A Metaphor of Grace in Eliezer, Ishmael, and Isaac
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness...
Romans 4:4-5 ESV
Forgiveness of sins and eternal life are gifts of God, granted by his grace alone. Nobody can buy or work their way into eternal life. Eliezer, Ishmael, and Isaac make a great illustration of God's plan.
Eliezer was Abraham's chief servant. He worked for Abraham his whole life, helping him build his wealth and watch out for his family. If Abraham had died without children, Eliezer would have been his heir according to the traditions of man. He was a faithful servant, but his inheritance would have been the wages of his own efforts.
Ishmael was Abraham's firstborn son according to the flesh. However, he was also the son of a slave. If Abraham had not had another son by a free wife, Ishmael would have inherited God's covenant as Abraham's firstborn, displacing Eliezer, in accordance with the laws of both man and biology.
Isaac was a child of promise, conceived through miraculous intervention. Sarah's time in Abimelech's house might cast a shadow over Isaac's right of inheritance as Abraham's biological son, but God's decree overrides anything man might do. Isaac inherited the covenant promises of Abraham because God intervened and made it happen, apart from any natural or man-made law, and Abraham believed him.
This is an image of our salvation, which is granted by divine intervention according to our belief in God's promises.
See also Genesis 15:1-5 and Genesis 17:15-21.
From Jay Carper at Common Sense Bible Study (https://CommonSenseBibleStudy.com) and American Torah (https://www.AmericanTorah.com).
This content is free, but I accept contributions via Paypal at https://jaycarper.com/paypal.
Follow me on Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@AmericanTorah
Send me a friend request on The Torah Network: https://www.thetorahnetwork.com/jaycarper
Follow me on Twitter: https://jaycarper.com/twitter
Add me as a contact on MeWe at https://jaycarper.com/mewe
Follow me on Gab at https://gab.com/carper
Connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/americantorah/
-
13:49
American Torah
3 days ago $0.03 earnedWhat does "Foreknew" and "Predestined" mean in Romans 8:29-30?
57 -
50:55
The Rubin Report
1 hour agoHost Goes Quiet as His Question for Jerry Seinfeld Blows Up in His Face
13.9K41 -
LIVE
jeffahern
1 hour agoTrending Tuesdays with Jeff Ahern (9am Pacific)
274 watching -
LIVE
Trumpet Daily
57 minutes agoTrumpet Daily | Apr. 30, 2024
1,253 watching -
LIVE
The Shannon Joy Show
3 hours ago🔥🔥The Attempted Color Revolution Comes To College Campuses Across America. Don’t Play.🔥🔥
947 watching -
DVR
Benny Johnson
2 hours ago🚨 Judge Finds Trump In CONTEMPT, Prison?! TRUMP Speaking LIVE Right NOW: 'I Will Run From JAIL'
13.9K55 -
1:30:38
Badlands Media
22 hours agoTIME OF DECEIT (Full Documentary)
17.9K29 -
2:46:16
The Kirk Minihane Show
4 hours agoKMS Live - April 30, 2024
5.49K -
1:26:12
Graham Allen
4 hours agoTrump Breaks Silence On DeSantis!! + War On Our Police Has Ignited!!!
41.2K139 -
2:05:43
Matt Kohrs
11 hours agoThe DJT Short Squeeze, Breaking Market News & College Campus Chaos || The MK Show
25.6K3