would have brought a blessing but Ishmael came with trouble and soon there was a falling out between the servant girl and her mistress. Abraham learnt his lesson and we should too. What God promised, God is able to fulfil. Ishmael was not the son God promised. God’ s promised son would come by a miracle as a demonstration of God’ s power which would also be the confirmation that it is of God. Isaac came when his parents were well beyond the age of having children. God brought life from death.
Abraham had two sons, the first by natural means( their idea and effort) the other by spiritual means( God’ s promise and power.) Ishmael represents those born only of the flesh. The unbelievers who are unregenerate. Isaac represents Jesus and those born again of the Spirit. The Scriptures says,“ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” These were the unbelieving Jews. It continues,“ But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13
There are other stories of brothers whose birth and life points to the difference between God’ s natural people of the Old Covenant and God’ s spiritual people of the New Covenant. The story of Esau and Jacob is another good example. In each of these accounts you will find that the older brother was the one God rejected while the younger brother was the one He accepted. Why? God wanted the message to be clear. The one born first( the older brother) represents the natural which is first. The younger brother( the one born later) represents the spiritual that came afterwards.
Conclusion
Abraham had two sons and similarly, God has two peoples, a natural people who came first and a spiritual people who came after. As demonstrated throughout all Scriptures God has and will reject the natural, carnal people but will accept the spiritual people who are of faith in Jesus Christ. This becomes obvious when we compare Adam and Jesus, Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob. The natural, unbelieving Israel bound by law will not share in the inheritance of spiritual Israel comprising all who are of faith in Jesus Christ both Jew and Gentile. There are many other Scriptures that support this truth. For example, take this profound statement made by Paul.“ For they are not all Israel who are of Israel …” Romans 9:6( NKJV) i. e. not all those born into natural Israel as natural descendants of Abraham will form part of the true Spiritual Israel who are Abraham’ s children through faith. God always wanted a spiritual family. Are you a part of the family of God? If not, it is not too late to open your hearts and accept His Son Jesus Christ who is our high priest and mediator between
us and God. He paid the price for your sins against God so that if you repent of them and cry out to God you will be accepted into God’ s heavenly family.“ Now, therefore, you [ believing Gentiles ] are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God …” Ephesians 2:19 p
First- Natural Old Covenant Natural Israel Adam
Temple Buildings
Law Natural Battles Natural Riches
Physical Circumcision
Natural Jews Modern State of Israel
Last- Spritual New Covenant Spiritual Israel Jesus Our Bodies
Grace Spiritual Battles Spiritual Riches
Circumcision of the heart
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By Homer Slack author, preacher, Bible teacher, IT tutor, programmer & graphic designer
January- March 2017 SHARE | MAGAZINE | 9