We see in this chapter a wonderful type of coming events in prophecy. We have a confederacy of people in the land of Canaan who are wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly. This represents the apostate nation of Israel, led by Antichrist. There is a great confederacy from the east, who sweep down from the north and defeat the five kings. This pictures the Assyrian of the Old Testament prophets. It is the “overflowing scourge” (Isa. 28:15, 18) that God has prepared to punish the rebellious nation. The Lord will appear with the armies of heaven and destroy that confederacy, and will later employ the faithful among Israel to judge what remains of their enemies. Abram represents the Lord as a Warrior, along with the faithful of Israel, and his allies represent those nations who favor the Jews in the tribulation. Lot represents the nation of Israel, “trodden down” (Isa. 5:5; 18:2; Luke 21:24) by the Gentiles because of Israel’s history of unfaithfulness, but rescued by the Lord when He appears. After the judgment is complete, Christ will come forth in blessing to the earth, pictured by Melchisedec. The whole world will give Christ His rightful place, just as Abram gave Melchisedec tithes of all the spoil of Sodom. The Lord will then divide the spoils with those who have been His allies (Isa. 53:12), just as Abram did with the young men that came with him.

The life of Jacob is a remarkable type of the nation that bears his name, the children of Israel. Most of Jacob’s life was taken up with seeking to gain earthly blessing through the efforts of the flesh, rather than walking in communion with God as Abraham had. This is similar to Israel’s history under the law, seeking to establish their own righteousness, rather than have the righteousness which is by faith (Rom. 10:3; Phil. 3:9). Because he had deceived Isaac and offended Esau, Jacob had to live in exile, beginning with Gen. 28. The majority of the record of Jacob’s life took place outside the land of Canaan, where he was under both the discipline and protection of God. This is similar to how the children of Israel, through their own disobedience, were taken captive and cast out of their land. When at last Jacob returned to Canaan, his family was a mess. The son of his old age, Joseph, was sold into slavery by Jacob’s sons, and Jacob was deceived by his boys just as he had done to his own father Isaac. To Jacob, his son Joseph was as good as dead. This pictures the rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah by the Jews. At last God sent a famine which brought Joseph into power over Egypt, and the brothers down to buy corn. The seven years of famine are a type of the seventieth week of Daniel, the seven-year tribulation period. Jacob being deprived of Benjamin is a type of the nation’s darkest hour; the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7). Joseph’s dealing with his brothers is a type of God’s work with the Jews throughout the tribulation, seeking to bring them to a realization of national guilt, and repentance (Zech. 12:10). This work was brought to  completion when Joseph revealed himself to his brethren, a type of Christ revealing Himself to the Jewish remnant. Jacob was brought to Egypt and blessed in association with Joseph, who a type of Christ as exalted in the Millennium; “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17). Jacob’s life closed with him worshiping, “leaning on the top of his staff” (Heb. 11:21) This speaks of Israel’s final restoration and blessing in the Millennium, seen as the outcome of Jehovah’s work with them, His discipline, and the fruit of His faithfulness to His own sovereign promises.