The History of Redemption Series Book Two –
The Covenant of the Torch
A Forgotten Encounter in the History of the Exodus and Wilderness Journey
“By clearly organizing the Bible from the salvation and covenant perspective, Rev. Park has attempted something that has not been attempted during the two thousand years of the church’s history.”
~Dr. Andrew J. Tesia, President of the Research Institute of Reformed Theology
BOOK SYNOPSIS
The first book in the History of Redemption series, The Genesis Genealogies, ends at the first appearance of Abraham, which marks the inauguration of a new phase in redemptive history. In the second book of the series, The Covenant of the Torch, the grand plan of God to save all mankind through Abraham is developed in full earnest. The “covenant of the torch” which God established with Abraham, promises, “in the fourth generation your descendants will come back here.” “The Covenant of the Torch,” is the key concept that penetrates through the entire redemptive history.
Why read it?
The exodus and the wilderness journey mapped out for the first time in history.
– This book presents the 42 camp sites of the 40‐year wilderness journey along with the historical events that took place at each site, their spiritual meanings, and the lessons that can be gleaned by believers today. The number of Israelite male over 20 years of age was 603,550 during the Exodus. However, only Joshua and Caleb entered Canaan 40 years later. This book explains why the rest of the Israelites could not enter Canaan.
Find out how the Covenant ratified with Abraham is still applicable for the saints today
– The covenant of the torch was passed on through the three generations of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Then, it was fulfilled through the fourth generation descendant, Joseph, who gave his last will and testament for his bones to be buried in the land of Canaan, not in Egypt. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they carried Joseph’s bones out with them through the 40‐year wilderness journey and the 16‐year period of conquering Canaan. Joseph’s bones were finally buried in the land of Shechem in Canaan. This marks the fulfillment of the covenant of the torch 692 years after its ratification.
God has said that the covenant of the torch is “the word which He commanded to a thousand generations” (Ps 105:8) and “an everlasting covenant” (Ps 105:10). In other words, it is not an ancient fable that is relevant only for the direct descendants of Abraham. It spans the 6,000‐year redemptive history and is applicable for us today. Joseph, the fulfiller of the covenant of the torch, foreshadows Jesus Christ. God’s grand plan to save mankind through Jesus Christ is symbolized in this story.
To leave Egypt (representing this world) and to enter into the Promised Land (Heaven)
– In the process of fulfilling the covenant of the torch, the Israelites had to walk through the wilderness for 40 years. The 40‐year wilderness journey sets the pattern for today’s Christians, who are to leave Egypt (the world), receive training in the wilderness (church), and finally enter Canaan (heaven). This book has clearly rearranged all the events of the wilderness—the accounts of unbelief, treachery, repentance and forgiveness in chronological and geographical order. The 40‐year long story unfolds before your eyes like an epic novel. You will groan, sigh, and at times, jump with excitement as you feel, deep within your heart, that this is your personal story!
BOOK EXCERPT
The number of camps: 42
The Israelites camped 42 times from Succoth, the first camp since the exodus, until Gilgal, the last camp. The wilderness route through the 42 camp sites can be divided into five general sections.
(i) The journey from Rameses to the Wilderness of Sinai
The Israelites camped ten times in this section. They departed from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month in the first year of the exodus (Num 33: 3) and arrived in the Wilderness of Sinai on the third month of the first year of the exodus (Exod 19: 1).
(ii) The journey from the Wilderness of Sinai to Rithmah (Kadesh‐barnea)
The Israelites camped three times in this section. They stayed at Mount Sinai about one year and departed from the Wilderness of Sinai on the twentieth day of the second month in the second year of the exodus (Num 10: 11–12). It is an 11‐day journey from Mount Sinai to Kadesh‐barnea (Deut 1: 2); however, taking into account all the things that took place at Taberah, Kibroth‐hattaavah, and Hazeroth, it probably would have taken much longer
than 11 days for over two million Israelites.(iii) The journey from Rithmah (Kadesh‐barnea) around and back to Kadesh
The Israelites camped 18 times in this section. According to Numbers 20: 1, they arrived back in Kadesh on the first month of the fortieth year of the exodus. The Israelites departed from Rithmah, which is adjacent to Kadesh, and returned to Kadesh after 38 years (Deut 2: 14).
(iv) The journey from Kadesh to the Brook Zered
The Israelites camped six times in this section. Aaron died on Mount Hor on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year of the exodus during this section of the journey (Num 33: 38). Brook Zered is a turning point in the wilderness because all those who were counted among the 603,550 people in the first census (Num 1: 46), except Joshua and Caleb, were struck to death and perished by God’s judging hands (Deut 2: 13‐16).
(v) The journey from Crossing the Brook Zered to Gilgal
The Israelites camped five times in this section. The second generation of Israelites in the wilderness victoriously pressed on across the Jordan River into Canaan and pitched the final, forty‐second camp in Gilgal.
ACCOLADES
Dr. Jae‐Yong Joo
(Former President of Hanshin University)
Nevertheless, it is astonishing that he [Rev. Abraham Park] is interpreting the important words in the Old Testament from the original scriptural language and is using the Scriptures to interpret the Scriptures. Furthermore, the various charts and tools (Abraham’s genealogy, a single blessing of the firstborn, the number of years that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph lived together, the forty‐year journey at a glance, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, and Jacob’s twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel) provided by the author, including a map that he composed after having personally explored the actual sites in Israel, add to the merit of this book, remaining as precious resources that will greatly assist its readers.
Rev. Taek‐Hyun Kang
(Former President of Hanil University & Presbyterian Theological Seminary)
The author charted the footsteps of the chosen people in the wilderness journey, as they appear in Numbers 33. This is an achievement that no other theologian in history has ever accomplished. I have also opened Bible maps to figure out the route of the Israelites as they followed Moses through the wilderness so that I can teach seminarians about the Pentateuch. However, after the Israelites arrived at Kadesh‐Barnea, their route of travel thereafter is shrouded in a fog of mystery. Our joy cannot be curtailed and our appreciation is abounding because we can discern the certainty of these sites on the map most lucidly.
Dr. Tae‐Deuk Lim
(Former Moderator of the Hap‐dong General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Korea)
The author has compared the various views on the 400 years and 4th generation which marks the fulfillment of the covenant of the torch. Then he has objectively explained the questions involved and resolved them in a most lucid way, clearly proving that the book is a result of deep penetration and research of the Bible. The author has recorded and organized each step in the process of the torch covenant’s fulfillment according to the administration of redemptive history. I bow my head in respect to this great work.