@KJV1611 ,
study the
TWO ways
"seed" is used
in Genesis:
--"SEED [SINGULAR]"
--"SEED [PLURAL]"
(
in English, they look alike... but CONTEXT usually shows the distinction)
... here's an old post I made on that:
[quoting old post]
Okay, then this is the part I've mentioned in past posts, about
the distinction (in Genesis) between
"seed" SINGULAR and
"seed" PLURAL (where used), in order to grasp what point Paul is making
in Gal3 / HERE (about "seed" SINGULAR). One must understand of WHICH of the
TWO in Genesis is being referred to
[whether "seed [SINGULAR]," or "seed [PLURAL]" (coz BOTH are used in Gen.)] in this Galatians 3 passage... because
the other one is also important to grasp and not to be altogether neglected, if that makes sense)...
[quoting Gaebelein]
"
Now we come [in v.15] to the question of promise, which is a very different thing. Faith [the subject of the preceding section ending with vv.13-14] involves, at any rate, the condition of soul in the person who believes;
the promise looks at the dealings of God; and although we have seen that those who have faith are the only receivers of the blessing, and not those essaying to do the law,
now we have to consider God promising, as well as law given. "Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; though it be but a man's covenant, yet, if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made" - not the law given.
Abraham knew nothing about the law, neither did his seed or son; yet they could not deny that Abraham got the blessing. So that here he stands on a new ground. It is not only that souls which have faith will get the blessing, but why not have faith in the law too?
The latter part of the chapter takes up this question, and shows that God has given promises; and the question is, how to reconcile God's law with His promises. What did He give these two things for? Were they meant to produce the same end? Were they on the same principle? The Holy Ghost settles these questions. "
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."
Here it is plain, that the allusion is to two distinct and signal occasions in Abraham's history. These two occasions were first to Abraham alone; (Gen. 12; ) and secondly, to Isaac, or rather in Isaac alone. (Gen. 22) In the last chapter, both the numerous seed and the single seed are referred to. With the numerous seed God connects the possessing the gate of their enemies - that is, Jewish supremacy, But this is not what one acquires as a Christian. I do not want my enemies to be overthrown, but rather to be brought to Christ.
But the Jews, as such, will have not only blessing through Christ by-and-by, but their enemies put down. Israel will be exalted in the earth, which God never promised to the Gentiles.
In Genesis 22. the two things are quite distinct. Where the seed is spoken of without allusion to number, the blessing of the Gentiles comes in; but where they are said to be multiplied as the stars and the sand, then the character is unequivocally Jewish precedence. Such is, I believe, the argument of the apostle. Where Christ, typified by Isaac, is meant, it is "thy seed" simply, without a word of seed innumerable as the stars or the sand. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made;"
namely, of the blessing of the Gentiles, and not merely of the putting down of the Gentiles.
The promises were made first to Abraham, and then were confirmed in his seed. "He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and of thy seed, which is Christ." He takes Christ as the one intended by Isaac."
--Gaebelein, Commentary on Galatians 3 [source: BibleHub]
[end quoting; bold, underline and bracketed inserts mine]
[end quoting old post]