Spreading The Message

[God said,] “I have singled [Abraham] out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”

Genesis 18:19

FROM THE BEGINNING, God’s plan has been to spread the message of his love, goodness, and forgiveness to the people he created. The characters in the Bible have played different roles in this plan. Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, introducing the need for God’s forgiveness. Noah’s Flood and God’s having to start over with Noah’s family demonstrated God’s justice when it destroyed the world, but it also demonstrated God’s love in saving Noah and his family so humankind could continue to live on the earth.

One day, though, God began the next step in his great plan that would transform the world. He called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees and guided him to a new country. God’s intent was not just to bless Abraham with a new place to live. No, his ultimate purpose was to use Abraham and his descendants to bring into the world the greatest resource that would lead to world redemption: Jesus, the Messiah.

God wanted Abraham and his descendants to pass on all they learned about God. He directed that they “keep the way of the LORD” as a means of showing the other nations that God was good, loving, and willing to help.

His promise, if we do what is right and keep God’s way, is to bless us and protect us, just as he did Abraham.