Jesus in the Old Testament: Reconciled through Abraham's Seed

I have written previously about God's covenant with Abraham and about how the blessings of this covenant would be for all people. In Genesis 17 we read the record of God speaking to Abraham and explaining to him the beginning details of how this covenant would be fulfilled. 

Genesis 17:19; Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him."

Paul explains for all in Romans 9 how this covenant with Abraham affects us today, whether we are of the Jewish line coming from Abraham or not.

Romans 9:7-9; It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.

We are reconciled to God through this covenant - not because we come from Abraham's blood line but because Jesus came from Abraham's blood line. And through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are reconciled. 

Jesus in the Old Testament: Melchizedek Foreshadowing Jesus

This past week I wrote two blogs related to Melchizedek and his foreshadowing of Jesus. First, Melchizedek foreshadowed Jesus as a priest. Second, Melchizedek foreshadowed Jesus as a King. This is one of the interesting facts about Melchizedek that we also find true of Jesus - both were priests and kings. 

Yet, Genesis 14 points to another point where the priest and king Melchizedek foreshadowed Jesus, the last supper and the celebration with bread and wine.Genesis 14:18; Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.

We read in Matthew 26 of Jesus celebrating in the same manner with His closest friends and disciples. Matthew 26:26-28; While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus in the Old Testament: Eternal King

A few days ago I wrote about the connection Jesus had with the Priest named Melchizedek. Not only was Melchizedek a Priest, he was also a King. Genesis 14:18; Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine [for their nourishment]; he was the priest of God Most High. In the New Testament, Hebrews 7:1-2 reminds us of this encounter; This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

Hebrews 7:3 completes the picture - revealing Jesus; Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Jesus remains our Priest forever. Likewise, He reigns as our King eternally. 

Jesus in the Old Testament: Priest After Melchizedek

In Genesis 14 we read the account of Abram defeating four very powerful Kings and their armies. Genesis 14:15 states that "during the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them". Following this victory Abram was served bread and wine in the desert.

Genesis 14:18-20; Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

This King Melchizedek was the king of Salem (which means "peace") - therefore we could state that Melchizedek was the "king of peace" (Jesus is called the "Prince of peace" in Isaiah 9:6). And, as Abram celebrates his victory in the desert with King Melchizedek he also gives him a tenth  of all he owns - Abram pays him a tithe of his wealth. What we see in Genesis 14 is a glimpse of Jesus as king Melchizedek meets with Abram - God's blessed chosen. 

Hebrews 6:16-20; People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus In The New Testament: Blessed Through Abram's Seed

When Abram was 75 years old God appeared to him and established a covenant with him as recorded in Genesis 12;  “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you,  and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Then, in verse 7, we read of another promise that God established with Abraham; The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your seed I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

The Apostle Paul brings us back to the Abrianic covenant and to the promise made to the seed of Abram in Galatians 3:16; The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

Jesus Christ is our blessing. Because we bear the name of Jesus we are worthy and we are blessed. Through Jesus Christ all people on earth have been blessed and are being blessed. It is all because of Jesus.

Jesus In The Old Testament: The Seed of Abraham

In Genesis 12:2-3 we read the words of the covenant that God made with Abraham - known as the Abrianic Covenant. These are God's words of encouragement, promise, and blessing given to Abraham; “I will make you into a great nation,and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you,  and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

From this covenant - and these verses - we read that through Abraham's seed - his offspring - all nations on the earth will be blessed.

In Acts 3:25-26 Peter speaks these words to the Israelite people; "And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

This servant of God's is Jesus Christ, God's Son. Jesus was sent first to the Israelite people - to the Jews - because of God's covenant given to Abraham some 2,100 years before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.  You can read the genealogy from Abraham to Jesus in Matthew 1. 

Jesus In The Old Testament: The Son of Shem

Shortly after God had sent a flood to cover the entire earth. Shortly after Noah and his sons walked off of the ark. Shortly after God had made a covenant with Noah and his family we read in Genesis 9:18-24; The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the whole earth. Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said, “Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.” 

Following this account we have another phrase spoken by Noah, which may be quickly passed over. Yet it is in this short statement from Noah that we begin to see the family line of Jesus presented in Genesis 9:26-27; [Noah] also said, Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend Japheth’s territory; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.

Blessings are spoken on the line of Ham and on Ham's son, Shem. "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem" - not only will God bless Shem and be the "God of Shem". The God of Shem will become the son of Shem. We read this in Luke 3:36.

The line of Jesus is listed in its entirety in Luke 3:27-37; Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,the son of Heli, the son of Matthat,the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,  the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein,the son of Josek, the son of Joda, the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa,the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,the son of Neri, the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam,the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer,the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna,the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu  the son of Peleg, the son of Eber,the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch,the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Jesus In The Old Testament: Bodily Ascension

Genesis 5:24 states that "Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."

This short verse - hidden in the genealogy leading us from Adam to Noah - points to the bodily ascension to heaven of Enoch. Jesus would participate in this same form of bodily ascension into heaven more than 4,200 years later.

Mark 16:19 records Jesus' ascension into heaven "After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God."

Jesus In The Old Testament: He Will Crush Satan's Head

Genesis 3:15; And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. 

These words from God - spoken to Satan in the garden of Eden - state that Jesus would crush Satan's head, Satan's power, Satan's curse, and Satan's work. These words from God - spoken during the first days of creation, moments after man first sinned against God - point to the cross. These words tell us that God would send a person - Jesus - to come and redeem us and to save from the sin of mankind. These words tell us that Jesus would come and break every bond of Satan.

Hebrews 2:14; Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.

1 John 3:8; The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

Jesus In The Old Testament: The Seed

Genesis 3:15; And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

These words from God - spoken to Satan in the garden of Eden - state that Jesus would come from the seed - or offspring - of Eve (woman). These words from God - spoken during the first days of creation, moments after man first sinned against God - point to the virgin birth. These words tell us that God would send a person - Jesus - to come and redeem us and to save from the sin of mankind. These words tell us that Jesus would be born of a virgin (without sin) through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1:18-20; This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:35; The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.