12 Images of Jesus in Genesis 11-20
Genesis reveals Christ through divine appearances, covenant promises, and symbolic types. These Old Testament passages show Jesus as the promised seed, righteous judge, and faithful provider. Every story points forward to God's plan of salvation through His Son.
1. The Confusion at Babel and the True Unity in Christ
"But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, 'If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.'" (Genesis 11:5-7, NIV)
Type: Thematic anticipation
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is the true source of unity that Babel's builders sought through human effort. While God scattered the nations at Babel due to their pride, Jesus would later gather people from every tribe and tongue into one body. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit reversed Babel's curse by enabling the disciples to speak in different languages, proclaiming Christ's gospel. This reminds us that lasting unity comes only through Jesus, not human achievement.
2. God's Call to Abraham and the Greater Call in Christ
"The Lord had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'" (Genesis 12:1-3, NIV)
Type: Direct prophecy
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to bless all nations through Abraham's seed. Paul clearly states in Galatians 3:16 that this seed refers specifically to Christ. Abraham's call to leave everything behind mirrors Jesus' call for us to follow Him. Just as Abraham trusted God's promise without seeing the full picture, we trust Jesus' promises of eternal life. This encourages us that God's covenant faithfulness extends to all who believe in Christ.
3. Abraham's Deception and Christ's Perfect Truthfulness
"As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, 'I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, "This is his wife." Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.'" (Genesis 12:11-13, NIV)
Type: Thematic anticipation (by contrast)
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is shown as the faithful one who never used deception to save His life. While Abraham feared death and compromised truth, Jesus willingly faced death while speaking only truth. When questioned by Pilate, Jesus declared He came to testify to the truth (John 18:37). This contrast reminds us that Jesus succeeded where Abraham failed, becoming our perfect substitute who never sinned.
4. God's Rescue and Deliverance Through Judgment
"But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. 'What have you done to me?' he said. 'Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, "She is my sister," so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!'" (Genesis 12:17-19, NIV)
Type: Typology
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is foreshadowed as the one who delivers God's people through divine judgment on their oppressors. Just as God struck Pharaoh's house to free Sarai, Jesus delivers His bride (the church) from the bondage of sin through His death and resurrection. This pattern appears throughout Scripture - God judges the enemies of His people to secure their freedom. We find comfort knowing Jesus has already secured our ultimate deliverance.
5. Abraham's Generous Spirit and Christ's Greater Generosity
"So Abram said to Lot, 'Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are family. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.'" (Genesis 13:8-9, NIV)
Type: Typology
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is prefigured through Abraham's selfless generosity toward Lot. Abraham gave up his rights as the elder to maintain peace and unity. Similarly, Jesus, though equal with God, gave up His heavenly privileges to secure our salvation (Philippians 2:6-8). Abraham trusted God's provision rather than fighting for his rights. This teaches us that Jesus' example of selfless love should guide our relationships with others.
6. God's Promise of Countless Descendants Fulfilled in Christ
"The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, 'Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.'" (Genesis 13:14-16, NIV)
Type: Direct prophecy
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is the one through whom Abraham's spiritual descendants become countless. While Abraham had one son of promise (Isaac), Jesus makes possible countless spiritual children from every nation. Paul explains that all who believe are Abraham's true offspring (Romans 4:16). The land promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in the new heavens and new earth that Jesus will establish. This assures us of our secure inheritance in Christ.
7. Melchizedek: A Type of Christ the Eternal Priest-King
"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." (Genesis 14:18-20, NIV)
Type: Typology
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is clearly prefigured through Melchizedek as our eternal priest-king. Hebrews 7 extensively explains how Jesus serves as our high priest "in the order of Melchizedek." Like Melchizedek, Jesus combines kingship and priesthood in one person. The bread and wine Melchizedek offered point forward to the Lord's Supper. Just as Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, we honor Jesus as our superior priest-king who deserves our worship and service.
8. God's Promise of a Son and the Greater Son to Come
"But Abram said, 'Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?' And Abram said, 'You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.' Then the word of the Lord came to him: 'This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.'" (Genesis 15:2-4, NIV)
Type: Thematic anticipation
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is anticipated as God's ultimate Son who inherits all things. While Abraham longed for a son to carry on his name and inheritance, God promised that His own Son would be heir of all creation (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus is both the Son promised to Abraham's line and God's eternal Son. This reminds us that through faith in Jesus, we become co-heirs with Him of God's eternal kingdom.
9. The Covenant Ceremony and Christ's Better Covenant
"When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, 'To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.'" (Genesis 15:17-18, NIV)
Type: Typology and thematic anticipation
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is foreshadowed as the one who alone fulfills covenant obligations. In ancient covenants, both parties would walk between the pieces, accepting death if they broke the agreement. But only God (represented by fire and smoke) passed through, showing this covenant depends solely on His faithfulness. Jesus later fulfilled every covenant requirement and died the death we deserved for breaking God's law. This gives us complete confidence that our salvation rests on God's faithfulness, not our own.
10. Ishmael and the Bondage of Works vs. Freedom in Christ
"Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, 'The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.' Abram agreed to what Sarai said." (Genesis 16:2, NIV)
Type: Thematic anticipation (by contrast)
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is shown as the child of promise, not human effort. Paul uses this story in Galatians 4 to contrast law and grace. Ishmael represents trying to fulfill God's promises through human works, while Isaac (yet to be born) represents God's gracious gift of salvation. Jesus came not through human planning but divine promise. This reminds us that salvation comes through God's promise in Christ, not our own efforts to please God.
11. Divine Appearances and the Angel of the Lord as Pre-incarnate Christ
"The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, 'Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?' 'I'm running away from my mistress Sarai,' she answered." (Genesis 16:7-8, NIV)
Type: Divine appearance
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus appears as the angel of the Lord, showing His care for the outcast and oppressed. This divine messenger speaks with God's authority and receives worship, indicating this is no ordinary angel but God Himself. Jesus would later minister especially to outcasts and foreigners. Hagar's encounter shows that Jesus sees and cares for those whom society rejects. This brings great comfort to believers who sometimes feel forgotten or marginalized.
12. The Covenant of Circumcision and the True Circumcision of the Heart
"Then God said to Abraham, 'As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.'" (Genesis 17:9-10, NIV)
Type: Thematic anticipation
Christological Significance: Here, Jesus is anticipated as the one who provides true spiritual circumcision. Physical circumcision was a sign of the covenant, but Paul explains that Christians have "the circumcision done by Christ" (Colossians 2:11). Jesus removes the sinful nature through spiritual rebirth. While physical circumcision marked covenant membership, faith in Jesus marks true spiritual membership in God's family. This encourages us that our identity comes from what Christ has done in our hearts, not external rituals.
Summary
These twelve passages from Genesis 11-20 reveal Christ through prophecy, typology, divine appearances, and thematic anticipation. Together, they show God's eternal plan to send Jesus as the promised seed, the perfect priest-king, and the faithful covenant keeper. Every story points forward to the one who would succeed where others failed and fulfill what others could only foreshadow. These early glimpses of Christ remind us that God's plan of salvation was never an afterthought but His eternal purpose from the beginning.