Adam and Eve's attitude of sin and rebellion spread to their descendants. One of the saddest statements in Scripture appears in Genesis 6:5-6:

The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain. (NIV)

God executed judgment by destroying sinfull humanity with a great Flood. At the same time, He showed mercy and grace by saving Noah's family and making a new start (Gen 6-9).

But the renewal didn't last long. Noah's descendants settled in Babel, built a tall tower, and tried to make a life and "a name for themselves" apart from God.

The Lord again responded with judgment by confusing their language and scattering them over the earth (Gen 11:1-9). God then showed grace to the entire sinful race through a man named Abraham.

The Lord spoke to Abraham, establishing a covenant or formal relationship with him. Under this covenant, God gave the old man wonderful promises: First, he and his barren wife Sarah would have numerous descendants, forming the Jewish nation (Gen 12:2; 15:4-5). Second, that nation would receive the land of Canaan (modern Israel) as its home (Gen 12:4-7). Third, the Lord vowed to bless all nations -- to give a good gift to all ethnic groups -- through one of Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:3; 22:18).

The rest of the Bible tells the story of how God fulfilled His covenant promises to Abraham.

First, the promise of descendants: When Abraham was 99 and Sarah 89, the Lord announced they would have a son within the year. Abraham laughed for joy, but Sarah laughed in disbelief. As always, the Lord had the last laugh because the old couple soon became parents. They named the boy "Isaac," which means "Laughter" (Gen 17:15-21; 18:9-15; 21:1-7).

When Isaac grew up, he had a son named Jacob, whom God renamed "Israel" (which means "He struggles with God" -- Gen 32:28). Jacob had twelve sons whose descendants became the twelve tribes of Israel. When famine struck the land, Jacob moved his family to Egypt. There the Israelites grew into a large nation, fulfilling God's first promise to Abraham (Gen 24 - Exod 1).

Second, the promise of land: At God's command, Abraham moved his family to Canaan and remained there for the rest of his life (Gen 12-25). However, Abraham never owned any of that land, with the exception of a small burial plot purchased at the time of Sarah's death (Gen 23). Possession of the entire land came years later through the Conquest begun by Joshua and completed by David (Exodus - 2 Samuel, discussed in Bare Roots 19.3-5).

Third, the promised "blessing" for all: Throughout the Book of Genesis, we see God's "secret plan" beginning to unfold (see Eph 1:9-10). The Lord had promised Eve that one of her "offspring" would "crush" Satan and evil forever (see Gen 3:15, discussed in Bare Roots 19.1). But which of Eve's billions of offspring would it be?

In Genesis 22:18, God gives a hint: The one who will transform the world and bless all peoples will be a Jew from Abraham's line. But which "seed of Abraham" will bring this blessing?

On his deathbed Jacob prophesied that, from his son Judah, a "ruler" would descend to whom the "nations" offer obedience (Gen 49:8-10). The offspring of Eve and the seed of Abraham will be a king from the tribe of Judah.

Reflect...

1. In Scripture, the term "righteousness" usually refers to what one does to establish or maintain a covenant. This means that, if the Lord keeps His covenant promises to Abraham, then He is "righteous." If He does not keep those promises, then the Lord is "unrighteous." Under this particular covenant, how did God define "righteousness"  (covenant-keeping) on Abraham's part? (See Genesis 15:6.)
   
   
2. Read Genesis 12-50. How did the following events threaten to undo God's covenant promises of many descendants through Sarah, the land of Canaan for Israel, and blessing for all: (a) Abraham's lie to Pharaoh in Gen 12:10-20; (b) Abraham's son by Hagar in Gen 16; (c) Abraham's lie to Abimelech in Gen 20; (d) God's command to sacrifice Isaac in Gen 22; (e) Isaac's lie to Abimelech in Gen 26; and (f) the famine in Gen 41-50? In each case, how did the Lord act to preserve His promises? How did the Lord display covenant "righteousness" in spite of human stumbling and weakness?

Christopher A. Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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