Abraham’s natural seed – All of Abraham’s physical descendants are the true ‘seed of Abraham’ in a natural sense. The following facts must be kept in mind throughout any discussion of ‘Abraham’s seed.’ I think everyone knows these things are true, but we seem to forget their importance in our discussions. Ishmael, Isaac, Esau, and Jacob were all equally the true physical seed of Abraham. We must remember that all of these seeds were given nearly every promise that Abraham himself was given.

Ishmael—A True Son of Abraham

Ishmael received the covenant sign of circumcision on the same day as his father Abraham because he was Abraham’s true son.

In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son (Gen. 17:26).

In Genesis 17:23, the Holy Spirit carefully distinguished between Ishmael as a true son and the slaves and servants in Abraham’s household. As mentioned earlier, there is a marked similarity between the list of things promised to Ishmael in Genesis 17:20 and the list promised to Abraham in Genesis 17:6. The fulfillment of the promise that Ishmael would become a ‘great nation’ was rooted in the fact that Ishmael was truly ‘Abraham’s seed.’

And also of the son [Ishmael] of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed (Gen. 21:13).

Any view of ‘the blessings promised to Abraham’s seed,’ especially the promise of becoming a great nation, that ignores the above facts concerning Ishmael being a true seed of Abraham must, of necessity, be very shallow. Ishmael was blessed, was made fruitful, became a great nation, begot princes, and wore the sign of circumcision because he was the seed of Abraham. However, in no sense whatever was he ever under grace. Ishmael would have been labeled a covenant child by Covenant Theology despite the fact that his circumcision did not put him under any covenant of grace whatever.

Esau—A True Son of Abraham

Esau received far more special blessings than Ishmael but Esau was still only one of Abraham’s natural seeds. Esau wore the sign of the covenant of circumcision, but like Ishmael, Esau was never under a covenant of grace.

Esau was Abraham’s grandson and Jacob’s (Israel) twin brother. Esau was as much a true son of Abraham as Jacob. Again, according to Covenant Theology, Esau was signed and sealed in the covenant of grace because he was the physical seed of believing Isaac. As a true covenant child, Esau should have had every single covenant promise that his brother Jacob had, but Scripture specifically says otherwise (Rom. 9:13).

God gave Esau a land grant just as He did Jacob; and further, God later refused to allow the Israelites to meddle with Esau’s land.

Meddle not with them; for I will not give you their (Esau’s descendants) land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given Mount Seir unto Esau for a possession (Deut. 2:5)

This land was given to Esau because he was Abraham’s seed (Josh. 24:1–4). Both Jacob and Esau were ‘blessed in faith’ by their believing father, Isaac (Heb. 11:20).

All of the foregoing things were just as true of Esau as they were of Jacob simply because Esau was just as much a true seed of Abraham as was his twin brother Jacob. If theologians of all persuasions would just keep these clear facts in front of them, they would avoid unbiblical statements concerning the promise of God to Abraham and his seed.

Jacob (Israel)—A True Son of Abraham

We need not take time to show that Jacob (Israel) was also Abraham’s natural seed. Jacob was indeed Abraham’s natural seed, but he was a very special natural seed. In one sense all of the children of Israel are natural seeds of Abraham exactly like Esau, but in another sense they are ‘special natural seeds’ because they are the sons of Jacob and therefore are under special covenantal promises. God made promises to Jacob that he did not make to Jacob’s twin brother Esau, even though both are the natural grandsons of Abraham.

This would be the logical place to discuss the nation of Israel as Abraham’s special natural seed. However, since the relationship of the physical nation of Israel to the church is the heart of the problem in both Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism and forms the bulk of this book, we will cover it last. We will now textually establish Abraham’s spiritual seed.