Father Abraham (Genesis 15-17)

As we make our way through the patriarchs, looking forward to this promised son from Genesis 3, we come to the life and time of Abraham. In the story of Abraham, we get an even clearer picture of how it is that God has been saving people from the beginning. Sadly, at this time many, if not the whole world, had turned their back again on God, building the tower of Babel, as an affront against God’s command to go and multiply and subdue the earth, but also to make a name for themselves. In the chaos, God calls Abraham to follow after Him, to go to a land that is not his homeland and to establish himself there as God being his God in that place. From here we will see that Abraham was not a perfect man but he was a man who was growing in faith, and at a pivotal time in his life when he believed that God would give him a son, even though he and his wife were well over childbearing age. God credited his faith as righteousness. And by those few short words, God is showing that Abraham was completely forgiven, as was Abel, Seth and his line, even Noah, all those who placed their faith in God, trusting Him, they are forgiven. What a wonder! What a glory! How clear God has been in how He was treating people who come to Him in faith.