15 Days Through the Bible: Number 5
We have traveled from Creation to Babel, but its not until chapter 12 of Genesis that we get our first clue of God's ultimate plan to redeem the pain and loneliness of the relationship that was broken when sin entered the world.
Abram is married to a woman names Sarai. She is Abram's 1/2 sister, which was not as strange at this time in history.
She is barren and living in a time where a woman's worth was tied to her ability to bare children.
This is a pivotal point in the Bible.
The books of Romans in the New Testament reveals that Abram was not chosen because of good behavior or works, he is viewed as righteous because of his faith in God.
We should put our finger at this spot in the Bible. If we follow this thread it will lead us to the Messiah. The ONE!
We don't know a lot about Abram before God chose him; we know his father was named Terah, he had a brother named Nahor, and a nephew named Lot. It also appears he comes from wealth.
In Genesis 12:1-3 God reveals a big piece of His plan for humanity to Abram. He promises Abram four things if he will trust God and follow. This is the second covenant we see in the Bible.
- The first is the NOAHIC COVENANT
- The second is the ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 1. “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
2. I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.3 3. I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
4. and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
Abram could not have understood the extent of those promises at the time. He obeyed anyway and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Romans 4: Abraham Justified by Faith
4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a]
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
Abram does many "not so good things" in his life. He displays moments of doubt and coward-ess. The Bible doesn't hide these errs in judgement. He runs to Egypt for fear of a famine in the land; Once there he claims his beautiful wife is his sister (a half truth), in order to escape being killed for her beauty, not once, but twice. He allows Sarai to coax him into having a child through another woman, to accomplish God's promised heir. This results in a family feud when the child is grown. God will have the glory for the miracle child (as Abram and Sarai are reminded) and it will happen in His time, His way, not through human manipulation.
God's changes Abrams name to Abraham. In a traditional ritual of that time, He has Abraham split animals in two, and then tells him to sit and wait. Normally two people would walk through the two halves as they make an unbreakable vow. Through this they are stating symbolically "should I break my vow, let me be as these animals"
When Abraham falls asleep, while waiting, God, in a vision, God walks through the halves alone, restating His promise to Abraham and his heirs. He is telling Abraham that He will keep the promise that He made to him and his family. (Genesis 12:1-3/ Genesis 15) It was a one way covenant, not dependent on human acts or works.
Abraham and Sarah (as both names were changed by God), do have a miracle son. The covenant promise is passed down through the generations this heir:
Abraham to Isaac,
then to Jacob and
finally to Jacob's 12 son's and two grandsons.
These 12 descendants will become the nation of Israel, through whom the promised One who will crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15) will eventually be born.
The story of Joseph (son number 11) is an amazing story and foreshadow of the Messiah. You can find this story in the last half of the book of Genesis chapter 37-50. Through Joseph the Israelites are saved from famine and go to live near Egypt. .At the end of Genesis we find this baby nation of Israel living in Goshen near Egypt. The name Israel is given to them by God. They have grown to hundreds of thousands, and wind up doing slave labor in Egypt for 400 years. They feel forgotten by God, but as we know, feeling may matter, but they are not the truth. God has not forgotten them. He will reveal His plan, his way, and in His perfect timing.
Genesis 12:1-3
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Romans 4:16b For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”[d] This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”[e] 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
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