Before we study concerning Joseph, let us note a few facts concerning

ISHMAEL AND ESAU

Genesis 36:1 to 8

“Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.

Esau took his wives of the daughters] of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.

And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;

And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of. Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.

And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.

For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.

Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom”

Esau married Ishmael’s daughter. Ishmael was the son of Abraham and Hagar, the Egyptian woman. Hagar was Sarah’s servant.

HAGAR AND ISHMAEL

Genesis 16:1 to 3

“Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

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.

And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.”

Genesis 16:15 and 16

“And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.”

Genesis 21:2 and 3

“For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.”

Genesis 21:9 to 11

“And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.”

The Ismaelites came from Ishmael. The Edomites came from Esau. Edom means “red.” The Mohammedans, who live in the countries surrounding Palestine, claim that Mohammed came from Ishmael. They claim that the inheritance belonged to Ishmael, because he was born before Isaac. God promised the holy land to the seed of Abraham. Inasmuch as Ishmael was born before Isaac, the Mohammedans claim Jerusalem and Palestine. There is quite a disturbance in that land at the present time, a conflict between Jews, Mohammedans and Christians.

Deuteronomy 23:7

“Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother; thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.”

I Chronicles 18:13

“And he put garrisons in Edom: and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.”

II Chronicles 28:17

“For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah and carried away captives.”

Jeremiah 41:3

“Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.”

ISHMAEL AND ISAAC—LAW AND GRACE

Galatians 4:21 to 31

“Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman, So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”

In this allegory we have the answer to the question of. Galatians 3:21. “Is the law against the promise of God?” Note in Galatians 3:17, that the law which was given from Mount Sinai 430 years after God gave His promise to Abraham did not annul that promise.

After Paul had preached the gospel of grace throughout Galatia and many of the sinners had been saved, some very religious law-keepers went forth proselyting and preached a mixture of law, religion and grace. After Paul had declared God’s anathema and had given the Scriptural answers to the false teachings of the legalists he said that Hagar from Egypt, a bondwoman, spoke of the law, and that her son Ishmael was not the child of promise, but rather, was brought forth as the result of the flesh. Isaac was the child of promise. Sarah was the freewoman.

The bondwoman, Hagar, and her son, Ishmael, scoffed at Sarah and Isaac. God said, “cast them out.” God’s application of truth is that no part of the law can be mixed with God’s message of grace as a factor in the sinner’s salvation.

Galatians 2:21

“I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Romans 3:28

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN

“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 colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not sneak peaceably unto him.” Genesis 37:3 and 4.

Genesis 37:5 to 11

“And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.”

Genesis 37:31 to 35

“And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.”

Genesis 37:23 to 28

“And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.”

Genesis 37:36 and 39:1 to 4

“And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”

In Genesis 39:7 to 20 is recorded the wicked work and false charges of Potiphar’s wife against Joseph. Because she could not persuade Joseph to commit sin she lied about him and although innocent he was sent to jail.

Genesis 39:20 and 22

“And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.”

“And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.”

In the Egyptian prison Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker. Genesis 40:1 to 23. Then later Pharaoh had a dream. Seven fat-fleshed kine were devoured by seven lean-fleshed kine. The butler, who had been restored to Pharaoh’s service, told the king that Joseph could interpret the dream which the king did not understand.

“Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” Genesis 41:14 to 16.

Then Joseph interpreted the dream of the fat and lean-kine; that in Egypt there would be a bountiful harvest of grain for seven years and this would be followed by seven years of crop failure and famine (very grievous). Joseph advised Pharaoh to gather the surplus during the seven years and put it away into storehouses to take care of the seven lean years.

Note what Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art.” Genesis 41:39.

Pharaoh set Joseph over the Egyptians:

“And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck: And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:42 and 43.

Joseph became ruler at the age of thirty:

Genesis 41:49

“And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.”

Genesis 41:57

“And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph, for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.”

Genesis 42:1 to 4 and 23

“Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt, get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.”

“And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.” Joseph, unknown to his brethren, gave them grain to take back to Jacob. Joseph told them when they returned for more grain to bring Benjamin with them.

Genesis 43:1 and 2 and 15

“And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.”

“And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.”

Note the fulfillment of Joseph’s dream

“And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.” Genesis 43:26.

Then note how Joseph made himself known :

Genesis 45:1 to 5 and 15

“Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”

“Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.”

Then the brethren went back to tell Jacob the facts about Joseph:

Genesis 45:25 to 28

“And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.”

Genesis 46:6

“And they took their cattle and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his seed with him.”

Genesis 46:28 to 30

“And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.”

Genesis 47:11

“And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.”

Genesis 48:3 to 5, 13, 14, 20 and 21

“And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.”

“And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger. and his left. hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born.”

“And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die; but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.”

Genesis 49:33

“And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.”

Genesis 50:1, 4, 5, and 6

“And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.”

“And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore, let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.”

Genesis 50:14 to 26

“And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said. Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 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. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he aware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.”

In many respects Joseph was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph was his father’s favorite son. He wore the coat of many colors. His brethren through envy, despised him, sold him and he became the world’s saviour.

The Lord Jesus Christ was God’s well-beloved Son. He was despised and rejected by Israel. Some day they will bow before Him and He will be their King and the Ruler of the world.

QUESTIONS-LESSON TEN

1. Who was Ishmael?

2. How was Ishmael born according to Galatians 4:23?

3. What people came from Esau?

4. State the allegory taught by the bondwoman, her son, and the free woman and her son?

5. How is a believer justified according to Romans 3:28?

6. What is said about Israel’s love for Joseph?

7. What was the significance of Joseph’s coat of many colors?

8. Give the details of Joseph’s dream which he described to his brethren.

9. How did they receive the dream?

10. Did Joseph’s dream come true? Quote the Scripture.

11. Who bought and sold Joseph?

12. Who became Joseph’s master in Egypt?

13. Who conspired against Joseph and had him cast in jail?

14. Whose dreams did Joseph interpret in jail and how did they come true?

15. Who told Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret his dream?

16. What dream of Pharaoh’s did Joseph interpret? Did it come true?

17. What caused Joseph’s brethren to go to Egypt? When did they recognize Joseph?

18. Describe Jacob’s visit to Egypt and his meeting with Joseph?

19. Describe Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh and the death of Jacob and Joseph.

20. What is the last that we hear of their bodies?

Psalms 135:4

“FOR THE LORD HATH CHOSEN JACOB UNTO HIMSELF, AND ISRAEL FOR HIS PECULIAR TREASURE.”

Luke 1:31 to 33

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and HE SHALL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOR EVER: and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”

The Bible has very much to say about Jacob, about God’s covenant with Jacob. God is called “the God of Jacob” several times. Psalms 20:1— Psalms 81:1— Psalms 84:8— Psalms 94:7— Psalms 114:7— Psalms 132:2 and 5.

The Lord Jesus is yet going to reign over the house of Jacob. Many times in the Bible we find the term, “the house of Jacob.” The word “Jacob” is found 380 times in the Bible. Note several statements concerning God’s relation to Jacob:

Isaiah 41:8

“But thou, Israel, art My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham My Friend.”

Psalms 75:9

“But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.”

Psalms 47:4

“He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. Selah.”

Malachi 1:2

“I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast Thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob.”

Micah 2:7

“O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord straitened? are these His doings? do not My words do good to him that walketh uprightly?”

Amos 9:8

“Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord.”

Jeremiah 30:10

“Therefore fear thou not, O My servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity: and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.”

The word “Jacob” means “supplanter” or “cheater” and until God wrought a change in him Jacob lived up to his name. We cannot understand why God ever chose Jacob, but He did. But can we understand why God should choose us and save us? We are so glad that God calls Himself “the God of Jacob” and “the God of all grace” I Peter 5:10. And we are glad for the truth of:

Romans 5:6 and 8

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Ephesians 2:4 and 5

“But God Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).”

II Timothy 1:9

“Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

Let us think over these “grace” statements and rejoice in the truth of:

Philippians 3:3

“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

Now before we study the history of the man Jacob, let us note:

Jeremiah 46:27 and 28

“But fear not thou, O My servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity: and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. Fear thou not, O Jacob, My servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.”

Jeremiah 30:7

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

When the Scriptures here speak of Jacob, they speak of the Nation, or that part of the Nation Israel that shall be on the earth after God has accomplished his purpose during this present reign of grace. God is now calling individual Gentiles and Jews to receive Christ and be members of His Body. Ephesians 2:11 to 17. In this day of grace in the Body of Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile. We are all one in Christ. Galatians 3:28.

Note these words:

Romans 11:25 and 26

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. An so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:”

Jacob and Israel are one and the same. Today we call Israel “the Jews.” There are nearly 18 million Jews on earth today. There are about 1800 million Jews and Gentiles. So about one per cent of the population of the earth are Jews. Palestine is called, in the Bible, “the land of the Jews.” Acts 10:39.

Note what Christ on earth said about the land of the Jews and the Jews:

Luke 21:24

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

This has been fulfilled for more than 18 centuries. The Jews are scattered among all nations. They are having much trouble. The Gentile nations seem to think that the Jews are causing them much trouble. This will continue until “the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

Civilization is headed for Jacob’s trouble and the end of “the times of the Gentiles.” Jacob’s Messiah will come and save Jacob out of their trouble. “Call His name JESUS.” “He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever.”

Let us be careful not to confuse “the house of Jacob” with “the House of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” I Timothy 3:15. This House is the Body of Christ. Christ is the Head of this Body. The house of Jacob is made up of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Christ is the King of Israel.

JACOB AND ESAU

Genesis 25:29 to 34

“And Jacob sod pottage and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”

Genesis 26:34 and 35

“And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.”

Hebrews 12:16 and 17

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”

GENESIS 27:18 TO 29

“And he came unto his father, and said. My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.

And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou by my very son Esau or not.

And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.

And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.

And he came near. and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed. Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:

Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over they brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.”

HEBREWS 11:21

“By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the tap of his staff.”

Jacob and Esau were the sons of Isaac and Rebekah. They were twins. The story of their birth is recorded in Genesis 25:19 to 26.

The story of the courtship and marriage of Isaac and Rebekah is a very interesting one. When Abraham was a very old man he made his faithful servant swear that he would go to Abraham’s country and get a wife for his son Isaac. Genesis 24:1 to 4 and 24:9. The servant went to Mesopotamia. His camels were kneeling down by a well of water and while the servant stood near the well the daughter of Bethuel (Bethuel was Abraham’s nephew) came to draw water from the well. Her name was Rebekah. Abraham’s servant asked Rebekah for a drink of the water she drew from the well. Then Rebekah watered the camels of the servant.

Genesis 24:22

“And it came to pass as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold.”

Genesis 24:29 and 31

“And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.”

“And he said, Come in thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”

Read this very interesting story in the twenty-fourth chapter of Genesis.

Genesis 24:51

“Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the Lord hath spoken.”

Genesis 24:56 to 60

“And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men. And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister; be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.”

Isaac meets Rebekah:

Genesis 24:64 to 67

“And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 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 mothers death.”

Here we have one of the beautiful love stories of the Bible.

But now for another story.

JACOB LEAVES HOME

In this story is another story of love in the family of the brother of Rebekah, Laban. Let us see the circumstances that drove Jacob to Laban’s home. First we quote:

Genesis 27:41 to 44

“And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand, then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away.”

Genesis 28:5

“And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.”

Now let us follow Jacob:

GENESIS 28:10 to 22

“And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set It up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on.

So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”

GENESIS 28:9 TO 11

“Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.”

Genesis 28:14

“And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”

JACOB AND LABAN

Then Jacob bargained with Laban to give him seven years for Rachel, his daughter. At the end of the seven years Laban gave his oldest daughter, Leah, to Jacob. Then Jacob served seven other years and Laban gave him Rachel also. Read the story in Genesis 29:16 to 35. The first four sons born to Jacob and Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, Simeon, Levi and Judah. Genesis 29:32 to 35. Unto Rachel were born Joseph (Genesis 30:22 to 24) and Benjamin.

Genesis 35:18

“And it came to pass as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.”

Two other women were the mothers of Jacob’s other four sons, Bilhah and Zilpah. Genesis 35:25 and 26. The sons of Leah were Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid: Gad and Asher.

The twelve tribes of Israel came from the twelve sons, but we shall see in another lesson how Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, were brought in for special blessing.

JACOB AS A BUSINESS MAN

The very interesting story of the business transactions between Jacob and Laban are recorded in Genesis 30 and 31. Some have spoken of Jacob as having been very clever. Others have called him crooked or dishonest. But his good management brought prosperity to Laban. Note Jacob’s words in Genesis 30:30: “For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?”

Note again:

GENESIS 31:1 to 7

“And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s: and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.

And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

And 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.

And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.”

Then note Jacob’s statement to Laban:

Genesis 31:41 and 42

“Thus have I been twenty years in thy house: I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle; and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.”

Genesis 32:1

“And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.”

JACOB AFRAID OF ESAU

Jacob very much feared his brother Esau, whom he thought would slay him. Note Jacob’s payer to God.

Genesis 32:10 to 12

“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.”

God heard Jacob’s prayer for deliverance.

Genesis 33:4, 9 to 11

“And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.”

“And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thy self.

And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.”

Jacob had a very wonderful experience at that time:

Genesis 32:24 to 32

“And Jacob was left alone; wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

And he said, Thy name shall be no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell until the me, I pray thee, thy name? And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.”

GENESIS 33:18 to 20

“And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.

And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamer, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.

And he erected there an altar, and called it Eleloheisrael.”

GENESIS 35:6 to 8

“So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.

And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel; because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

But Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.”

THE COVENANT RE-STATED

Genesis 35:9 to 15

“And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.”

THE TWELVE SONS OF JACOB (Israel)

Genesis 35:27 to 29

“The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah. and Issachar, and Zebulun:

The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.”

Genesis 25:27 to 29

“And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.

And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.”

Some other statements about Jacob:

Genesis 37:1

“And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.”

Genesis 42:1 to 3

“Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And He said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt, get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.”

GENESIS 46:1 to 7

“And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

And he said, I am God the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation.

I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again; and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:

His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.”

Genesis 47:7 to 12

“And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?

And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.”

JACOB’S PROPHECIES AND BLESSINGS

GENESIS 49:1 to 33

“And Jacob called unto his sons, and sale 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.

3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy fathers bed; then defiledst thou it, he went up to my couch.

5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united, for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

8 JUDAH, THOU ART HE WHOM THY BRETHREN SHALL PRAISE: THY HAND SHALL BE IN THE NECK OF THINE ENEMIES; THY FATHER’S CHILDREN SHALL BOW DOWN BEFORE THEE.

9 JUDAH IS A LION’S WHELP: FROM THE PREY, MY SON, THOU ART GONE UP: HE STOOPED DOWN, HE CROUCHED AS A LION, AND AS AN OLD LION; WHO SHALL ROUSE HIM UP?

10 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.

11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

18 I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord.

19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him

24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

28 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.

29 And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Cannan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.

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

32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.

33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

In our next message we will study concerning Joseph and his brethren in Egypt.

But note verses 8 to 10 above. Jacob’s prophecy concerning the coming of Shiloh from the tribe of Judah. In Revelation 5:5 Christ is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”

QUESTIONS—LESSON NINE

1. Name three verses in which God is called “the God of Jacob.”

2. What kind of a treasure was Jacob unto God? Give Scriptures.

3. What does Jacob mean? What is the meaning of the new name God gave Jacob?

4. According to Luke 1:31 and 33, what place was Christ to occupy with respect to the house of Jacob?

5. To what House do Christians of this age belong?

6. What is the present condition of the house of Jacob? Is this condition to be changed?

7. Mention three facts concerning Jacob’s dealings with Esau. What did Esau sell to Jacob?

8. What did Abraham say to his servant concerning a wife for Isaac? Where did that servant find Rebekah?

9. How was Laban related to Isaac? To Jacob?

10. Why did Jacob flee to Laban’s home?

11. What name did Jacob give to Luz? Why?

12. Who was Jacob’s youngest son and what happened to Rachel at his birth?

13. How many years did Jacob serve Laban for Leah and Rachel? How long in all?

14. Whom did Jacob fear when he left Laban to go home? How was Jacob delivered?

15. What happened to Jacob at Peniel and what does Peniel mean? What does Bethel mean?

16. Name the twelve sons of Israel and Joseph’s two sons.

17. Where did Jacob send his sons for corn? Did Jacob himself go to that country?

18. What did Jacob say concerning Judah when he was blessing his sons?

19. Who is called the lion of the tribe of Judah? Quote verse.

20. What is to happen to the house of Jacob according to Jeremiah 30:7 and Jeremiah 46:27 and 28?

BUT THOU, ISRAEL ART MY SERVANT, JACOB WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN, THE SEED OF ABRAHAM MY FRIEND—Isaiah 41:8

Galatians 3:6

“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

When Abram was 99 years old, God changed his name to Abraham

Genesis 17 :5

“Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”

Genesis 17:24

“And Abram was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.”

Abraham is called, in the Bible, “the Friend of God.” II Chronicles 20:7. Isaiah 41:8.

James 2:23. Abraham was one of the truly great men of all times. We quote several Scriptures:

Genesis 12:1 to 5

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.

4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”

Hebrews 11:8 to 12

8 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 BY faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country. dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 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.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.” Universal idolatry prevailed at the time God called Abram, about 1917 B. C. The condition of the people on earth at the time Abram was called is told in Romans 1:18 to 32.

ROMANS 1:18 to 32

18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 BECAUSE THAT, WHEN THEY KNEW GOD, THEY GLORIFIED HIM NOT AS GOD, NEITHER WERE THANKFUL; BUT BECAME VAIN IN THEIR IMAGINATIONS, AND THEIR FOOLISH HEART WAS DARKENED.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Note carefully verses 21 and 28.

Men and women rejected God and worshipped animals, fowls and serpents and made images of these creatures. God gave them up.

God had made a new start with Noah and his family, saved in the ark at the time of the flood. Then God made a new start with Abram and Sarai (Abraham and Sarah). Out of the nations there would be an elect nation, God’s Nation. This Nation was Israel. Note what God said about, that great Nation:

Isaiah 43:15

“I am the Lord your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.”

Isaiah 43:3

“For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.”

Isaiah 41:13 and 14

“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”

Isaiah 44:6 and 8

“Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts; I am the First and I am the Last; and beside Me there is no God. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? yea, there is no God; I know not any:”

Isaiah 44:21

“Remember these, O Jacob and Israel: for thou art My servant: I have formed thee; thou art My servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of Me.”

ABRAHAM—THE NATION ISRAEL—JEWS

From Abraham and Sarah came this great Nation of God.

The first time the word “Jew” occurs in the Bible is in Esther 2:5, about 471 B. C., 1450 years after Abraham was called. The word “Jews” occurs first in II Kings 16:6, about 624 B. C. We learn in Genesis 32:28 that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel about 1739 B. C.

Genesis 32:28

“And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

Although the Israelites and Jews came from father Abraham, strictly speaking, Abraham was neither an Israelite nor a Jew. Abraham was not under the law. The law was given 430 years after the call of Abram. Galatians 3:16 to 19. “The law was given by Moses.” John 1:17. When the law was given at Sinai Israel entered into that Covenant which was made “Old” after Christ died on the cross. It is called “the Old Covenant” or “the Old Testament.”

WHEN THE OLD TESTAMENT BEGAN

For many years Christians have been taught that the Bible is divided into two parts, namely, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The common error has been taught that the Old Testament began with the first of Genesis and the New Testament began with the first of Matthew. But note that the Old Testament, or Covenant, is called “the first Covenant.” Hebrews 8:7. In Hebrews 8:9, as well as in Jeremiah 31:32, God tells us that that first Covenant was made when Israel left Egypt. That was about 1495 B. C. That Covenant was not made old until after Christ had died on the cross. Therefore, while God was dealing with Israel under the Sinai Covenant, it was not old.

The Bible Record of Israel being led by God out of Egypt, is not found in the Book of Genesis, but in the Book of Exodus. The Book of Exodus finds Israel in Egypt about 1700 B. C. This was more than 2200 years after Adam left Eden.

The Old Testament did not begin when Adam left Eden, but when Israel left Egypt. In no sense was Adam an Old Testament character. Neither were Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

Let us see how Genesis ends.

Genesis 50:24 to 26

“And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which He sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.”

The beginning of man in Genesis is a man in the image of God in God’s paradise. Genesis closes with a man in a coffin in Egypt. What a difference! What made the difference? Sin. About twenty billion children of Adam have been placed in coffins since Adam sinned.

Now, who was Joseph? Joseph was the great-grandson of Abraham. Joseph was the grandson of Isaac. Joseph was the son of Jacob, whose name was changed by God to “Israel.” Joseph had one younger brother, whose name was Benjamin. Joseph had one sister, whose name was Dinah. Genesis. 34:13. Joseph had ten older brothers. The oldest brother was Reuben. Then Simeon, Levi and Judah. The Lord Jesus Christ is called in the Bible “the Lion of the tribe of Juda.” Revelation 5:5.

Note:

Hebrews 7:14

“For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda: of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”

The other brothers of Joseph were Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Napthali, Gad and Asher. See I Chronicles 2:1 and 2.

From these twelve sons of Israel (Jacob) came the twelve tribes of Israel. All of these twelve sons had been placed in their coffins for burial before God took Israel by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. Therefore not one of them was under the Old Covenant. They were not Old Testament characters. Even Moses was 80 years old before he became an Old Testament character.

Hebrews 8:9

“Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: because they continued not in My Covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.”

In the Book of Genesis we learn of the Covenant that God made with Noah. We also there learn of God’s promise to Abraham and God’s oath to Abraham.

God’s oath was made when Abraham had placed his only son Isaac on the altar. Genesis 22:15 to 18

“And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 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: 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. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.”

It will be helpful to study concerning these two immutable things in Hebrews 6:18; that is, the covenant and the oath.

Galatians 3:16 to 19

“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. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”

Here we are told that the law, or the first covenant, or the Old Testament, could not, and did not, annul the Covenant that God made with Abraham 430 years before the first Covenant was given to Israel when they left Egypt.

God found fault with Israel under the Law Covenant. Hebrews 8:7. But because of God’s Covenant and oath with Abraham, God led Israel into Canaan (Exodus 32:13 and 14). He preserved and protected them and kept alive a remnant until Christ and His Twelve Apostles lived and died. Because of God’s Covenant and Oath He protected and preserved Israel even after the death of Christ until Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, said, “I have finished my course.” (II Timothy 4:7). Then came the fulfillment, in part of Luke 21:24, God’s awful judgment upon Jerusalem and Israel about 70 A. D.

Even now, because of the Covenant and Oath which God made with Abraham, an Israelitish remnant is being preserved. And God will yet do great things for Israel because of His covenant and oath.

ISRAEL’S FUTURE DELIVERANCE

Romans 11:26 to 28

“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer. And shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.”

Not only did God do wonderful things for Israel (and shall yet do more wonderful things) because of His covenant with Israel, but note that individual Gentiles are blessed with wonderful spiritual blessings because of God’s promise to Abram before he became Abraham.

Galatians 3:6 to 8

“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

Romans 4:3

“For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Romans 4:9 to 11

“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.”

Romans 4:23 to 25

“Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

BAD NEWS—GOOD NEWS

“There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?” I Corinthians 6:9. What a predicament! But here is the way out of this sad predicament. It is God’s way. Those who accept God’s way, and believe and receive, will be blessed with faithful Abram. Abram believed God. God declared Abram righteous. Christ on earth said, “your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.” John 8:56. Today it is still true, “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.”

According to Galatians 3:8, 430 years before God entered into the Old Covenant with Israel and gave Israel the sabbath and nine other commandments, Abram, the uncircumcised Gentile, was declared righteous without the deeds of the law, or without any religious practices, except the offering of the sacrifice which spake of the death of Christ on the cross. More than 40 years after Abram was justified by faith, he was justified by works, when he had offered up Isaac on the altar.

Hebrews 11:17 to 19

“BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TRIED, OFFERED UP ISAAC: AND HE THAT HAD RECEIVED THE PROMISES OFFERED UP HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, OF WHOM IT WAS SAID, THAT IN ISAAC SHALL THY SEED BE CALLED.”

James 2:21 to 23

“WAS NOT ABRAHAM OUR FATHER JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, WHEN HE HAD OFFERED ISAAC HIS SON UPON THE ALTAR? SEEST THOU HOW FAITH WROUGHT WITH HIS WORKS, AND BY WORKS WAS FAITH MADE PERFECT? AND THE SCRIPTURE WAS FULFILLED WHICH SAITH, ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS IMPUTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS: AND HE WAS CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD.”

So the good news for any kind of a sinner today is:

II Corinthians 5:21

“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.”

Romans 4:4 and 5

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him That justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

NO OLD COVENANT IN GENESIS

But now we have learned that although the Book of Genesis covers about 2315 years of the history of man, from Adam in Eden to Joseph in his coffin in Egypt, there is not one line of the first covenant, or Old Testament, in Genesis. So we will not call Genesis, “the Old Testament Scriptures.” In the first eleven chapters of Genesis, God covers 2083 years from the creation of Adam to the call of Abram, at the age of 75.

Beginning with Genesis 12:1 to Malachi 4:6, that is, in 38 of the 39 Books B. C. and in the 39 chapters of the one Book (Genesis), the Scriptures deal with one Nation (Israel) and refer to other men, lands and nations only as they have dealings with Israel. We shall later see that Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Hebrews, Revelation, and other Books in the so-called New Testament Scriptures, are very largely Israelitish, some of them, more than 90 per cent.

QUESTIONS-LESSON EIGHT

1. Mention the Bible verses in which Abraham is called “the Friend of God.”

2. At what age was Abram circumcised? How long had he been justified by faith?

3. What happened to Abram when he believed God?

4. What did God promise to do for Abraham and his seed?

5. How were Isaac, Jacob and Joseph related to Abraham?

6. In what spiritual condition were the Gentiles when Abram was called?

7. What great Nation came from Abraham and Sarah?

8. With what nation and when did God make the covenant. which is called the Old Covenant?

9. About what year did the Nation Israel go to Egypt? About what year did God lead them out of Egypt?

10. Were Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, or Joseph Old Testament characters? Why?

11. From which of Israel’s sons did the Lord Jesus come? By what title, including that name, is he called?

12. According to Exodus 32:13 and 14, why did God preserve Israel and take them to Canaan?

13. How many years between the Abrahamic Covenant and the giving of the law?

14. When did God make an oath to Israel?

15. What is to happen to Israel according to Romans 11:26?

16. According to Romans 4:9 and 10, why was Abraham circumcised? Why was he justified in uncircumcision?

17. When Abram was justified 430 years before the Old Covenant was made, what did the Scriptures foresee?

18. How much of the Book of Genesis and the 38 of the Books of the Old Testament Scripture deal with Israel?

19. Why are believers today made the righteousness of God in Christ?

20. About what year did the Old Testament begin? When was it made old?

THE ANTEDILUVIAN AGE—FROM ADAM TO NOAH—FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM—ABRAHAM TO MOSES

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression.” Romans 5:14.

“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to Whom the promise was made.” Galatians 3:19.

When Adam sinned, God declared the Seed of the woman would come as man’s Redeemer. About 2100 years later, God said to Abraham, “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 26:4. The Seed of the woman was to be Abraham Seed.

Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ we read:

Hebrews 2:16

“For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels: but He took on Him the Seed of Abraham.”

Galatians 4:4

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.”

We learn in Galatians 3:16 to 19 that 430 years after God made His promise to Abraham, Moses received the law from God on Mount Sinai. From Adam to Moses was about 2500 years. God made promise to Abram about 427 years after the flood. The law was added to the promise about 1495 years before Christ was made of a woman, made under the law.

Every member of the human race came from Adam and from Noah.

FROM ADAM TO NOAH—(The Flood)

By studying Genesis 5:3 to 32, we learn that Noah was born in 956 A. H., or about 3044 B. C. “Noah was 600 years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.” Genesis 7:6. Therefore the flood was upon the earth 1656 A. H. (year of man), or about 2344 B. C.. That was the year that Methuselah died. Genesis 5:27.

Noah’s three sons were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Genesis 5:32. Noah lived 350 years after the flood. Genesis 9:29. Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood. Genesis 11:10. Shem died 500 years later: 1656 plus 2 plus 500 equals 2158 A. H., or about 1842 B. C.

GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH

Concerning The Earth and The Government of Man

Genesis 9:5 to 17

5 “And surely your blood of your lives will I require: at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.

6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

8 And God spake unto Noah, his sons with him, saying,

9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood and to destroy the earth.

12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and It shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.”

Here we learn that God instituted, what we call, capital punishment for the crime of murder. This was about 845 years before man was put under the law, that is, before the Old Testament was entered into between Jehovah and Israel.

Here we note that God placed responsibility for the government of humanity upon man.

Here we have the beginning of the rainbow. It is thought by man that there was no rain on the earth until the flood. It was not until after the flood that man was permitted to have flesh for food.

FROM NOAH TO ABRAHAM

Note what has been called the royal seed from Noah to Jacob (Israel): Noah—Shem— Arphaxad—Salah—Eber—Peleg—Reu—Serug—Nahor—Terah—Abram (Abraham)—Isaac— Jacob (Israel). Genesis 11:10 to 32 and Genesis 21:5. Genesis 25:20 to 28. Abraham was 75 years of age when God gave him His promise. Genesis 12:1 to 4. By comparing these Scriptures with Genesis 11, we learn that Abraham left his own land about 2083 A. H., or about 1917 B. C. Abraham died at the age of 175. Genesis 25:7. He died about 1817 B. C. Eber died about 1813 B. C. Shem died about 1842 B. C. Abraham was about 150 years old when Shem died. Note that there were nine or ten generations between Shem and Abraham.

The Semetic people came from Shem. Persecutions of the Jews are sometimes called “anti-Semitic” movements. The Jews came from Shem and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. In Genesis 14:13 Abraham is called “the Hebrew.” There has been speculation and controversy as to the meaning of the word “Hebrew” here. Some have interpreted the word as meaning “Eberite” or a descendant of Eber. Note:

Genesis 9:18 to 29

18 “And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard.

21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.

29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.”

Here we learn of Noah’s sin. God’s blessing upon Shem and his seed. And God’s curse upon Canaan and the descendants of Ham.

Many think the negro race bear the curse pronounced upon Ham’s descendants. Mary, the mother of the Saviour, descended from Shem. The descendants of Shem gave us our Saviour and the Bible.

The name “Peleg” means “division.” Note:

I Chronicles 1:19

“And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother’s name was Joktan.”

We learn of a great judgment and division in:

Genesis 11:1 to 9

“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech

2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and all the earth; and from thence did the Lord scatter the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth; and they left off to build the city.

9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. “

The word “Babel” or “Babylon” carries the thought of confusion. Here we see the beginning of nations, the beginning of tongues, and therefore, the beginning of wars among the nations. Among the descendants of Ham were Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar and Haman, who became great persecutors of Israel, the descendants of Shem. The Hebrew word translated “nations” is also translated “Gentiles” and “heathen.”

Perhaps the destruction and confusion at Babel took place in the days of Peleg. We learn in Romans, chapter one, how far into sin, paganism and darkness the Gentiles drifted.

HOW WERE MEN SAVED?

We read how Abel, Seth, Enoch, and Noah were saved before the flood. We would judge that Shem was saved. Abel, by faith and sacrifice obtained witness that he was righteous. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8) and then note what Noah did:

 Genesis 8:20

“And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord: and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.”

Remember the words of the Lord in:

Leviticus 17:11

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

And again in:

Hebrews 9:22

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood: and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

But we learn in:

Hebrews 10:4

“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Hebrews 9:12

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He (Christ) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

So all, who were saved before the once-for-all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, were saved by looking forward to that sacrifice. Believing sinners are saved today by looking back to Calvary

Hebrews 10:10 to 14

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

Hebrews 10:17

“And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

TERAH

Abram’s father was Terah. Although Terah descended from Shem and from Eber, he was an idolater (Joshua 24:2) and certainly neither an Israelite nor a Jew. Although the Israelites and Jews descended from Shem, so also did many Gentiles. Israelites and Jews all descended from Abraham. But they came from Isaac, the son of Sarah. Abraham had another son, Ishmael. The descendants of Ishmael were neither Israelites nor Jews. Then note the children of Abraham and Keturah. Abraham married Keturah after Sarah had died. “And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.” Genesis 25:2.

FROM ABRAHAM TO MOSES

We will study this more in detail in our next lesson. But in Galatians 3:16 to 19 we learn that from the call of Abram to the year that Moses received the law, 430 years passed by. Abram was 75 years old when he was called. Moses was 80 years old when he received the law.

Let us remember that death reigned from Adam to Moses before God’s law of ten commandments, His ordinances and religion were given to Israel.

ABRAHAM—LOT—SODOM AND GOMORRAH

Note what God has to say about Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot in:

Jude 7

“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

II Peter 2:6

“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.”

Now let us read something of this Divine judgment in:

GENESIS 13:7 and 8

7 “And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land.

8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.”

GENESIS 13:10 to 13

10 “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.”

GENESIS 19:23 to 30

23 “The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstones and fire from the Lord out of heaven;

25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord:

28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.”

ABRAM AND MELCHISEDEC

Now let us carefully note concerning Abram and Melchisedec in Genesis 14:18 to 20:

Genesis 14:18 to 20

“And Melchisedec king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the Most High God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”

“The Lord hath sworn and will not repent: Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.” Psalms 110:4. “As He saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 5:6. “Called of God a High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.” “Whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 6:20.

Abraham (Abram) met Melchisedec before there were any Israelites or Jews, even before Jacob was born, even several years before uncircumcised Abram became circumcised Abraham. We should be interested to learn all we can about Melchisedec because Christ is a Priest after the order of Melchisedec.

QUESTIONS-LESSON SEVEN

1. About how many years from Adam to Moses (at Sinai)?

2. How long from Adam’s fall to the flood?

3. Who were Noah’s three sons. From which son did the Jews and the Saviour come?

4. How old was Shem when he died? How old was Abraham when Shem died?

5. What did God declare should be the punishment of the man who shed blood?

6. Why did God say, “Cursed be Canaan”? Who was Canaan?

7. Refer to Genesis 11 and state how Eber was related to Abraham.

8. What happened at the time God scattered the people abroad on the face of all the earth?

9. How were men saved from Adam to Moses?

10. Name the three wives of Abraham, and give the name of one son from each wife.

11. Was Abraham a Jew? An Israelite? A Hebrew?

12. Who was Melchisedec? What took place between Melchisedec and Abraham?

13. Who was Lot? What position did he hold in Sodom? What became of his wife?

14. About how many years from the flood to the call of Abram?

15. Whose Seed was Christ?

16. What did God say about sins and shed blood?

17. What happened to Christ after He had offered one sacrifice for sin?

18. Of what was the destruction of Sodom a sample?

19. What is said of the period from Adam to Moses? How long was that period?

20. To what was the law added?

Matthew 24:30 and 36 to 39

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

According to the Bible there are yet days to come on this earth which are designated “the days of the Son of man.” Those days are to be like the days of Noah.

Let us turn to Genesis and see what kind of days the days of Noah were and then we will study concerning the Son of man.

THE SONS OF GOD AND THE DAUGHTERS OF MEN

In the days of Seth, men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:26. But the descendants of Cain became great sinners. Note what God’s Book has to say about “the days of Noah.”

Genesis 6:1 to 22

1 “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5 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.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beasts, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

9 These are the generations of Noah; Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with God.

10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12 And God looketh upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

17 And, behold, 1, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

18 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.

19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee, they shall be male and female.

20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”

GENESIS 7:1 to 6

“And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.

And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.”

GENESIS 7:18 to 24

“And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beasts, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and that were destroyed from the earth; and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.”

GENESIS 8:18 to 22

“And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:

Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark. And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

From the Scriptures we learn much about the days of Noah. Those were evil days. Men were so wicked that God had to judge the world and destroy all flesh outside of the ark. God said to Noah, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” That was God’s message for that particular period. We have no Scriptural authority for applying this statement to this present dispensation of grace.

Noah constructed the ark according to God’s instructions. That ark was judgment-proof. When Noah and his family went into the ark God shut them in. God shut the door. Noah and his family were safe from the judgment of death.

The place of security today is “in Christ.”

Hebrews 11:7

“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.”

II Peter 2:5

“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.”

Apparently very few heeded the warning of Noah. But God’s awful judgment fell. Noah was spared.

Now let us note carefully these verses:

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8.

“And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.” Genesis 7:1.

“And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.” Genesis 7:5.

“And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged.” Genesis 8:1.

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

“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 and 9.

“And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the Covenant, which I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” Genesis 9:17.

There was abounding sin in the days of Noah. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Remember God’s statement in Romans 5:20: “But where sin abounded grace did much more abound.” There is abounding sin today; but more abounding grace.

We learn that Methuselah died the year of the flood, 1656 A. H. Some Hebrews have taught that “Methuselah” means “cut off by many waters.” It is interesting to read concerning Methuselah’s father who never died.

Methuselah was 969 years of age when he died. Jared was 962 years of age. Adam was 930 years of age when he died. Noah lived to be 950 years of age and Seth 912 years.

ENOCH TRANSLATED

Hebrews 11:5 and 6

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Genesis 5:21 to 23

“And Enoch lived sixty and five years and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years; and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years.

Hebrews 11:5

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

Jude 14 and 15

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of His saints. To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

As Enoch was translated and did not taste death, so many believers, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, will not taste death.

I Thessalonians 4:16 and 17

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

This coming of the Lord Jesus Christ seems to be different from His coming as the Son of man as declared in Matthew 24:30, “the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Note the question concerning the coming of the Son of man in Luke 18:8:

“Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?”

The Son of man asked this very interesting question in Luke 18:8: “When the Son of man cometh shall He find faith on the earth?” In Luke 21:25 He declares what shall be on the earth when He comes: “upon the earth distress of nations.” In the question of Luke 18:8 the Greek construction calls for a negative answer. The Son of man will not find faith on the earth. There was very little faith on the earth in the days of Noah. The days of the Son of man shall be like those days, only worse, according to:

Matthew 24:21 and 22

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

Matthew 24:30

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

If the Lord Jesus Christ should come at this time for the Church, which is His Body, He would find more faith on the earth than was ever here, because there are more saved people. There are, perhaps, more real Christians in Chicago today than there ever were in Corinth, Rome, Ephesus, Antioch or in any other city in the days of the apostles. Therefore these are not “the days of the Son of man.”

Christ is now far above in heaven, Head of the Church which is His Body. Ephesians 1:19 to 22. When Christ shall appear then shall the members of His Body appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:3 and 4. Christ is not the Son of man in His relationship and ministry to the Body-members. He is the Son of man to Israel and in the coming judgment of that Nation and other nations.

The only disciple of Christ who called Him the Son of man was Stephen: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7:56.

Here we note that Christ was in heaven some months after He had been put to death. He was standing while Stephen was giving to Israel a summary of Israel’s history.

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Christ calls Himself by the title of Son of man 80 times. But it was He Who called Himself by that name and not others. As we study the different Scriptures we learn that it is difficult to understand just the significance of the title.

The hope of the Church, the Body of Christ, is the coming of Christ, the Head. The hope of Israel is the coming of Christ the Son of man as King. The Son of man was not speaking to the Body when He spoke in Luke 21:27 and 28 “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

It is interesting to note “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations.” Matthew 25:31 and 32. “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.

WHO IS THIS SON OF MAN?

Some preachers have thought we could make Christ less Divine and more human by calling Him “the Son of man” rather than “the Son of God.” But note the question of the perplexed Jews: Christ had said “When ye have lifted up the Son of man then shall ye know that I am He.” John 8:28. “The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?” John 12:34. “Who is the Son of Man?” Christ Himself asked very much the same question: “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Matthew 16:13. Note the answer of some who knew that He was some extraordinary Man. “Some say that Thou are John the Baptist: some Elias; and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” Matthew 16:14. Note whom Peter declared Him to be: “And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16.

“Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” John 1:51. “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” John 3:13. “And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.” John 5:27. “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:64. “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.” John 12:23. “Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8. “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:30. “And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined but woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed.” Luke 22:22. “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” Mark 2:10 and Luke 5:24.

In Colossians 1:13, we are told that members of the Body of Christ are in His kingdom, but there is a difference between Christ’s relationship to Israel as King and His relationship to His Body as Head. Read the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew and the sixth chapter of the Revelation to know what the days of the Son of man will be like.

QUESTIONS-LESSON SIX

1. How was Noah related to Seth?

2. What did men do when Seth was born?

3. What was the moral and spiritual condition of the human race when Noah lived before the flood?

4. What did God tell Noah He would do with man because of man’s awful wickedness?

5. How many years did God give man?

6. What did Noah do according to Hebrews 11:7? What was Noah according to II Peter 2:5?

7. What did Noah build in obedience to God’s command?

8. Whom did God invite into the ark?

9. Who went in with Noah? How many of each animal went into the ark?

10. For how many days did the rain descend? Is there any record that there had been rainfall before the flood?

11. What did Noah offer on the altar that he built after he came out of the ark? Did his offering please God?

12. Who died the year of the flood and at what age, according to Genesis 5:27? What happened to his father, Enoch?

13. What new covenant and responsibility did God give to and through Noah? Why did God put the rainbow in the clouds?

14. What coming days are to be like the days of Noah?

15. What is that time to be called according to Matthew 24:21?

16. What signs in the heavens and on earth will immediately precede the coming of the Son of man?

17. State a few facts concerning Christ in connection with His title, “the Son of man.”

18. Describe the coming of the Son of man to deliver Israel in their time of distress.

19. Who saw the heavens opened and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God?

20. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord in the days of abounding sin and was safe from God’s wrath in the ark. What about sin and grace in Romans 5:20? Who is the sinner’s ark of salvation today?

Jesus Christ “The Seed Of The Woman”—“The Lord”

CAIN AND ABEL

When the Lord Jesus Christ was on earth He said to the Jews concerning their Scriptures, “they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:30.

In this connection let us carefully note:

Acts 13:29 and 30
“And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre. But God raised Him from the dead.”

Then after God raised Christ from the dead, in His resurrection body He talked with His disciples. Note His words in one of His conversations:

Luke 24:25 to 27
“Then he said unto them, ‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

Luke 24:46
“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.”

Thus we see that the Lord’s prophets, from Moses to Malachi, wrote concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ from heaven to earth. The first prophecy is found in Genesis 3:14 and 15 where Christ is promised as the Seed of the woman. There is a sense in which all of the Bible, from Genesis 3:14 and 15 to Revelation 22:21, is the unfolding or fulfilling of Genesis 3:14 and 15.

When the Lord Jesus Christ finishes his work, not only will Satan be vanquished and all of God’s enemies destroyed, but ultimately there will be a new heaven and a new earth where dwelleth righteousness.

II Peter 3:13
“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

There will be a realization of:

Ephesians 1:10
“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him”

PRECIOUS PROMISES—PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE

Let us again note

Acts 13:29 and 30
“And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre. But God raised Him from the dead.”

When was the Lord Jesus Christ taken down from the cross and put in the sepulchre? When they had fulfilled all that was written of Him. The Prophets of God, from Moses to Malachi, wrote concerning the coming, the ministry, the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

HE THAT SHOULD COME—HE THAT SHALL COME

It is interesting to link together a question and a statement concerning Christ.

Luke 7:19
“And John calling unto him two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Art Thou He That should come? or look we for another?”

Hebrews 10:37
“For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Note concerning the two advents of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Art Thou He that SHOULD come?” “He that SHALL come.” Christ came to earth once and was rejected, crowned with a crown of thorns. He was judged by the people. Christ will come again. He will be crowned with many diadems (Revelation 19:12), and then He will judge the people. But He will appear again for redemption also.

Hebrews 9:28
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

Christ, on earth, said, concerning the Scriptures (the thirty-nine Books from Genesis to Malachi), “they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39. “He that should come,” “He that shall come.” According to God’s Word, beginning with Genesis, Christ was to come and according to God’s Word Christ is to come again.

There are thirty-nine Books in the Old Scriptures. Moses wrote the first Book and Malachi the thirty-ninth. Before we consider some of the prophecies concerning Christ, from Genesis to Malachi, let us read:

II Peter 1:4
“WHEREBY ARE GIVEN UNTO US EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES: THAT BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST.”

God has made some very precious promises to man. Some of them have been fulfilled. Others are going to be fulfilled. By them believing sinners have become partakers of the Divine nature. We are now relying upon the fact of Christ’s redemptive work. In addition to the Divine nature the Lord Jesus Christ took on Himself human nature (Hebrews 2:14), that believing sinners, in addition to their human nature might become partakers of His Divine nature.

In Genesis 3:21 we read:

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them.”

Note what God’s Book states in:

Leviticus 17:11
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

Hebrews 9:22
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood: and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

Matthew 26:28
“For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

I John 1:7
“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”

“And without shedding of blood is no remission.” “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

It has been thought by many Bible students that Adam and Eve were saved because they received coats of skin, which spoke of the sacrifice of God’s Holy Son on the cross. There is no definite statement. Their nakedness was covered but there is no Scripture as to whether or not their sins were forgiven, whether or not they were really saved. Their names are missing in the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.

The first definite, promise of the coming of Christ to be the sinners’ Redeemer is:

Genesis 3:14 and 15
“And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field: upon thy belly thou shalt go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. 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.”

God said, “Satan, you put this first man, made in My image under your feet. I will send another Man, the Second man, in my image and He will put you under His feet.”

Before we refer to this promise of the death and triumph of Christ, let us note that God foreknew, foreordained and foretold the death of Christ for sin:

I Peter 1:19 and 20
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Acts 2:23
“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.”

II Timothy 1:9 and 10
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

In these Scriptures we learn that God had purposed man’s redemption before man’s ruin. He foreordained that Christ should die at the time and in the manner that He was put to death.

But now Genesis 3:14 and 15. “The Seed of the woman” will come. There will be a conflict between Christ, “the Seed of the woman”, and Satan.

Hebrews 2:14
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Also note:

“But this Man after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” Hebrews 10:12 and 13.

“For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith, all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself by subject unto Him That put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” I Corinthians 15:25 to 28.

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.” Ephesians 1:10.

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

“HE THAT SHOULD COME.” Christ was to come as the Seed of the woman. He was to be God manifest in the flesh, the Lord. Note Malachi, the thirty-ninth Book.

Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I will send My messenger, and He shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, Whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.”

Here we note that “He that should come” is to be the Lord. Now note the combinations “the woman’s Seed” and the Lord in the prophecies of Isaiah

Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 9:6
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

So the coming One was to be, and was, the Lord, the Seed of the woman. Hear God’s Messenger speaking in Matthew.

Matthew 1:21 and 23
“And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” “Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Note this three-fold division of the Bible: 1. From Genesis to Malachi. 2. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 3. From Acts to Revelation.

1. Some One is to come. Christ.

2. Some One has come. Christ.

3. The One Who was to come and came has gone back to heaven and will come again. Christ.

In another lesson we shall show how Christ, in His birth, home town, messages, betrayal, suffering, rejection, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, did everything as He did that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.

CAIN AND ABEL

Hebrews 11:4
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

I John 3:12
“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”

The story of Cain and Abel is recorded in Genesis 4:1 to 17.

Genesis 4:1 to 17

1 “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

6 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?

10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand:

12 When then tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch; and he builded a city and called the name of the city, name of his son, Enoch.”

We-quote also the record of Seth’s birth:

Genesis 4:25 to Genesis 5:5

“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.

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and be begat sons and daughters:

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died,”

As faith cometh by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:9 to 14) Abel must have heard God’s Word, God’s way of righteousness, either from Adam and Eve or from God. Cain heard that God-way very definitely even after he had tried his own way.

In the story of Cain and Abel we have God’s revelation of the right way and the wrong way. Some of the difference between man’s religious way and God’s redemptive way, the difference between God’s righteousness and man’s self-righteousness.

In Cain and Abel we have two men in a field. Now note the record of two men in the temple and two men on trees. In each case the difference between the two men is the blood of the innocent substitute.

Luke 18:10 to 14
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift so much as unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalted himself shall be abased; and humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Luke 23:33
“And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

Luke 23:39 to 44
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness earth until the ninth hour.”

What was between the penitent thief on the cross and the impenitent thief? The blood of the Lamb. That precious blood will separate the believers in glory from the unbelievers in perdition. The Pharisee in the temple in his self-sufficiency felt no need for the blood on the mercy seat. The publican prayed, “God meet me, a sinner at the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat.”

What was between Cain and Abel? The blood of God’s sacrifice which sacrifice pointed to the bruising of the Seed of the woman. Genesis 3:14 and 15.

As to man’s way of righteousness and God’s way, note:

Romans 10:1 to 4
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Romans 10:10
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Isaiah 64:6
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Ezekiel 33:13
“When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.”

Romans 4:4 and 5
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him That justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Titus 3:5 to 7
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

As to salvation by the goodness of the natural man, the betterment of the human nature, versus salvation by God’s workmanship, by the Divine transforming power creating in man a new nature, God settled that dispute in the experience of Cain and Abel. God had respect unto Abel and his offering. He rejected Cain’s offering out of the ground that had been cursed. Note God’s way and order in:

Ephesians 2:10
“For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

THE FOUR GREAT CURSES

1. “Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception: in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake: and in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat of the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:16 to 19

2. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Galatians 3:10.

3. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: For it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Galatians 3:13.

4. “Then shall He say also to them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, unto everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41.

1. The curse that came when Adam and Eve sinned, when they were driven from Eden.

2. The curse of the law, 2500 years later:

Romans 3:19 and 20
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law where shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Romans 4:15
“Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

Hebrews 12:20 and 21
“(For they could not endure that which was commanded, and if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.)”

4. The final curse of the place of torment, the sorrows of the second death.

Revelation 20:14 and 15
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

John 3:14
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”

3. Now note curse number 3—Cursed was Christ on the tree

II Corinthians 5:21
“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”

John 19:5
“Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe, And Pilate said unto them, Behold the Man!”

Matthew 27:45 and 46
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 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?”

John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.”

Because Adam was disobedient unto death.

Because Adam hid behind the tree.

Because Adam was driven from the Garden.

Because Adam went out to sweat.

Because Adam brought the curse.

Because Adam brought the thorns.

I Corinthians 15:22 to 24
“FOR AS IN ADAM ALL DIE, EVEN SO IN CHRIST SHALL ALL BE MADE ALIVE. BUT EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER: CHRIST THE FIRSTFRUITS; AFTERWARD THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S AT HIS COMING. THEN COMETH THE END, WHEN HE SHALL HAVE DELIVERED UP THE KINGDOM TO GOD, EVEN THE FATHER; WHEN HE SHALL HAVE PUT DOWN ALL RULE AND ALL AUTHORITY AND POWER.”

The third curse will deliver God’s’ creation from the other three curses. Christ was made a curse on the Cross. Christ is coming back from heaven to bring about the restitution of all things. Acts 3:21.

QUESTIONS—LESSON FIVE

1. What is the first Bible promise of the Redeemer?

2. Why did the Lord, in Luke 24:25 to 27, say to His disciples, “O, fools,” or “O foolish ones”?

3. What had happened when they took Christ down from the tree and put him in the sepulchre?

4. Who was Christ according to the question of John the Baptist in Luke 7:19? According to the statement of Hebrews 10:37?

5. In what verse did Christ say, “the Scriptures testify of Me”?

6. Who was Christ to be according to Isaiah 7:14 and Malachi 3:1?

7. In what verse do we read that Christ, before the world, was foreordained to be God’s spotless Lamb?

8. What cleanses from all sin? What is the fact concerning remission of sin in Hebrews 9:22?

9. What was the difference between Cain’s sacrifice and that of Abel? Why did God accept Abel’s and reject Cain’s?

10. What did Cain do to Abel? Who caused Cain to commit that awful crime?

11. What do the Scriptures teach regarding the place of good works in salvation?

12. What is guaranteed to man by the exceeding precious promises in God’s Book?

13. Why was the name “Seth” given to the son born to Adam and Eve?

14. What curse is mentioned in connection with the exile of Adam and Eve from Eden?

15. What is said concerning the curse of the law in Galatians 3:10?

16. What did Christ become on the cross, according to Galatians 3:13 and II Corinthians

5:21? With what blessing to believing sinners?

17. What does the word “Emmanuel” mean? What Scriptures give the prophecy and fulfillment of that name for Christ?

18. What will God ultimately do according to Ephesians 1:10?

19. For whom is the everlasting fire prepared?

20. What happened in the earth while Christ was on the cross?

THE CHRISTIAN’S SABBATH

Continuing from lesson three our study of Satan

II Corinthians 11:3.
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Satan was able to bring the first man, made in the image and likeness of God, into sin by beguiling Eve through his subtilty. But he could do nothing with the Second Man, Who was the express image of God’s Person and the effulgence of His glory. Hebrews 1:3.

Satan existed before Adam and Eve were created; but at that time he was not Satan. As to his origin, we believe the record is found in:

Isaiah 14:12 to 17
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations: For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms: That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?”

Ezekiel 28:14 to 17.
“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”

Thus we see that the personality of Satan is plainly taught in the Bible. He is a real, living, active person. “Satan” is from the Hebrew word meaning “adversary.” No man is a match for him. We can only overcome him by putting on the whole armour of God as described in:

Ephesians 6:12 to 19.

12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.

Revelation 12:11.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Sin began with the “I will” of the anointed cherub in heaven. There are several definitions of sin in the Bible. But sin is saying to God “I will have my way” instead of saying “Thy will be done.” Eve believed the devil’s lie in preference to God’s Truth. There are very many people today who still prefer Satan’s lie to God’s Truth. Note what Christ said about Satan:

John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Now we know how sin entered into the world. Sin will be here as long as Satan is here. But remember, that where sin abounded grace did much more abound.

The Bible states that Satan was “more subtle that any beast of the field,” not “MORE subtle than any OTHER beast.” The Hebrew word, “serpent” is “nachash” “to hiss” or “to whisper a magic spell.”

We may be troubled as to why God permits Satan to live and deceive and ruin and destroy; and surely abounding sin disturbs us. But we may rejoice that where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound.

Satan is mighty. Christ is Almighty. Christ can conquer Satan for the believer today. In a sense Christ has already conquered sin for the believer. Christ will ultimately put Satan in his eternal prison, a place of torment.

In the last Book of the Bible, we read these words:

Revelation 12:9.
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Revelation 20:10.
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

Thus we see the destiny of this creature who is called the serpent, the devil, the dragon, Satan. He is also called in the Bible “the prince of this world” (John 16:11) “the prince of the power of the air,” (Ephesians 2:2) “the god of this age (world)” (II Corinthians 4:4), “the strong man” (Mark 3:27 and Matthew 12:29).

He is accused of the crime of deceiving the whole world. Note some other statements concerning him:

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (II Corinthians 11:13 to 15)

“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8)

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. II Corinthians 4:3 and 4

“The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Mark 4:14 and 15

Let us carefully note the account of the propositions which Satan presented to Christ in an endeavor to tempt the Son of God.

Luke 4:1 to 13

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

5 And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will, I give it.

7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Satan’s appeal to Christ was also the three-fold appeal: “the lust of the flesh”, “the lust of the eye”, and “the pride of life.” But there was neither lust nor pride in the holy Son of God.

In writing to the Corinthians concerning Satan, Paul said, “we are not ignorant of his devices.” II Corinthians 2:11. The devil is very clever and tricky.

In Hebrews 2:14 we are told that the Lord Jesus Christ, by death, destroyed him who had the power of death; that is, the devil.

Satan desired to have Simon Peter to sift him as wheat. Luke 22:31. Satan made Ananias lie to God. Acts 5:1 to 12. Satan, transformed into an angel of light, is a very religious creature and has many preachers who pretend to be Christ’s messengers. Let us put on the whole armour of God.

THE SEVENTH DAY SABBATH

Hebrews 4:1 to 9

1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief

7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time: as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

8 For if Jesus had given them rest then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

The only place that any sinner can find rest today is in obedience to the invitation of Christ

Matthew 11:28 and 29
Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Under the reign of law, which began about 1497 B. C., God’s people had a religious sabbath, but they found no rest under the law. A sabbath, but no rest. They received the spirit of bondage unto fear. Romans 8:15. They were all their lifetime subject to bondage through fear of death. Hebrews 2:14 and 15.

About 1656 years after Adam sinned, God destroyed all the human race with a flood.

This we will study in another lesson. This was in the days of Noah.

But let us consider the world today and remember the words of Christ concerning a time that is coming on this earth again “As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” Luke 17:26.

There are nearly one billion men, women and children in the heathen lands worshipping Satan and his gods. Then we know that the rest of humanity, the so-called civilized, or Christian nations, are preparing to rush into war for blood-shed, murder and destruction. The prisons, asylums and hospitals are filled with suffering humanity. The world is surely in a state of unrest. God “sabbathed” in a perfect work of creation. But the whole creation travaileth in pain together now. After God’s’ rest on the Seventh day the first command concerning the sabbath is:

Exodus 16:23
“And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.”

Now let us note some statements concerning the sabbath:

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering; of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” Exodus 25:2.

“Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.” Deuteronomy 5:12 to 14.

“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him inward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died: as the Lord commanded Moses. Numbers 15:32 to 36.

“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations: that ye may know that I am the Lord that cloth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for who soever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. IT IS A SIGN BETWEEN ME AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FOR EVER: FOR IN SIX DAYS THE LORD MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY HE RESTED, AND WAS REFRESHED.” Exodus 31:13 to 17.

CHRIST AND THE SABBATH

“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Luke 4:16.

“And He said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” Mark 2:27 and 28.

“And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments: and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment” Luke 23:56.

“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” John 5:14 to 18.

THE SABBATH IN ACTS

“And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.” Acts 16:13. “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures.” Acts 17:2.

THE CHRISTIAN NOT UNDER THE LAW OR ISRAEL’S SABBATH

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.” Colossians 2:14.

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.” Colossians 2:16. “The sabbath days” should read “the sabbath.”

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdelene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.” John 20:1. “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” John 20:19.

The first mention in the Bible concerning “the sabbath” (Exodus 16:23) was after Israel had left Pharaoh and Egypt, about 1495 B. C., or about 2500 years after the statement of Genesis 2:2: “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made: and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which God created and made.” God then gave the sabbath (the seventh day) to Israel when He gave them the other nine commandments. Their sabbath was from the sixth day, at sundown, until the seventh day, at sundown. Leviticus 23:32. Israel was on the way to Canaan, the land of promise, when the sabbath was given. The land was given to them as an everlasting possession. The sabbath was given them to keep in their land. There could be no universal Sabbath today because sundown in one land is sunrise in another Israel is not now possessing Canaan.

The sabbath was a sign to Israel. Exodus 31:13 to 18. Christ was the King of Israel. He was made under the law. Galatians 4:4. While on earth Christ ministered to Israel under the law. Romans 15:8. Matthew 10:5 to 8. The Sabbath-keepers put Christ to death when a heathen judge wanted to let Him go free. Christ was dead and in the sepulchre on Israel’s sabbath.

Romans 10:4
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Now note again Colossians 2:14 and 16.

“Let no man judge you with respect to the Sabbath.”

How plain then is the language that when Christ died on the cross and was buried God took the law out of the way. Christ arose on the first day of the week. Israel’s sabbath day was not changed from Saturday to Sunday. Christ became the Head of a new creation.

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

Christians are a resurrection people. We thank God for the first day of the week when we have the privilege of gathering in the name of Christ. But the first day of the week is not the Christian’s sabbath.

Abraham was justified by faith, without the deeds of the law, 430 years before the sabbath was given to Israel. Abraham found rest in a Person.

Genesis 15:6
“And he believed in the Lord: and He counted it to him for righteousness.”

Galatians 3:6
“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” We find rest not in, or on, a day, but in Christ Jesus.

As to Revelation 1:10, the expression “the Lord’s day”, some teach this to mean the first day of the week. But there is no positive proof for this teaching.

If the Lord Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Romans 10:4) there is a sense in which He is the believer’s sabbath or rest. We should be careful in referring to the first day of the week as “the Christian sabbath.”

QUESTIONS-LESSON FOUR

1. Mention five names by which Satan is called.

2. According to Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 who and where was Satan before he beguiled Eve?

3. What is said about Satan in II Corinthians 11:13 to 15?

4. Name five things mentioned in the Christian’s armour in Ephesians 6:12 to 19.

5. How do saints overcome Satan according to Revelation 12:11?

6. Is the serpent called a beast in Genesis 3:14?

7. What will be done to Satan when Christ comes? What will be the final destiny of Satan?

8. What three propositions did Satan present to Christ?

9. What did Christ do to Satan by His death and resurrection?

10. What did Satan desire to do to Peter?

11. What is the first Scriptural mention of the sabbath after the sin of Adam?

12. Between God and whom was the sabbath a sign?

13. Which of the ten commandments mentioned the sabbath?

14. Why did Jesus of Nazareth keep the sabbath?

15. Where does the believing sinner find rest in this day of grace?

16. What did God do with the law when Christ died on the cross?

17. What verse of Scripture teaches that the believer is not to be judged with respect to the sabbath?

18. What is Christ for the believer in Romans 10:4?

19. According to Galatians 4:4, how was Christ made and for what purpose?

20. According to Luke 4:20 to 22, what did Christ do on the seventh day sabbath?