Abraham and Sarah

“Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonours you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” (Genesis 12:1-3)

God has provided a way for his people since before the foundations of the earth were laid. After the fall in the Garden of Eden, generation after generation longed for a Messiah – the offspring of the woman that God had promised would rescue his people from that wicked serpent.

Abraham and Sarah (previously Abram and Sarai) are one of the many pieces of God’s provision in making a way. We know now that Abraham and Sarah are in the line of Christ, ancestors of Jesus’ earthly father Joseph. But at the time of their story, they were childless, barren, and not getting any younger! Still, God promised that they would have a child together and that from that child would come a great nation and the whole world would be blessed. There were several bumps in the road leading up to this child, but Abraham believed God’s promise and Sarah gave birth to a son. The nation of Israel grew from this son, and Jesus, who brought the blessing of salvation to the world, was born.

Abraham trusted God and God did what he said he would do. As we think about the lead-up to the birth of our Saviour, let us also trust that just as God was able to provide our salvation then, he still provides our salvation now.