Farmers Need Good Seed
To produce a good crop, every farmer or gardener knows that you need good quality seed. Appearance and tests can be used as a basis to select quality seed. Quality seed should have the following characteristics: purity, germination, weight, and color. Purity usually cannot be determined by looking at the seed or by a lab test. One must have absolute knowledge of the source by reading the seed tag and relying on the credibility of the seller. Testing is the only reliable means of determining the ability of the seed to germinate and the presence of disease. Visual inspection can not determine germination. Testing a good representative sample is the only way to ensure the seeds will grow.
High test weight per bushel indicates well-matured seed. Large, well filled, plump kernels produce fast growing, healthy seedlings that may tiller more. Such seedlings can withstand early growing season stress, have more expansive root systems, compete more effectively with weeds and are better able to tolerate low levels of disease. Good seed is usually large, plump and uniform in size to permit even seeding. Discolored, black, pink, grayish seeds or shriveled, off color seeds usually indicate disease. Good seed color should be normal for the crop and typically indicates seed free from disease, with no weather or storage damage.
Seed must not be high in moisture and must not be heated, musty, moldy or insect damaged. Germination may be affected considerably, even if mold damage is visible only as a dull grayish color or is noticeable as a slightly musty odor. Good seed is free of foreign material such as sticks, chaff, stones, parts of insects, dirt, cracked seed, etc. This material may not be injurious to the field or crop produced but adds to the seeds cost and may interfere with uniform seeding. Good seed is free from weed seeds. Much of the seed sold today has been genetically modified – making it sterile!
Early in the book of Genesis the concept of the seed is established. Seed is in itself, and each kind of seed reproduces after its kind.
Genesis 1:11 (KJV) – “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed , and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. There is a deep spiritual meaning associated with the word “seed”.
Enmity Between the Seeds
The word “seed” appears 279 times in the King James Version Bible! Definitions of the word “seed” include: A source or beginning, offspring, progeny, posterity, family stock, ancestry or the principle of future life. This principle of ancestry was established early in the Bible:
Genesis 3:15 (KJV) – “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
In the garden of Eden, God declares a future struggle or battle between the seed (offspring) of the serpent and the seed (offspring) of the woman. Then the Bible prophetically declares that the seed of the woman ultimately defeats the seed of the serpent. In the opening chapters of Genesis, we see the promise of a savior and redeemer. This promise is maintained after Cain slew his brother Abel in the field. The promise of the future savior is renewed thru Seth, then Enoch (7th from Adam) then thru Methuselah (the oldest man) to his grandson Noah.
Genesis 9:8-9 (KJV) – “And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you.”
God renews the covenant that began with the promise in the first chapter of Genesis. Noah’s has three sons – Shem, Japheth, and Ham. Thru the lineage of Shem, the Spirit of God singled out one man, Abraham, and devoted fourteen chapters of the Bible to him. Abraham was the only person in Old Testament called “the friend of God.” God renews his covenant with Abraham, then with his seed, his only son Isaac and then thru one of Isaac’s sons Jacob. Then this royal lineage continues thru Moses.
Exodus 33:1 (KJV) – “And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it.”
Jacob was the father of twelve sons who became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel or the ‘Nation of Israel’. David’s line (or seed) came from Jacob and went through Judah (one of the twelve sons).
John 7:42 (KJV) – “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
Satan Attempts to Destroy the Righteous Seed
Satan has always tried to destroy the righteous seed out of the earth. God will always preserve the righteous seed. There will always be a remnant alive to pass on the righteous spiritual seed. In 2 Kings chapter 11, we read of yet another of Satan’s attempts to destroy the promised seed of the woman, the “seed royal”. Athaliah was the daughter of Israel’s King Ahab, was married to Judah’s King Jehoram, and was the mother of Jehoram’s successor, King Ahaziah. Jehoram died prematurely from disease, and Ahaziah is killed only a year later.
When this happened Athaliah, well schooled in evil, decided not to allow her baby grandson to become king, but to assume the throne herself. To this end, she murdered every heir who might be a rival to the throne, and declared herself queen. However, her daughter Jehosheba managed to rescue Ahaziah’s baby son Joash, and with the aid of her husband, the faithful priest Jehoiada, kept him hidden for six years. When Joash was seven years old Jehoiada, in a display of great courage, foresight, and faith, orchestrated a coup to overthrow wicked Athaliah. And place the rightful king, King David’s heir Joash, on the throne instead.
2 Kings 11:1-4 (KJV) – “And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.”
Thus we see that the royal seed was preserved.
Acts 13:22-23 (KJV) – “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.”
Who is the Seed of Abraham?
The Bible says that David was a man after God’s own heart. Jesus Christ came from the line of David, an ancient Israelite royal family, according to both promise and prophecy.
Romans 4:13-18 (KJV) – “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed , through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed ; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.”
The promise was not given thru the law but through the righteous of faith. The purpose of the law is to point out sin. The law worketh wrath – the law condemns. Abraham is the father of us all, the Father of the faithful! Scripture declares that Abraham is made a father of many nations. This promise thru Abraham was not only to those which are of the law (the Jews) but also to that which are of the faith of Abraham.
Galatians 3:16 (KJV) – “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”
Natural Versus Spiritual Seed
Why does the apostle Paul say “not of seeds, as of many”? Because Abraham possessed in his family two seeds, one natural, namely, the members of his physical household and the other spiritual, those who were like himself because of their faith. These promises were not of a temporal nature. Had they been so, they would have belonged to his natural seed; (blood relations) but they did not. Therefore they must have belonged to the spiritual posterity. If we continue reading the 3rd chapter of Galatians, we can clearly see this concept.
Galatians 3:26-29 (KJV) – “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed , and heirs according to the promise.”
Paul here is warning the Galatians that they should rely on grace and not works. He’s warning them not to be led astray by those teaching another gospel. Man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. Law cannot promise life, only death. Thru Christ that we have life! Thru Christ we receive a new nature and a new name. If we are Christ’s, then we are of Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Paul in his epistle to the Church in Rome further explains this promise:
Romans 8:14-17 (KJV) – “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
No man or woman is led to God without the assistance of the Spirit of God. Christ by his sacrificial offering has opened up the Kingdom of God to all believers The Spirit of Christ enlightens, quickens, strengthens and guides the true disciples of Christ. All that were under the law were under the bondage of its ceremonies and rites. Believers in Jesus Christ brought from under the law, and under its condemnation and freed from its bondage.
Freedom from the law is not a license to sin. But freedom in Christ to produce the fruits of righteousness through a Spirit-led lifestyle. Born-again believers need not live in fear because we are adopted into the household of God. The Spirit of adoption allows us to call upon God thru Christ Jesus – Abba – Father. This term Abba is one of affection and closeness. The term Abba speaks of an adoption from one family to another. From the family (seed) of the serpent to the family (seed) of God. You see – slaves were NEVER permitted to use the terms Abba, father or Imma, mother when addressing their Masters or Mistresses.
Adoption as a Child of God
Thru this adoption, we inherit the promises of Abraham. In any legal adoption, the adopted child inherits all the possessions of the Father just as if he is naturally born into the family! The Spirit of God is the same Spirit that witnesses to our adoption. And so as Heirs of God he will treat us as His sons and daughters. That phase infers that we will not only have his favor while here but also eternal life from now on. Furthermore, we are joint-heirs with Christ – Christ is THE “Son of God”. He is the heir to the full honor and glory of heaven. Christians united to Christ and are destined to partake with him of his glory.
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) – “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
All born-again believers are part of a royal priesthood. We are the “seed royal”!
For related articles see A Temple Made Without Hands Finding the Church in the Old Testament The Kingdom of God The True Israel of God
- The Mystery of 17 - December 23, 2023
- God’s Land Promise to Abraham – Fulfilled? - November 14, 2023
- World Without End – Amen! - February 18, 2019
[…] the Adamic Covenant. One born of a woman would be wounded in the process of destroying Satan. The “seed” of the woman who would crush the Serpent’s head is none other than Jesus […]