Abraham and the Gospel

Introduction:

The Gospel was first revealed in the Old Testament. Not in all of the detail that we see in the New Testament, of course, but it is there. The very first pulling back of the curtain of revelation is in Genesis 3, right after Adam and Eve had sinned and been confronted by God. God proclaimed that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. We find another pulling back of the curtain of revelation in the life of Noah, that God would preserve a people from wrath. There are others, of course, but I think my favorite is how the Gospel was revealed to Abraham.

Abraham:

Of course, His name wasn’t Abraham at the start. He was named Abram. Abram means, ‘Father is exalted.’ Abraham, on the other hand, means ‘Father of a multitude.’ Abram’s name was changed as a part of the promise given by God.

Abram was likely an idol worshipper when he was called by God. But, just as with us, God had other plans. When we were lost in our sin, He called us to something beyond our imagining.

Cutting the Covenant:

In Genesis 14, we find an Abram who had just been successful in rescuing his nephew, Lot. In Genesis 15, God promises to greatly reward Abram. Abram responds, “What will you give me that I want? You haven’t given me any children. My heir is a servant born in my household!” (Gen 15:2-3, paraphrase).

God renews His promise to Abram and Abram believed Him. (See 15:6.) This is the incident that Paul references, ‘Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’ (Gal. 3:6, NET).

We already see part of the Gospel elucidated here, that righteousness comes by faith. But we are not finished.

In 15:9, God commands Abram to take several animals and to prepare them. As part of this, the larger animals are divided in two, with a path between the pieces. Ratifying a covenant in this way is called ‘cutting a covenant.’

Abram was probably expecting to travel this path. This would have been a symbolic act. In essence, Abram would have been calling on God to curse him if he violated the covenant that was being made. Since this covenant was with God, Abram probably expected to bear all of the penalty, while God would have borne none of it. In this, it would have an exchange, with Abram doing his part and God doing His part.

But this isn’t what happened!

Abram fell asleep waiting for God to show up. How many times have we done the same thing? God seems to be taking a long time in fulfilling His word, and we lose our awareness of what is going on.

Then, God shows up. And instead of Abram passing down the corridor of death and taking the curse upon himself, God Himself passed down the corridor. Abram didn’t have to take on the curse of failing to uphold the covenant, because God took it on Himself. (See Gen. 15:17-21.) So, instead of this being a case of Abram doing his part and God doing His part, this is a case of God doing everything and Abram experiencing the benefit.

Conclusion:

This looks forward to Jesus. He took upon Himself the penalty of our sin. His body was broken and His blood was shed on our behalf. Genesis 15:17 looked forward to Him and His work on the cross. Jesus took on our curse, and just as with Abram, our righteousness comes by faith.

Blessings,

Rob