14 The New Covenant
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Christians Are the Heirs of the Covenant
Another People Through Isaac
1We must look carefully at the Scriptures to see if the covenant was designed for only ethnic Israelites or for believers in the Messiah, for Jews or Christians. 2Notice what Scripture says about Israel; Isaac prayed for his barren wife, Rebekah. 3When Rebekah found out the Lord answered his prayer; she went to inquire of the Lord about her pregnancy. 4The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples in your belly; and the one people shall surpass the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.”
Based on Genesis 25:23
5You need to understand what Isaac and Rebekah represent and why one of their children would rule over the other.
Another People through Joseph
6In another prophecy, Jacob shows the same kind of typology when he spoke to his son Joseph. Jacob said,
“Behold the Lord has not deprived me of your presence; bring me your sons, so I may bless them.” Based on Genesis 48:9-11
8Joseph brought Ephraim and Manasseh to Jacob. Joseph wanted his eldest son to be blessed, so he placed Manasseh at the right hand of Jacob. 9Jacob, by the Spirit, foresaw in type a people who were to come. What does the Scripture say?
“Jacob crossed his hands, and placed his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the second and younger, and blessed him. But Joseph said unto Jacob, ‘Transfer your right hand to the head of Manasseh, for he is my first-born son. Jacob said to Joseph, I know it, my son, I know it; but the greater will serve the lesser.’” Based on Genesis 48:14,17-19
11So you can see which people are appointed heirs of the covenant.
Another People through Abraham
12Look at one more Scripture and you should completely understand. God also showed us the coming Christian church though father Abraham. 13When Abraham believed God and that belief alone was accredited to him for righteousness, what did God say to Him?
“Behold, I have made you the father of those nations who believe in the Lord yet remain uncircumcised.” Based on an unknown reference
Commentary
Compare verse 4 with Paul’s teaching about Isaac and Rebekah and the coming church in Romans 9:5, 6-8, 10-16.
Isaac and Rebekah, like Abraham and Sarah, were obedient to God and had children of promise. One of the children of promise would reject the things of God and one would accept them. They are a typological prophecy of the Jews rejecting the Messiah and the church inheriting the blessings of the Messiah.
Many of the ancient church fathers taught that when Jacob crossed his hands and blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, it was yet another symbol of the cross of Christ.
Verses 12-14 state the same concept recorded by Paul in Romans 4:1-5. Abraham is the father of believing Gentiles who remain uncircumcised because he received the blessing of God while he was still uncircumcised.
In Galatians 4:21-31, Paul taught that God made Sarah’s and Hagar’s situation a typological prophecy of the two covenants.
The Old Covenant Prophesied the New
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