "discord or strife." "Midian" means "brawling, or contentious." "Ishbak" means "he will leave." "Shuah" means "to bow down, incline, or humble." We will return to these meanings a little later. 

Another fact we should look at when considering the significance of Keturah is that Abraham had three (3) wives, Hagar, Sarah, and Keturah. Hagar of course bore Ishmael. Hagar signifies the law (see Galatians 4:21-31 for confirmation of this). The law was based on WORKS ... thou shalt DO this, thou shalt not DO that. Sarah is symbolic of the church age. Isaac is certainly a type of Christ. If we look at the (supposedly) highest form of the church age in its present form, what do we see? At the BEST "charismatic" meetings, what occupies the majority of the time? WORDS! teaching, preaching, prophecy, a word of wisdom, a word of knowledge, singing songs using natural words. But we propose that Keturah symbolizes the age of the kingdom. The kingdom age is characterized by BEING! Keturah means to turn into fragrance by fire, especially as an act of worship. Now is there anything wrong with works? Not necessarily. Jesus did many wonderful works while he was on earth. We should also remember that God rested from all of His works on the seventh day. Is there anything wrong with words? Not necessarily. Jesus also spoke many words (most of which His disciples did not understand). But it seems to us that what God is after is BEING! Christ in you, the hope of glory! 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall BE witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 

Now we are not big on "numbers" in scripture (i.e., we do not look at numbers per se, but rather at the Lord Himself). But surely numbers DO have a significance. My bible has dates in the margins for almost every significant event recorded in scripture. These dates are certainly NOT a part of the bible. However, many believers accept the dates in the King James version as calculated by Archbishop Usher. Usher arrived at the date of 4004 B.C. for the creation of Adam by using his calculations of the years in the patriarchal genealogies, given in Chapters 5 and 11 of Genesis. There are at least five (5) different theories on the interpretation of the six days of creation (i.e., what constitutes a "day"), but we do NOT want to pursue that which cannot be known except by revelation from God. A theory is something that cannot be proved. We are not entirely sure that God has ever chosen to reveal the length of a "day" as recorded in the first chapter of Genesis. Lacking any specific revelation from the Lord to the contrary, we must assume that a "day" was a day as we know it; i.e. 24 hours. 

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day ... Exodus 20:11 

IF we assume that Usher's dates are correct, we can see a rather startling pattern if we multiply Abraham's age at significant events in his life by forty. First of all, Abraham was born almost exactly halfway between when Adam, the first man, was created from dust and the coming of Christ, the second Man, the Lord from heaven. Usher places Abraham's birth as 1996 B.C. 

Abraham's first "call,” in Ur of the Chaldees (Acts 7:2-4) occurred when he was 50 years old. Isaac was born when Abraham was 100. Abraham was 150 when he married Keturah. This was the same year that Shem died. Finally Abraham was 175 when he died. If we multiply each of these ages by 40, we get 2000 (very close to the actual birth of Abraham), 4000 (the approximate number of years from Adam to when Jesus came to the earth as a man), 6000 (the end of the sixth day, which approximates the year in which we now live), and 7000 (the end of the 1000 years that Christ will reign on earth). Only God knows the true significance of all of these dates and we should NEVER focus on numerology. We only sketch these dates (many more could be listed) to point out that from the years of the marriage of Abraham to Keturah until Abraham's death (a total of 25 years), if multiplied by 40, corresponds to the 1000 years when Christ shall reign on earth. This gives more credence to Keturah being symbolic of the age of the kingdom. In addition, NO mention is ever made in scripture of the death of Keturah. 

We also know that during Christ's millennial kingdom on earth, people will still continue to be born and marry and produce offspring (Revelation 20). And when the thousand years are expired, satan will be loosed out of his prison and will go out to deceive the nations (Revelation 20:7-8). Apparently, some of the children of the believers who start in the kingdom during the last 1000 years will prove to be unbelievers (and/or be deceived by satan) and start a rebellion against Christ and His rule. This seems to be confirmed by the names of some of the six sons of Keturah. 

Let us now return to the names of the six sons of Abraham and Keturah. Zimran, the first, means "to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music: to give praise, sing forth praises or psalms." That doesn't sound like tares. The names of the next four sons get progressively worse in their meaning. "Jokshan" means "insidious, or to lay a snare." "Medan" means "discord or strife." "Midian" means "brawling, or contentious." "Ishbak" means "he will leave." These four sons seem to represent those who will be deceived by satan, as in Revelation 20:7-8. But "Shuah" means "to bow down, incline, or humble." We know that in the end, 

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. 

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11

So Shuah, the sixth son, says that EVERY man, in the final analysis and at the end of time, shall bow his knee and humble himself in the sight of Jesus. 

Significance for Today 

The life of Abraham clearly reveals to us as believers a pattern of spiritual growth. His life is also marked at MANY points by the intervention of the great sovereignty, grace, and mercy of God, even though Abraham stumbled many times. But though Abraham stumbled and fell at times, he got back up, by the grace and mercy and sovereignty of God, and journeyed on. In like manner, so must we today. 

But perhaps by FAR the greatest significance of the life of Abraham for us as believers today is found in Genesis 14, which records the war between the four kings (good guys) and the five kings (bad guys). Clearly, Abraham was part of NEITHER! Perhaps we, as Christians, do not know how far we have slipped from the spiritual man that Abraham was, even at that early stage of development in his life! A similar occurrence is recorded in the book of Joshua. 

13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 

14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 

15 And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15 

Joshua recognized the pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Joshua heard the word of the Lord and Joshua obeyed, just as Abraham had done. And so there is MY way and there is YOUR way and there is the LORD's way! There is MY understanding of scripture, there is YOUR understanding of scripture, and there is the TRUTH as illuminated by the Holy Spirit, Who inspired the writing of all scripture! 

Most people are heavily influenced by their background, their experiences, their education, their traditions, and their upbringing. Most people (perhaps ALL people ???) also are quite biased in their thoughts, based upon their heritage. If your parents were Roman Catholic, you grow up as a Roman Catholic; if your parents were Methodist, you grow up as a Methodist; if your parents were a democrat or republican, you grow up with similar political beliefs. The traditions of men constitute a very strong influence. 

We have, as believers, certain "understandings" of scripture that have been passed on from older believers. Fortunately, many of those understandings are correct. Unfortunately, some are incorrect. Lord, help us to seek YOUR truth! We believers have been so saturated with Christian books and teaching and preaching that we have become an "I know that" people. We tend to assume that certain teachings are correct, simply because it SEEMS to line up with scripture and we have never heard anything to the contrary. Unfortunately we tend to accept what we read and hear through other men such that we take little time to hear what the Spirit is saying. Abraham may have been far more mature than we are today. Abraham did not have the benefit of bible commentaries or Christian books or good bible teachers he had to depend upon that which the Lord told him! 

The world can fairly easily recognize a gift from the Lord because any gift from the Lord is perfect and radiates His beauty. Although the world does not understand from whence such a gift comes, they still zealously endeavor to incorporate that gift into the worldly system because they perceive that gift as something outstanding. If the world is successful in incorporating YOUR gift and/or ministry into their worldly system, then your gift and/or ministry becomes polluted. 

And they transformed the beauty of His ornaments into pride, and they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things with it; therefore I will make it an abhorrent thing to them. And I shall give it into the hands of the foreigners as plunder and to the wicked of the earth as spoil, and they will profane it. Ezekiel 7:20 (New American Standard Version)

We fear that far too many of His beautiful ornaments have been transformed into a profane, worldly ornament. 

Many years ago I had a "live" interview with one of the most prominent television, charismatic evangelists of that day. I will call him Sam, but that was not, and is not, his real name. My aunt had seen Sam on national television proclaim his need for someone to help him in the computer technology area. My aunt knew that I had a lot of experience in that area. She got very excited about the possibility of me working for that charismatic evangelist and called me to tell me about the opening. Well, I never had any witness to work for Sam, but I did not want to prematurely close any door that the Lord might be opening. So I sent in my resume and shortly thereafter was invited to come to Sam's facility for an interview. I decided to go. After I arrived, I talked with many people who worked with Sam and received a VIP guided tour through their facility. Then I was invited by Sam into his big, plush office to hear a presentation by some IBM personnel. About an hour after that meeting ended, I left for my flight back home. On the flight home, I wrote, as fast as my fingers could move, a rather lengthy letter to Sam, detailing how I could not possibly work for him if he offered me $100,000 a year (which was pretty good money in those days). I never heard from Sam again. 

Hindsight, I believe that the Lord had arranged for me to go to talk with Sam to warn him of his worldly approach to evangelism. That was the grace and mercy of the Lord extended to Sam. But Sam refused to hear the word of the Lord. A few years later, the Lord exposed Sam's worldly system and his empire came crashing down. 

What I saw with Sam's entire organization was a good example of the church united to the world. John writes about this in Revelation, concerning the church in Thyatira. 

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 

Revelation 2:20-21 

The fornication of the church in Thyatira represents the church united to the world. We believe that far too many Christians today are deeply involved in what the church in Thyatira represents. Now we have never questioned the motivation of ANY believer. But the sad part is that the great majority of the many believers in the church in Thyatira do NOT know where they are. It is like Lot, who initially saw the well- watered plain of Jordan, and pitched his tent toward Sodom (Genesis 13:10-11). Although scripture does not tell us about Lot's motivation, it is conceivable that Lot actually thought he might be able to convert some of the people in Sodom. His motivation MAY have been good, but he never heard from the Lord. So Lot got drawn deeper and deeper into the worldly system in Sodom. Finally, only the grace and mercy of God could extricate Lot from Sodom. 

Sam had the finest of the fine, the best of the best, in EVERY natural category ... physical grounds, buildings, furniture, televisions, computers, and even people. They had the best marketing people the world could provide. They were looking for the best computer experts the world could provide. Money was no object. They used the best gimmicks and techniques that the world has to offer in order to extract dollars from Christians who had been sucked into Sam's system. And in fact they DID extract hundreds of millions of dollars from tens of thousands of charismatic Christians every year. It was during that same general time period that the Lord allowed me to see the mixture and shortcomings of the church in many different areas. I walked through the valley of Baca, the valley of weeping, for about six months. The Lord had allowed me to see a small part of His grief at the status of the church. If that happens, ANY true believer MUST weep. 

This type of subtle infiltration of the enemy into Christian circles is by no means unique. It occurs in almost every aspect of our lives. Recently I received a copy of an email message via a good friend of ours. The message had originated from a man I have never heard of. The essence of his message was fine ... that Christians ought to pray that God's will might be done in the 2000 presidential election. However the message also stated that, "if Christians do not pray, then God's man will not be elected as President of the United States." My comment was, and is, that God does not have a man running for President! Oil and water do not mix! Democracy is not now, and never has been God's form of government. ALL the elders of Israel came to Samuel and said to him, 

5 Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 

6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. 

7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 1 Samuel 8:5-7 

Note that ALL of the elders were wrong! 

One of the presidential candidates stated many times during the recent Florida crises that "the will of the people must be done." If the will of the people had been done when the Israelites came out of Egypt, then the million or so apostate Israelites would have probably killed God's man, Moses. When the Israelites asked Gideon to rule over them, 

And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you. Judges 8:23 

Some Christians also seem to believe that we should infiltrate the worldly political system ... to claim the government in the United States for God. Those are very noble-sounding ideals, but that is NOT the way God works. Democracy may be the best that man has to offer but it has no place in the kingdom of God! God does not want to clean up democracy. He wants to clean US up. We are IN the world but not OF the world. The chaff must be sifted from the wheat. 

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 

The Greek word for "new" in the above verse is kainos, which means new as to quality, NOT new as to time. Behold ALL things are become new. Did you ever stop to ponder what ALL includes? All is a very encompassing word! 

Many years ago a good brother told me that someone had told him that even the pope of the Roman Catholic church was baptized in the Spirit. That brother said that he certainly had no objection whatsoever to ANYONE being baptized in the Spirit. But if the pope were baptized in the Spirit, he could no longer be pope. Whenever we see God's ways and His truth, the things of this earth grow strangely dim! 

People in the world do things because the majority of other people are doing those things. Because most drivers speed in their cars, others do the same. Believers with bumper stickers on their cars which proclaim Christianity should either stop speeding or remove their bumper stickers (or perhaps both)! A combination of the two is not a good witness. 

Unfortunately we believers tend to do things because the majority of people in the world also are doing those things. That is very dangerous ground to walk upon! As discussed above concerning 1 Samuel 8:4, ALL the elders asked Samuel to make them a king to judge them like all the nations. We people like to conform to other people. 

As another example, just think about the strong pull of womens' fashions today! I would think that shoes with high heels and the long pointed toes must be terrible for a woman's feet! Womens' fashions, of course, change every few years, probably to enhance the money coffers of the merchants. Then consider the tremendous sale of cosmetics and jewelry. Peter had a few words about this. 

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

1 Peter 3:3-4 

But it is equally as grievous to the Lord for us believers to do things because other BELIEVERS are doing those things. We seem to want to be conformed to each other, rather than to be conformed (or transformed) into the image of Christ. For many long years we have maintained that if you see a great number of believers all going in the same direction, look at it VERY carefully again! The Lord NEVER worked with multitudes! This truth will be expanded upon in a later volume. 

7 He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. 

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, 

Psalm 103:7-8 

The latter verse is simply AMAZING! What amazing grace! Even though we stumble and fall many times over, His grace and mercy abound! Lord, make known unto us your ways! 

A few more examples, please. In the world, many musical "artists" have made millions of dollars through their singing. So it has been only "natural" that Christian vocalists pursue the same. Many Christian vocalists have now made millions of dollars through the gift given to them by God. Is that wrong? Well we are in no position to judge anyone. But we do believe that in music as in all of these other areas we are discussing, there is a more excellent way. We have not been given gifts by God just to use them in the same manner that those in the world use their gifts and with the corresponding monetary rewards! Certainly we should all seek the Lord as to how HE would have us to use the gifts and ministries that God has given to each one. 

A similar area has to do with books. Many people in the world have made millions of dollars writing books. So since everybody does it, Christians have assumed that it is proper for them likewise to write many Christian books and make millions of dollars in the process. This probably gets rationalized by the Christian authors as a way that God has blessed them for using their understanding of scripture and their gift of writing. Again, we do NOT want to seem like we are judging the Christian authors who sell their books for the normal going price. But again, we must insist that there is a higher, more excellent way! Such Christian authors need to honestly ask the Lord whether they are writing books for a mixed motive that INCLUDES personal fame and fortune. Yes, we are aware that, 

For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward. 1 Timothy 5:18 

But we need to be very careful here. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). I do not find ANY scripture that says that we should TAKE! The scripture does NOT say that we are to extract money from our fellow believers! The attitude ... the motivation ... is CRITICAL! I should be MORE than willing to share with you that which I have received with NO thought on my part as to what I may get in return. We believe that the word of God is free! Any ministry, in whatever form it expresses itself, whether preaching, teaching, intercession, healing, deliverance, books, tapes, music, etc., should be freely shared with no thought of "what do I get in return?" 

The Lord spoke unto Moses, concerning His instructions for taking over Canaan, 

55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. 

56 Moreover it shall come to pass that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them. Numbers 33:55-56

These verses signify what will befall those believers who allow the mixture to continue in their walk with the Lord. 

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 2 Corinthians 6:17 

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her [Babylon] fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 

4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 

Revelation 18:3-4 

Only the Lord knows our hearts. But dearly beloved, we exhort you to ask the Lord to show you the differences between the ways of the world and God's ways. They have NOTHING in common! You CANNOT mix the two without profaning the beauty of His ornaments! 

Chapter 5: Isaac 

Of the three (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), Isaac was the only one who was initially named by God. The other two, Abram and Jacob, were later renamed Abraham and Israel. Isaac's name was never changed. 

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. Genesis 17:19 

In Hebrew, the name Isaac means "laughter." Both Abraham and Sarah laughed when they thought of the apparent impossibility of this birth (Genesis 17:17; 21:6). But Isaac was the son of promise. 

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Romans 9:7-8 

Scripture is very quiet about the growing-up years of Isaac, who is an imperfect type of Christ. Scripture is also quiet about the growing-up years of Jesus, between ages 12 and 30. When Isaac was 40 years old, Abraham sent his eldest servant, a type of the Holy Spirit, to his country and his kindred to obtain a wife for his son Isaac. In like manner, the Holy Spirit draws each member of the bride of Christ, the church, to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

3 ... thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 

4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. Genesis 24:3-4

The above verses provide the first scriptural background for a Christian man to marry a Christian woman. 

Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers ... 2 Corinthians 6:14 

Please note that Rebekah was given a CHOICE as to whether she would depart to be Isaac's wife, She said, "I will go" (Genesis 24:58). We, as believers, likewise have a choice ... we have free will ... and we CHOSE Life over death when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Isaac was 40 years old when he took Rebekah to wife. The number 40, of course, is the number of probation or testing. 

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. Genesis 24:67

And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi. Genesis 25:11 

The well at Lahai-roi is the SAME well where the Lord sovereignly spoke to Hagar that she should return and submit herself to her mistress Sarah; and that the Lord would multiple Hagar's seed exceedingly. Lahai-roi means "him that liveth and seeth me." 

And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Genesis 25:21 

Although Sarai, Rebekah, and Rachel were ALL barren, only Isaac prayed for his wife that she might conceive. Isaac is an (imperfect) type of Christ, who prayed for the church (John 17). Rebekah conceived twins when Isaac was 60. The elder was named Esau and the younger was named Jacob. This is another example of the false emerging before the true (to be expanded upon in a later Volume). And the Lord told Rebekah that the elder shall serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). Perhaps somewhat unfortunately, Rebekah apparently never told Isaac what the Lord had said concerning Jacob and Esau. 

And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. Genesis 25:28 

If Isaac loved Esau ONLY because he (Isaac) did eat of Esau's venison, then Isaac at that point in his life was indeed a very shallow believer. But the Lord was not through working in the life of Isaac. Rebekah loved Jacob more, probably because she had heard a word from the Lord. 

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Romans 9:13 

Just as Abraham had done, Isaac ran away from the threat of harm to his life in the form of the second famine in the land (Genesis 26:1). So Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, unto Gerar. The Lord appeared unto Isaac and told him NOT to go down into Egypt, as his father Abraham had done years before. But Isaac made the same mistake as Abraham had done. Isaac feared for his life, so he passed Rebekah off as his sister. Again the sovereignty of God intervened and would not allow Abimelech to compromise the seed of Isaac. 

Twice in Genesis 26, the Lord told Isaac that He would bless him BECAUSE of his father Abraham. 

4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 

5 Because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws. Genesis 26:4-5 

And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for My servant Abraham's sake. Genesis 26:24

Significance for Today 

In like manner, the Lord frequently blesses us because of someone in our family who has gone before us. My grandmother always prayed for her children and grandchildren. On the day that I was born, she wrote in her bible, "Lord, make him your minister." My grandmother never saw with her natural eyes the fulfillment of that prayer. The Lord took her home first. But I am firmly convinced that her intercession for me played a big part in the Lord sovereignly apprehending me. 

Just as with his father, Abraham, Isaac was delivered from fear of death (Genesis 26:24). The same must occur for us. 

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:15 

Finally, the life of Isaac should give great hope and encouragement to each one of us who is a "nobody" in the eyes of men. Of the three great patriarchs of faith (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) recorded in the book of Genesis, Isaac was rather unique in a number of different ways. He was the least conspicuous, traveled the least, and had the fewest extraordinary adventures. Nevertheless he holds a place of equal honor and esteem. He also lived the longest. May we who toil in seemingly less significant areas of our Father's vineyard, with seemingly fewer extraordinary events, take note and be encouraged! 

Elijah was a very dramatic prophet and figure in the old covenant days. But the Lord told Elijah that He had reserved to Himself 7,000 more who had not bowed the knee to Baal. That was probably a very humbling experience for Elijah. Volume 4 will go into detail about Elijah. 

Many years ago, a very prominent charismatic "leader" came to a believers' meeting in our area. He had just publicly confessed a sin in his life and appeared to be quite repentant. When that meeting formally ended, the Lord prompted me to give that man a word. The word was that the Lord had allowed his circumstances in his life to make him less known by man but more known to God. Paul said, 

As unknown, and yet well known; 2 Corinthians 6:9 

We see, with our natural eyes, a lot of Christians today who seem to be in the spotlight. But it will be the "nobodies" of God who do His greatest work in these end times! These "nobodies" will not get the applause of men. But they will get the applause of God! Which would YOU rather receive? 

Chapter 6: Jacob 

A tremendous example of perspective is provided by the life and loves of Jacob. Scripture is quite clear that Jacob, just like Abraham, learned about the ways of the Lord through experience ... the hard way. We will touch on only a few high points in the life and loves of Jacob, but there is MUCH for us to learn through his life. 

The strife between Rebekah's twin sons, Jacob and Esau, began even before their birth and continued not only throughout their lives but between their descendants. Much of the suffering of the Israelites (Jacob) came at the hands of the Edomites (Esau), and is noted throughout the old testament. 

And the children struggled together within her ... Genesis 25:22 

Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage (Genesis 25:34). Jacob, at the direction of his mother Rebekah, later deceived his father Isaac and obtained the blessing that should have gone to Esau (Genesis 27). Although Rebekah had received a word from the Lord that Esau was to serve Jacob, this represents man's attempt to bring about the will of God. When Jacob deceived his father and got Esau's blessing, he stole something from his brother to which he had no right. Thus Jacob revealed the true meaning of his name as "one who supplants." Although God had previously recognized Jacob to be in the line of promise, He did not approve of Jacob's conduct. Jacob's deceptiveness resulted in bad fruit at many points in his life. For example, Esau was so angry after Jacob had stolen his blessing that Jacob fled for his life to Padanaram. Jacob never saw his mother again! and Jacob never saw his father, Isaac, for 33 years. Note that this is another type. Jesus' life on earth was also 33 years. In addition Jacob was tricked by his uncle Laban a number of times, and he lived in fear of his brother Esau for those 33 years. Furthermore, Jacob's dishonesty also affected his children, who deceived their own father concerning the alleged death of his favorite son, Joseph. Jacob ultimately repented of his conduct, in Genesis 32, and finished his years as a changed man. In spite of his weaknesses, God chose to confirm the blessing of Abraham to him. The sovereignty of God always prevails, despite all the failures of men! 

Many look upon the events recorded in Genesis 28:10-22 as the time of Jacob's conversion. This is where Jacob had a dream and saw the angels of God ascending and descending on a ladder which reached from the earth to heaven. This was also when the Lord promised Jacob two things: first, that Jacob was indeed the carrier of the seed and the covenant of Abraham; and second that the Lord would provide for his personal safety and blessing. But Jacob still had much to learn about the ways of the Lord! 

Jacob journeyed on to Haran and married the two daughters of Laban, Leah and Rachel. Of course, Laban tricked Jacob and gave him Leah to wife first, when Jacob thought that he was getting Rachel. Leah was tender eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. Leah means weary or tired; Rachel comes from an unused root meaning to journey. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah (Genesis 29:30). The seven additional years that Jacob served for Rachel "seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her" (Genesis 29:20). "When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, He opened her womb: but Rachel was barren" (Genesis 29:31). Undoubtedly Leah and Rachel were in definite competition with each other for Jacob's love. Leah probably envied her sister Rachel's beauty and favor with Jacob. Rachel envied the ability of Leah to have children with Jacob. Jacob, himself, still had a lot to learn. When Rachel complained to Jacob and told him to "give me children, or else I die," (Genesis 30:1) Jacob became angry with Rachel and responded that it was God's fault, not his, that Rachel did not have children. That, of course, was not correct. Rachel was barren because God wanted to work something within Jacob; for example, God is no respecter of persons, but Jacob had shown immense partiality toward Rachel. Further, we find NO scripture that says that Jacob entreated the Lord on behalf of his wife, Rachel, so that she might have children. Apparently, Jacob had not learned from his father, Isaac, who DID pray for his wife, Rebekah, who was barren, and which resulted in Jacob's existence! 

Rachel tried TWO substitutes ... both the work of the flesh. Neither substitute worked because God would not allow it. First, Rachel gave her handmaid, Bilhah, to Jacob to raise up children (in the same spirit that Sarai gave Hagar to Abram, resulting in Ishmael). Well Jacob in fact did sire two sons with Bilhah, but that really did not satisfy Rachel. 

Secondly, there came a day when Reuben, Jacob's first born (through Leah), went out and found mandrakes in the field (Genesis 30:14) and brought them to his mother Leah. When Rachel saw the mandrakes, she made a trade with Leah. In exchange for the mandrakes, Rachel told Leah that she could lie with Jacob that night. (Evidently, conjugal "rights" were normally reserved for Rachel.) A mandrake is a Mediterranean herb ... formerly used to promote conception. Of course, Rachel was desperate for children by this time, so she was eager to try anything. Well, if the dates recorded in my bible are correct, the mandrakes did not work either. Rachel was still barren for another three years after trying to get pregnant by using the mandrakes. (The Arabic interpretation for the word translated as mandrakes is "apples of satan." The enemy tempts us by focusing our attention on works of the flesh.) We think that Rachel probably finally "let go and let God." Three years later, after Rachel stopped her fleshly attempts, God remembered Rachel and she conceived and bare Joseph. 

About six years later, the Lord told Jacob to leave the land of Laban and to return unto the land of his kindred, his father Isaac and his brother Esau, in Canaan (Genesis 31:13). So Jacob, in obedience to God, started his journey. After Jacob arrived in Canaan, his journey was not over. He pitched his tent in Succoth and later in Shechem. In Genesis 32 we read of how Jacob wrestled with a "Man" at the ford Jabbok, and the Lord changed Jacob's name to Israel, which means "prince of God." Although his "conversion" may have been at Bethel (in Genesis 28), Jacob finally came into spiritual maturity when he wrestled with a "Man" in Genesis 32 at Peniel. Please note the following verse. 

And [Jacob] said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. Genesis 31:5 

The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac had now become the God of Jacob! A new awakening had been birthed within Jacob ... that the Lord was indeed his personal God! 

Jacob then journeyed on toward Ephrath (Bethlehem). Before they got to Ephrath, Rachel had her second son, Benjamin, but she died during childbirth. 

18 And it came to pass, as her [Rachel's] soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 

19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 

Genesis 35:18-19 

Benoni means "the son of my sorrow"; Benjamin means "the son of my right hand." The "right hand" in scripture refers to a place of honor. The "left hand" usually refers to some work of the flesh. (More on this in another volume.) 

Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matthew 25:34 

So Jacob honored his wife, Rachel, one last time by naming their son Benjamin, the son of his right hand. Jacob recognized Rachel as being his right hand, his help meet for him, given to him by the Lord. Jacob fulfilled the spirit of the word later to be written through Peter to "give honor to his wife" (1 Peter 3:7). 

Rachel apparently never saw the ways of God ... she only saw His acts ... and she could only see the sorrow in her life. She also never arrived at the final destination. But by this time, Jacob (now Israel), began to understand the ways of God. He had learned what God was after. Perhaps the most striking illustration of Jacob coming to maturity is what Jacob did after Rachel died. 

20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. 

21 And Israel JOURNEYED, ... Genesis 35:20-21 

Jacob had always loved Rachel VERY DEEPLY, from the time that he first saw her. She was the love of his life! But when Rachel died, there is NO mention in scripture that Jacob cried or mourned for Rachel. Instead, Israel (NOT Jacob) JOURNEYED ON, in obedience to the Lord! Jacob had learned perspective in his life. 

But the Lord was not through with Israel. Scripture is quiet concerning what happened to the relationship of Israel and Leah after Rachel died. Jacob died about 40 years after Rachel died. We know that Leah died before Jacob died but after Rachel died. Just before his death, Israel prophesied over his sons and gave instructions for his burial. Israel told his sons to bury him in the family burying place of Machpelah. Israel said, 

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. Genesis 49:31 

What a message! What an object lesson! Israel had buried Leah in the place where he wanted to be buried. Israel did NOT ask to be buried along side of Rachel! Only a JACOB would have asked to be buried with Rachel! Israel had learned of the sovereignty of God! He had finally seen that he was to love and honor Leah just as much as Rachel. Perhaps because he looked back on his life and saw that he had NOT loved Leah the way that he should have, he greatly honored Leah by being buried with HER, not Rachel. Israel had learned the TRUTH of a word to be spoken some 375 years later to Boaz, 

The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel ... Ruth 4:11 

Israel (not Jacob) finally saw the importance of BOTH Rachel and Leah in his life. He had learned to trust in the Lord in ALL things! He recognized and accepted the sovereignty of God. He had learned perspective! 

Jacob and all of his family went to Egypt during the second year of the seven-year famine. Joseph had been sent ahead by God to preserve life. Jacob died at the age of 147, after seventeen (17) years in Egypt. Right before Jacob died, 

1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. 

2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Genesis 49:1-2

Note the words, "IN THE LAST DAYS." Bullinger notes that this phrase, "in the last days," occurs 14 times in scripture. This is the first such occurrence. Then, after Israel prophesied over his 12 sons, 

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. Genesis 49:28 

Bullinger also notes that the prophecy and blessing spoken by Jacob extends to, and embraces the days of Messiah, and His first and second advents. Clearly, the prophecy over Judah points to Christ. 

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between His feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10 

Likewise, the prophecy over Joseph clearly foretells of the future Joseph company, the remnant, the man child, the overcomers, or a number of other ways to reference those members of the body of Christ who shall go before, as the "he goats before the flock," to preserve life for the body of Christ. 

Significance for Today 

Jacob, just like Abraham and Isaac, had to grow into spiritual maturity. So must we! Jacob was a great deceiver for many years. When he wrestled with God at the ford Jabbok, he finally saw that his own strength was futile and he humbly sought help from God. So it is with us! Would that we all could learn from Jacob's experiences! 

Let us also learn from Jacob's most difficult loss ... Rachel, the love of his life. Jacob respected her with a proper burial ... and JOURNEYED ON! What a message to us as believers! All Christians suffer in diverse ways as the Lord brings about and allows circumstances to crucify our flesh and bring us into the fulness of His Kingdom. 

Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which he suffered. Hebrews 5:8 

We propose that man's response to our specific "hard place" falls into one of three major categories. In the first and worst category, we can murmur and complain and even get mad at God. This results in our going backwards, losing ground, or falling away from the Lord to some degree. The second category could be compared to "enjoying" the pity of others and the pity of self to the extent of immersion. This results in stagnation. The third, and most excellent response would be to trust the sovereignty of God and to JOURNEY ON! What a tremendous word! And Jacob journeyed on! 

Chapter 7: Joseph 

22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 

23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: 

24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son. 

Genesis 30:22-24 

The birth of Joseph was an answer to his mother's prayers. Rachel prophesied that Joseph would be the first of two sons born to Jacob and Rachel. This prophecy was fulfilled 17 years later with the birth of Benjamin (and the death of Rachel). Shortly after the birth of Joseph, which means adding, Jacob ran away from his uncle, Laban. 

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors. Genesis 37:3 

Note that it was ISRAEL, not Jacob, who loved Joseph more than all of his children. This indicates that Israel's love for Joseph was inspired by God. At first glance this may seem to contradict the fact that God is no respecter of persons. HOWEVER, we must always remember that God is NOT bound by our interpretation of the scripture. 

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 

15 For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:13-16

Jacob (Israel) was actually 91 when Joseph was born. Jacob's preferential treatment of Joseph, along with his coat of many colors, caused his brothers to envy him, and Joseph's prophetic dreams (Genesis 37) only intensified their feelings toward Joseph. Joseph's dreams and his ability to interpret them were a sign of God's special blessing on Joseph. Many would say that Joseph did not exercise wisdom in sharing his dreams and his interpretations of those dreams with his brothers. As a general principle we would tend to agree. But God does not always work according to our general principles. We should remember that Joseph was only a teenager (17) when he had his dreams. Moreover, if Joseph had NOT told his dreams to his brothers, then God would have sovereignly arranged some OTHER way for Joseph to get to Egypt. God's ways are higher than our ways! 

We know that Joseph's brothers envied him so much that they sold him into slavery to some Midianites, who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Were it not for Reuben and Judah, his brothers might well have killed Joseph, so great was their envy. And so Joseph was rejected by his own brothers. There is no greater hurt than to be rejected by your own family! 

He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. John 1:11 

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? 

Matthew 27:46 

So Joseph is also an imperfect type of Christ. Joseph was rejected by his own but was sent by God to preserve his family a posterity in the earth and to save their lives by a great deliverance. Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver; Jesus was betrayed by one of His own for 30 pieces of silver. Joseph also suffered persecution from the lies of the enemy. Joseph was falsely imprisoned after he rejected the sexual advances of Potiphar's wife. Again, God sovereignly intervened and promoted Joseph to a position of great power. The specific method that God used to promote Joseph was to give Joseph the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams. 

6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 

7 But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another. Psalm 75:6-7 

Several additional similarities of Joseph as a type of Christ were when Pharaoh told his people to "bow the knee" before Joseph (Genesis 41:43) and Joseph's pure heart of compassion toward his brothers. Also, when Joseph's brothers went to Egypt to buy corn, they did not recognize him. When Jesus, after His resurrection, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, she did not recognize Him. When Joseph made himself known to his brothers (Genesis 45:1-2), he wept aloud, showing the intensity of his feelings. Joseph said, 

7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 

8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 

Genesis 45:7-8 

What a revelation this young Joseph had received! what compassion he exhibited! what maturity! Here was a young man who had been rejected by his own, sold into slavery by his own brothers, thrown into prison falsely by Potiphar, but who never wavered in his faith and patience! Joseph was a true "wounded healer" ... a type of the ultimate wounded healer, Jesus Christ. Joseph, like Jesus, never complained or even talked about the wounds inflicted on him by his brothers or anyone else. 

Jesus saith unto her, Woman why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. John 20:15 

Why did Joseph's brothers NOT recognize Joseph? Well for one reason it had been almost 20 years since they had sold him into slavery. Joseph had been barely 18 when they sold him. During those 20 years, Joseph's voice had probably changed somewhat. And surely the dress and physical customs of the Egyptians were far different from those of his brothers. The Jews had much hair and beards; the Egyptians, both men and women, shaved all of their body hair off (Genesis 41:14). In addition, they had little reason to believe that Joseph was still alive. Finally, Joseph spoke to them through an interpreter. 

After Jacob's death, Joseph's brothers were fearful that the wrath of Joseph would fall upon them, so they pleaded with Joseph for mercy. Joseph wept when they asked for forgiveness. 

19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:19-20 

Unless Joseph's brothers had hearts of stone, they MUST have been overwhelmed at the grace and mercy shown to them through their brother Joseph. 

Significance for Today 

The same thing will happen to those believers today who press on to know the Lord. The remnant will be persecuted, lied about, and shunned by the church. But at God's appointed time, the remnant, the Joseph company, will display the same grace and mercy toward the church. 

5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne. 

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 

Revelation 12:5-6 

The Joseph company must be caught up unto God and to His throne. The Joseph company must be set free from the church united to the world and the worldly systems of man. The Joseph company must be taught of God and empowered by God. 

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Ezekiel 44:23 

Chapter 8: In Summary 

Some have noted that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph ALL represent types of God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit. Of course that which is imperfect can never be a complete type of that which is Perfect. But there are a number of similarities worth noting. We are saved, like Noah, only if we come into the Ark, which is Christ. Abraham was the father of many nations. This brings to mind John's admonitions to little children, young men, and fathers in the epistle of 1 John. The Lord had brought Abraham to the point where he was willing to offer up his only begotten son, Isaac, a type of Christ. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 

Sarai, Rebekah, and Rachel, the wives of Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, respectively, were ALL barren. But scripture records that only Isaac, a type of Christ, prayed for his wife, Rebekah, that she might conceive. In like manner, Jesus prayed for the church, the bride of Christ, that she might come forth. Jesus said, 

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; John 17:9, 20

Abram's name was changed to Abraham; Jacob's name was changed to Israel; Isaac's name was NEVER changed. 

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 

Joseph was a type of Christ. Joseph was a "wounded healer" just as Christ was (is) the ultimate wounded Healer. Joseph was sent to preserve life. Although persecuted, rejected by his own, and betrayed for 20 pieces of silver, Joseph had compassion on his brethren. Joseph extended grace and mercy toward his brothers. 

As we noted earlier, we do not want to pursue overly much the significance of numbers in scripture. We will mention here only one instance of numbers. We were struck by the fact that the number 17 comes up a number of times in the book of Genesis. Bullinger says that 17 denotes a combination of spirit and order (7 and 10, respectively). Seven denotes spiritual perfection and ten denotes ordinal perfection. Seventeen is the seventh prime number, just as 13 is the sixth prime number. 

For example, Joseph was about 17 when he was sold into slavery. Jacob died after 17 years in Egypt, where he and his family were preserved by Joseph. There were 17 years between the time that Joseph was born (and when Rachel prophesied that God would give her another son), and the birth of Benjamin. 

We believe it is NOT appropriate to start searching scripture looking for numbers. A better approach is to simply ask the Lord to quicken to you whatever He wants to show you through numbers and then leave it alone, trusting the Holy Spirit to bring up the significance of numbers as He wills. 

Now probably few sincere believers would argue or contest the fact that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, all of these great men of faith, were imperfect types of Christ. But we need to be careful not to put these great heroes of faith on a pedestal! Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, but God used him mightily. In the final analysis, it is God who works within us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. 

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:13 

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40

There is at least one more significant aspect associated with all of these great men of faith who are written about in the book of Genesis. They were all EXAMPLES for us today. If we believers could just learn through all of the examples of past men and women of faith, the church today would be in a much more mature state! 

Paul said that he was an example for others to follow. He also clearly indicated that it was a believer's WALK that we should heed. 

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. Philippians 3:17 

Jesus said the same thing. 

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:20 

Peter said that elders were to be examples to others. 

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 

1 Peter 5:2-3 

Paul also told the church of the Thessalonians that they were examples to others. 

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 

7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 

I believe that our charge is GREATER than that of the great men and women of faith as listed in the book of Genesis. For they died in faith, not having received the promise (of redemption), as in Hebrews 11:39. 

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required ... Luke 12:48 

People everywhere are watching US as believers. Non-believers in the world are watching us. Other believers are also watching us. People want to SEE our good works ... they want to SEE the fruit of the Spirit in our life. Therefore, let us walk worthy of that vocation wherewith we have been called, waiting patiently for the coming of the promise of FULL redemption. 

Surely, somewhere toward the bottom line of what the Lord is after is the fullness of the nature of Christ being formed within each member of the body of Christ. 

Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 

Let none of us frustrate the grace of God. Amen!