OUR PRECIOUS HERITAGE -WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? - An Inheritance Passed On Through Abraham

An Inheritance Passed On Through Abraham

As he carried out his purpose for the earth, Jehovah dealt in a special way with Abraham.  He directed that faithful man to leave his country and move to a land that God himself would show him.  Abraham  willingly obeyed.  After Abraham arrived there, Jehovah said that Abraham's offspring, not Abraham himself, would receive the land as an inheritance.  (Genesis 12:1,2, 7)  How did Abraham react?  He was willing to serve Jehovah wherever and however God directed so that his offspring could receive their inheritance.  Abraham served Jehovah in land not  his for 100 years, until his death.  (Genesis 12:4; 25:8-10)  Would you have done that?  Jehovah said that Abraham was his "friend." -Isaiah 41:8.

Abraham had waited many years for a son, Isaac, whom he dearly loved.  When a boy had evidently  grown to young manhood, Jehovah instructed Abraham  to take the boy and offer him up as a sacrifice. Abraham did not know that he was about to demonstrate what God himself would do in giving his Son as a ransom; yet, he obeyed and was at the point of offering up Isaac as a sacrifice when Jehovah's angels stopped him. (Genesis  22:9-14) Jehovah had already said that his promises to Abraham would be fulfilled through Isaac. Hence, Abraham clearly had faith that, if necessary, God could bring Isaac back from the dead, although such a  thing had never been done before.  (Genesis 17:15-18; Hebrews 11:17-19)  Because Abraham did not
withhold even his son, Jehovah declared:  "By means of you seed all the nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves." (Genesis 22:15-18) This indicated that the Seed mentioned at Genesis 3:15, the Messianic deliverer, would come through Abraham's line.  What a precious inheritance to pass on!

Abraham did not know the significance of what Jehovah was then doing; neither did his son Isaac nor his grandson Jacob, who became "heirs with him of the very same promise."  But they all had confidence in Jehovah.  They did not attach themselves to any of the city-kingdoms in the land because they were looking for something better-"the city having real foundations, the builder and maker of which city is God."  (Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16)  Yet, not all of Abraham's offspring appreciated the preciousness of the inheritance that was available through Abraham. 

Next time: OUR PRECIOUS HERITAGE -WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?  - Some Who Despised the Inheritance

The Watchtower, 2000