purchased possession

[joeb]

Quote:

ICorinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Quote:

ICorinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Quote:

IIPeter 2: 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Quote:

Revelation 5: 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

The word translated as "redeemed" in Revelation 5:9 is agorazo. Strong's says it means the following:

Quote:

59 agorazo ag-or-ad'-zo from 58; properly, to go to market, i.e. (by implication) to purchase; specially, to redeem:--buy, redeem. see GREEK for 58

So, what John was saying is that when God "redeemed" us, He bought us, purchased us. Which is what Paul, Peter, and Ellen White say too. This idea is found thoughout the Bible and the writings of Ellen White.

Quote:

He says to us, “Go work today in my vineyard.” He requires each to act his part in the careful cultivation of his vineyard. It is the purchased possession of Jesus Christ; he gave his precious life for it. All are required to qualify themselves for work,—earnest, solemn, important work,—to be living agencies in the Lord’s hands to teach and help others to see and understand the commandments of God. He would have us seek to enlighten others, that they may not offend God by showing disrespect to any of his requirements. God does not excuse any one from this work. He wants each one to labor today, not tomorrow. If we go at once in obedience to his call, tomorrow also will be spent in earnest work for him. {YI December 3, 1896, par. 5}

Are you a part of the Lord's vineyard? Are your neighbors a part of the Lord's vineyard? If so, then all of us, you, I, and our neighbors have been purchased. We are purchased possessions. We are owned by God, body, soul, and spirit.

My question to you is: where in the Bible do you find the legal justification for God considering you, I, and our neighbors, to be his purchased possession that He bought? And, why is this important to understand?

[phkrause]

The great thing about Jesus purchasing us, is that he set us free. The story that really puts that in perspective for me, is the one about the man that bought the slave, and the slave kept telling him that he would not work for him. Than after the man bought him and than told him he is now free to go, he turned to him and said, I will work for you. That's exactly what Jesus is like. Those are really great verse's from the Bible joeb.

[LifeHiscost]

Just watched this, this morning for morning worship. While it doesn't show the actual events, it's the best short portrayal of the price paid for our redemption that I've seen of late.

http://www.itiswritten.com/television/episodes/1126

God cares!

[joeb]

Thanks for the reply, pkrause. What you say is true, but where is the legal justification found? What gives God the right to consider us as His purchased possession? The right of might? Because He says so? Why? The Bible must give us some clue as to why God can legally claim us as a possession that He purchased as He is just.

Did you know that God also considers us His inheritance, His heritage?

Quote:

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

I can't believe I posted this here. I had it prepared and inadvertantly posted it here instead of in the theology forum.

Gail, or whoever among the moderators who will, please move this to the theology forum.

[Gail]

Great scripture, Joeb, and good pondering at the end of your post.

In the book, The Two Republics, I am learning what a sacrifice it took to become a Christian, purchased of God, in Roman society. In Rome, religion and state were joined. If you refused the Roman gods you were refusing the state as well.

Jesus taught the people to render to Caesar what rightfully belonged to it, like earthly coins and respect as far as one could go conscientiously, but he made a difference as to what was the prerogative of God as far as faith goes.

To "belong" to God meant rejecting what was ingrained in the Roman everyday life. Believers really had tests to their faith!

But the peace that brought them through those tests kept them even in the face of violent death. Despite martyrdom, Christianity grew.

God bought them and kept them in perfect peace. He is able to keep His believers through anything the world can throw at them in this life.

[joeb]

Here is some more to ponder on this subject. God says we are his inheritance, His heritage. Do we have an inheritance? Yes.

Quote:

Ephesians 1: 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

How do we, legally, inherit anything from God? Curiously enough this verse brings out much more to ponder. The Greek word translated as redemption is very interesting:

Quote:

629 apolutrosis ap-ol-oo'-tro-sis from a compound of 575 and 3083; (the act) ransom in full, i.e. (figuratively) riddance, or (specially) Christian salvation:--deliverance, redemption. see GREEK for 575 see GREEK for 3083

We have an inheritance from God because we are his purchased possession and have been ransomed. From who? How? What is the legal basis for all of this? God does nothing to violate His laws so this must be in accordance with God-given law, both here and in heaven.

[joeb]

Here is more evidence, this from Ellen White, that there is a legal basis for us being the purchased possession of God.

Quote:

The Contract Ratified—[John 20:16, 17 quoted.] Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until He knew that His sacrifice had been accepted by the Father, and until He had received the assurance from God Himself that His atonement for the sins of His people had been full and ample, that through His blood they might gain eternal life. Jesus immediately ascended to heaven and presented Himself before the throne of God, showing the marks of shame and cruelty upon His brow, His hands and feet. But he refused to receive the coronet of glory, and the royal robe, and He also refused the adoration of the angels as He had refused the homage of Mary, until the Father signified that His offering was accepted. {5BC 1150.3}

He also had a request to prefer concerning His chosen ones upon earth. He wished to have the relation clearly defined that His redeemed should hereafter sustain to heaven, and to His Father. His church must be justified and accepted before He could accept heavenly honor. He declared it to be His will that where He was, there His church should be; if He was to have glory, His people must share it with Him. They who suffer with Him on earth must finally reign with Him in His kingdom. In the most explicit manner Christ pleaded for His church, identifying His interest with theirs, and advocating, with love and constancy stronger than death, their rights and titles gained through Him. {5BC 1150.4}

God’s answer to this appeal goes forth in the proclamation: “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Every angelic commander obeys the royal mandate, and Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain; and that lives again a triumphant conqueror! echoes and re-echoes through all heaven. The innumerable company of angels prostrate themselves before the Redeemer. The request of Christ is granted; the church is justified through Him, its representative and head. Here the Father ratifies the contract with His Son, that He will be reconciled to repentant and obedient men, and take them into divine favor through the merits of Christ. Christ guarantees that He will make a man “more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” All power in heaven and on earth is now given to the Prince of life; yet He does not for a moment forget His poor disciples in a sinful world, but prepares to return to them, that He may impart to them His power and glory. Thus did the Redeemer of mankind, by the sacrifice of Himself, connect earth with heaven, and finite man with the infinite God (The Spirit of Prophecy 3:202, 203). {5BC 1150.5}

So, here is evidence of a legal contract between the Father and the Son that had to be ratified by the Father. Upon what God-given law is this contract based?

These are very important questions I have asked on this thread for the answers should reveal to us much about the plan of salvation. Should we not know the answers to them?

[Gail]

Interesting... Keep it coming!

[thx4mercy]

Upon what God-given law is this contract based?

"For the wages of sin is death" ?? I'm really trying to think, but am not used to trying to think deep! Probably not what you're after here.

[8thdaypriest]

Right of possession:

You can,

1. create it (or build it)

2. buy it

3. marry it

4. inherit it

5. earn it (as wages)

Illegal: (Satan's possession)

6. Steal it (by deception or by force)

7. Squat on it.

Temporary: (We live on "borrowed time" UNTIL we belong to Him.)

8. Borrow it

All are referenced in the Scriptures.

Christ CREATED all things.

He then gave freedom to his created beings who chose to serve "another."

He then BOUGHT them back.

He EARNED them thru His perfect obedience to His Father's will.

He was SOLD to the Devil for 30 pieces of silver,

and because He was SOLD, we are BOUGHT.

The Father will give Him this Kingdom for an INHERITANCE,

and He will share that inheritance with us.

He will then MARRY the redeemed people from this Kingdom.

Blessings

www.prophecyviewpoint.com

[8thdaypriest]

The LAW (God) said, "You sin - you die."

Christ said, "They sin - I die."

We are ransomed from DEATH.

KJV Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death:

The "price" was "His life" and was be "paid" to "the LAW."

NIV Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mat 20:28 NIV)

He did NOT redeem us from "the LAW".

He redeemed us from the PENALTY of the LAW.

There's a difference.

www.prophecyviewpoint.com

[joeb]

Sorry to take so long to get back on this but this is the first time I've had internet access since I posted this.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. This isn't exactly it, but it's fairly close to what I'm talking about. I certainly don't have this completely figured out, especially this example, but it must be typify the general idea for we know that God rescuing the Isrealites from Egypt is a type of our redemption from sin and what is required of us for entry into heaven.

Quote:

Exodus 6: 6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Here is what He says about it.

Quote:

Numbers 3: 12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.

Quote:

Isaiah 43: 1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

Quote:

Proverbs 21:18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

God says He would redeem Isreal out of Egypt, and the says He gave Egypt for their ransom, and hallowed all firstborn of the Isrealites and their livestock when He killed the firstborn of the Egyptians and their livestock.

I hope this gives you food for thought. It certainly has given me cause for thought for the last few weeks. I've been studying all of this now every day for a few hours a day, seven days a week. I have done word studys on a bunch of words in both the Bible and Ellen White's writings and have discovered a wealth of information. So far I have around 300+ Bible verses and 400-500 quotes from Ellen White. This is a vast amount of material and I'm not even close to saying I have it all figured out, or even close to putting all the info together in a way that is readable/understandable for anyone, but I am beginning to get a pretty good idea on the main subject of what I'm studying.

The picture I've gotten so far is one that brings the plan of salvation clearly into view and opened up my understanding of it a lot.

Here's a quote from Ellen White along these lines. It's quite interesting in the areas of thought it opens up.

Quote:

On the cross of Calvary He paid the redemption price of the race. And thus He gained the right to rescue the captives from the grasp of the great deceiver, who by a lie framed against the government of God, caused the fall of man, and who thus forfeited all claim to be called a loyal subject of God’s kingdom.

Satan refused to let his captives go. He held them as his subjects because of their belief of his lie. He had thus become their jailor. But he had no right to demand that a price be paid for them; because he had not obtained possession of them by lawful conquest, but under false pretense.

God, being the creditor, had a right to make any provision for the redemption of human beings. Justice demanded that a certain price be paid. The Son of God was the only One who could pay this price. He volunteered to come to this earth and pass over the ground where Adam fell. He came as the Redeemer of the lost race, to conquer the wily foe, and by His steadfast allegiance to right, to save all who should accept Him as their

Saviour.—Letter 20, 1903.

[joeb]

I'm ready to post more of what I've found. I'll try to keep the posts enough for people to read, but it's very hard to tie all this together in short posts.

I'll start off with two quotes from Ellen White that clearly show the intent of what I'm going to show from both the Bible and from Ellen White.

Quote:

As the sinbearer, and priest and representative of man before God, He [Christ] entered into the life of humanity, bearing our flesh and blood. The life is in the living, vital current of blood, which blood was given for the life of the world. Christ made a full atonement, giving His life as a ransom for us. He was born without a taint of sin, but came into the world in like manner as the human family. He did not have a mere semblance of a body, but He took human nature, participating in the life of humanity. According to the law Christ Himself gave, the forfeited inheritance was ransomed by the nearest of kin. Jesus Christ laid off His royal robe, His kingly crown, and clothed His divinity with humanity, in order to become a substitute and surety for humanity, that dying in humanity He might by His death destroy him who had the power of death. He could not have done this as God, but by coming as man Christ could die. By death He overcame death. The death of Christ bore to the death him who had the power of death, and opened the gates of the tomb for all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.—Letter 97, 1898.

Quote:

Of Christ’s relation to His people, there is a beautiful illustration in the laws given to Israel. When through poverty a Hebrew had been forced to part with his patrimony, and to sell himself as a bondservant, the duty of redeeming him and his inheritance fell to the one who was nearest of kin. See Leviticus 25:25, 47-49; Ruth 2:20. So the work of redeeming us and our inheritance, lost through sin, fell upon Him who is “near of kin” unto us. It was to redeem us that He became our kinsman. Closer than father, mother, brother, friend, or lover is the Lord our Saviour. “Fear not,” He says, “for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” “Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” Isaiah 43:1, 4. Desire of Ages p. 327

Here we see the God-given law that both illustrates and supports the legality of the plan of salvation. It's called the "law of inheritance". Where is this law found in the Bible?

Quote:

Dueteronomy 33:4 Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

OK. There is the law referenced by name. Where do we find the nuts and bolts of the law in the Bible? We find it in several places. The best places to get your initial understanding of it are Leviticus 25 and 27. Notice that in these two areas this law concerns man and land.

[joeb]

In this law of inheritance we find 4 words used time and time again. They are redeem, redeemed, kinsman and redemption. The first three all three come from the same Hebrew word, ga'al. The last comes from the Hebrew word gullah.

Quote:

1350 ga'al gaw-al' a primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), i.e. to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.):--X in any wise, X at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk(-man), purchase, ransom, redeem(-er), revenger.

Quote:

1353 gullah gheh-ool-law' feminine passive participle of 1350; redemption (including the right and the object); by implication, relationship:--kindred, redeem, redemption, right. see HEBREW for 01350

As you can see there is a very close relationship between these words.

In the OT we find the word Redeemer used 18 times. In each case it refers to Christ as our Redeemer, with the bulk of the times it is used being found in the book of Isaiah, the Gospel of the OT. In every instance of the word Redeemer being used in the OT it comes from Hebrew word ga'al. This makes it clear to me that all of the OT writers who used this term understood that Christ was to come as our kinsman to ransom/redeem us. Why do I use ransom and redeem interchangably? For two reasons:

• Because they are synonyms
• Because the Bible uses them interchangably at times. Because the Bible uses them interchangably at times.

Where does the Bible use them interchangably?

• Psalm 49:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

  8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

• Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

[joeb]

Where do we find the idea of ransom in the NT? In many places, including the words of Jesus Himself.

Quote:

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Quote:

Romans 3: 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Quote:

ICorinthians 1: 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Quote:

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

In each instance where the word redemption is used in the above texts it is translated from the Greek word apolutrosis, Strong's #629.

Quote:

629 apolutrosis ap-ol-oo'-tro-sis from a compound of 575 and 3083; (the act) ransom in full, i.e. (figuratively) riddance, or (specially) Christian salvation:--deliverance, redemption. see GREEK for 575 see GREEK for 3083

So we see the NT writers, and Jesus, understood that our redemption is a ransoming.

Did Jesus have anything else to say along these lines?

Quote:

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The word ransom in the text above comes from the Greek word lutrosis, Strong's #3083, which we see is a root word for apolutrosis.

Quote:

3085 lutrosis loo'-tro-sis from 3084; a ransoming (figuratively):--+ redeemed, redemption. see GREEK for 3084

So far we see Christ twice showing that His understanding His own sacrifice was that it was to pay a ransom price for us. Thus He is showing us that His plan of redemption was based upon the law of inheritance found in the OT.

We also see Paul showing that his undestanding of the plan of salvation is based upon the same law, the same idea.

Is there any further evidence that Paul understood salvation this way?

Quote:

Galations 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Quote:

Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

In both instances above where Paul uses the word redeem it comes from the Greek word exagorazo, Strong's #1805.

Quote:

1805 exagorazo ex-ag-or-ad'-zo from 1537 and 59; to buy up, i.e. ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss (improve opportunity):--redeem. see GREEK for 1537 see GREEK for 59

Thus we clearly see that Paul understands Christ's redeeming us as as Christ buying us, i.e. ransoming us.

Are there any other NT writers, or disciples, that understood the plan of salvtion this way?

Quote:

Titus 2: 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Quote:

IPeter 1: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

Both Titus and Peter use the Greek word lutroo, which is then translated as redeem. What does it mean?

Quote:

3084 lutroo loo-tro'-o from 3083; to ransom (literally or figuratively):--redeem. see GREEK for 3083

Any others? How about the prophetess Anna and Christ's disciples, other than the 12?

Quote:

Luke 1: 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Quote:

Luke 24: 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Quote:

Luke 1: 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

So far I've shown that during the NT times that Jesus, His disciples on the walk to Emmaus, the prophetess Anna, Zecharias(John the Baptist's father),Matthew, Mark(Mark 2:28), Luke, John, Peter, Paul and Titus all understood the ideas of redemption and redeeming as coming from the law of inheritance through their usage of words meaning to ransom and to buy. It is not surprising as their only scriptures were the OT, and this idea is found throughout the OT in scripture written by Moses, David, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Micah, and Zechariah.

[ClubV12]

Legal issues, I am reminded of how Satan claimed the right to Moses after his death. How the evil doer claimed the right to test Job. Sister White speaks in terms of we are the "devils LAWFUL prey". In terms of the great controversy, we will serve only one of two "masters". Satan earned the right, lawfully, to take Adam and Eve when they sinned, they had become his lawful prey, this planet, his lawful dominion. But a close examination of the law of God revealed a clause that had never been brought to light before that time.

A lawful, legal way, according to the law of God, whereby man could be redeemed. IF, the Son of God, as per the agreement between the members of the God head, was sucessful in His part in carrying out the letter of the law. IF He suceeded where Adam failed.

What IF Jesus had NOT been sucessful? I read and understand the "law" to mean that He would be eternally separated from the Father (and from the heavenly host) in such a case. Essentially, eternal death. He thought, for a time, that His Father HAD forsaken Him, that sin and the law made it impossible for the Father to accept Him. The law demanded death (separation from the Father). He could not see "beyond the portals of the tomb", in that moment He was still willing to sacrafice Himself, eternally, that we might live.

We see this spirit demonstrated in Moses, who asked to be blotted out along with the people if no other lawful means could be found to save them. We see it again with Paul, who was willing to die, eternally, if only his Jewish brothers could come to the truth.

[joeb]

I'd like to go back to what I said in post #666810, about Exodus 6:6 and Isaiah 43:3.

This has everything to do with the law of inheritance, and I've found this out in my studies in the last week or two. How can this be? What about this has anything to do with inheritance?

Let's go back to the book of Genesis and the story of Noah and his sons. Let's start with a story found in Genesis 9.

Quote:

Genesis 9:19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:

21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.

24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

In these verses Noah fortells what will happen to his sons and their descendents. So, what does this have to do the Hebrews, their release from captivity in Egypt, and their promised possession of the land of Canaan?

Let's look at the genealogy of Noah's sons to find this out. This genealogy is found in Genesis 10 and 11. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth

The Bible starts the genealogy with the sons of Japheth.

Quote:

Genesis 10: 2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

So, we see that Japheth had 7 sons. A couple of them have familiar names found elsewhere in the Bible.

Now let's move on to the sons of Ham.

Quote:

Genesis 10: 6 ¶And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.

Here we find at least one familiar name.

Now, how about the sons of Shem.

Quote:

Genesis 10: 21 ¶Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.

22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.*n7

Here again we find names found elsewhere in the Bible.

Just as an aside at this point we find that one of Shem's sons was named Aram. He had son named Uz(verse 23). We find that name in the first verse of the book of Job where it tells us that Job lived in the land of Uz.

We find elsewhere that one of Esau's descendents had the name of Uz too. I've read elsewhere on this forum that it is thought that Job lived in the land of the Edomites. I find this to be stretch as Job was a worshipper of the God the heaven, and the Edomites, as a nation, were in direct opposition to the God of heaven.

In Genesis 11: 10-27 we find the lineage of Shem traced out from Arphaxad through Abram through firstborn sons. So it was through firstborn sons of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, that God chose to preserve the knowledge of Him and through their line of descent was the Messiah to come.

Now, what was that prophecy Noah gave about Shem, Ham, and Japheth again?

Quote:

25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

OK. I'm going to stop at this point as this is getting to be a really long post, and I don't want it to be so long no one is going to read it. I'll be back later to say more.

[joeb]

OK. So we find that it is through the descendents of Shem that the Savior is to come. This is a literal fulfillment of Noah's prophecy concerning Shem.

Quote:

Genesis 9:26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.*n2

27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.*n3

I've found out one more point of interest concerning this lineage. Arphaxad was not the first-born son of Shem. He had fathered sons before the flood, but Arphaxad was the first son born to Shem post-flood. We find this in Genesis 11:10.

Now let's look at Ham's descendents.

His firstborn son, Cush, was the father of Nimrod, the founder of Babel. According to Strong's Concordance Cush settled the territory of Ethiopia.

Quote:

3568 Kuwsh koosh probably of foreign origin; Cush (or Ethiopia), the name of a son of Ham, and of his territory; also of an Israelite:--Chush, Cush, Ethiopia.

Cush's firstborn son, Seba, settled the land of Seba, and was the father of all Sebeans, according to, once again, Strong's Concordance.

Quote:

5434 Cba' seb-aw' of foreign origin; Seba, a son of Cush, and the country settled by him:--Seba.

Now, what was the curse upon Ham? It was actually a curse upon Canaan, the first son fathered by Ham, post flood.

Quote:

Genesis 9:25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

So, to recap this post so far:

• Arphaxad, the first son born to Shem, post-flood, is the father of the lineage of Christ.

• Canaan, the first son born to Ham, post-flood, is the father of all of Canannites, and he and his descendents are to be servants of the descendents of Arphaxad.

• Cush, the firstborn son of Ham, is the father of the Ethiopians

• Seba, the firstborn son of Cush, settles the land of Seba and is the father of the Sebeans.

So, this little study started out God's promise to redeem the Isrealites from their bondage in Egypt. This is found in Exodus 6:6. In Isaiah 43:3 God says He gave Egypt for their ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for Isreal.

In the study so far we see how this is an outworking of Noah's curse on Ham and his descdendents for his sin, and the blessing of Shem and his descendents for Shem not being a partaker of Ham's sin.

Shem's descendents, through Arphaxad, kept the knowledge of God alive. Canaan's descendents, the cursed son of Ham, did their best to destroy the knowledge of God, and the line of descent through which our Savior was to come.

OK. That's a long enough post for now. I don't know about you, the reader, but I have found this small part of the larger study fascinating so far.