"Doc Notes" Lesson 2 Part 16

Dear Gentle reader,
It been some time since we have visited together we are concluding what has been a interesting time in Genesis, and while I would be the first to point out we have just skimmed the surface there is much more that could be written and commented upon. We must at some point move on.

We have been looking at 7 outstanding men (I did not purposely leave out the women perhaps someone will address that issue at another time and place)
I wish to address now the post-Flood patriachs, and to save space we will group them together, though there is much we could say and would like to have said about them separately. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, these four following the typifying of regeneration, in Noah, exhibit, in a typical manner the qualities and characteristics of the regerate life. They show us those forms of life which are known after regeneration.

In Abraham we see the life of faith. He stands out as the supreme exemplar of the faith life. For we find it written 4 times in scripture “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Rom 1:17) In him we see the man of faith going forward, trusting in Divine guidance (lapses in trusting not withstanding -See Gen. 17:17, 20:2, ff. ), believing the Divine blessing, undergoing sharp testings and- despite occasional failures -being “accounted righteous” through faith, and being called “the friend of God.” Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? (2Ch 20:7)

In Isaac we see the life of sonship. The Genesis account clearly puts the emphasis upon Isaac’s unique sonship. He is the son of special promise, of special birth, of special preciousness, the only son of his mother and the only heir of his father, the son at whose weaning a great feast is made, and through whom the promises are to be realized, and for whom a special bride must be chosen. In Isaac then, dwelling in the land of inheritance, biding by the wells of water, with many joys and few conflicts we see the typified privileges of son ship [Now think of the Lord Christ Jesus, His life and what He left to bring us all to Himself, (not as a Bride as some would teach, for that privilege belongs to only the Nation of Israel) but as members, part and parcel of His Body].

In Jacob we see the life of service. Jacob is that life which (as at his birth) 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. (Gen 25:26) Jacob a worker throughout, busy with his hands, untiring service- busy yes, mistakes yes, the methods and manner wrong yes, yet there is a blessing at heart the motive will be found. When at last the struggle is over and God touches his servants thigh and teaches him and when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 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. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (Gen 32:25-30) Jacob struggles with (perhaps himself) to be more than he was - to be prince in prayer. Jacob will become spiritual at heart, within him was the godliness, struggling to come out as all his words show. Esau will give up the birthright for meat. Jacob will give up his meat for the birthright, if by any means he might obtain the inheritance. Here then in Jacob, is eager activity, work service.

Our last study in Genesis will be devoted to Joseph, as I pointed out previously these studies are not by any means complete but are provided for your edification and a jumping off place for your own studies.

To be continued...