Greetings of Peace and Paradise:
We stand with the Victory today. Thus
we bear witness and Declare that there is a clear presence of the righteous in
the world and in cyberspace. We thank the Creator for His technology and for His
creation of man and woman. We also realize that the Creator (our Father) at His
will, allows His children to communicate to the four corners of the earth.
Meanwhile man does not know when the message will be heard but the Word tells
us God will know.
The Folly of the Wicked and the
Foolish is a false perception of knowledge and wisdom. However God is Truth and
true knowledge and wisdom is extended to the Believers.
Peace,
Carl A. Patton, FreedomJournal
THE ENIGMATIC HEBREWS
Part 3: The Patriarchs Of A Race
And A Religion
In
the name of God, Master of the universe, Ruler of the earth.
A patriarch is the father of a
family, tribe or race. The New Testament reveals patriarchs as those who found
the Hebrew race and nation. We also find references to Abraham as a patriarch
(Hebrews 7: 4). Patriarch is also noted as the sons of Jacob (Acts 7: 8-9).
Patriarch is also applied to David (Acts 2: 29). However
the genealogies and covenant histories before the time of Moses are where we find
the most common use for patriarch. (See Genesis 5: 11). In these Old Testament
scriptures we see the histories of Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
As we trace the origin and
development of the Hebrew people, the record shows that Abraham was the patriarch.
The Hebrew meaning for Abraham is "The Father is High." Therefore,
Abraham is a significant figure in the Bible. Thus, we know him as the
progenitor of the Hebrew/Israeli people and the founder of Judaism.
In the Book of Genesis (chapter 11:
27-31) the record tells us that Abraham and his family including his nephew Lot
left the land of Ur in the Chaldees (Tigris Euphrates Valley) to go to the land
of Canaan. The reason for the migration is noted in Acts 7: 2-4. Here we see
Stephen who made an analysis of the history of the Hebrew/Israeli people
revealing that God told Abraham to leave for another country. God also assured
Abraham in a vision that this was the land his seed would inherit.
God renewed his promise to give
Abraham a son. However in Genesis 16 we see Hagar his concubine bearing a son
called Ishmael. In the following chapter, in the Book of Genesis (17), God
changes the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah. God also renews his
promise of making Abraham and his seed the father of many nations. In Genesis
17: 16 we see the following.
"I will bless men, and give thee
a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be mother of nations;
Kings of people shall be of her."
Isaac was born when Abraham was 100
years old. Ishmael was expelled (Genesis 21: 1-21). Abraham is recorded as one
of the greatest examples of faith in the Bible. His faith was tested when he
was commanded by God to sacrifice his only son. Abraham's son was saved when
God substituted a Ram (Genesis 22). Thus Abraham is noted as a great testimony
of faith for all that believe. The record shows that Abraham
found it amusing the revelation by God that his barren wife would give birth.
Thus, he laughed when God told him that Sarah would bear a son (Genesis 17: 17).
Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety when Isaac was born.
Meanwhile Abraham doubted God, although he was a man of great faith. However,
despite his doubts he followed God's commands. This was an indication of the
great faith he had in God. We also see the source of the name Isaac and its
Hebrew meaning "One who Laughs."
Isaac is recorded as the only son of
Abraham by Sarah. Isaac became the second of the Hebrew patriarchs who were the
progenitors of the nation of Israel. His birth is regarded as a miracle because
of the ages of Abraham and Sarah. Isaac was born 25 years after God had
promised the childless Abraham and Sarah a son. Because of these circumstances,
he is called the "child of promise." The
offer of Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22) was a great test of Abrahams' faith
as we have previously noted. Also there are several factors to consider when we
look at God's plans for Abraham and the line of patriarchs.
1. This was the last and concluding
point in God's education of Abraham regarding the meaning of sacrificial
obedience.
2. This was the rebuke by God of
wide-spread heathen practices of sacrificing human beings.
3. It is a lesson to Abraham
concerning the greatest sacrifice. The Messiah made this sacrifice for the
redemption of humankind.
The last important event in the life
of Isaac is the blessing of his sons (Genesis 27). Esau the eldest son was the
favorite of Isaac. However God had told Isaac that the elder would serve the
younger son whom they called Jacob. The record shows that Jacob was the
favorite of Rebekah the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob. (Genesis 25:28). The
record shows that Rebekah and Jacob deceived Isaac; therefore, Jacob received
his blessing and birthright. When this occurred, Esau threatened to kill Jacob.
Meanwhile Isaac sent Jacob away to prevent his death at the hands of his
brother Esau. (Genesis 27; 28: 5).
As the line of the patriarchs
continues, we see the chronological listing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob
would become the father of the nation of Israel. Isaac is noted as the child of
promise and the progenitor of the children of promise in Romans 9: 7-10,
Galatians 4: 28 and Hebrews 11: 18. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus proclaimed
that many would come from the east and the west to sit down with Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Cont. Part
4: Jacob: The Children of Israel
Return to Enigmatic Hebrews Page
carl@freedomjournalpress.comcastbiz.net
