In Genesis 14, Abram has a mysterious encounter with Melchizedek who is the subject of the next type of Christ.
Melchizedek as a Type of Jesus
Melchizedek blessed Abram and through their meeting, he deepens Abram’s understanding of God. Melchizedek is the king of peace and of righteousness and so is Jesus. Melchizedek was the first priest and is referred to in Psalm 110:4 "The Lord has sworn and will not relent, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
Melchizedek brought the bread and the wine when he met Abram. During the Passover meal it was Jesus who took the bread and the wine and explained how his body would be broken for them and his blood shed for them for the remission of their sins.
Although the passage in Genesis 14 is brief, Hebrews Chapter 7 expands on the revelation. In verse 3 in particular, the king of peace is "without mother, without father, without genealogy, having neither the beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually." Indeed Adam did not have a genealogy as he was created by God but he did have a prescribed beginning and ending of days.
Consider also how great Melchizedek was that Abram gave him a tenth of the spoils and in return Melchizedek gave him a divine blessing. This links with Malachi Chapter 3 where a blessing is promised if all the tithes are brought into the storehouse.
Melchizedek is a perfect example of Christ’s millennial reign as Jesus remains a priest forever as mentioned in Psalm 110:4.
Isaac as a Type of Christ
Isaac was a son of promise and Abraham and Sarah longed to receive heirs of the promise that God had revealed to them. The virgin birth of the Son, Jesus was more miraculous though than the birth of Isaac whose parents had far exceeded typical child bearing age.
The clearest example of Isaac being a type of Christ if found in Genesis Chapter 22. Abraham’s faith was confirmed by being willing to sacrifice his son of promise on the altar to God. Notice in Hebrews 11:17 Abraham is described as offering Isaac which is compared with the Father’s offering of His only Son Jesus "and he who had received the promises offered his only begotten Son."
Like Jesus, Isaac was submissive to His Father’s will and was obedient as well as acquainted with suffering. "O My Father if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will" (Matthew 26:39) Obedience was crucial. It was not God’s intention for Isaac to be sacrificed and he would not have been a perfect sacrifice anyway as only God’s Son could atone for sins. In God’s eyes obedience is better than sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:22)
 |
