We left with the official divorce of the 10 Northern Tribes known as Israel or Samaria. But before we go onto more verses on this very controversial subject that has divided Protestantism, we should once again confirm why they were divorced. Jehovah’s promises of blessings, His covenants, and His redemption are all conditional on one thing. That is obedience. This cannot be overlooked, minimized, or relegated to being out of touch with grace. Let us review the covenant with Abraham.
Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great."
15:2 Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"
15:3 And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir."
15:4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir."
15:5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
5:6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
This covenant with Abraham has more than one part, but let us see if we can find some common threads that connect them.
First, Jehovah promised Abraham that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars in the heavens.
Genesis 17:10 "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.
17:11 "And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.
17:12 "And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.
17:13 "A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
17:14 "But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."
Now we read that Jehovah gave very specific instructions as to His requirements for His covenants. He said who should be circumcised, when they should be circumcised, how they should be circumcised, and what happens if they are not circumcised. The covenant is broken when there is disobedience. Obedience is always required, that is our part of the covenant, just as it was to Abraham.
Genesis 22:10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
22:11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
22:12 He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
22:13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.
22:14 Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided."
22:15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 22:16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,
22:17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.
22:18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
Here we read a most often remembered time of Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac. This was the test the LORD gave to Abraham, not so Jehovah could confirm the heart of Abraham, but so Abraham could more fully understand that importance of complete obedience.
What have we learned?
First, Jehovah’s blessings require obedience.
Second, the nation of Judah/Israel/Samaria never fully realized the promise in this covenant. They were never in their history so numerous as the sands or the stars.
Third, this same nation never blessed directly all the nations of the earth. They constantly reverted to gross idolatry and immorality. They were captured, kept captive, and controlled by many other nations. The city of Jerusalem and Temple were destroyed more than once and rebuilt.
Lastly, the only seed that could and has blessed all the nations is Jesus Christ. Isaac did not bless all the nations. Jacob did not bless all the nations. Moses did not bless all the nations, etc. etc.
This is a messianic promise with the fulfillment being initially realized some 1400-1500 years later.
More next Saturday.