Three Divine Edicts Concerning the Servant
Because Abraham was willing to give back to God his son, Isaac, the Lord God issued three edicts regarding the Seed of Abraham. The Seed is Christ, as Paul informs us (Galatians 3:16).
In multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven and as the sand that is on the sea shore.
Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice (see Genesis 22:17,18).
Three concepts are embodied here:
- Fruitfulness.
- Dominion.
- Ministry to the nations of the earth.
Notice that the first two of these edicts, fruitfulness and dominion, are the same promises made to Adam and Eve upon their being created by the Lord (Genesis 1:28).
The three edicts spoken to Abraham, the three creative words of God, have not as yet been fulfilled to anywhere near the extent they will be in the future. But it is a comfort to us Christians to realize that everything God has proclaimed shall be fulfilled completely.
The three aspects of the Divine promise made to Abraham are working, working, working in the heavens, working in the earth. They are creating, shaping, lifting up, casting down, tearing apart, comforting, guiding, inspiring, all creatures and circumstances everywhere. All the universe is moving toward this end: Christ shall be multiplied as the stars of the sky and as the grains of sand on the shore. Christ shall have total dominion over His enemies. In Christ shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
"Behold my servant, . . . he shall bring forth judgement (justice) to the Gentiles (nations)."
Heaven and earth shall pass away; but the Divine purposes in Christ shall move ahead with power and precision until all God has promised concerning Christ has been fulfilled in its entirety.