Types and Shadows

To continue the subject of purity, there are several O.T. people who were used by God to reveal the patterns of His ways. They are called "examples" by Paul to be used to instruct us in this path toward being like Jesus to manifest God as did Jesus. The Holy Spirit is given to empower us on this journey.

Genesis is called the book of "beginnings", so let us start with Adam. The difference between the Adam in the garden and the Adam denied the garden and separated from God's Presence is the reverse of what happens to us. We are separated from God and united with Him when we are born of the Spirit when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus as taking our place. The journey for Adam was downhill for a time until the birth of Seth, when men began to call on the Lord. We see him sinking in his guilt and self-condemnation for a time and then turning to teach future generations until in the seventh generation he saw Enoch walking with God. What a terrible recognition for Adam to realze he had thrown away a relationship that he could have pursued! I start with Adam, for though the study of types and shadows is usually to reveal Christ in these lives, they also are about us. We see our weakness and the hand of God leading us in these examples.

The example of Jacob is precious to us, for though a person with recognized faults, he had a hunger for God that overshadowed any faults. He was 15 years old when his greatgrandfather, Abraham, died. I can only imagine Abraham's joy in teaching the child the things God had shown him and the experiences he had learning to walk in covenant with God. Esau had no time to sit and learn from an old man. This hunger to possess the birthright revealed the widening difference between Jacob and Esau. Nothing willl set you apart from this realm like a driving hunger for God. Jacob recognized God's visitations to him in dreams and visions and allowed them to shape his life. He recognized God's hand on Joseph and though he pondered Joseph's dreams, he did not let them reveal God's purpose to him. This is to me a vital truth. Recognizing revelation in others and accepting it for yourself to see God's purpose is a victory over this adamic nature. This was Israel's problem with the prophets God sent to them. It is the problem the church faces today. The scripture says God will do nothing without first revealing it to His messengers, the prophets. We need to recognize the prophetic Voice of God in man and accept it for ourselves to guide our thinking and actions. It is vital to know the Spirit's voice to yourself, but you must also recognize it in others. Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice and another they will not follow." Why do so many follow man? They do not know the Voice of the Spirit. There are many voices being heard today but blessed are you when you recognize the Voice of the Spirit, spoken by man, and allow it to drive you closer to God. Blessed are the people whose pastor waits for the Voice of the Spirit before he speaks. We have this blessing, for I believe our pastor seeks the Lord for his voice to the people as well as asking counsel from those who also seek the Lord. "Blessed are the ears that ear...."