God is Teaching us a Lesson- How Readest Thou?
Before the cross, Abraham’s descendants who were after the flesh thought they had special privileges. They thought that just because they were the fleshly descendants of Abraham they were the true seed of Abraham. They. being great teachers in Israel, didn’t realize that they needed to be born again to become the true descendants of Abraham.
Children of the Devil and Not Abraham’s Seed
Speaking of being born again and being the true seed of God, in John chapter 8 the Pharisee’s said they were literally born of the loins of Abraham, and they became very obsessed in believing that this was what was important. They did not see that their works were of the flesh. They relied on their works in the temple and the exacting of the law through their traditions to be meritorious in nature.
Then, Jesus told them they were not Abraham’s seed at all because they continue in sin and don’t live by faith in the Word as did Abraham.
And finally, Jesus closes by telling them ‘I proceeded forth from God’ (vs. 42). Jesus, in the most-simple terms, basically told them he is the great ‘I AM’.
John 8:33-42, They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Jesus said I am the Son of God, the seed of God. That seed is Christ. God is his Father, and our Father. But look further, notice these other children who call themselves the descendants of Abraham. They are not God’s children at all. They are not even Abraham’s children but Jesus tells them in verse 44 “Ye are of your father the devil”. John 8. It was the devil who instituted self reliance in works in the Garden by convincing Adam and Eve that they could on their own have immortality and determine/define what is good and evil for themselves.
So, being a fleshly descendant of their father’s who held high standing in the temple which was made with hands for many generations, and being a direct descendant of Abraham did not make them Abraham’s seed at all. Just as it didn’t make Ishmael Abraham’s firstborn.
Esau and Jacob (Israel)
God doesn’t change (Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6; Matthew 24:35; Hebrews 13:8). We see what it truly means to be the seed of Abraham, not only before the cross but also after the cross.
Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob, years later the second child was renamed Israel. We read here about another descendant of Abraham. Regarding the children of Isaac we read:
Genesis 25:25-26, And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
Esau was the firstborn. Jacob was born second. But Esau was not the firstborn of God because God said:
Exodus 4:22, And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
It is interesting that the gospel was preached unto Pharaoh in this verse which we will come back to in a moment. First, there was a spiritual seed of Abraham. Since Jacob was born again, he was renamed Israel because he overcame with God. He was the first born of the spirit. Regarding Jacob we read about his overcoming the flesh in Genesis 32:
Genesis 32:26-28, And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
The name Jacob comes from the Old Testament and means “supplanter,” which is often interpreted as someone who seizes, circumvents, or usurps. This was accurately fitting for Jacob when considering his dealing with Esau over the birthright or his interaction with Laben. However, in Jacob’s struggle with the flesh God helped him to overcome and his name was changed to Israel (Hebrew: Yisra’el) which means: God contends, or one who struggles with God.
Jacob was born again, having wrestled with God, he asked God for the spiritual blessing and there God blessed him and renamed him Israel. The seed of Abraham was blessed as was promised. Jacob was now Abraham’s seed, Jacob was now Israel, born again of that Holy Spirit, the true firstborn. Of Abraham it is written:
Genesis 22:17-18 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Why was Jacob blessed? Because of his faith in God, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead him in obeying the voice of God just as Abraham had done; therefore he was truly born of Spirit, born of God, a child of God, the firstborn. Jacob could receive the blessing because he walked by faith in the promise of the Spirit not letting go of God.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
Pharaoh was told that Israel was the firstborn. So, when Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again and asked why Nicodemus being a leader in Israel didn’t know these things, Jesus was telling him something that had been preached for many years. Being born again was something that was known in Egypt during the captivity of God’s people; for there always has been a remnant preserved by God. Israel was the firstborn of Spirit, Esau was the firstborn after the flesh. The concept of being born again was not a new concept in the time of Nicodemus. This concept could be and was to be understood by those who were truly the seed of Abraham.
Even in the Old Testament the heathen could become Abraham’s seed through Christ. Pharaoh could have become Abraham’s seed and an Israelite grafted in by faith – but he hardened his heart. In fact, when the literal circumcision of Abraham’s household took place all of those who joined themselves to Abraham’s household were circumcised. They were gentiles, heathen. In fact, Paul tells us that Abraham was a gentile.
Galatians 3:7-9, Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
God justified Abraham, a gentile called out of Babylon. He through Abraham preached the gospel to all nations. Ishmael was the child of an Egyptian bondservant Hagar (Genesis 16:1,3, 21:9). She was an Egyptian whom God gave the gospel to and God even spoke to her through his angel (Genesis 16:8-10). The promised seed was to all nations through Abraham. Not just to Jews, or Israelites, but to the gentiles as well. It has always been a spiritual seed. God called out a mixed multitude out of Egypt. (Exodus 12:28) He called out a mixed multitude out of Babylon. It was never the literal descendants that were truly Abraham’s seed. It was always the spiritual. And this is the “Everlasting Covenant” the gospel given to Abraham and to his seed who are Christ’s, the everlasting gospel given to all nations, kindred, people and tongues (See Revelation 7:9, 14:6).