Yah's Promises to Abraham - 5

I am continuing our look at the seven promises to Abraham about his progeny. In the first Pastor's Desk article I listed out all seven promises as listed in the book "The Fall and Redemption of Adam's Race" written by Lawrence Blanchard. I have already shown that the seventh, the land promise, was fulfilled and that it is mute after that point (Joshua 21:43-45). As for the other six promises, we can see these fulfilled in the characteristics of the descended peoples known as Christian Israelites.

4. Abraham's descendants would become a multitude of nations.

As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you.–Genesis 17:4-6

We can clearly identify that this has definitely come to pass!

Word Study – nations ??????--gôy--go'ee--nation, people--NASB Greek-Hebrew Dictionary

"The term refers to a body as an object...one must conclude that the basic idea is that of a defined body or group of people, or some specific large segment of a given body. The context will generally indicate the specific quality or characteristic which is to be understood...The term gôy is used especially to refer to specifically defined political, ethnic or territorial groups of people..."--Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

"Gôy refers to a "people or nation," usually with overtones of territorial or governmental unity/identity." --Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words

According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, goy means "ethnic" or "race" of people. I ask you, can any other "ethnic" group come from your loins if you have a conjugal relationship with your own ethnic people? Abraham did not have conjugal relations with any other ethnic group than his own! Therefore, we must understand that the characteristic being spoken of in Genesis 17:4-6 is that Abraham's ethnic descendants would be many peoples "nations" with "territorial" and "governmental unity/identity" (Vine's).

Now, let's look at his descendants: first is Ishmael from Sarah's handmaid, Hagar. It is said of Ishmael that he would be a mighty people (goy) and truly did become so as he was the father of twelve sons (Gen. 25:12-16) who bore many, many more. Second, let's look at another wife of Abraham's, Keturah who bore six children, two of which were male benefactors for sure (Gen. 25:1). These male benefactors of Abraham and Keturah also bore seven children according to Gen. 25:3-4. Then, of course, there is the son of promise by Sarah to Abraham: Isaac (Gen. 21:1-7).

Isaac married a wife of his people (kindred – Gen. 24:4). This wife is Rebekah the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the daughter of Nahor, the brother of Abraham. Catch the significance of this: the promised son to Abraham through Sarah was not allowed to marry outside of his kindred! It is through this son that Israel will be birthed and groomed for a wedding that many will be invited, but only a few will show. Of course, I am speaking of the marriage of the Lamb of God to His Bride, the remnant of Israel!

Isaac, by Rebekah, had two sons; Esau (a.k.a. the father of the Edomites) and Jacob (a.k.a. Israel). Of course, the Edomites became a multitude of people, they lost position and favor with Yahweh God for Esau's disobedience and his love for carnality over Yahweh God.

As for Jacob (Israel) he fathered six sons and one daughter by wife Leah, two sons by wife Rachel, two sons by concubine Bilhah, and two sons by concubine Zilpah. These sons became the thirteen tribes of Israel, by the removal of Joseph and the addition of Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. As for the children of the sons of Israel; Reuben had four sons, Simeon had six sons, Levi had three sons, Judah had five sons, Issachar had four sons, Zebulun had three sons, Benjamin had ten sons (I find this son of Rachel having ten sons quite significant to that of Ephraim and his symbolic role in the Kingdom), Dan had one son, Naphtali had four sons, Gad had seven sons, and Asher had four sons and one daughter. This isn't even including the sons and daughters born to Manasseh and Ephraim who replaced Joseph and Levi.

Now, if it isn't enough for you to realize that this son of promise through Jacob (Israel) fulfilled a multitude of nations, then look at the names of these sons after the Assyrian captivity. They were known as the Saacs, Saaks, or even better yet, the Saxons! Yes, the sons of Isaac!

Abraham is a father of a "multitude of nations" and they are still present and in covenantal relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).