RPG Adults
THE PROMISES TO ABRAHAM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2
Deuteronomy 14:1-21
Galatians 3:23-29
“But before faith came,
we were kept under the law…”
THE PROMISES TO ABRAHAM
The promises to Abraham and the choosing of Israel are best understood in the context of progressive revelation. The knowledge of God in the time of Abraham was not as clear as it is known today. They depended on general revelation and oral traditions. The book of Job which is believed to have been written during the time of Abraham also gives a glimpse of how much the people knew of God then. It was sufficient for their time and was the beginning of a fuller knowledge of God.
The revelation to Moses was clearer and its preservation was made possible as it was committed to writing. God did through Moses what He had not done in past generations. At the same time, He separated Israel as a special people, an exclusive nation. This is illustrated in the response of Jonah to God’s call. He was called to go and preach to Nineveh and he was not willing to go because he thought that only the children of Israel deserved to hear the message of salvation. He refused to go and took steps to escape the commission of the Lord. The Lord then compelled him to go to Nineveh. The results of his preaching were a prelude to the preaching of the gospel to all nations of the world after the coming of Christ. This account was part of God’s revelation.
Also in the Old Testament are many types of Christ. God’s choice of Israel was not that Israel was more in number than other nations, but He loves Israel and chose Israel to demonstrate His power and glory. Today, when the door of salvation has been opened to people of all nations, we learn more of God through the events in the Old Testament. Paul said that the Law which was given through Moses was a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ. This is a reference to a teacher of children in the elementary school who uses teaching aids in the form of pictures to put across the message to the children. The nation of Israel stands in that position so that what the Lord intended to do was manifested in His dealings with them.
THOUGHT: People of all generations can know the one true living God.
PRAYER: Father, may my faith in Thee stand always.