“Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called./That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”
In the series on the topic of the covenant, Salvation of man solely depends on the word of God, holiness of which is what the name of God signifies. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”(Is.42:8). Of this his glory is synonymous with his visible image, the Son..In Ph.2:9-11.
The word of God is like a seed that the Parable of Sower has sown in the heart of man. What is the heart but a spiritual space. “ He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.”(Ps.33:15) God formed all hearts alike and the word sent forth before the worlds began (Is.55:11) consequently falls on a level playing field. How is it then there is a vast difference in the yield from each? Free will of man must explain this anomaly.. In a good ground itself there is difference. “But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.”(Matt.13:8) Prophet Jeremiah would explain it thus, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?(Je.17:9) A life unexamined is not worth living since he is like a tumbleweed collecting prejudices, and in our times his world view from internet,- and much worse from dark web, and is he worth more than at the end of it all being consigned to fire?
But God created man in his own image, so seed of Abraham, Isaac and Ishamel alike come under the covenant. But for Ishmael it is covenant after the flesh while God is specific “In Isaac shall thy seed be called” The children of the flesh are not called the children of God. Isaac showed faith when he obeyed God and it came from his response to the word, which is to be spiritually understood. Everything needful for our life and godliness has been taken care by God in his Son. Only what determined between Ishmael and Isaac was faith. For this reason God loved Jacob and hated Esau. As with Isaac Jacob had faith and it explains what it is to be created ‘after his likeness’. Isaac was the heir of promise. So was Jacob even before they had come of age. in so many ways in their choices they were connecting the dots all the way to the Son who as the word become flesh would manifest.
Esau despising his birthright was his choice. He had a reason, right? “And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?/And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.”(Ge.25:32-33). Esau like one addicted to recreational drugs was almost every day dying for one reason or other. His self indulgence was all that mattered to him. The word of God ‘Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” would have come a shocker!(Col.3:5). In our society of instant gratification, think how many churches would demand that their congregation offer their bodies as living service? Their nationalism is their way of paying the bills for the upkeep of megachurches.
God is not fooled brethren. There is no substitute for faith which by way of works demand fruits worthy of His holiness.
GuidetohisWord 