Dispensation of Promise
Genesis 12:1-Exodus 12:42
Steward:
Abraham and his seed (Gen 12:1)God turns His attention from man in general to one man, Abram, a descendant of Shem (born Gen 11:26) and the uncle of Lot (Gen 11:27). From Abram, God would raise up a people for himself and through which the rest of the nations would be blessed and know God.
Man's Responsibility:
Abram and his descendants via Isaac were to trust God and look for and live to hasten the fulfillment of God's promise that Abraham's seed would possess the land to which he was sent (Canaan), that his offspring would outnumber the stars of heaven and that they would be a blessing to the rest of the nations. All males were to be circumcised as a sign of being part of the covenant (Gen. 17:9-14) and were not to intermarry with those outside the covenant. Character of Environment:
This dispensation begins with a promise to Abram (Gen 12:1-3) (repeated Gen 13:15-16, 15:5, 15:13, 15:18, 17:9-14) and repeated to Isaac and Jacob through whom the nation of Israel is born.Abram (after being called out of idolatry) believes God (and is counted righteous Gen 15:6). This is the pattern throughout the Bible. Abraham recognises the pattern of Abel's sacrifice for sin and calls upon the name of the Lord (Gen 12:7-8, 12:8, 13:4)
While God deals with Abraham and his seed, the rest of the nations around them are characterised by:
Note that Abraham and his seed were to live under God's instruction (Theocracy) while the nations around them all had kings (and often very wicked ones).Famines (Gen 12:8, Gen 26, Gen 43), Wars (Gen 14:1-3, 10) Note Abram's response to King of Sodom after he and his men recover the captives and possessions taken by the other kings Gen 14:23, 15:1-2) Wickedness (Gen 19), Abram's name changed to Abraham (Gen 17:5) and Sarai's name changed to Sarah (17:15)
Isaac born (Gen 21)
God tested Abraham but Abraham passed this test Gen 22 and trusted God see Gen 22:5! (Abraham was called the Friend of God, James 2:23)
Isaac marries Rebekah (Gen 24:67)
Isaac told not to go to Egypt (during a famine) (Gen 26:1-6)
Isaac calls upon the name of the Lord and builds altar (again following pattern of Abel) (Gen 26:25)
Jacob and Esau born (Gen 25:24-26)
Jacob marries Leah and Rachel (Gen 29)
Jacob's name changed to Israel (Gen 32:28).
Jacob has 12 sons.
Joseph is sold into slavery because his brethren hated him for revealing to them a dream which comes true when they go to Egypt.
...
Jacob reminds Joseph of promise (Gen 48:3-4, 21)
Joseph reminds sons of Israel of the promise (Gen 50:25-26, fulfilled in Exod 4:31)
Joseph is one who has more written about him than Abraham, one whose testimony and faithfulness remained throughout his life. He is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Abram's seed were to be a separated people ie strangers in the land (like Christians being in the world but not of it). Abraham, Isaac and Jacob show the pattern by marrying their own and not intermarrying with the strangers with whom they dwelt. (Jacob's offspring disobeyed in this respect, some marrying Canaanite women)
Life spans begin to shorten, Abraham considered well stricken in years at 100 years old. He only lives until 175.
Potiphar's household was blessed because of Joseph who trusted God. (Photiphar means devoted to Ra Gen 39:1-6) This was according to God's promise, "I will bless them that bless thee ...".
Egypt was also blessed while they treated Israel well.
The Failure:
Abraham's seed were to be strangers or pilgrims in the land (like we are to be pilgrims in the world) until God gave the land and the people in to their hands. Each time they settle in a city, they go astray as the cities represent worldliness and man's wickedness (remember Lot).Neither Abraham, Isaac nor Jacob completely trusted God. Abraham failed to go directly to Canaan (Acts 7:4) He stayed in Haran until his father died. Abram didn't trust God when famine hit the land where he was and went to Egypt. He told Sarai to lie about who she was to avoid being killed (but God wouldn't allow him to be killed if He had promised great things for him) (Gen 12:10-13 Abram didn't trust God and tried to make the promise of a child and hence a nation come to pass by taking Hagar (Sarai's Egyptian handmaid) as his wife and though Ishmael is blessed, God wanted his seed to come through Isaac, a miracle child which would prove God's power. Isaac also lied about his wife (Gen 26:6-11). Jacob stole his brother's birthright (Gen. 25:24-34). He later abandoned the land of his forefathers and moved to Egypt (Gen. 41:54-57; Gen. 46:26). Jacob and Rebekah his mother deceived Isaac and caused Isaac to bless Jacob rather than Esau who was born first. Esau's line was evil (his descendents were Edom and Amalek (Gen 36 Exod 17:8,14, Obediah). Rachel brought the idols from her father's house when they left with Jacob to start a new life back in his parents' land. (Teraphim - household god, Gen 31:34) Jacob was told to go back to Beth-el but instead went to Shalem in Shechem and erected the altar there (Gen 33:18-20, compare with Gen 28:20-22, he did eventually go back in Gen 35:1-5 and also cleansed his house of the idols, only after being reminded by God of his vow.) Jacob also is not recorded to have given a tenth of all he got as he vowed in Gen 28:22). Jacob deceives Esau again (Gen 33:12-20). Dinah is defiled because of her father's (Isaac) disobedience by purchasing land in Shechem rather than going back to Beth-el. Jacob's sons were deceitful like their father (Gen 34:13-24) Moses invoked God's anger because he was unbelieving and unwilling to do God's will though he had seen the miracle of the burning bush and heard the voice of God (Exod 4:14-17, 6:28-30).
Moses was nearly killed by God because he failed to circumcise his son (Exod 4:24-26).
God had always promised to be with them and look after them wherever they went but they continuously lived in fear of their lives by lying, deceiving, stealing, turning to idols (strange gods), etc etc. They also continuously left the land where they were to dwell instead of trusting God or waiting for His direction.
The promise of inheriting the land has never fully been fulfilled due to their unbelief and disobedience both in Egypt, the wilderness and Canaan. They then opted for law and the promise was put on hold until the Kingdom dispensation yet to come. The nations were blessed through Abraham's seed though, when Shiloh or the Messiah came and again was rejected by Israel and Paul was given the dispensation of Grace ...
The Judgment
Israel was in bondage for 400 years and though God predicted this, it may have been avoided if they had been obedient at each step of the way. They should not have remained in Egypt after Joseph's death though the bible does not specifically say this. God did tell Isaac not to go to Egypt though during the famine at that time so perhaps God's allowance of Jacob to go to Egypt this time (Gen 46:3, 15:13-14) may have been in preparation for the judgment of their disobedience. In the next dispensation we do see that Israel was content to stay in Egypt, a type of the world rather than looking forward to the fulfillment of the promise and returning to Canaan after Joseph's death. (Nehemiah 6:9-31 shows the pattern of disobedience, judgment or oppression, repentance and deliverance.)The judgment of Egypt was not due to Israel's disobedience but because Egypt mistreated God's people. God had promised that "I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee" and Egypt was cursed because of their maltreatment of Israel.
Grace and Salvation:
By the shedding of blood (Exod 12:1-14), the children of Israel were dramatically expelled from Egypt, the Red Sea parting for them and flowing back over their pursuers, Pharoah and his army.
What can we learn from this dispensation?
There were failures on the part of the patriarchs and of the Nation of Israel (and subsequent judgment) but God in His grace will yet fulfill the promises in spite of human inability to believe (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-33). God’s glory is revealed in His utter faithfulness to Israel, who was chosen for His glory, and who will finally possess the land as promised.God's promises are always fulfilled though our disobedience may delay their fulfillment.
We are a called out people, just like Israel. God has made promises to us which are of a spiritual nature rather than a physical nature. We must not confuse the promises made to Israel with the promises made to us. The promise given to Abraham with regard to Israel's possession of the land will still be fulfilled but we have other promises not given to him that we will enjoy. From here we will start to see where right division of the Word is very significant.
