Old Testament - Lesson 7 The Abrahamic Covenant I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. (Genesis 17:7)

Types and shadows Type and Shadow The most important lesson Latter-day Saints should draw from this year's study of the Old Testament in gospel doctrine classes is "the way it gives a Type and Shadow of the Savior coming to earth.” Sunday School general presidency, Church News, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010

Dualism (Types and Shadows) There is a beautiful painting of the Savior holding a black lamb with a herd of white sheep in the background. You know that the painting is not telling us that Jesus was a shepherd. It is telling us that like a good shepherd, He knows his disciples and will do all He can to rescue those who have gone astray. As we study the Old Testament, it will serve us well to understand the concept that animals and inanimate objects such as a tree bearing fruit, or a rock, are a type of Christ. This is a concept that I like to call dualism, because the word has a double meaning.

What do the following have in common? Adam, Enoch, Noah, Jared, Abraham, Moses, Lehi, Nephi, Mosiah, Alma, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young They were all prophets of God They all made a covenant with God They all preached the gospel Wicked people sought to destroy them Wicked people sought to destroy them They were led to a promised land (Zion) All who believed went with them They were all assciated with a new Dispensation

Dualism There is common thread in the scriptures wherein both the type and the shadow are very important. That thread is the manner in which the Lord leads his covenant people to a promised land in order to escape a wicked setting. It carries with it a double meaning of leading mankind towards Eternal Life by overcoming the results of the Fall.

From Ur to Haran Abraham 1:4 - I sought for mine appointment unto the Priesthood Abraham 1:7 - (The people) hearkened not unto my voice, but endeavored to take away my life. Abraham 1:28 - The records have come into my hands, which I hold at the present time Abraham 2:15 - The Lord said unto Abraham, get thee out of thy country Abraham 2:15 - The Lord said unto Abraham, get thee out of thy country Abraham 2:5 - (We) left the land of Ur (and went) into the land which we denominated Haran Abraham 2:5 – There were many flocks in Haran

From Haran to Canaan Abraham 2:6 – The Lord appeared unto me, and said unto me: Arise, I have purposed to take thee away out of Haran….to bear my name in a strange land Abraham 2:15 - I took Sarai …. And all the souls we had won in Haran and came forth in the way to the land of Canaan Abraham 2:16 – Eternity was our covering and our rock and our salvation, as we journeyed from Haran by the way of Jershon, to come to the land of Canaan. Abraham 2:18 – And then we passed from Jershon through the land unto the place of Sechem (plains of Moreh - Israel) Abraham 2:19 – The Lord appeared unto me ….and said unto me: Unto thy seed will I give this land.

Abraham (From Ur to Haran) Jershon Abraham (From Haran to Jershon) Abraham (From Jershon to Canaan) Abraham (From Canaan to Egypt)

Types and Shadows Earthly Blessings Abraham was given a promised land to live in (Abraham 2:6-19; Genesis 12:7; 17:8) Eternal Parallel The righteous will inherit the celestial kingdom (D/C 88:17-20)

Types and Shadows Earthly Blessings Abraham was promised a great posterity (Abraham 2:9-10; Genesis 12:2-3; 17:2-6) Eternal Parallel If we keep our covenants, we are promised eternal marriage and eternal increase (D/C 132:19-22)

The Seed of Abraham How do you know that you are the seed of Abraham? What blessings do you have as a result of being of the seed of Abraham? What responsibilites do you have as a result of being of the seed of Abraham? How is the Everlasting Covenant associated with marriage?

The End by Joseph L. Allen, PhD.