Top Bible Prophecy # 2 - P1 Genesis 12:1-7

Genesis 12:1-3a "Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; ² And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
³ And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse."

Introduction
Last week I had posted a blog featuring Genesis 3:15 that was themed around the idea of "Top Bible Prophecies".  My hope is over the course of time to bring out the top prophecies of scripture that shed much light on major prophetic themes. Today and tomorrow's posts is going to feature another Top Bible Prophetic passage: God's Covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-7.  In this particular passage we will discover how God's saving purpose and kingdom purpose is prophetically revealed, and why that it meaningful for your life today. 

Genesis 12:1-3a Promotes God's Saving Purpose

1. God's Saving Purpose was 1st revealed to Eve in Gen 3:15
Fall (Adam& Eve)------------Abraham------------------------------t

I thought to begin today's post with a simple diagram depicting the enormous amount of ground covered by Genesis 12:1-3a.  Genesis 12 is where we see God calling Abraham out of Ur of Chaldees to journey some 800 miles to the land of Canaan.  The covenant that God made with Abraham represents the most important historic covenant of scripture. From the Fall of man to Abraham would pass some 2,000 years of time, and from Abraham to Christ's work of redemption (the cross) would pass roughly another 2,000 years. Truly and significantly Genesis 12 stands at the center of unfolding God's saving purpose. 

In the above diagram, we see Abraham living between the fall and Christ's first coming.  In studying Genesis 3:15, we discover God made a Covenant of Grace with Eve: "And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” In that first proclamation of the Gospel, God mentions that her "seed" would have an ultimate conflict with Satan.  In studying scriptures such as Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14 and 1 John 3:8, we find out that the "seed" was to be none other than Jesus Christ.  

2. Linking God's saving purpose from Adam to Noah, then Shem to Abraham
Amazingly, God's saving purposes, first articulated to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, would be carried forth through ten generations stretching from Adam to Noah.  As God told Noah that He was sending a world-wide flood upon the earth due to mankind's incredible wickedness, God's saving purpose was still in view.  By means of Noah's lineage or "seed", the scarlet blood of redemption would continue.  Genesis 9:9 states this continuation of God's saving purpose through Noah -  “Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you ."  If we were to add Noah's name to the above little diagram, we would have the following picture:

Fall (Adam & Eve)-------Noah----Abraham-----------------------------t

Following the flood, the bloodline of redemption would continue from Noah, through his son Shem, through ten more generations.  By the time we reach the end of Genesis 11, we find the one man who was to be the tenth generation from Shem - Abram.  As God's revelation of His saving purpose unfolds, we can offer yet another little diagram that shows further detail: 

Fall (Adam & Eve)--Noah-Shem---Abraham-----------------------------t
It is at Genesis 12 where we see God begin to speak to this particular man Abram.  Like a funnel, God's saving purpose began with Adam and Eve, the parents of all humanity.  From that widest point God chose a narrower portion of humanity, Noah's bloodline through Shem, that would narrow to a single individual, Abram (Abraham). 

3. God's saving purpose goes from a plan revealed to Adam & Eve and Noah to a promise revealed to Abraham
God's saving purpose, beginning as a revealed plan, would be more specified as a promise in Genesis 12.  In Genesis 12:1-3a we see the following particulars of this covenant with Abraham by God:

1. The promise of a land (12:1)
2. The promise of a seed or descendants (12:2)
3. The promise of blessing (12:3)

The Promise of a land for Abraham and his seed
The land promised to Abraham was to be the land of Canaan, which would be conquered by the Israelites (Abraham's physical descendants) in the book of Joshua.  As true as it was to be that Joshua and the Israelites would virtually possess the entire land (Joshua 23:15), the fulfillment of this portion of God's promise to Abraham was looking forward further into the future.  Throughout Old Testament history, the land of Israel was a physical reminder of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants.  From the River Euphrates to the Nile river represented the boundaries of the land.  Though Israel would seem to come close to possessing the entirety of the land (1 Kings 4:21), the presence of pockets or portions being contested by other peoples reminded the people of a future time wherein God would grant her the land fully and completely. 

The promise of a great nation coming from Abraham
The second part of the promise, a great nation, would of course refer to those descended from Abraham.  Isaac (Genesis 26:3) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13) would be given a repeated version of God's promise to Abraham, indicating that they were to be the forebears of what would become the nation of Israel.  Over 400 years later, Moses would re-echo the promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, indicating that the nation of 2 million people that God had called him to lead out of Egypt was indeed the initial fulfillment of the "mighty nation" promised to Abraham. 

The promise of Great blessing
Then the third part of God's Abrahamic Covenant, namely "to be a blessing", pointed to how God was going to use Abraham and the nation coming from his bloodline to accomplish His saving purpose.  So what then would come of this three-fold promise of land, seed and blessing given to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3a? Again looking at the simple little diagram, the cross at the end reveals the saving purpose of God that was intended:

Fall (Adam & Eve)-Noah-Shem--Abraham-----------------------------t
                                                     "seed"---------------------------------->
                                                     "blessing"----------------------------->
                                                     "land"----------------------------------->

4. God's Saving Purpose points to His Kingdom Purpose
You may have noticed in the last little diagram how all three blessings had arrows pointing past the cross.  Why? Because God's saving purpose had to be accomplished in order to bring about His Kingdom purpose.  In one respect, Abraham's covenant finds its saving purpose in Christ's first coming, however the aspect of God's kingdom purpose is in many ways yet to be fufilled.  How the three main promises of the Abrahamic Covenant have yet to be fulfilled reveals the relationship between God's saving and kingdom purposes.1 

Truly God's Covenant to Abraham stands out as a top Bible prophecy.  Tomorrow we will look further at this text in seeing how it prophetically speaks to God's Kingdom purpose.2

End Notes:___________________

1. We can see a little bit of this in how the three promises of Abraham's covenant will be ultimately accomplished. First, in the land of Israel the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would accomplishing the purchase of salvation. In as much as God would fulfill His saving purpose in the land, there is yet to come the full attainment of the land by Christ and Israel in the future. This full attainment of the land of Israel will take place when Christ returns, saves Israel and sets up his kingdom in Jerusalem to reign for 1,000 years.

Secondly, the purpose of Israel was to be a cradle from whenceforth the Messiah, Jesus Christ would spring. From the bloodline of Israel, and particularly one of its twelve tribes - Judah, would the Messiah be virgin born. The "seed" part of the Abrahamic Covenant in one respect was fulfilled by Christ. (Galatians 3:16) However all those who united to Christ by faith are termed the "seed of Abraham" spiritually. (Galatians 3:29; 4:28) Furthermore, the New Testament also reveals that when Christ returns, the nation of Israel will be saved. (Romans 11:25-26)

Then thirdly, the blessing of Abraham would be embodied in Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:14) God's promise of Abraham and His seed being a blessing to many nations foresaw the eventual inclusion of the Gentiles into God's saving purposes. (Romans 4:16-17; Galatians 3:7-8)

2. God's saving purpose, realized through Abraham, would find its greatest expression in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. With the saving purpose of God complete in Christ, the wonderful message of God's covenant to Abraham would not be over with just yet. How do we know? The "land portion" of the covenant has yet to be completely and utterly fulfilled, which tells us that God has a second purpose to which His saving purpose points - namely His Kingdom purpose. 

P5 G.I.V.E to express worship

Deuteronomy 26:18-19 The Lord has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; ¹⁹ and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken.”

The above passage is said in the context of God's instructions for the people to give of their tithes and offerings unto Him.  For the past several days we have been focusing our attention on the reasons for giving to the Lord. As we have explored such reasons by the acrostic G.I.V.E, we have noted the following reasons thus far:
God is a Giving God
Invites the Presence of God
Validated in scripture

As we finish out this blog series today, we aim to look at the final reason for giving of tithes and offerings in Biblical stewardship, namely because it Expresses one's worship to God.

What is worship
Worship's purpose is to behold and express awe over the goodness and glory of God.  When we praise God, we are expressing excitement over what God has done.  When we worship God, we are expressing awe over Who God is.  In tithing and stewardship, I am peering at God's Goodness through lenses of provision.  Certainly in giving and tithing, I am recognizing what God has done - thus praising Him.  However praise leads to an even higher form of expression - worship.  Whenever we see God's goodness for the sheer enjoyment of His goodness - we are entering into the realm of worship. 

Whenever the Israelites were giving unto God, they were recognizing their purpose for existence as stated in Deuteronomy 26:19 - "created for fame, praise and honor".  The question is: "for whose praise, fame and honor"?  Is it for the exaltation of the Jewish people? No.  Rather the people were made for the praise, fame and honor of the Lord Himself.  Through Israel God would offer to the world His Son, the Ultimate tithe and firstfruit. (1 Corinthians 15:20,23) As the Israelites would tithe and bring their offerings, they were acting in shadowy form what God would do in the giving of His Son.

As New Testament Christians, our giving is not only for the purpose to please God, but for a greater purpose - to express to God how pleased we are to know Him, and to be known by Him.  All giving aims at seeing God's goodness, and letting others know how good God is.  So where does the logic for giving being an expression of worship derive?  Consider 2 Corinthians 9:12-15:
"For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, ¹⁴ while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

The completion of the giving and stewardship by the Corinthian church will lead to many people thanking God for His provision.  That's praise.  Now look at verse 13: "Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience...".  That's worship!  To glorify God is to be in awe of His Goodness as God - which is the biblical definition of worship.  Can tithing and stewardship, carried out consistently and joyfully, lead to worship of God? Absolutely!

In fact, in Article XIII of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, we see these words about stewardship:
"They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth."

The link between giving, praise and worship is unmistakable.  Giving is the means to attaining the goal of praise and worship of God.  We are able to see His goodness and express worship to Him by way of tithing and stewardship. Consider for a moment, in reverse order, what the BFM 2000 is saying on this point: The term "proportionately" in the BFM 2000 statement speaks of the only proper and Divinely ordained "proportion" - namely 10%.  The term systematically speaks of not only tithing but beyond the tithe - namely offerings.  The term "regularly" speaks of the frequency of the giving, with the term "cheerfully" pointing to the God honoring attitude behind our worshipful giving.  

Conclusion
As we have explored reasons for giving as to the Lord, we have noted the four reasons for doing so:
God is a giving God
Invites God's Presence
Verified throughout scripture
Expresses worship to God

May you and I dear believer take God at His word and cheerfully, regularly, systematically and proportionately give to the Lord and His work.       

P4G.I.V.E 10% because it is valid throughout scripture

Deuteronomy 26:12, 17 (12)“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (17) You have today declared the Lord to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice."

Over the past few days we have been exploring the reasons for giving to the Lord in tithing and stewardship.  Thus far we have discovered in Deuteronomy 26 and other passages two reasons for giving:

1). God gave
2). Invites His presence (blessing)

In today's post we will explore what is perhaps the most often confused aspect of the discussion over tithing and stewardship - namely: should Christians tithe?

Meet the Bible's first tither
Genesis 14:20 is where we see the first mention of tithing in the Bible.  Abraham is our tither in the text.  God gave him a mighty victory over the confederation of the five kings of Chedorlaomer.  As Abraham returns from battle, he meets the mysterious figure Melchizedek, whom according to Psalm 110 and Hebrews 5-7 is none other than a pre-incarnate (before the flesh) appearance of Jesus Christ.  As Melchizedek blesses Abraham, we read in Genesis 14:18-20 "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ He blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; (20) And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all."  There we see Abram giving Melechizedek, Who is Christ in disguise, a tenth of the spoils of victory.  Now this is the first mention of tithing in the Bible. 

 

Following tithing throughout the Bible

As you read through scripture, the particular word "tithe" or "tithing" occurs more than forty times.  The last time we find it mentioned in the Old Testament is in Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."  Now many well-meaning Christians assume that tithing was nothing more than an Old Testament regulation, given by God under the period of the Law.  Often I have heard Christians say that since we are no longer under law but under grace, that means we can now give whatever we want, since tithing went away once Christ had died on the cross.

Is that true? Did Jesus' death, burial and resurrection do away with the standard of tithing?  Whenever studying both the Old and New Testaments, unless God has either removed or replaced a given institution or command, we can assume that the command or institution carries forth from Old to New Testament. 

For example, the Levitical priesthood was done away with when Christ came, since His priesthood is of a different order. (Hebrews 7-10)  We also don't sacrifice animals due to the fact that Christ's subsitutionary death satisfied the wrath of God against the sins of those who receive His work by grace through faith. (1 Peter 3:18) 

Now whenever we come to the New Testament, we discover not one prohibition against tithing.  The standard of 10% was ordained by God some 400 or so years before the giving of the law.  Abraham in Genesis 14 and Jacob in Genesis 28 were tithing some 2,000 years before Christ.  The law of God served to reinforce the standard, however when Christ came, the standard was never removed nor replaced. (compare Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12)

In studying the more than forty passages that speak on the subject of stewardship and tithing, here is what we discover:

1. A person is free to give whatever they want (offering) only after they have been already tithing. 

2. Tithing represents the most basic level of stewardship, the ground floor if you will.  Whenever we begin to tithe is whenever we begin to hear God in the realm of giving.

3. Wherever the believer is told to give freely as to whatever amount He feels necessary to give, it can be assumed that the believer has already been tithing. (2 Corinthians 9:6-10)

The Bible's final mention of tithing
Remember where we first met the word tithing? Recall Abraham in Genesis 14 as the first recorded tither?  In this blogger's mind, the main proof we have that tithing is still the basic standard undergirding the New Testament teaching of Biblical stewardship is found in Hebrews 7:5-10, the final mention of tithingin the Bible:
And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. ⁷ But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸ In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. ⁹ And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Six times is the word "tithe" or "tithes" used in this New Testament text!  Furthermore, the final mention of tithing in the Bible connects to the first mention! Thirdly, we who have believed on Jesus Christ are considered children of Abraham by faith (Romans 4:16).  Fourthly, Christ, who lives today, received a tithe from Abraham. (Hebrews7:8) Fifthly, in a chapter like Hebrews 7, wherein the writer is showing how Christ is superior to all of the Old Testament Jewish institutions, he never once shows tithing to be abolished! 

Conclusion
With the validity of tithing established throughout scripture, what can we conclude? Should Christians tithe? Yes, and here is why: First, tithing was instituted pre-law, hence it is a standard that was not abolished despite the doing way of the ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic Law.  Second, the New Testament never one time shows tithing as being either prohibited, replaced or removed from the Christian's responsibility of stewardship.  Thirdly, tithing is the standard established by God as the starting point for stewardship.  Then finally, Hebrews 7 reveals that tithing is still mentioned in the New Testament, not abolished, and thus there is no reason to prohibit Christians from tithing. 

More tomorrow......

 

P3 G.I.V.E to invite God's Presence

Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as You swore to our fathers.’

In yesterday's post we considered the first and perhaps the most important reason to give tithes and offerings - because God gave.  In this current blog series we are using the acrostic g.i.v.e to guide our way through Deuteronomy 26.  We already saw that the motive to our giving to God is because He first gave.  In today's blog we desire to entertain a second reason that begins with "I", namely giving to God invites His presence into our lives.

G.i.v.e to God, for it invites His presence.  Deuteronomy 26:12-16
To have the blessing of God in your life means that His presence, power and Personal involvement are in place.  As Moses instructs these people and us, He says in Deuteronomy 26:15 - "Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, a land flowing with milk and honey, as You swore to our fathers.’  The moment you and I begin to tithe our resources, we are opening the door for God to come in and bless us with His presence.  Faith is a receiving grace granted by God, whereby I am able to freely receive with firm persuasion whatever He offers.  Whenever God is touching any area of life, that area will become more fruitful. 

Your attitude towards three books should change when you are born again by grace through faith: your attitude towards God's Book, your date book and the pocket book.  God's book becomes more dear to you, your datebook more and more revolves around God and your pocket book wants to give glory to God. 

You want more of God in every area - including your finances.  Consider Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."  Jesus notes in Luke 6:37 "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”  Or how about 2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed"  God's blessing equals His power, presence and Personal activity in every area of my life.  The material outgrowth is but the outcome.  We give because we want God to know that since He already owns everything, we desire His personal involvement in the caretaking of what He has given to us. 

More tomorrow.........

P2 G.I.V.E, since God gives

Deuteronomy 26:1-2 “Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, and you possess it and live in it, ² that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in from your land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name."

Yesterday we began to consider what the Bible teaches about tithing and stewardship of our resources.  When we speak of stewardship, we are referring to the management of property or resources that are not our own.  The sooner you and I understand that all things come from God, the more eager we will be to give to the Lord.  But why give to God?  We turn today to Deuteronomy 26:10-19 and other passages to explore the answer.  The logic of Moses' argument throughout Deuteronomy 26, as well as the testimony of scripture on the subject of tithing and stewardship, reveals the first reason as to why you and I should practice tithing and stewardship:

God is The God who gives.  Deuteronomy 26:10-12
God as a giving God is the greatest motivation to give.  Deuteronomy 26 uses God's giving of Himself and His grace as the leverage behind stewardship and tithing.  As it has been said over the years: you cannot outgive God.  If you back up to the beginning of Deuteronomy 26, you discover the following statements:

1). Deuteronomy 26:1 "the land which the Lord your God gives"
2). Deuteronomy 26:2 "your land that the Lord your God gives you"
3). Deuteronomy 26:3 "the land which the Lord swore to our fathers to give us"
4). Deuteronomy 26:9 "He has brought us to this place and has given us this land"
5). Deuteronomy 26:10 "O Lord have given me"
6). Deuteronomy 26:11 "shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you"

God's act of giving to His people provides the basis as to why they should give back to Him their tithes and offerings. (Deuteronomy 26:11)  Whenever we come to the New Testament, God's giving doesn't cease.  Consider John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."  The New Testament connects the giving of Jesus Christ as the basis for God's giving us all things.  Consider Romans 8:32 -  ^"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"

When you really thing about it, why would God expect you and I to give if He had not first done it Himself?  Furthermore, no matter how much we give, we can never out-give God.  Grace, not guilt, is the motive behind biblical giving and stewardship.  As true as it may be that giving begins as a duty, it should not just remain in the realm of obligation.  In fact, duty should quickly turn into delight.  The more we focus on Jesus Christ and the barren cross, the more we will want to give. 

More tomorrow.......

P1 G.I.V.E to the Lord's work

Deuteronomy 26:10-11 Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O Lord have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God; ¹¹ and you and the Levite and the alien who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you and your household.

Five things the Lord has pledged His Personal Presence and Blessing to in His church
When we look to the Bible in general and the New Testament in particular, we understand God pledging His Personal involvement or blessing in five main areas:

1. The preaching/teaching of His word
2. The singing of His praises
3. Obedience
4. Missions
5. Tithing/Stewardship

The Spirit Himself attends the preaching of the word, convicting sinners and strengthening saints. (John 16:8-16)  The Lord promises to inhabit the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) and guide us as we obey (Romans 12:2).  Jesus Himself promised His apostles and church in the Great Commission that "He would be with her always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).  So what about the fifth area wherein God pledges His special presence and blessing - Tithing or Stewardship?  It is that particular area which will occupy the remainder of today's blog and the next several posts. 

Moses' grand sermon series
The Book of Deuteronomy takes place on the Eastern side of the Jordon River on the plains of Moab.  Moses is in the final month of the 120th year of his life.  For forty years he has led two generations of God's people through barren desert and tough hardship.  Deuteronomy records a series of three sermons (chapters 1-4; 5-11; 12-26) with a final set of personal instructions to a new second generation of God's people (chapters 27-34).  As Moses is concluding his second sermon, he turns his attention to the area of stewardship and tithing.  Deuteronomy 26 represents one of the most complete statements on the subject, giving principles whereby the child of God can look to when attempting to understanding the area of giving.

Why G.I.V.E to the Lord's work
As we come into Deuteronomy 26 we see instructions concerning the people's giving of the first fruits of their crops upon their entry and occupancy in the Promised land.  I call this a "promise provision" because when the people present the first portion of their harvest, they will testify as to how God kept His promise of bringing them into the land pledged to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 26:1-10)  That background sets the stage for stewardship - namely grace. For today's post, I want to give four reasons, patterned after the acrostic G.I.V.E, as to why and how we should give to the Lord's work.  The reasons will derive from the remainder of Deuteronomy 26:10-19:

God is a Giving God.  Deuteronomy 26:10-11
Notice the primary leverage Moses uses in instructing these people and us: namely the fact that God has given and continues to give.  Seven times in Deuteronomy 26 we find reference to God having given to the people the resources and strength.  I would suggest this is the primary reason for giving to the Lord's work - because He gave.  

Invites God's Blessing.  Deuteronomy 26:12-17
What do we mean by "God's Blessing"?  Certainly we could include the notion of prosperity in the material and spiritual sense.  However the chief idea behind "blessing" is the fact of God's presence, power and Person operating in our lives.  God wants to bless us without question.  How much of God do we want in our datebook and checkbook? As Jesus notes in Matthew 6:33 -  "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Verified throughout Scripture.  Deuteronomy 26:18
I have often heard throughout my years of ministry, as well as heard myself say from time to time: "how much does the Bible have to say about tithing and stewardship?"  Is tithing only an Old Testament teaching?  Does only the Law of Moses (of which Deuteronomy is part) teach tithing?  When the New Testament began, did Jesus and the Apostles do away with the practice? Can we as Christians decide how much or how little we want to give?  I have heard pastors preach sermons on tithing and stewardship, whereas I have heard other Godly and well-studied men who love the Book of God proclaim that Christians are not obligated to tithe.  I believe as you study scripture, you will be surprised by what you find it saying - and not saying - about tithing and stewardship.  

Expresses Worship to God. Deuteronomy 26:19
Moses' entire life was about beholding and promoting the glory of God. (Exodus 33:16-17; Psalm 90)  Whenever God's people give as they should and would desire, God's name and work is promoted.  Giving leads to missions, and missions aims to turn (by the Spirit's gifting and conviction) wicked people into worshippers of God.  The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 in Article 13 has this to say about stewardship: "According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth."

My prayer for the next few days would be that our hearts would be retuned to the Spirit's leading as we consider how we can g.i.v.e to the Lord's work. 

More tomorrow...............


 

Top Prophecy #1 - Where Prophecy Begins - Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

What makes Genesis 3:15 such a remarkable passage is the fact it contains the Bible's first promise and first prophecy.  The promise within Genesis 3:15 is about the Gospel.  In fact, theologians and Christians of ages past have nick-named Genesis 3:15 the proto-evangelium (pro-to-e-van-gel-eeum), which translated means: the first announcement of the Gospel.  The Prophecy within this same text has to do with the triumph or expected outcome of the Gospel.  Truly Genesis 3:15 is an acorn that contains the Biblical oaks of redemption and eschatology (study of last things, prophecy).

In today's post we want to consider Genesis 3:15 and the attending verses of Genesis 3:16-21 with regards to what God predicted about history, salvation and last things.  Consider the following ideas about this first of top Bible prophecies:

Conflict.  Genesis 3:15a
Genesis 3:15a records - And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed..".  Following the rebellion in the garden of Eden, God pronounced a curse upon Satan the serpent, Adam and Eve and the rest of creation.  In Genesis 3:15 we see portrayed the personal, historic and cosmic conflict that would ensue between God's Kingdom and satan's lesser kingdom of darkness.  We note firstly the personal conflict between Eve and Satan.  God made it clear: Satan and Eve were to be enemies.  God's promise and plan of salvation that was to be revealed in the Covenant of Grace issued forth to Eve would run counter to Satan's agenda. 

God drew the battle lines that would not only characterize the personal animosity between humanity and Satan, but secondly the historic conflict.  We see the historic conflict in the words "his seed" and "your seed".  What is meant by those terms "seed"? "Seed" refers to two bloodlines, two groups of people, two spiritual categories of people that would exist throughout human history.  The seed of Satan refers to unbelievers, and the seed of the woman would refer to believers.  For example, Jesus perfectly summarizes this point in Matthew 13:36-40 -
36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” ³⁷ And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, ³⁸ and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 

Many other passage reveal the two different types of seed as referring to believers and unbelievers. (John 8:44; Ephesians 2:1-2) The historic conflict would entail Israel and her enemies, the apostles and their foes, and of course all subsequent generations of Christian people and unbelievers.  So we see conflict in this text of Genesis 3:15.  How will the conflict be resolved?  Where is such a conflict going to lead? That leads us to the second thought in this grand passage of Genesis 3:15, namely...

Coming Redeemer 3:15b
The Holy Ghost says in Genesis 3:15b - "He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”  The text goes from personal conflict between Eve and Satan, to historic conflict between unbelievers following satan and believers saved by grace through faith in Christ to the Cosmic conflict of the Coming Redeemer and Satan.  The fact that the text says "He" tells us that God has not only got a plan of salvation, but a Person who will accomplish salvation.  The Coming Redeemer was the entire focus of Old Testament revelation.  The "Seed" of Eve revealed in this verse would be the "Seed" promised later to Abraham. (Genesis 12,15,17,22)  Furthermore, this coming Redeemer would be progressively revealed over the centuries in greater and greater clarity.  King David was told that He would have a descendant sitting on the Throne of Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 7:13-16) In as much as David was going to have royal descendants sitting on the throne of Jerusalem, God had also in mind One Ultimate Ruler, the Coming Redeemer.  Psalm 132:11 states - "The Lord has sworn to David A truth from which He will not turn back: “Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne."  

We know by the time of the New Testament, Jesus Christ would end up fulfilling the promises made to Abraham and David.  Through Israel the nation the redeemer would come.  Once the Redeemer came, he would live, die on the cross and be raised from the dead.  After Christ's ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, He inaugurated His reign on David's throne to rule over His church. (Acts 2:33-36)  This Redeemer who came is coming again.  Passages such as Romans 11:25-26 and Revelation 19-20 unfold the glorious Second Coming of this Redeemer.  When He returns, Christ will restore the nation of Israel as a nation and His church will reign with Him for 1,000 years.   

Now did Eve and Adam know all of these details? No.  Their level of understanding was in seed form, whereas our understanding is comparitively speaking a mature oak.  God progressively revealed His prophetic truth to each generation.  And so we see a conflict and a coming redeemer, but notice a third idea revealed in Genesis 3:16-21, namely....

Conquest.  Genesis 3:16-21
When you compare Genesis 3:16-21 to the last two chapters of Revelation, you find some amazing contrasts.  In fact, the darkness of Genesis 3 was pre-known by God.  God knew man was going to sin, it was no suprise.  God willed to permit the fall so as to show in ways we don't grasp the glories of His grace as well as to let man exercise his capacity as a responsible, moral being. 

So did the fall jeopardize God's plan for creation?  When you compare Genesis 3:16-21 to Revelation 21-22, you discover God's purpose in conquering satan, sin and death..

Genesis 3:16-21                         vs                     Revelation 21-22
-God & man separate                                  -God & believers together
-Death & Pain                                              -No Death & Pain
-Exile                                                            -A New Home
-Curse                                                          -No Curse
-Night is setting in                                        -No more night
-Long History ahead                                    -History alomost over
-Paradise lost                                              -Paradise rescued
-Blood of animals                                        -Based on Christ's blood
-Old Adam & Eve                                        -New Adam & Bride

Truly God's purposes and plans are not thwarted.  The glorious truth is that in the end God wins! All who by grace through faith believe will be saved.  Right now is the time of salvation, the perfect time to escape the wrath to come.  This is the wonder of prophecy and redemption, centered in the chief work of salvation and the chief end of God's glory in Jesus Christ.