The History of Redemption Series Book 2
The Covenant of the Torch
Synopsis
▶ “Covenant of the torch,” the key concept that penetrates through the entire redemptive history.
The first book in the History of Redemption series, Genesis Genealogies, covered up to the appearance of Abraham which marks the inauguration of redemptive history. In the second book of the series, the grand plan of God to save all mankind through Abraham is fully developed. The key concept here is the “covenant of the torch” which God established with Abraham. The covenant of the torch promises, “in the fourth generation your descendants will come back here.”
▶ How was the covenant of the torch fulfilled?
The covenant of the torch was passed on through the 3 generations of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Then, it was fulfilled through the 4th generation descendant, Joseph, who gave his last will and testament forbidding his bones to be buried in Egypt, but instructed that they be buried in Canaan. As the children of Israel came out of Egypt after 430 years, they carried Joseph’s bones with them through the 40-year wilderness journey and the 16-year period of conquering Canaan. Joseph’s bones were finally buried in the land of Shechem in Canaan. This marks the fulfillment of the covenant of the torch after its initial ratification 692 years prior.
▶ The exodus and the 40-year wilderness journey
In the process of fulfilling the covenant of the torch, the Israelites had to go through the 40?year wilderness journey. The 40-year wilderness journey sets the pattern for Christians today who are to leave Egypt (the world), receive training in the wilderness and finally enter Canaan (heaven). This book has taken all the jumbled events of the wilderness?the accounts of unbelief, treachery, repentance and forgiveness?and has clearly rearranged them in chronological order. The story spanning 40 years unfolds before your eyes like an epic novel. You will groan, sigh and at times jump with excitement as you feel deep within your heart that this is your own personal story!
▶ The covenant of the torch has not been fully concluded yet
God has said that the covenant of the torch is “the word which He commanded to a thousand generations” (Ps 105:8) and “an everlasting covenant” (Ps 105:10). In other words, it is not an ancient fable that is relevant only for the direct descendants of Abraham. It spans the 6,000-year redemptive history and is applicable for us today. Joseph, the fulfiller of the covenant of the torch, foreshadows Jesus Christ. God’s grand plan to save mankind through Jesus Christ is symbolized in this story. Moreover, the Bible’s distinctive dual structure (double fulfillment of prophecy) is seen through the covenant of the torch.
Featured Points
▶ The exodus and the wilderness journey mapped out for the first time in history
This book provides the 42 camp sites of the 40-year wilderness journey along with the historical events that took place at each site, their spiritual meanings and the lessons that can be learned by today’s saints. This is the first time in the history of Christianity that the 42 camp sites have been identified. Through meticulous biblical research, numerous on-site investigations, and study of oral traditions of the indigenous people, the author has created a complete map of the wilderness journey.
▶ “The Path to Destruction” ? what happened at the brook Zered?
Of the Israelites that came out of Egypt, the adult males over 20 years of age numbered 603,550. However, as a result of unbelief, only Joshua and Caleb entered Canaan 40 years later. But a question arises at this point. The average life span of the Israelites at the time was over 100 years. Moses lived to be 120 years old and Aaron 123. Out of the 603,548 who died, there must have been numerous men who were still in their 60s at the end of the 40-year wilderness journey. Could all of these men have died naturally at half the age of the average life span? No. With the greatly anticipated land of Canaan just before their eyes, a most tragic and shocking event takes place at the brook Zered.
▶ There were two “Meribah rock” incidents.
When the Israelites rose up in revolt because of lack of water, Moses struck a rock to bring water for them. This “Meribah rock” incident actually happened twice. The first took place at the beginning of the wilderness journey at Rephidim (near Mt. Horeb; Exod 17:6). The second took place at Kadesh near the end of the wilderness journey (Num 20:8). The second “Meribah rock” incident brings about the catastrophic tragedy where Moses, the great leader of the 40-year wilderness journey, is denied entrance into the land of Canaan. The word for “rock” in the first incident is “ts?wr” in Hebrew; however, in the second incident the word “sehlah” is used. There is a great difference between the two rocks. A great mystery in the administration of redemptive history is concealed in these two rocks.
Key Message
In order to fulfill the covenant of the torch which awaits future consummation, a “living” faith like that of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph is required (Matt 22:32). Those whom God regards as “the living” are those who only trust in the gospel of Jesus Christmwho was prefigured by Joseph, the initial fulfiller of the covenant of the torch?and who are “dead” to the sins of this world. The torch of the covenant was burning within the hearts of all the heroes of faith who fulfilled the covenant of the torch with their living faith. That torch is God’s fervent love and desire to save His people.
Commentaries
Nevertheless, it is astonishing that he [Rev. Abraham Park] is interpreting the important words in the Old Testament from the original scriptural language and is using the scriptures to interpret the scriptures. Furthermore, the various charts and tools (“Abraham’s genealogy,” “a single blessing of the firstborn,” “the number of years that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph lived together,” “the forty-year journey at a glance,” “Simeon, Levi, and Judah,” and “Jacob’s twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel”) provided by the author, including a map that he composed after having personally explored the actual sites in Israel, add to the merit of this book, remaining as precious resources that will greatly assist its readers.
Dr. Jae-Yong Joo (former President of Hanshin University)
The author charted the footsteps of the chosen people in the wilderness journey, as they appear in Numbers 33. This is an achievement that no other theologian in history has ever accomplished. I have also opened Bible maps to figure out the route of the Israelites as they followed Moses through the wilderness so that I can teach seminarians about the Pentateuch. However, after the Israelites arrived at Kadesh-Barnea, their route of travel thereafter is shrouded in a fog of mystery. Our joy cannot be curtailed and our appreciation is abounding because we can discern the certainty of these sites on the map most lucidly.
Rev. Taek-Hyun Kang (former President of Hanil University & Presbyterian Theological Seminary)
The author has compared the various views on the “400 years” and “4th generation” which marks the fulfillment of the covenant of the torch. Then he has objectively explained the questions involved and resolved them in a most lucid way, clearly proving that the book is a result of deep penetration and research of the Bible. The author has recorded and organized each step in the process of the torch covenant’s fulfillment according to the administration of redemptive history. I bow my head in respect to this great work.
Dr. Tae-Deuk Lim (Former Moderator of the Hap-dong General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Korea)
Personally, I have always thought that Noah took 120 years to build the ark, but I was greatly amazed to learn through Rev. Park’s previous work, The Genesis Genealogies, that it took less than 100 years (Gen 5:32, 6:10-14, 7:6, 11:10). I couldn’t help but slap my lap in amazement for the fact that the first man Adam lived contemporaneously with Lamech, his 9th generation descendant, for 56 years. This is something that could not have been brought to light without a scrutinizing study of the Bible. I couldn’t curtail my marvelous wonder after seeing the “Map of the Exodus and the Wilderness Journey” which charts the exact locations of the 42 campsites of the wilderness. I believe the author Rev. Abraham Park is the last guardian of faith?who is Bible-centered and doctrinally reformed?of the Korean Church.
Dr. Jung-Jin Kang (former Professor of Historical Theology at Calvin University)
Readers will be overtaken by a magical spell of continuous tension and anticipation that leaves them breathless and motionless. Above all, his literary style has a powerful spiritual charisma that attracts the reader’s attention. Although he uses very concise and plain language, his sentences contain a concentrated form of theological depth that no other pastor or theologian can mimic. His discoveries that the duration of the construction of Noah’s ark was less than the well-accepted 120 years and of the 42 campsites during the Israelites’ wilderness journey are the first of their kind since the time of Noah and Moses. This is a marvelous and celebrated achievement unimaginable even for a scholar who has dedicated his entire life to the study of the Bible and theology.
Dr. Andrew J. Tesia (President, Research Institute of Reformed Theology)
