Bible Significance from Noah to Abram or Abraham
Bible History, Genealogy, and Ultimate Riddle
The line from Noah to Abram who God renamed Abraham, plus the significance of that act, are the topics of this article. First, I want to comment on the last verse of Genesis chapter 8.
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22 (KJV)
These routine cycles continue to this day along with the promise from God that rainbows are a sign of the covenant that the earth will never again be destroyed by flood. The opening phrase "While the earth remaineth" tells us the earth as we know it is destined for renewal, and that statement is more evidence of the new heaven and new earth foretold in the New Testament.
The generations from Noah to Abram, including his name change to Abraham, begin in Genesis 9 with God giving rules and ordinances to Noah, the rainbow covenant, and the details of Noah's descendants starting in Genesis 10. Chapter 11 has the well known story of the Tower of Babel, and includes more genealogy that gives us accurate dating of the descendants leading to Abram.
Hint of the Ultimate Riddle
Genesis 12 provides a significant historical turning point for the future of the world that should not be skimmed over, and reveals clues about one of the great mysteries of the ages. In the earlier chapters of Genesis the seedline to the Messiah from Adam was known, and Satan was behind the death of Abel and the irruption of fallen angels to disrupt the pure bloodline leading to the Messiah.
Christ is translated from the Greek "Christos" which means anointed, and specifically The Messiah, or Anointed One. Often in the New Testament the occurence of "Christ" was simplified without the article and would be more accurately translated from the Greek to "The Christ". As the Old Testament unfolds during our Bible study readers should note that God's purpose is unfolding and the Messiah, Christ, is the central figure from the first verse of Genesis to the last one in Revelation.
Blessings Given to Abram and His Seed
Continuing in Genesis 12, God speaks to Abram and gives His blessings in verses 2 and 3. This revelation gives Satan his next target to attack in the false hope that he can somehow avoid his death sentence by interrupting the bloodline and preventing the coming Messiah. These verses hold much more than the blessing and promise to the generations of Abraham, then Issac, and then Jacob (renamed Israel), and his 12 sons, the heads of the tribes of Israel.
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:
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. Genesis 12:2-3 (KJV)
Certainly Abram's descendants were being claimed as God's chosen people, spoken of as a particular treasure in other verses. The phrase "and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" states that God's blessing will be to all, not just Abram's family of chosen ones. This means the Gentiles, or foreigners, as in everyone outside the 12 tribes of the chosen ones.
This fact was well known and understood by the Jews throughout the history documented in the Old Testament, and fully known in Christ's time, as well. Hidden since ancient time, however, was the future revelation by Paul who in the New Testament often prefaces comments with "this is a mystery" or in other places "secret".
The Ultimate Riddle
The phrases in the New Testament about mysteries and secrets emphasize significant revelations. The great mystery, and ultimate riddle goes beyond all foreigners, or Gentiles, being blessed. That was known. The ultimate riddle reveals that all Gentiles have the opportunity to be joint heirs with God's chosen people.
When the Messiah arrived, proclaimed the kingdom, called sinners to repentance, and was eventually rejected, denounced, and crucified, the Jews opened the way for the new revelation that salvation was now available to all who believe on Christ. Accepting Christ, Jew or Gentile, makes you a joint heir in the coming Kingdom of God.
Satan Attempts to Thwart the Coming Messiah
Returning to Genesis 12, in verse 5 Abram, with his nephew Lot and their families, are following God's instructions to enter into the land of Canaan which we know was destined in the future to be the Promised Land. In verse 6 reference is made to "And the Canaanite was then in the land", yet other inhabitants are named later through Genesis 15:19-21, including the Rephaim in verse 20. These are the Nephilim, fallen angels, descendants of Rapha, who obviously are not those destroyed in the flood, but were in fact descendants of another irruption of fallen angels.
Once Abram had God's instructions, Satan knew Abram's destination was Canaan, and the verses referenced above about various inhabitants being described with "was then in the land" means that Satan's strategy was already in place ahead of Abram. Satan continues his attempts to deceive, divide, and then destroy to this day.
Value of Bible Genealogy to Date Bible History
In Genesis 16, Abram's wife, who was apparently barren, offers her handmaid named Hagar to bear him an heir, and later Ishmael was born in 1910 B.C. when Abram was 86. Giving of handmaidens was common under the ancient law of Khammurabi all throughout what is now known as the Middle East. No fewer than 34 specific laws are given in Genesis, so ancient laws were in place and followed prior to the 10 commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
In this instance, Hagar was an Egyptian servant, a handmaid not slave, to Abram's wife Sarai. The descendants of Ishmael include many Middle Eastern groups. However, Ishmael was not the chosen son and bloodline to which the Messiah would later be born. If you were wondering about the year, Abram's age is given in Genesis 16:16. This is one example of how tracing age, plus the genealogy in years for begat and died as documented in the Bible, allows us to date accurately.
Abram and Sarai Renamed Abraham and Sarah
In Genesis 17:5 and 17:15 God speaks to Abram about his name and his wife that "thy name shall be Abraham" and "Sarah shall her name be". Continuing, God tells Abraham in verse 17 that his wife Sarah will bear him a son, and he is to be named Isaac.
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 17:5 (KJV)
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. Genesis 17:15 (KJV)
The meaning of the name Abram is "exalted father", and Abraham means "father of a multitude". The meaning of the Hebrew name Sarai is "princely", and Sarah means "princess". Though they are not told specifically yet we can document through the genealogies, through them and Isaac will come the Messiah after 14 generations to King David, and another 14 generations to the birth of Jesus, the Christ.
Skipping ahead to Genesis 21, Sarah does conceive at age 90, and Issac is born to Abraham who is now 100 years old as stated in verse 5. This would be 1896 B.C. and at that time his son Ishmael from the Egyptian handmaid, Hagar, was fourteen. Each son would be great because each was Abraham's seed. Ishmael married an Egyptian. Isaac's lineage will be followed as we continue studying the Old Testament.
In summary, this article emphasizes the importance of understanding the line from Adam to Christ, the intervening attempts by Satan to thwart God's Plan, and the ultimate riddle of blessing and salvation for all mankind, Jew and Gentile. As the Old Testament unfolds, Bible students will begin to realize that the lessons of the Old Testament and New are equally important in understanding where we came from, our purpose while here, and what the future holds.
Article Source: www.ultimateriddles.com/genesis-bible-lesson-07.html.
About the Author: Jim Degerstrom is an author who works in a faith based business offering custom website design and graphic art services, and documents Bible studies at his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Journey website and blogs about spiritual growth on his Ultimate Riddles Spiritual Study blog from Kissimmee, Florida USA.
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