Encounter the Truth

Despite all the improbability of an elderly and childless couple having a son, God keeps his promise and gives Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. His faithfulness to the promise has not been undermined by the sin and failure of his servants. In addition to this, God shows his faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael. God is entirely faithful to his promises—more faithful than we can imagine or comprehend.

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering...

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering...

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot’s family so vividly illustrates.

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot’s family so vividly illustrates.

Divine messengers come to Abram’s home to bring the good news of the blessing of a child to come. But the same messengers who visit Abram with news of divine favour have as their next destination the sinful city of Sodom, where judgment will fall. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord who blesses is also the Lord who judges.

Divine messengers come to Abram’s home to bring the good news of the blessing of a child to come. But the same messengers who visit Abram with news of divine favour have as their next destination the sinful city of Sodom, where judgment will fall. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord who blesses is also the Lord who judges.

Despite the failure and sin of Abram in the previous chapter, the Lord reaffirms his commitment to give him a land and a people—and he seals that covenantal commitment with the sign of circumcision. He makes it clear to us that his grace and forbearance do not remove the requirement of obedience, but actually reinforce it.

Despite the failure and sin of Abram in the previous chapter, the Lord reaffirms his commitment to give him a land and a people—and he seals that covenantal commitment with the sign of circumcision. He makes it clear to us that his grace and forbearance do not remove the requirement of obedience, but actually reinforce it.

Abram and Sarai knew the promise of God, but grew impatient with God’s timeline, not seeing how the promise could be fulfilled. They took matters into their own hands to further God’s agenda—and the results were disastrous. In this messy incident, we see the cost of sinful self-reliance and the abundant grace of God.

Abram and Sarai knew the promise of God, but grew impatient with God’s timeline, not seeing how the promise could be fulfilled. They took matters into their own hands to further God’s agenda—and the results were disastrous. In this messy incident, we see the cost of sinful self-reliance and the abundant grace of God.

When Abram could not see the way forward for the fulfilment of the plans and purposes of God, the Lord reaffirmed the covenant and taught Abraham that he—the Lord—was his shield of protection and the substance and source of his reward. The promise-making and promise-keeping God is faithful and all-sufficient for his people.

When Abram could not see the way forward for the fulfilment of the plans and purposes of God, the Lord reaffirmed the covenant and taught Abraham that he—the Lord—was his shield of protection and the substance and source of his reward. The promise-making and promise-keeping God is faithful and all-sufficient for his people.

The covenant blessing of God does not spare God’s people the experience of battling enemy forces, but it does guarantee their ultimate victory. Added to this, in a remarkable event (the encounter with Melchizedek) God adds renewed blessing, while pointing forward to the One who will fulfil the covenant promises in a day to come.

The covenant blessing of God does not spare God’s people the experience of battling enemy forces, but it does guarantee their ultimate victory. Added to this, in a remarkable event (the encounter with Melchizedek) God adds renewed blessing, while pointing forward to the One who will fulfil the covenant promises in a day to come.

As Abraham begins to enter into the blessings of God in terms of land and goods and people, we see a godly spirit of generosity come through (and perhaps we see the start of a contrast with Lot). The blessing of God is meant to make his people a blessing to others.

As Abraham begins to enter into the blessings of God in terms of land and goods and people, we see a godly spirit of generosity come through (and perhaps we see the start of a contrast with Lot). The blessing of God is meant to make his people a blessing to others.

Here is the foundational promise of God, fulfilled in Jesus and the gospel. It all comes from God and his initiative. Abraham is the recipient, as we are recipients in Christ. This blessing is meant to go to the world—and so our missionary mandate is found here. The folly of Abraham here reminds us that the blessing rests on grace and not merit.

Here is the foundational promise of God, fulfilled in Jesus and the gospel. It all comes from God and his initiative. Abraham is the recipient, as we are recipients in Christ. This blessing is meant to go to the world—and so our missionary mandate is found here. The folly of Abraham here reminds us that the blessing rests on grace and not merit.

The child of the manger has come to rule. To reckon with the message of Christmas, we must learn not only to trust in the Saviour who came, but to bow before the King who will one day return.

Sin has separated us from the God who made us. Rather than living in friendship with him, we are excluded from the blessings of his presence. But Jesus came to us as Emmanuel—God with us—that we might know God through faith in him, and so live with him forever.

Sin has separated us from the God who made us. Rather than living in friendship with him, we are excluded from the blessings of his presence. But Jesus came to us as Emmanuel—God with us—that we might know God through faith in him, and so live with him forever.

The child of the manger has come that he might save his people from their sins. That was God’s message and God’s design, right from the start.

Jesus came as the long-awaited Messiah—the promised King of Israel, who would bring to fulfilment the promises of God for a needy and oppressed people. And for all who will turn to him and trust in him, he is to us the Saviour-King.

Jesus came as the long-awaited Messiah—the promised King of Israel, who would bring to fulfilment the promises of God for a needy and oppressed people. And for all who will turn to him and trust in him, he is to us the Saviour-King.