Abraham and Sarah: Spiritual Meaning Behind A Family History

Everything in the bible is recorded for one purpose, that is, to teach us the way of salvation. Therefore, when we read the bible, we should not think anything lightly. Everything in the bible contains God’s message for our salvation. If we look at the book of Genesis, we can see a long and detailed record of the family history of Abraham. How and when Abraham was chosen, what kind of promise was given to him, who was his son and grandsons, how are where they lived–all these things are recorded in a detailed way. Why did God write the family history of Abraham? This is not just one family history; rather, through this story God teaches us the way of salvation.

Abraham and Sarah, who are they? Why did God record a history of one family in such a detailed way? What does God want to teach us through the story of Abraham?

According to the bible, Abraham represents God himself figuratively and therefore Abraham’s children represents God’s children. In the book of Galatians, Paul clearly teaches that Christ, the Son of God was given to us to teach us who are the heirs of God. If we become sons of God like Christ (who is the archetype of the true sons of God), we can become the heir of God.

Gal 3:29  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

Christ is represented as the Son of God in the bible, but here in the book of Galatians Paul says Christ is the seed or Son of Abraham, rather than the Son of God. Through this he teaches us that Abraham represents God himself and the seed or son of Abraham means figuratively the sons of God who will be the heirs of God who can inherit the kingdom of heaven.  We can confirm this through another verse in the same chapter.

Gal 3:16  The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

According to the book of Genesis, Abraham’s seed was Isaac, not Christ. But Paul interpret that this family history of Abraham was given to us to teach us the heir of God who will receive inheritance in heaven or simply salvation. Even Christ himself testified that he is Isaac, the son of Abraham. God gave Abraham a promise that he would return a year later and exactly the same time next year Isaac was born to Sarah. About this story, Christ teaches the meaning behind the story.

John 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.

What Abraham actually saw on the promised day of God’s return was Isaac. God returned as Isaac, the son of Abraham. But Christ said the one who Abraham actually saw was Christ himself who was born as the son of Abraham. Through this what does God want to teach us? He is teaching us that Isaac, the son and the heir of Abraham was given to us to teach us the Christ who is the true seed or heir of God. In short, Isaac represents Christ, the Son of God and also God’s people who belong to Christ must become like Isaac to be the sons of God who can receive salvation.

Galatians 4:28  Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

God’s people must become sons of God by following Isaac’s example. Then in the story of Abraham’s family how was Isaac able to become the heir of Abraham? Abraham had two sons who could be his heir, but God’s promise was not given to “his seeds,” but “seed.” It means only one of them was given the promise to be the heir of Abraham and the one who was chosen was Isaac, not Ishmael. Then why was Isaac chosen over Ishmael who was older and could have inheritance according to the law of time called primogeniture, which means the older son can receive the inheritance from the father. According to his law Ishmael as firstborn of Abraham should be the heir, but Isaac was chosen. Then why?  It was because of the words of God that he would make a covenant with the son of Abraham who was born through Sarah, who was a free woman.

Even though Ishmael was the firstborn, he could not receive the inheritance because he was a son of a slave woman. Having a father and mother who were not under slavery was the condition for the heir of Abraham. That is why Isaac, who was born through Abraham (a free man) and Sarah (a free woman) could be chosen as the heir of Abraham, rather than Ishmael, who was born through Abraham (a free man) and Hagar (a slave woman). Through this story of the heir of Abraham, God is teaching us who can become the heir of God.

Since Abraham represents God the Father, who is free from sin and death, then who does Sarah represent? Paul reveals who the wife of Abraham represents in the book of Galatians. He compares Hagar and Sarah which symbolizes the old covenant and new covenant respectively. Just as the center of the old covenant was the earthly Jerusalem, he teaches the center of the new covenant is the heavenly Jerusalem. Then what is the reality of the heavenly Jerusalem?

Galatians 4:26  But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

Sarah who is the symbol of the new covenant actually represent the Heavenly Jerusalem our Mother, the free woman. Just as Isaac was chosen owing to his father Abraham and his mother Sarah, through this story God is showing how to be the heir of God. We can become the heir of God like Christ through spiritual Abraham God the Father and spiritual Sarah God the Mother. This heavenly Jerusalem is also testified by Apostle John.

Revelation 21:9  9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

According to the bible, when Christ is coming, he is coming with his wife, Heavenly Jerusalem. The Lamb Our Father and his wife Heavenly Jerusalem Our Mother are coming together in the last days to give us the eternal life. (Revelation 22:17) To fulfill this prophecy God the Father Christ Ahnsahnghong and God the Mother Heavenly Jerusalem came down to this earth from heaven so that we can receive the water of life, eternal life. Let us accept the Christ Ahnsahnghong and Heavenly Mother Jerusalem and receive the water of life. They are the Elohim Gods we must meet in the last days.