God of Abraham
January 28, 2022
Last week we looked at the promises God gave to Abraham. He repeated those promises to his son Isaac, and his son Jacob. The first century Jews were very aware of their heritage and their lineage. They knew they were God’s chosen people from the time of Moses. It was a cultural heritage even more than a religious one. They were not as obedient as God’s chosen people should have been, but they never forgot their roots.
When Moses approached the burning bush God referred to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses knew who He was. Jesus when talking with the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, reminded them that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did this to make the point that there is a resurrection because God is the God of the living.
In Acts 3, after healing a lame man Peter gives the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the credit for healing this man. He reminds them of Jesus and the prophets who spoke of the Christ, and how they rejected Him.
In Acts 7, just before he was stoned to death, Stephen is falsely accused of blasphemy, speaking against God. He begins his defense with Abraham and the promises. He recites the high points of their entire history, mentioning Moses, David, Solomon and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and connecting all of that to Christ.
The people knew their history. They knew their prophets and what they said. Yet they rejected Jesus even when Peter, Stephen, and others used what the people already knew to show them that God had made Him Lord and Christ.
We are so fortunate to have the complete story, from the promises of blessings for all to the fulfillment of those promises in Christ.
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