1732. A blessing on Abram from God the Highest means that the Lord's intermediate self enjoyed benefits from his inner self. This too can be seen from the symbolism of a blessing as, again, the enjoyment of benefits. It can also be seen from the symbolism here of Abram as the intermediate or rational self, discussed above at verse 13 [§1702], and can also be seen from the symbolism of God the Highest as the Lord's inner dimension, also discussed earlier [§§1311:3, 1729].

Abram, as noted, symbolizes the Lord's intermediate or rational self, which was to become one with his inner self (Jehovah), by means of spiritual battles and victories.

The case with the intermediate self is this: The intermediate self, as noted, is midway between the inner and outer selves and makes it possible for the inner self to exert an influence on the outer self [§1702]. Without it there is no communication. Heavenly and spiritual properties are what are communicated. When something heavenly comes through, the intermediate self is called Melchizedek, but when something spiritual does, it is called Abram the Hebrew.

1729. To God the Highest symbolizes his inner self, which was Jehovah. This can be seen from the statement made several times above that the Lord's inner self is Jehovah himself [§§1475, 1573:3, 1602, 1707:5, 1725:2] and accordingly that the Lord is identical with Jehovah the Father, as he himself says in John:

"I am the way and the truth and life." Philip says, "Show us the Father." Jesus says to him, "After all the time I've spent with you, don't you know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How then can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me." (John 14:6, 8-9, 10-11)

[2] The Lord's human nature is what is called the Son of Humankind. At the end of his struggles and trials it united with his divine nature, so that it too became Jehovah. In heaven, then, people recognize no other Jehovah the Father than the Lord (see above, §15). Everything about the Lord is Jehovah — not only his inner self and intermediate but also his outer self and his actual body. As a result, he is the only one who has ever risen into heaven with a body as well. The Gospel writers make this abundantly clear when they talk about his resurrection. ¹ The words of the Lord himself do too:

"Why are thoughts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, because I am he. Feel me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. (Luke 24:38-39, 40)

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