would have brought a blessing but Ishmael came with trouble and soon there was a falling out between the servant girl and her mistress . Abraham learnt his lesson and we should too . What God promised , God is able to fulfil . Ishmael was not the son God promised . God ’ s promised son would come by a miracle as a demonstration of God ’ s power which would also be the confirmation that it is of God . Isaac came when his parents were well beyond the age of having children . God brought life from death .
Abraham had two sons , the first by natural means ( their idea and effort ) the other by spiritual means ( God ’ s promise and power .) Ishmael represents those born only of the flesh . The unbelievers who are unregenerate . Isaac represents Jesus and those born again of the Spirit . The Scriptures says , “ He came to His own , and His own did not receive Him .” These were the unbelieving Jews . It continues , “ But as many as received Him , to them He gave the right to become children of God , to those who believe in His name : who were born , not of blood , nor of the will of the flesh , nor of the will of man , but of God .” John 1:11-13
There are other stories of brothers whose birth and life points to the difference between God ’ s natural people of the Old Covenant and God ’ s spiritual people of the New Covenant . The story of Esau and Jacob is another good example . In each of these accounts you will find that the older brother was the one God rejected while the younger brother was the one He accepted . Why ? God wanted the message to be clear . The one born first ( the older brother ) represents the natural which is first . The younger brother ( the one born later ) represents the spiritual that came afterwards .
Conclusion
Abraham had two sons and similarly , God has two peoples , a natural people who came first and a spiritual people who came after . As demonstrated throughout all Scriptures God has and will reject the natural , carnal people but will accept the spiritual people who are of faith in Jesus Christ . This becomes obvious when we compare Adam and Jesus , Cain and Abel , Ishmael and Isaac , Esau and Jacob . The natural , unbelieving Israel bound by law will not share in the inheritance of spiritual Israel comprising all who are of faith in Jesus Christ both Jew and Gentile . There are many other Scriptures that support this truth . For example , take this profound statement made by Paul . “ For they are not all Israel who are of Israel …” Romans 9:6 ( NKJV ) i . e . not all those born into natural Israel as natural descendants of Abraham will form part of the true Spiritual Israel who are Abraham ’ s children through faith . God always wanted a spiritual family . Are you a part of the family of God ? If not , it is not too late to open your hearts and accept His Son Jesus Christ who is our high priest and mediator between
us and God . He paid the price for your sins against God so that if you repent of them and cry out to God you will be accepted into God ’ s heavenly family . “ Now , therefore , you [ believing Gentiles ] are no longer strangers and foreigners , but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God …” Ephesians 2:19 p
First - Natural Old Covenant Natural Israel Adam
Temple Buildings
Law Natural Battles Natural Riches
Physical Circumcision
Natural Jews Modern State of Israel
Last - Spritual New Covenant Spiritual Israel Jesus Our Bodies
Grace Spiritual Battles Spiritual Riches
Circumcision of the heart
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By Homer Slack author , preacher , Bible teacher , IT tutor , programmer & graphic designer
January - March 2017 SHARE | MAGAZINE | 9