Witnesses to Jesus

"And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. ²⁹ Then Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?" ³⁰ And he said, "You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well."

Genesis 21:28-30

When Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant together, Abraham set seven ewe lambs by themselves.  He directed Abimelech to receive them as witnesses they had made a binding agreement:  he would deal honestly and show kindness to Abimelech to his descendants, and Abraham would retain rights to the water of the well he dug.  These valuable female lambs were tangible evidence of their transaction and agreement simply by virtue of being lambs given and received.  These ewes would grow to be fruitful for years to come, symbolic of the prosperity and health that would flow from their enduring friendship.

As I consider these lambs set apart as a witness of the covenant Abraham and Abimelech made together, I am reminded of how Jesus has sanctified His followers as His witnesses of the covenant in His own blood.  In regards to when God would restore the kingdom to Israel, after His resurrection Jesus answered His disciples in Acts 1:7-8:  "And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."  It is amazing the everlasting God would choose lost sinners saved by the Gospel to be His witnesses.  We are fundamentally witnesses, not because of what we do, but due to what Jesus has done in purchasing and redeeming us with His own blood.

One result of the Holy Spirit regenerating and taking up residence within us is He makes us spiritually fruitful.  He gives spiritual gifts to each believer according to His will so we might glorify God and edify the church.  We are witnesses to the world of what Jesus accomplished on Calvary by transformed hearts and lives now lived for His good pleasure.  Like those sheep were witnesses Abraham dug the well, Christians are witnesses Jesus has died on the cross, rose from the dead, has ascended to the Father, and have given us eternal life by grace through faith in Him.

Today there are differences of opinion of the exact location where Jesus was buried because He is not there; He is risen!  Instead of an empty tomb being strong evidence of Christ's resurrection and redemptive work, it is the lives of Christians filled with the Holy Spirit that are His witnesses, adopted into His everlasting kingdom as beloved children.  Praise the LORD for the new covenant in His blood, and how He has separated us unto Himself to be His fruitful witnesses now and forever.