THE SEED OF ABRAHAM: Very quickly, we see the pattern of the theme of the ‘seed’ being developed! Genesis 3:15 began the prophetic description of the ‘seed’ and now Abraham is presented with a similar promise. This is a declaration by God of what is to come through Abram’s descendants which would ultimately lead to the one to provide the ‘blessing’. There is a secondary application of this seed which refers to those who ‘have the faith of Abraham’, and not just his physical descendants. “…it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,” Romans 4:16. Through faith and baptism into Christ, all are invited to become the seed of Abraham, and thereby becoming heirs of the promise made to him Galatians 3:26-29. This is the hope of the believer! “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Titus 1:2. Also, there was a time before we were in Christ, when we had no hope, and were without God (atheos)! Ephesians 2:10-13. Also see: Romans 5:2; 8:22-25.
Genesis continues to reveal that the same promises are made to Abraham’s son, Isaac: Genesis 26:3-5; and once again to Isaac’s son, Jacob: Genesis 28:12-14; 35: 10-12. These three are often referred to as the ‘fathers’, hence, we note that God often styles himself “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”, Exodus 3:6, Luke 20: 37.