01 Sep The Seed of Abraham
In the early part of the Bible, the Lord appeared and made a promise to Abraham saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ Genesis 12:7 (NIV)
The word translated ‘offspring’ here in NIV is actually the word seed. That can be seen in alternate translations such as the KJV where it says ‘Unto thy seed will I give this land.’
How we understand God’s promise to Abraham varies depending on how we understand how to define the word ‘seed.’
A purely human interpretation does mean offspring, and if that be the case, Abraham had eight sons.
First he had Ishmael through Hagar, then he had Isaac through Sarah. Later he had Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah, all from his later wife Keturah. (See Genesis 25) Thus a large amount of middle eastern descendants potentially claim heritage from Abraham. Potentially Abraham does have descendants hwo live in the land today descended from any of these sons. The names Ishamel, Isaac and Midian will see familiar to Bible readers, and those three all became great middle-eastern ethnic groups.
But Jewish people, and some Christian people take the meaning of seed to be much more specific. In Genesis 21:12 it says, ‘But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’
If it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned then it would seem that the promise was not made to all eight sons, but only to one. This makes sense to Jewish people, doesn’t make sense to Muslim people and some Christians also hold to this point of view.
But can we understand this promise through the eyes of the New Testament. We can.
The Apostle Paul defined the seed in the singular as being Christ.
‘The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.‘ – Galatians 3:16
If we are to understand the promise of Abraham through Christ, then it follows that the promises of Abraham are for all who are in Christ, which is by faith. This is why we say Abraham had many sons (and daughters) and as is sung in the well-known Sunday school song, ‘Father Abraham had many sons…I am one of them, and so are you, so let’s all praise the Lord.’
And to be technically correct to the Scriptures – Christ indeed come through Isaac, but because of Christ the promise is not limited to the descendants of Isaac.
In essence, Abraham was promised he would be a blessing to all nations.
If we interpret Christ as the seed…. it makes much sense as Christ is indeed a blessing for all nations.
And because all people have equal opportunity to be found in Christ, and thus the children of Abraham, the promise is open for Jews, Muslims and Christians, indeed anyone who would come to Christ.
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