God's Christmas Plan Included Waiting, (Human) Worries and Wonders

Abraham and Sarah tried to fulfill God’s promise on their own. And isn’t that what most of us do? Sarah suggested to Abraham that he have relations with their bondwoman Hagar,  a common practice at the time. It seemed innocent enough, right? 

But God intended for Sarah to bear a son so that the Seed promised in the Garden of Eden would come from Abraham’s marriage. God didn’t view age as a barrier. 

Sometimes we study the Bible so mildly that we underestimate the heart-wrenching test Abraham endured (actually, he faced many!) as he and Sarah waited year after year for a son. (Hebrews 11:11  beautifully depicts Sarah’s faith journey.) In the end,  though, they learned that barrenness wasn’t an obstacle for God after all. Barrenness became a memorable illustration of God’s immutable glory.  

Sacrifice of Isaac by Caravaggio/Photo: Wikipedia

After the birth of Isaac, God’s promise required another test for Abraham. The next thing Abraham had to do was to let Hagar and their son Ishmael leave him when the family troubles became a bit much.

God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called”   (Genesis 21:13).

By the time God tested Abraham again in Genesis 22, the patriarch was ready. He obeyed God’s voice when the Lord instructed him to sacrifice Issac. Did Abraham know that God had prepared an exit strategy? As he and Isaac traveled in the region of Moriah, perhaps Abraham rehearsed God’s words: “in Issac your seed shall be called.” The text says that Abraham even indicated to his servants that he expected a good outcome (Genesis 22:3-5).

We may not fully discern Abraham’s line of thinking, but we can observe his faithful responses to God. God indeed had an exit strategy and substituted a ram for Isaac.

Thousands of years later, we marvel at the majestic submission of Jesus, the promised Seed, because of what God foreshadowed in the life of Abraham and Issac. Indeed, biblical prophecy was fulfilled in Abraham. Grace by faith also was depicted  in Abraham’s life, which Paul explains in Galatians 3 and 4.  Paul writes boldly in Galatians 4:28:  “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise” (KJV). 

 One last word about Abraham and the promised Seed.  Dr. Michael S. Heiser has produced a jaw-dropping body of work about the presence of Jesus in the Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible.  Abraham’s encounter with God in Genesis 15:1-5 is one of the astounding examples Heiser cites. The passage says:

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.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And 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.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness (emphasis mine).

 Think about it. How does a “word” come in a vision? And how does a word become a pronoun? Only One Person can do that. In other words, the Seed promised in the Garden of Eden, Jesus the Messiah, spoke with Abraham about a bloodline that one day would include Him.
 

Next: God’s promise that Jesus would come from the line of Judah