TO BE CONTINUED_5-30-21_Genesis-25-1-21

The biography of Abraham closes in Genesis 25 after a lengthy record of trial and blessing in the life of this pivotal patriarch of the faith. Abraham's legacy will continue however, through his family lines. At the end of his days, several themes which have followed his life story, and will accompany the ongoing story of redemption, are prominent. First: the unmistakable sovereign hand of God preserving His covenant promises against all odds is obvious and powerfully evident. Second: the distinction between efforts according to flesh and the seed born through promise (Gal 4:22-23) is featured. Third: the stage is set in the providence of God – even through the faith-lacking-sins of the fathers, for the earliest covenant promise to Abraham to be fulfilled. Gen 12 declares of Abraham that God will make of him a great nation and will give him a great name, and through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Gen 25 anticipates future fulfillment of these promises as nations are born from Abraham's sons, even those according to the flesh. The purposes of God in redemption (in spite of a 4th major theme: The persistent conflict between the 'seed of the woman' and ' the seed of the serpent') will continue to unfold far beyond the lifespan of Abraham and these purposes will be accomplished ultimately through the Son of Abraham according to a fifth theme: the birth of the significant Son yet to come...