Does 'in Isaac shall thy seed be called' refer to Israel's millions or to Christ?
In Genesis 21:12, 'in Isaac shall thy seed be called' points to the singular seed, not Israel's millions. The Hebrew word for seed can mean one or many depending on context, and here the context is singular. Therefore it refers to Christ, not the multitudes from the twelve tribes.
Les explains that Genesis 21:12 follows the account of Ishmael tormenting Isaac and Hagar being sent away. God tells Abraham not to be grieved because of the lad or the bondwoman, but to hearken to Sarah's voice: 'for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.' Les stresses that the Hebrew word for seed, Zerah, works like the English word sheep: it can be singular or plural, one or many. So the reader must watch the text and the context. The question is whether it means the many—Israel's offspring, the tribes, and the multitudes of people—or the singular seed, Christ. Les says this is where it is singular, not the offspring of the millions of people from the twelve tribes.
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
More Questions
Does 'thy seed' in Genesis 21:12 mean Israel's many descendants or Christ?
In Genesis 21:12 the word 'seed' is singular — it refers to Christ, not to the millions of offspring from the twelve tribes.
Does Genesis 21:12 use 'seed' as singular to refer to one person, Isaac?
In Genesis 21:12, 'thy seed' is singular and refers to one person, with Isaac now on the scene, so the singular seed is called through Isaac.