ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tusite Fepueli 21, 2023 

Be Fruitful and Multiply פרו ורבו

FAKATUPU TOKOLAHI

EXODUS 1:7

BUT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE FRUITFUL AND INCREASED GREATLY; THEY MULTIPLIED AND GREW EXCEEDINGLY STRONG, SO THAT THE LAND WAS FILLED WITH THEM.

EXODUS 1:7

Pea na‘e hako ‘a ha‘a ‘Isileli, ‘o nau tupu ‘o hangē ha neveneve, ‘io, na‘a nau hoko ‘o tokolahi mo kaukaua ‘aupito ‘aupito; pea na‘e fonu ‘a e fonua ‘iate kinautolu.

We associate the phrase p'ru ur'vu ("be fruitful and multiply") with God', creative blessing to Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:28). That Israel was "fruitful and "multiplied" in Egypt ought to cause us to sit up and take notice. When God chose the people of Israel, he made them a corporate replacement for Adam and Eve. Just as the first two people had their sacred garden in Eden, so Israel would have their sacred land. Just as Adam and Eve were to serve and guard the garden (Gen. 2:15), so Israel as a holy priesthood was to serve and guard God's Word, his land, and his house. The Lord was starting over with Israel. And he made that restart clear by blessing them with fruitful marriages and multiplying offspring, even on foreign soil.

All God's promises to Israel find their "Yes" in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). The Messiah came to be not only the second Adam but also Israel reduced to one. In him, God fulfills promise after promise, including many offspring, for we who believe in Christ are adopted members of the family of God, born again by the Spirit, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! (Rom. 8:15).

Abba Father, hear our prayer and make us coheirs with Christ, your Son and our Brother.