Jesus the Heir

That is why Jesus went down to Egypt as a child, to fulfil this type. Just as Israel came out of Egypt, so Jesus was called out of Egypt. God did this to show that Jesus is the real Israel and the fulfilment of all the promises and hopes of Israel. He is the one whom the Father loved and called Israel. When Jesus came out of Egypt the scripture says:

When Israel was a child, then I loved Him and called My Son out of Egypt. (Hosea 11:1).

And (Jesus) was there (in Egypt) until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called My Son. (Matt 2:15).

Jesus is called the firstborn, meaning the one God loves, whom He has chosen and the heir of Abraham (Matt 3:17, Heb 1:6). This is why Pharaoh lost all his firstborn (Ex 4:22-23). He was trying to stop God’s firstborn from going out to serve the Lord. So God smote Pharaoh’s firstborn. The nation Israel was not God’s firstborn, but only a type. Pharaoh was touching Jesus Christ, God’s real firstborn.

The nation of Israel failed as God’s firstborn, so Jesus is His firstborn and heir. The whole Old Testament is about two things:

1. Man’s failure.
2. God’s remedy in Christ.

But the scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to all who believe. (Gal 3:22).

Paul explained this in Galatians when he said Christ is Abraham’s seed. He said, not “seeds”, as of many, but one seed, even Christ. There is only one seed of Abraham. That is Jesus Christ (Gal 3:16). So Israel is Christ and all of us who are in Him by His faith. “And if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise.” (Gal 3:29). Christ and His body (church) are one, which is Israel.