Introduction
Four thousand years ago, God spoke to a man in an ancient pagan city. What began at that point is the cornerstone of most of the Bible. Most of the Bible is about those descended from this man. The message of the Bible is unfolded from what this man heard. Two thousand years later, Jesus uses this man to picture His coming kingdom.
“And I say to you, that many shall come from east and west, and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 8:11)
Most of Genesis is about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God worked through these three generations to begin a nation that He would shepherd for two thousand years. Jacob’s sons became the twelve tribes of Israel. More importantly, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob carried the Seed that would bring salvation to the world. God began something with Abraham with the ultimate purpose of bringing a Savior to the world.
The story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the story of God and man. The history is true; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be sitting there in the kingdom of heaven. But an allegory is also present in the story. Just as Jesus drew parables to explain His message, God has drawn pictures that are embedded in the stories of the Bible.
The Bible was not meant to be just a history book. It leaves out much while focusing on small details at times. God wants to communicate with us just as He wanted to communicate with Abraham. He knows that we follow and remember stories better than we do theology.
Genesis, the first book of the Bible, has a message that is meant for us.
“Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (I Corinthians 10:11)
The Bible has one Author; it is woven together by His hand.
“…In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will…” (Ephesians 1:8-9)
“…and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…” (II Timothy 3:15-16)
The Bible was meant for us; it was always His purpose to speak to us through it.
Abraham
Abraham is the beginning of the story.
His story is also a key part of New Testament theology. Paul uses Abraham to explain justification by faith in Romans 4.
“For what does the Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)
As Paul builds the case for justification by faith in Romans, Abraham is the central part of this chapter.
The story of Abraham pictures justification for us.
(We’ll come back to this later…)