Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–The bible is a book that contains knowledge about the salvation of God’s people. Then why does the book which is concerned about the salvation of souls narrate the family history of Abraham in so much detail? The Book of Genesis starts from the creation of the light and continues to sketch the ancient human history briefly until the call of Abraham. From 4000BC when the creation work started to about 2000BC when God called Abraham, the history of 2000 years of the ancient human history is recounted in a brief manner until the story of the tower Babel in Chapter 11.
From this point up to the end of Genesis, the rapid which travelled fast through a long distance of time suddenly becomes an Amazonian river meandering through the wide flat land making snake-like traces following the footsteps of Abraham and his descendants until the death of his great grandson Joseph. All the way from the twelfth chapter of Genesis to the final fiftieth chapter, those 39 chapters of Genesis give us thorough recounts of those four generations starting from Abraham.
Some Stories Contained In The Genesis
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–The story starts from the call of Abraham by God and his journey to the land of Canaan. The belated birth of Isaac is followed by the story of twins born to Isaac and their rivalry to win the right of the firstborn of their father Abraham. Later, it tells the exiled life of Jacob to his uncle’s house and the children born to him at the place. And Jacob leaves his uncle’s house to come back to his own hometown. Finally, the book ends with story of Jacob’s 12 sons, Joseph and his eleven brothers: how he and all his brothers came to live in Egypt. And the story ends with the death of Joseph.
This book contains interesting stories of many generations, telling us how they lived and what their relationships to each other were like. We can learn about history, family, conflicts, love, etc… It contains all the aspects of human life and can give us a lot of teachings and lesson for our life. However, is it for this reason that the book was written? Did God want to teach us the proprieties and manners? Is it about the love and hatred between the members of a family? What is the message God tries to give us through this family history?
The Interpretation Of The Family History Of Abraham
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–What God wants us to know through the family history of Abraham is, more importantly, about the people of God who would receive salvation and enter the kingdom of heaven. Then what is hidden in this story of Abraham and his descendants? To understand this, first we have to know the purpose of God giving us the Book of Genesis. What is the Book of Genesis for?
Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
According to this verse, we can come to know the purpose of Genesis. God gave Genesis the beginning as prophecies to teach us “what is still to come.” The book actually lets us know what is going to happen in the end time. In other words, Abraham’s family history contains a spiritual message behind it which God intended to give to His own people who would receive salvation. Then what is the spiritual meaning behind it?
Who Does Abraham Represent?
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–Let us first think of Abraham. Who is Abraham and what is the message of God in him? According to the bible, Abraham represent God the Father Jehovah and the Age of Father. In the parable of “A Rich Man and Lazarus,” Jesus teaches us the spiritual meaning of Abraham.
Luke 16:22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
In this parable, the soul of Lazarus after his death was taken to Abraham. But actually, what does the bible says about the soul of a person after his death. The bible says it goes to God.
Abraham and God
Ecclesiastes 12:7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it
Through the wisdom God gave him, Solomon who wrote Ecclesiastes tells us that our soul or spirit would go back to God after the death of our body. It perfectly makes sense. Since God is the creator and former of our spirit, after the separation from the body the spirit will go back to the origin, that is, God. However, in the parable above the spirit of Lazarus was taken to Abraham. It is because Abraham is a figure given to us to represent God. We can confirm this through the rich man in the parable. The rich man calls Abraham ‘Father’. In the spiritual realm there is only one who can be called ‘Father’ that is God because God is the only one who gave birth to the souls of people.
The Son of Abraham, Isaac
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–Then how about the only son of Abraham, Isaac? Who does Isaac represent? According to the bible, Isaac represent the Only Son of God, Jesus.
John 8:56 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.
To understand this word of Christ, we have to know the promise God gave to Abraham.
Genesis 17:19 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.
Finally, to fulfill the promise, when Abraham was 100 years old, a son was born to him and his wife Sarah. At the birth of Isaac, they rejoiced and named the son “Isaac,” which means “laughter”.
Genesis 21:5 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”
In this story of the birth of Isaac, whose day did Abraham expect to see? It was the day of Isaac according to the promise of God. However, in the verse above, Jesus said what Abraham expected to see was His day, that is, the day of Jesus himself. Through this teaching of Christ, we can know the only son of Abraham was a prophecy to teach the coming of Jesus, the Only Son of God Himself. Therefore, Isaac, the son of Abraham actually represents Jesus, the Son of God and the Age of Son.
The Meaning of Jacob or Israel
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–Then who is Jacob spiritually? God divided his salvation work into three ages: the Age of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Since Abraham and Isaac represents Father and Son respectively, Jacob represents the Holy Spirit and the Age of the Holy Spirit. And the story of the 12 sons of Jacob means God’s people who are to be saved in the last days. Let us confirm this through the salvation work of God in the last days.
Gathering Of the 12 Tribes Of Israel
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–The very first work God achieves for the salvation in the last days is to gather all the 12 tribes of Israel, which represents 12 sons of Jacob. In the last day, spiritual Jacob would appear as Holy Spirit and gather all the 12 tribes of God’s people to give them salvation.
Revelation 7:4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes (or 12 tribes) of Israel (or Jacob).
Before the great disaster comes on this earth to destroy everything on the face of the earth, spiritual Jacob appears to give the seal of God to the last remnants of God or the 12 tribes of Israel. Those who receive the seal can survive the disasters and go back to the kingdom of heaven. Then who is it that appears as prophetical Jacob to seal the people of God in the last days? It is the Second Coming Christ?
The Signs of the Appearance of Jacob
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–According to the bible, the angel who has the seal of God appears at the wake of a series of signs. Then what are the signs that foreshadows the coming of the angel?
Revelation 6:12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
Before the appearance of the angel, the bible teaches that there would be signs in the sun, moon and the stars. Then who is the angel that appears after all these signs? Let us look at another prophecy to find out who the angel is.
Matthew 24:29 “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven.
In this teaching of Jesus we can see the same signs we saw in the Book of Revelation. In the Book of Revelations, after these signs an angel appears with the seal of God to give salvation by gathering all the 12 tribes of Israel and sealing them. However, in this Book of Matthew, whose appearance are these signs for? These are the signs of the appearance of the Son of Man, namely, the Second Coming Jesus Christ who would come in the last days. The bible teaches that the Second Coming Christ would appear to gather the elect from the four winds. (Matthew 24:31)
Second Coming Christ Appearing As Jacob
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–By comparing these two verses of the bible we can come to know that the angel in Revelation is none other than the Second Coming Christ himself who would come in the last day to give salvation to the chosen people of God. He would come as man in the flesh for the second time. And he would seal God’s people through the Passover of the new covenant so that they can escape from the last and greatest disaster.
Then in this age of the Holy Spirit, who appeared to us and gave the seal of salvation through the Passover? It is Christ Ahnsahnghong. Therefore, he is the Savior in this Age of the Holy Spirit. He is the Spiritual Jacob who came to gather the 12 tribes of Israel. In the Book of Genesis Jacob held on to God for the blessings and he was named Israel. (Genesis 32:28) Israel means “overcomer” who overcame all the hardships and difficulties. In the same way, God teaches us that 144,000 the last remnant of God must overcome the world just like Jacob.
Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
God wants us to overcome the world and sinful desires and finish the race for the imperishable crown of life in the kingdom of heaven. Let us become the overcomers.