Dispensation of Promise...1. God asked Abraham to get out of his country, from his family and from his father's house (12:1). But Abraham came along with his family members (11:31,32)

Biblical Dispensation

Dispensation of Promise

Outline of our study 1. The definition of the name of the dispensation 2. The length of the dispensation 3. The favorable beginning of man in each age 4. The test for man in each period 5. The purpose of God in each test for man 6. The means of God in accomplishing His purpose 7. The failure of man to meet the test 8. The judgment of God upon man because of his failure 9. God's provision of redemption for man at the end of each age

House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries 2

Expressions of the Ages


Eternal Past

• Dispensation of Angels

• Col 1:15-18 (invisible things)

• 1 Cor 15:40 (celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies)

Dispensation

• Innocence

• Conscience

• Human Government

• Promise

• Law

• Grace

• Kingdom

Eternal Future

- Ages

The Antechaotic Age (Gen 1:1 to Gen 1:2)

The Antediluvian Age (Gen 1:3 to Gen 8:14) Re-creation to Noah’s flood

The Present Age (Noah’s flood to second coming of Christ)

The Age to come (the Millennium)

The Age of the Ages (the Eternity)

1. Definition • This dispensation is called "Promise" because of the

promises and covenants made to Abraham and His chosen people during this period.

• The first promise of the coming of Christ was given at the garden of Eden and Adam knew that He would come through any of his sons.

• It is true that Christ came through Seth and his descendants as mentioned in Gen 5 and Luke 3:38

• The prophecy of Noah concerning Shem is generally taken as the next prediction of the coming of Christ, Gen 9:24-27 and Luke 3:36


1. Definition • Beginning with Abraham, God singled out his branch

through whom the seed of the woman should come. During this 430 years God gave many prophecies of the coming Messiah through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his descendants.

• In Gen 12:1-3 we have the first prophecy that is being fulfilled and will be fulfilled through Christ Jesus (Gen 12:3b, Acts 3:25, Gal 3:8, 14-16)


2. Length of the dispensation of Promise


* Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh, Gen 41:46 7 years of plenty, 7 years of famine(Gen 41:53), Jacob went to Egypt at the 2nd years of famine(Gen 45:6) Jacob in Egypt 17 years(Gen 47:28) So Jacob died when Joseph was 56 years(30+7+2+17) Joseph lived 110 years, Gen 50:22 From Jacob's death to that of Joseph (110-56=54)

Descendants Years Reference

From the 75th year of Abraham to the birth of Isaac

25 Years Gen 12:4; 21:5

From Isaac's birth to that of Jacob 60 Years Gen 25:26

From Jacob's birth to his death 147 Years Gen 47:28

From Jacob's death to that of Joseph 54 Years *

From Joseph's death to the exodus from Egypt 144 Years Ex 12:40 (430Y)

Total 430 Years

3. The favorable beginning of man in Promise

• The Dispensation of Promise began with the call of Abraham.

• God revealed Himself to him and made eternal covenant with Him to give the land of Canaan.

• Abraham had the true knowledge of God , the Lord appeared to Him and he listened to God in many situation

• Abraham had the Gospel of Christ and faith in God and in the redeeming blood of Christ from all sin (Gal 3:6-9, Rom 4:1-25)

• He had the promise of eternal life and faith in resurrection (Heb 11:8-19)



• Abraham believed in divine healing (Abraham prayed to God and God healed the house hold of Abimelech Gen 20:17,18)

• Abram was separated from the idolatrous nation of Ur of the Chaldeans, Gen 11:28

• Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold, Gen 13:2

• By looking at the beginning of this dispensation as in Gen 12, the condition was so favorable.

• Human government continues along with the dispensation of promise. House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries 8


• Many laws given to Noah in Gen 9 are still effective. Time to time God added many more laws to the original 6 laws. Some of these laws are listed in Genesis.

• Monogamy (Gen 12:18, 16:1), Adultery (Gen 12:18, 20:3-9), Priesthood (Gen 14:18), Tithes (Gen 14:20, 28:22), Covenant making (Gen 15:10-18, 21:27-34, 31:44-55), Circumcision (Gen 17:10), Hospitality (Gen 18:1-8, 19:8), Licentiousness -unrestrained (Gen 18:20-21), Fornication (Gen 34:7), Oaths (Gen 21:23, 24:41), Birthright (Gen 25:33), Anointing oil (Gen 28:18, 31:13), Vows (Gen 28:18), Idolatry (31:32-35), Brother's wife (Gen 38:8), Dowry (Gen 34:12), and mixed marriages (Gen 34:14).

• Many of these laws were included in the laws of Moses. House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries 9

4. The test for man in Promise

• Due to the rebellion nature of man, God decided to work with individuals to accomplish His task rather than dealing with the whole race.

• The particular test for man was to believe the promise of God and obey the laws as given.

• In addition to this, God tested every individuals of His choice, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.


5. The purpose of God in the dispensation of Promise

• God's purpose was to lead His children to the land of blessings Gen 12:1,2

• God purposed to let Israel multiply in another land until they become strong enough to destroy the ungodly and possess the land. Ex1:9,10

• God purposed to bless Abraham and his seed physically, financially and spiritually.

• God wanted to demonstrate to all heathen who serve false gods what serving the true God would be like.

• God wanted to make Israel a super power to defect all the powers of Satan. House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries 11

5. The purpose of God in the dispensation of Promise

• God wanted to banish poverty, sickness, sin and all misery form the earth for all that would follow Israel. He gave such a blessing to Abraham, in thee shall all the nations be blessed, Gal 3:7-9.

• Blessings such as salvation, remission of sin, conversion, repentance, faith, consecration, eternal life, spiritual revelations, redemption, sanctification, justification, bodily healing, health, grace, heirship, reconciliation, imputation of righteousness, answer to prayer, bodily resurrection, fruit of the spirit, and many others experienced by the gospel were experienced in Abraham's seed before the cross.


6. The means of God in accomplishing His purpose

• Personal dealings and revelations of God and His plan to Abraham and his seed were the means used by God in accomplishing His purpose in this age.

• God made them to multiply in the foreign land. His seed multiplied slowly. Only 70 souls in 215 years (until they went to Egypt- Genesis 46:27), but in the next 215 years they multiplied to 600, 000 men of war (Exodus 12:37-38) besides their wives and children and older people. There must have been 6,000,000 people when they came out of Egypt including the Egyptian proselytes. God wanted them to be strong enough to destroy the giants to possess the land.


6. The means of God in accomplishing His purpose

• The sword of Israel was the means God used in destroying the mighty race. Deut 20:12-17

• When His children surrendered to God completely, Israel demonstrated before all nations the power of God over sickness, poverty, want and sin.

• There was not one feeble person in all their tribes, Psalm 105:37

• He promised continued freedom from sickness and diseases, Ex 15:26, 23:25

• He promised wealth and happiness in addition to all other blessings, Lev 26, Deut 28


7. The failure of Abraham (Gen 12:11-25:11)

The failure of Abraham (Gen 12:11-25:11)

1. God asked Abraham to get out of his country, from his family and from his father's house (12:1). But Abraham came along with his family members (11:31,32). The delay in Haran was not the plan of God.

2. The second failure of Abraham was the manifestation of unbelief in God's preservation and provision. Abraham decided to go to Egypt at the time of famine.(V12:10)

3. More than that, Abraham was afraid that Egyptians would kill him. So he lied Sarah as his sister (V 12:12-13) and gave Sarah to Pharaoh (Gen 12:10-20). He didn't believe the protection of God.


7. The failure of Abraham (Gen 12:11-25:11)

4. Also He didn't believe the promised seed to Sarah. Sarah came out with an idea for God to fulfill His promise. Sarah gave Hagar, her house maid to Abraham, thinking that the promised seed will come out. But Hagar bore to Abraham a son called Ishmael (Gen 16). Today descendants of Ishmael is blessed because of Abraham’s unbelief.

5. Gen 17:15-20. When God said I will bless Sarah and give her a son. When God said, she will be called a mother of nations Abraham fell on his face and laughed.

Thus Abraham was not really perfect as many think. For about 24 years he had a struggle with his faith. After several failures to believe God, Abraham became strong in faith and no more failure of faith is recorded.


7. The failure of Isaac (Gen 21:1-35:29) • Isaac seemed to be less spiritual that Abraham. He had

fewer revelations than did Abraham.

• Isaac, like Abraham, failed in faith when famine came and went into Philistia and sinned the same way Abraham did concerning his wife, Gen 26:1-7.

• Isaac had no child even after twenty years since he married Rebekah. He prayed to God and twins Esau and Jacob were born. Gen 25:20-26.

• God predicted that Jacob would be the greater as through him the Messiah was to come, Gen 25:23. But Isaac loved Esau, Gen 25:28 and tried to give him the blessings. But he was defeated through the trick of Rebekah, Gen 27:3-25.

• Isaac lived in the land for many years and died at the age of 180 years, Jacob and Esau buried him , Gen 35:27-29.


7. The failure of Jacob and his sons (Gen 25:24-49:33)

• Jacob was less spiritual than Isaac. He was called Jacob or supplanter because in the womb he tried to get ahead of his brother and be the first born, Gen 25:24-26.

• When grown he bought his brothers birthright and stole his blessings, Gen 25:27-36, 27:1-46.

• Because of this he had to flee to Haron to escape his brother's wrath, Gen 28

• He tried to get all the riches of his father-in-law by working against him, Gen 29,30

• Laban and his sons plot against Jacob and Jacob fled back home.

• Laban followed him and caught him in Gilead, God intervened and gave an escape to Jacob, Gen 31 House of Intercessory Prayer Ministries 18

7. The failure of Jacob and his sons (Gen 25:24-49:33)

• Esau came after Jacob with 400 armed men, Jacob failed God in being afraid that he would be killed.

• He wrestled with God all night and his whole life was changed, Gen 32.

• God made Esau friendly and Jacob settled in Canaan, Gen 33.

• It was there his daughter was defiled and this caused her brothers to kill all the men of Schechem, Gen 34.

• Some of his family became idolaters, Gen 35:2


7. The failure of the descendants of Jacob

• Rachel his beloved wife and Isaac his father both died, Gen 35

• Sons of Jacob, twelve tribes, Genesis 35:23-26; Exodus 1:2-5; Numbers 1:20-43; 1 Chronicles 2:2; Revelation 7:5-8)

• Reuben committed adultery with his father's concubine (secondary wife), Gen 35:22. Reuben lost his rights as firstborn

• His sons became lawless and unfaithful and lied to him.

• They sold Joseph into Egypt, Gen 37

• Judah, one of his sons, brought shame upon the family in the matter of his daughter-in-law and in marrying outside the chosen family, Gen 38.

• Jacob ended his life in Egypt with his sons and died at the age of 147 years, Gen 47.


7. The failure of the descendants of Jacob • The descendants of Jacob were less spiritual than he was,

except Joseph and in a period of 215 years, they were almost wholly backslidden and had forgotten God, Ex.2:23-25, 3:13-18, 4:1-9, 29-31, 5:1-23.

• God permitted them to the bondage of the Egyptians so that they could be brought back to faith through troubles.

• Thus we see the devil tried many times through these failures to defeat the plan of God in the coming of the seed of woman.

• He tried 3 times to corrupt Sarah and Rebekah. • He tried several times to cause Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his

sons to be fearful of death before the promise of God was fulfilled in them.

• He tried famine, unbelief, fear, war, deceit, lying, slavery, murder and other means of defeating God's purpose.


7. The failure of all men in general

• Not just the chosen ones, but the gentiles rebelled against God as a whole.

• Some of the cities and nations were very sinful such as Amorites, Sodom, Gomorrah, Egypt, etc, Gen 13:13, 15:13-16, 19:1-25, 31:30.

• Majority of the men in every age failed to live up to the light they have received. For this they will receive judgment of God, Romans 2:12-16.


8. The judgment of God upon man because of his failure

The judgment upon Israel (Ex 1:7- 6:30)

• Due to the continued decline of spirituality of Israel through this age and her universal backsliding from the original faith in God and His promises that were given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God permitted them to be oppressed by the Egyptians. This brought them to repentance and made them to cry for the mercy of God. God heard and raised up Moses to deliver them.


8. The judgment of God upon man because of his failure The judgment upon Egyptians (Ex 7:1-12:51) God sent ten plagues upon Egypt because of their stubborn refusal to obey God and let Israel go back to Canaan to fulfill prophecy.

1. Blood -Ex 7:14-25 - towards Nile, an object of worship to the Egyptians of that day.

2. Frogs - Ex 8:1-15 - against the gods of Egypt, frogs were honored and worshipped as symbol of fruitfulness

3. Lice - Ex 8:16-19 - against the magicians of Egypt, unlike the previous plagues, the magicians were unable to duplicate this one, and declared to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19).

4. Flies - Ex 8:20-32 - against the idolatrous worshippers in Egypt. Cleanliness was important in the Egyptian worship. This plague was directed towards Beelzebub, the God of flies to produce hatred against him.

5. Death of livestock - Ex 9:1-7 - this was against the animal worshippers. Was a judgment on the goddess Hathor and the god Apis, who were both depicted as cattle.

6. Boils - Ex 9:8-12 - judgment against several gods over health and disease (Sekhmet, Sunu, and Isis). This time, the Bible says that the magicians “could not stand before Moses because of the boils.” Clearly, these religious leaders were powerless against the God of Israel.

7. Hail - Ex 9:13-35 - directed against vegetation and beasts of the field, the Gods of Egypt were supposed to turn away any storm.

8. Locust - Ex 10:1-20 - Against the Egyptian God Serapis, who supposed to protect the land from locusts. Locusts came and driven out at the command of Moses shows the impotence of idol gods.

9. Darkness - Ex 10:21-27 - was aimed at the sun god, Ra, who was symbolized by Pharaoh himself. For three days, the land of Egypt was smothered with an unearthly darkness, but the homes of the Israelites had light.

10. Death of the first born - Ex 11:1-12:51 - Nothing could be more disastrous to Egypt to show the powerlessness of their gods, who were special deities to protect the household from all harms.


http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Exodus 8.19





9. God's provision of redemption

1. Blood - Blood of the lamb applied over the door and on both sides (Ex 12)

2. Power - Not only the blood was applied, it also took power to bring Israelites out of Egypt.


Documents

Dispensation of Promise...1. God asked Abraham to get out of his country, from his family and from his father's house (12:1). But Abraham came along with his family members (11:31,32)