We like to say God has a sense of humor. (Though I suspect it’s not like ours.) He may also have a sense of irony, or why would a man who was childless until the age of 90 come to be known as “Father” Abraham? But then, what seems ironic to us might just be a splendid dichotomy for him. He loves shaking up the system: the younger supplants the older, the weak overcome the mighty, the last shall be first, and the meek (eventually) inherit the earth. Likewise, a old man (75 when we meet him) becomes a major point person in our Hero’s quest to resolve the central conflict of the Bible.
Our Hero, remember, is God himself. We’ve talked about our problem: rebellion, judgment, and separation. His main problem is us: how to be reconciled to people he loves even though they reject him. The answer will begin with one person; and from one person, one family; and from one family, one nation; and through one nation . . . but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
So here’s Abraham, great father and great receiver of a foundational covenant. And here’s the download:
(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible. I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF. The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids. Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)
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