Marbaniang, Domenic

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, God was known as the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. He was the God of the Fathers. The possessive phrase "of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob" reminded of at least three aspects of the YHWH-Israel relationship: 1. The Covenant-Basis of the Relationship. God made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and with their descendants; so, Israel stood in a covenant relationship with God. (2Kgs.13:23) 2. The Continuity of the Relationship. Jesus declared that the phrase "of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob" implied that God was the God of the living and not of the dead. The phrase didn't become obsolete when the three patriarchs physically died. The phrase was valid because they were alive in the spirit, and God was the God of living; which also meant that the relationship was a living and continuing one (Matt.22:32; Mark 12:25,26; Matt.8:11). God's relationship with Israel as a nation didn't die when the patriarchs died physical...