Old Testament Typology
Submitted by J on December 15 2001 19:07:14
In reply to Re: Allegory #3 - ...and the last shall be first submitted by Splash! on December 14 2001 05:51:29
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Dear Splash! Wow, thanks for your comments. Even as I read them, I could feel a tug from the evil one tempting me to revel in them (puff up) instead of giving credit to God for the gifts He has given me. And with gifts come the responsibility to use them wisely for the good of others and in glorifying God, and also not to diminish the gifts that others have, but to learn and benefit from them. Only then can the body function together in unity as God designed it to work (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Your posts also challenge and encourage me, as I’m sure others will attest to as well. Next time I’m in a bookstore I will try and find the two short stories by George Orwell that you mentioned. The connection you’ve made from “The Hanging” between the man calling out to Ram and the ram caught in the thicket (cf. Genesis 22:13) is amazing. Pursuing the ram analogy further, as the scapegoat, it too was typological of Jesus – and as Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out to the ram (Jesus): While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60 Yes! The similarity between Jesus and Isaac also – good eye! I think you’ll find this interesting – note that after Abraham is stopped by the angel of the Lord from sacrificing Isaac, the young man drops out of the narrative picture for several chapters. We know that Isaac descended the mountain with his father alive but the text does not explicitly say so: Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba. Genesis 22:19 What occurred up on the mountain was not only typological of Jesus’ crucifixion, but also of His resurrection: By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Hebrews 11:17-19 After Jesus’ resurrection, He ascended and was no longer physically among His followers (cf. Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9). So, too, Isaac disappears from the narrative, which proceeds, into some genealogical information about Abraham’s brother, Nahor, the death of Sarah and the purchase of the burial cave in Machpelah. Following this, Abraham sends his chief servant (whose name we know is Eliezer from Genesis 15:2) to find a wife for his son, Isaac, from among his relatives in the country he came from (cf. Genesis 24:1-4). The servant asks if no one is willing to come back with him can he take Isaac back to the country he came from – Abraham’s answer is a definite no (cf. Genesis 24:5-8). Isaac’s return to the narrative picture occurs when the servant’s mission to find him a wife is complete (cf. Genesis 24:9-61). Isaac and Rebekah meet in a field and are subsequently married (cf. Genesis 24:62-67). The above narrative in Genesis 24, usually passed over in an air of boredom, is a typological goldmine. Abraham (typological of God) sends Eliezer (typological of the Holy Spirit) in search of a wife (typological of the Church) for his only son Isaac (typological of Jesus). From the time of his ‘resurrection’ on Mount Moriah to the meeting of his bride in the field, Isaac is completely absent from the narrative. In the interim, the work of Eliezer (the Holy Spirit) in and with the bride-to-be (the Church) is the focus of the narrative – as it is in the present age while we wait for the return of our Bridegroom. The name Eliezer (Hebrew for ‘God is my help’) ties it all back to the marriage narrative of Genesis 2, which parallels Genesis 24 in several ways – the search is made for a suitable ‘helper’ (Hebrew: ezer) for Adam. Adam’s wife is found (made) while he is absent (asleep), it is entirely the work of God and she is then brought to Adam (cf. Genesis 2:18-24). Paul ties the mystery of marriage to our union with Christ and to the Genesis marriage narrative in a single thought: ”For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32 The Old Testament is full of so many awesome things, it’s a shame it is so often neglected in study! I promise that I won’t bury any of my talents – even if they are only ever used here on this forum. Over the past ten years God has led me to numerous doors which I have walked through in faith, only to have them slam in my face or open into an empty room. Nonetheless, I believe that they’ve all had their purpose in shaping me into the person God wishes me to be and most useful to Him. Maybe one of those doors will open into a published book or a released CD, and maybe God will never lead me to that door. I simply have to have faith that He knows what He’s doing and at the same time not be unwilling or too afraid to get out of the boat and into the water (following the Lord is not passivity). Thank you very much for all of the information on literary criticisms, copyright issues and publishing houses and for your interest in my projects. The parallels in 1 and 2 Chronicles to the genealogical sections scattered throughout the Old Testament and to the narratives of 1 Samuel through Ezra raise numerous problems for the defense of biblical inerrancy (differing names, conflicting and often exaggerated numbers, inclusion and deletion of pertinent facts, etc). As a firm believer in Bible inerrancy, this particular project of mine tackles the issue on a word for word, verse by verse comparison in the original Hebrew and reconciles seeming contradictions using the proper application of lower and higher textual criticism. I am most interested in your own musical projects. What types of music do you enjoy/write? How long have you been writing? Have you any completed projects and what sort of exposure (if any) have they had? I’m so glad we’ve connected here on this forum and I look forward to sharing with you and learning from you. Photographic memory? Well, I don’t know if my memory’s that good, but I try! Hope to hear from you soon – until then, take care and God bless. Love in the Lord, J |
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