We are studying the Greatest Story Ever Told, which is the gospel, the good news of God reconciling a people to Himself for the purpose of displaying His glory in the whole earth. This is story told from Genesis to Revelation, from the beginning to the end of time, and we are living uniquely between the first and second Advents (appearances) of Jesus the Messiah. Christians are to model and spread God’s Kingdom in between advents, so that God is glorified in every nation. This is just a survey of Redemptive History, for we could spend time in every chapter of every book, and that study would be well worth it, but what I desire in the present is for you to get a taste of the theme of the Bible, so that you can see it played out in detail in your personal Bible study, and strive to live your life according to God’s story and thus have supreme satisfaction in the only one who can satisfy—Christ the Messiah. This study is like a movie trailer, and the Bible is the full-length picture. If you read the Bible like it is a collection of short stories and laws, then it can been quite boring and confusing; however, God’s Word comes alive when you begin to realize just how interconnected and interwoven each story is in the grander story—and then you come alive when you realize that your life is just as interwoven into this grand story of God’s redemption. This story is not a sappy chick-flick of a movie, it is a super-hero Lord of the Rings meets Narnia meets Transformers meets Die Hard meets Armageddon meets 2012 Marvel Comics style epic; where the main character who is on a rescue mission to save humanity actually dies, but in the most drastic turn of events in history is raised from the grave and defeats death. What better foe to defeat than death!? Who is left to fight when death is defeated!?
By the time we get to Genesis 15 Abram seems a little defeated. Chapters 12-14 saw Abram in a precarious situation in Egypt, having lied about Sarai (his 60+ wife, who must have been quite the looker) being his sister, which brought plagues on the Pharaoh who took her as his wife. After the Egypt debacle Abram and Lot decided to part company, because there simply was not room and resources for both of them and all of their people and all of their livestock in the same land. Then Abram found himself and his people fighting in a war, and meeting a mysterious figure. Abram’s journey with the God who called him out of his home land and made him a wanderer had taken several twists and turns, so God comforts Abram in Genesis 15:1-6.
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." 2But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir." 4And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir." 5And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Abram has been following God, not knowing the road ahead; perhaps he was nervous, afraid, etc. When we follow God we follow Him down a road that is completely unfamiliar to our humanity. God’s road of righteousness is difficult, it is contrary to who we are, and Abraham did not know his next step and was discouraged, but God said, “Fear not.” Abram argues with God a little bit. How interesting is it that Abram would question Almighty God? He says that he has reason to fear, for he has not yet had the son whom God promised. He was sure that Eliezer of Damascus would be his hier. But God corrects his fear by assuring him that he will indeed have a son, a son of his own blood, just like he promised. God doesn’t yell at Him, or throw down lightning bolts, even though Abram doubted the very God to whom He spoke—rather God patiently explained that He is faithful to fulfill that which he promises. At this point in Redemptive History we have not yet seen a whole lot of covenants between Almighty God and sinful man. Perhaps Abram did not know what to expect. Perhaps all his other “gods” had let him down, but Almighty God King of Heaven and Earth does not fail to come through on His end of the bargain.
Genesis 15:6 stands out as a mighty beacon of Redemptive History, connecting the Old Testament to the New with one of the most important Christian doctrines. Abraham believes God and it is counted to him as righteousness: justification by faith. Paul explains in Romans 4:2-4:
2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." 4Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness…
Why is this so significant? To be justified before God is to be made right. Christians are justified, made right in God’s sight, by His grace through our faith, as a gift not of works lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2). That is how we are saved, post Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, but Paul explains that Abram (and all others in the Old Testament) was saved the same way. Righteousness was counted to Abram by his faith, not by his works, which places Abram in the same boat as you and me. The difference is that God passed over Abram’s sins, looking forward to the cross on which Christ would pay for Abram’s sin; whereas, for us He looks back at the cross where Jesus paid for our sins. But what is true for us is true for Abraham, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”-2 Corinthians 5:21
God promised salvation for Abraham, and delivered on that promise in Christ. When God makes a covenant God keeps both ends of the deal. God promised Abraham something, and He delivered. God promises us that if by grace we have faith in Christ then we will be with Him in the fullness of His glory for all of eternity. On that promise He will deliver, and that is the goal of Redemptive History. Amen.
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