KJV Genesis 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
During a study/writing several years back, the above verse took on a completely different aspect from what I had been previously taught. And as usual, at the time of the ‘epiphany’ I had no idea what to do with the ‘thought’ that occurred. Several years later, however, I have some more structured understanding of this concept, and hope to share this idea here. And I credit Stephen Jones’ blog of Nov. 29 for igniting again this subject in me. Stephen’s blogs seem to always have remarkable timing; at least for me.
The insights I glean from Genesis (as well as all Biblical references and verses) are no longer limited to seeing them in the context of persons, histories, geographies, lineages, chronological years and dates, etc. When studying Hebrew words and phrases, I now am impressed by the Spiritual implications and analogies that seem to be appropriate and apply to all of humanity; and to me specifically. When I began to apply Spiritual analogies, metaphors and parables to myself, the Scriptures took on a higher and more pertinent application; at least for me. I have concluded that the entirety of the Scriptures is about Christ, and Christ alone. If I am in Christ, then these Spiritual implications apply to me as well. And when I’m not walking in the Spirit of Christ, then I am stumbling and fumbling while walking after the soulish and selfish appetites of the carnal man, and thus producing the ‘earthy’ fruits thereof. ‘Nuff said.
When studying the scriptures it helps me to remember that in Genesis chapter one God establishes the order and difference between heaven and earth. ‘Heaven’ is recognized as being awake to the higher authority and productivity of the Spirit of God in my consciousness; i.e., ‘heavenly minded’. Earth, however, is a reference to the more carnal and material aspects of my existence. Genesis chapter one decrees that ‘heaven’ is of a higher order than ‘earth’. My ‘earthy’ mind is always an inferior position when compared to the Christ mind of heaven. A study of the Hebrew words we translate as ‘heaven’ and ‘earth’ make this point abundantly clear. Heaven is Spirit awareness, and the loyalty and devotion that I apply to that awareness. Earth, however, is always a reference to the carnal and base appetites of the natural man; the ‘adam’ nature. How else do we say the ‘amen’ to the scripture that tells us that Yashua was the last of adam, and the First of Christ [1 Corinth. 15:45-50]? Salvation is where we die to the ‘adamic’ appetites, and embrace the Christ Mind. How simple, indeed, are Our Father’s ways for us.
So what, you rightly ask, does all of this have to do with Gen. 15:18? “…Unto thy seed have I given this land (earth; eretz; Strong’s # H776) from the river of Egypt (bondage; hardship; between a rock and a hard place) unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” The name ‘Euphrates’ is from the Hebrew word ‘par-rar’, Strong’s # H6565, a primary root that has the connotation of ‘breaking out’ from the restrictive control of whatever limits you. ‘Par-rar’ is a ‘bursting forth’. This verb has, as do all Hebrew verbs, negative and positive implications. The majority of uses of this verb are in the form of ‘fruitfulness’; mainly ‘par-rah’ (Strong’s # H6510) and ‘par-rath’ (Strong’s # H6578). The Hebrew word used for ‘fruitful’ in Gen. 1:22 and 28, plus many other places, is ‘par-rah’. However, the name Euphrates is always translated from the Hebrew ‘par-rath’. The Euphrates is referred to as the Fruitful River; hence its name. In the covenant that YHVH cut with Abram in Gen. 15:18, it was declared that the ‘seed’ of Abram would be gifted with the ‘land’ (earth; eretz) that existed from the river of bondage, until the river of fruitfulness. How prophetically important and accurate is this declaration. Abram was told that as long as his ‘seed’ adhered to the terms of the covenant with YHVH, they would continually dwell in a ‘land’ (eretz; earth) that bordered between being bond servants and being fruitful. How critically accurate that prophesy is, even until this day. All of those that consider themselves the natural ‘seed’ of Abram/Abraham are still, to this very day, striving and wrestling and fighting over a ‘land’ that is bound between bondage and fruitfulness. Ups and downs, highs and lows, wars and rumors of wars has been the history of the peoples that all claim their natural heritages on the basis of what Abram was promised by YHVH. Jews, Edomites and Arabs are all still fighting and clamoring over an ‘earth’ (eretz, earth mindedness) that is destined to dwell in a struggle between bondage and fruitfulness, and into their struggles of an ‘earthy’ obsession, they drag us all.
What, then, can be the remedy to answer this perpetual striving in an earth mentality? For me, and I suggest this can be true for all of Christianity, the answer is “…seek you first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all of His Righteousnesses.” And yes, the word describing ‘His Righteousness’ is plural, and should be translated as ‘righteousnesses’. As long as I continue to strive and struggle on the behalf of an ‘earthly’ kingdom, my dwelling place will remain assured; between ‘bondages’ and ‘fruitfulnesses’. As Elijah describe this in 1Kings 18:21, “…How long will you ‘halt’ (go back and forth) between two opinions; between two thought processes”? And these ‘haltings’ are all limited to an earthly dimension. But the Kingdom of Heaven, and His Righteousness, is of a Spirit dimension, and therefore unlimited in scope and aspect and nature. There are no limitations of time and space and potential in the Spirit of Our Heavenly Father. “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, in my earth as it is in your heaven”. When I walk in the Spirit of My Father, my earth becomes His dwelling place. As Yashua reported, “My Father and I are One”. In that concept that Yashua is describing, my earth and His Heaven become One. That, alone, is the remedy for us all. Any position less than being One with My Father is destined to struggle and strive in a land between bondage and fruitfulness. “Come out from her, My people, and be ye separated unto Me by embracing and accepting your Christ Name, and your Christ Nature, which is Being One with the Father”. “And of the increase of Christ in you, there can be no end.” [Is. 9:6-7] (my paraphrase, of course.)
Shalom, Y’all!