Many people like researching their ancestors to find out if they have any rich or famous ones, or just for interest so as to build a family tree. What about our spiritual ancestors? Did you know that, just as we are redeemed 'in Christ' (Romans 3:24), All Nations are blessed 'in Abraham', who lived in the Bronze Age? We can read about this in many passages but here are a couple of key ones:
'in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed' Gen 12:3
'all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him' Gen 18:18
Not only that but the blessing was passed down through Isaac to Jacob:
'in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed' Gen 28:14
The word for offspring is zera in Hebrew, and we find the singular form here, not the plural. Could this be a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah who would provide redemption for all who believe? In English better way of expressing 'in' is 'through' - through Abraham, through Jacob and his offspring. Through Christ (the Messiah). So, the Father's plan of redemption began way back when with Abraham Isaac and Jacob, and was fulfilled through the redeeming work of Jesus the Messiah. That's why we need to know our Old Testament history. It shows us that we belong, not only as a believer in Jesus the Messiah, but as heirs of the promise to Abraham. We have a rich inheritance, and an amazing set of spiritual ancestors, dating back to the Bronze Age in the Ancient Near East!
