Blessings stream around Abraham.  The human family, every family, owes Abraham an award for the blessing.  Since the man from Mesopotamia is not God whence is he the source of blessing?  From being old man with an old wife Abraham goes on to be the focal point of the Hebrew people’s 400 year sojourn in Egypt,  their 40 year journey to the promised land,  their production of David’s family, and the security against their neighbours.  If one listens to James alone one would never guess that Abram was a man that God saved from sin, and the neo-Pharisee would have people believe that the bottom line of godliness is one to ten commandments, or perhaps a package of hundreds.  That is an incredibly nourishment poor life to live in a land of bread and wine.

The endurance of favour to Abraham

Despite the Lord’s anger being kindled against Israel, and although He had repeatedly given them into the hand of Hazael king of Aram, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael (2 Kings 13:3, NASB) His policy towards Israel included an apparent endless regard for Abraham.

22) Now Hazael king of Aram had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23)  But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now. (2 Kings 13:22-23, NASB)

2) And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3) And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

Genesis 12:2-3, NASB

The food and drink in Abraham’s blessing

18) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 19) He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20) And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all.

Genesis 14:18-20, NASB

There is nothing the Aaronic (Levitical)  kingdom could add to Abraham’s estate.  The writer of Hebrews makes the case for the great Levitical priesthood to be subject to the figure who blessed Abram.

“Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.”

Hebrews 7:4

9) And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10) for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.”

Hebrews 7:9-10

The endpoint is not Levitical

Perfection and commandments are terminal concepts.  Four  Greek terms entole, teleios, telos, teleiosis are related to the proto-root TEL.  These four terms, (1) command, (2) a perfect or mature person or thing, (3) a goal or end, and (4) maturity or perfection are performance trackers.  Grace, on the other hand delivers irrevocable gifts.

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 7:11, NASB

Now since perfection has not come and cannot come through the Levitical priesthood there is no quest for a new  priesthood, but there is a new and superior one.  All the shadows of the levitical system, it is furnishings,  processes and chronology are mere picturee or shadows of the end of all things..  But let us return to the substance of blessing.

Mere talk that truly matters

Both barak and eulogeo BLESS are terms defining speech.  A simple thing like saying “good morning ” is a blessing, as are way more consequential speech like eulogies. When GOD pronounces someone blessed it is necessarily consequential, ant not mere words for a good feeling. So how are Abraham, his descendants and believers eulogized?

Divine eulogies

Abraham blessed and blessing others

Who is going to forget that Yeshua connected the dots of eating and drinking with apparent no regard for one of the Levitical system’s most traditions, the ban on ingesting blood?  In fact, the blood ban goes all the way back to the early days of the post flood world.  Who is going to forget that after Yahweh’s words of blessing to Abram (Genesis 12:2 and 3) Melchisedec blessed Abram with bread and wine (Genesis 14:18-20)?

Christ turns away condemnation and blesses all

Who is going to forget that Yeshua gave his flesh and blood as food for the nourishment of the elect, or that he is a beautiful shepherd whose duties are feeding and guarding his flock? Bread and wine, food and drink are in a new place, far from the shadows, figures and types.