The Holy Spirit in the Book of Genesis gives us God’s first communication to men, and right from the beginning the Spirit of God has delighted to unfold the glories of the Son of God. The prophetic word abounds with clear and unmistakable reference to Him, and if His glory and greatness dawns upon our souls, we will be steadied and tranquilized in the midst of the mightiest upheaval that could overtake us while we wait for His glorious appearing.
God’s rest in the Garden of Eden did not long remain unbroken. For a brief space only, man answered to the intentions of his Maker; then sin came in, blighting that fair world of which Paradise was the center. Man was turned out of his inheritance, and outside Eden the world-system sprang into existence. Cain was the founder of it, and his posterity endeavored to garnish it and establish it in perpetuity; the flood swept it away. At the building of Babel we see the revival of the world-system, but men were building without a foundation and in defiance of God. Jehovah looked upon their work and confounded it, and instead of accomplishing their cherished desire, they only manifested their folly and perversity. But although men have persisted in their course of independence of God, the end of their works is at hand, for all the glory of man shall perish, and the glory of the Lord shall fill the whole earth.
The Stone Foretold
Christ is the true foundation, the living Stone; He will also be the top-stone of the moral universe which is destined to replace the great world-system which began with Cain and Babel. Genesis 49 is a remarkable prophecy in this connection. Although the eyes of the patriarch Israel were dim from age so that he could not see, his spiritual vision was wonderfully keen when he gathered his sons about him to tell them what should befall them in the last days, for in the blessing of Joseph he clearly outlined the sufferings of Christ and the glory to follow, and parenthetically in this blessing there is the remarkable allusion to Christ: “From thence is the Shepherd, THE STONE OF ISRAEL” (Gen. 49:2424But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (Genesis 49:24)). Thus, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:2727And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)).
The Stone of Israel is introduced in the blessing of Joseph. This typical man was rejected, hated and cast out by his brethren. His pathway was a downward one until he was cast into a dungeon in Egypt like a common felon, but from that condition of degradation he was suddenly raised to a position of eminence and glory next to the king on the throne. Let us consider Him whose sufferings and glory are faintly prefigured in Egypt’s great deliverer.
Long centuries intervene; then Isaiah comes forward to confirm the word of Jacob: “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation” (Isa. 28:1616Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16)). Jacob gave no details, but Isaiah tells us that the Stone of Israel was the foundation upon which all God’s purposes would rest.
The Stone Rejected
When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, and He appeared in the midst of Israel, for the leaders of that nation were the builders to whom He was first presented. He was the great test for them, set in their midst according to the word of the aged Simeon when Jesus was brought as a babe into the house of God: “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel” (Luke 2:3434And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Luke 2:34)).
We cannot fail to see how the Lord Jesus took up the Old Testament prophecies in their proper order, applying them to Himself during His sojourn on earth. He could use the language of prophet or psalmist in its true connection, bringing conviction to the hearts of His hearers. Yet His life did not evoke a favorable response on the part of men; it only brought out their hatred. He was rejected at every turn and brought at last to Pilate’s judgment bar as a malefactor, amid the universal cry, “Away with this Man ... crucify Him, crucify Him” (Luke 23:18-2118And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 19(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 20Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. (Luke 23:18‑21)).
The Stone of Israel was utterly rejected by the builders. In their final act they stumbled and fell over the Stone and were broken to pieces. Israel’s present condition is conclusive evidence of the terrible fall they sustained in thrusting from them their only hope. In this way Simeon’s word was amply verified, “This Child is set for the fall ... of many in Israel.” The latter part of his prophecy will be fulfilled at Christ’s coming again, when, after terrible soul exercise and self-judgment, they will exclaim, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isa. 25:99And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25:9)).
The Stone Exalted
We pass now from the short-lived triumph of the enemy to the triumphs of Christ. The cross was the crowning act of man’s wickedness; God’s triumph is demonstrated in resurrection. The Stone that the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner (Acts 4:1111This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (Acts 4:11)). He is the One upon whom every purpose of God hangs, and therefore the present period of grace is being used of God to call man’s attention to His beloved Son in glory. The Holy Spirit has come to earth to gather out of the world a company which shall be associated with Him forever. This company is spoken of in Scripture as a spiritual house; those who form it are living stones, having come to Christ as the Living Stone (1 Peter 2:4-54To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4‑5)).
Though men pay little heed to this work, it goes on steadily and without interruption. Just as all the stones for Solomon’s temple were prepared beforehand, and not so much as the sound of a hammer was heard in the rearing of it, so the Spirit of God is silently working, and the building is being prepared through which, in the day of glory, will shine the light and perfection of God.
The Stone Victorious
The great world-system begun in Cain and revived at Babel has been perpetuated in Babylon and the kingdoms that followed. Under the protection of these kingdoms the world-system has flourished, but since it has been raised in independence of God, it must be utterly destroyed to make way for that which cannot be shaken and which is pleasurable to Him.
Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream a stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which smote the image, breaking it to pieces, and carrying it away like the chaff of the summer threshing floor. Afterward the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. In this symbolic language we see Christ coming out of heaven to put forth the power vested in Him as the Son of Man. He will claim the earth for Jehovah, until His glory pervades the wide creation. “The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2:4444And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Daniel 2:44)).
The Second Man, the Lord out of heaven, has covered the whole extent of territory between the two extremes in the universe of God: “Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things” (Eph. 4:9-109(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:9‑10)). In this way He has established His right to fill everything for God. What a day of rejoicing and gladness it will be when the glory and power of Christ are supreme and when the earth is in complete subjection to Him!
Like Unto a Stone Most Precious
If there is the glory of the terrestrial, there is also the glory of the celestial, but whether in heaven or on earth, all glory radiates from the Son of the Father’s love. In all things He must have the preeminence. Heaven and earth have never been in accord since sin came into this world, but they will be united again; the moral distance will in that coming day exist no longer. One word therefore remains to be added — the church is destined for glory. The structure now being raised, the vessel being formed, is for the perfect shining out of Christ in the ages to come. Her light will not be her own. It will simply be the perfection of that which is stated of individuals in 2 Corinthians 4:66For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6) JND: “Because it is the God who spoke that out of darkness light should shine who has shone in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Here we have a final view of “the Stone,” and there is no diminution in the glory of it. “He carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Rev. 21:10-1110And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; (Revelation 21:10‑11)).
In eternity the church will transmit those glorious rays, but then, as now, she will ever be dependent on Him, and yet made competent by Him in every sense for reflecting the light of this Stone most precious.
It will be the work of God Himself to write the image of Christ on each of the redeemed. Therefore we read, “The foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones” (vs. 19). No one stone could describe Him, nor can one saint ever express Him fully, but when this happy consummation is reached, each shall bear His blest image.
May each saint of God, redeemed for such a destiny, be enrapt with this glorious Person while we wait His speedy return and meditate on the depth, meaning and import of these words: “From thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel.”
J. T. Mawson (adapted)