the tents of
shem
volume 1
Can an ancient patriarchal blessing be an important key to understanding the history of redemption? Can the hospitality analogy contained in that old man’s utterance explain the unique role that a particular line of his descendants plays in God’s plan of salvation throughout time and eternity? The author of The Tents of Shem contends that Noah’s simple words are a profound foundational template from God Himself: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem… and may he [Japheth] dwell in the tents of Shem” (Genesis 9:26-27). For the first time in history God identifies with a man—Shem. The particular relationship with God is formalized in unilateral divine covenants with Shem’s descendants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob earns the name Israel and the covenant relationship passes on to all his children, the Jews. And there the covenant ends; no other people on earth have such a covenant relationship with God. Which is appropriate, since the biblical analogy describing that relationship between God and the Jewish nation is a marriage. The uniqueness of this bond between the Deity and the Jews will be confirmed in, of all places, the New Testament.
This two-volume biblical history and theology of the Jews begins with Shem and ends with the New Jerusalem that will descend to Earth from heaven as described in John’s Apocalypse. And into that future Jewish capital the Gentile kings of the earth will bring their wealth, a fitting conclusion to having been invited into the Hebrew nation’s covenant blessings.
about the author
William Moffat, as a little boy, was afraid of dying in his sleep. But at Vacation Bible School he learned that he would be accepted by God by placing his faith in the work of Jesus–His death, burial, and resurrection. He trained to be a biologist in university (Hons. B.Sc.) and enjoyed the field work, but God impressed upon him that people were more important than fish so Will trained for the ministry. He received a second bachelor’s degree in N.T. theology and Greek Language. Later he finished a M.A. in Old Testament theology and Hebrew language. He has been privileged to serve as a children’s worker, camp speaker and director, pastor, and Bible institute principal and teacher. He married his university sweetheart, Debbie in 1981, and they have raised 12 children together who have all left the nest, producing 20 grandchildren (so far).