August 2, 2024 — Parting Of The Ways

The narrowing of the world down to one Man was to be inclusive, not exclusive—a Savior for all! 

The lineage that links Adam and Abraham (1 Chron 1:1-54) includes the crucial line, “Abraham begot Isaac. The sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel” (v 34). Here are two of a series of decisive bifurcations in the historical record that would cause consternation in many minds. “What does the Scripture say? ‘Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman’” (Gal 4:30). Here is the rightful jealousy on God’s part behind the unreasoning jealousy of Sarah. The problem continues with the words of Malachi, “‘Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ says the Lord. ‘Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated’” (Mal 1:2-3). Anyone who has considered the problem knows first that “there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons” (2 Chron 19:7, KJV). This can’t mean that God’s selection of one man and his family is intended to include some for blessing and exclude others from blessing. The choosing of Abraham and his family was for a role, as clearly stated by Scripture: “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord” (Gen 18:19, KJV). God was looking for a missionary family who would spread the news of the one, true, personal God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of you and me. And that role? “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (22:18). But this genealogy does give an important clue. Only twice in this book is the name Jacob (“Supplanter”) used, and it is in David’s poetry (16:13, 17) where it is a counterpoint to his preferred name, Israel. Yes, God would take up the Jacobs of earth, but He would turn them into Israels, princes with God!

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