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Many people, as they read these Old Testament scriptures, view them as little more than historical narratives, and fall into debates about their validity, how they apply or compare to other historical documents, scientific understanding, etc.
It is believed by many that these early books are derived from others, such as the Babylonians and Syrians, and base this upon the assumption, scientific or otherwise, that the Babylonian documents and others ‘predate’ the Pentateuch.
It is NEVER considered by these that perhaps the Babylonian documents and beliefs were conversely based upon the Pentateuch, or at least the understanding of those who wrote and lived the Pentateuch.
So when they come to the record of the lives of the patriarchs they discover nothing beyond a piece of ancient biography.
But in doing so, they reduce the Written Word to a dead book, unable to see anything applicable to their own lives.
They will never come to the realization that this ‘Word of Life’ is a living book, charged with vitality; a book which must have about it a freshness which no other book, outside of the Sacred Canon, possesses; a book which speaks to our day, which is pertinent and applicable to our own times.
One truth which Scripture reveals about God is, that He changes not, for He is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Therefore, it follows that, fundamentally, His ways are ever the same. Said another way, He deals through all time with men, especially His own people, upon the same principles.
That said, if what we have just said is correct, should we not expect to find that God’s dealings with Abraham and the other Patriarchs forecast and foreshadow His dealings with us?
That, stripped of their incidental details, the experiences of Abraham illustrate our experiences?
Though much that is recorded in the Word is ancient, yet none of it is antiquated.
Because the Bible is a living book, every portion of it has some message which is applicable and appropriate to our own times. Because God changes not, His ways of old are, fundamentally, His ways today.
Hence, God’s dealings with Abraham, in the general, foreshadow His dealings with us.
Therefore, to read most profitably the record of Abraham’s life, we must see in it a portrayal of our own spiritual history.
And, I would add, not focus on how it applies to those around us, but to us.
It is believed by many that these early books are derived from others, such as the Babylonians and Syrians, and base this upon the assumption, scientific or otherwise, that the Babylonian documents and others ‘predate’ the Pentateuch.
It is NEVER considered by these that perhaps the Babylonian documents and beliefs were conversely based upon the Pentateuch, or at least the understanding of those who wrote and lived the Pentateuch.
So when they come to the record of the lives of the patriarchs they discover nothing beyond a piece of ancient biography.
But in doing so, they reduce the Written Word to a dead book, unable to see anything applicable to their own lives.
They will never come to the realization that this ‘Word of Life’ is a living book, charged with vitality; a book which must have about it a freshness which no other book, outside of the Sacred Canon, possesses; a book which speaks to our day, which is pertinent and applicable to our own times.
One truth which Scripture reveals about God is, that He changes not, for He is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Therefore, it follows that, fundamentally, His ways are ever the same. Said another way, He deals through all time with men, especially His own people, upon the same principles.
That said, if what we have just said is correct, should we not expect to find that God’s dealings with Abraham and the other Patriarchs forecast and foreshadow His dealings with us?
That, stripped of their incidental details, the experiences of Abraham illustrate our experiences?
Though much that is recorded in the Word is ancient, yet none of it is antiquated.
Because the Bible is a living book, every portion of it has some message which is applicable and appropriate to our own times. Because God changes not, His ways of old are, fundamentally, His ways today.
Hence, God’s dealings with Abraham, in the general, foreshadow His dealings with us.
Therefore, to read most profitably the record of Abraham’s life, we must see in it a portrayal of our own spiritual history.
And, I would add, not focus on how it applies to those around us, but to us.
In a word, Abraham should be regarded as a 'sample believer'. A Divine Template, if you will, of the Christian life. As such, there will be a close correlation, in the broad outline, between Abraham’s history and ours.
I read, then, the life of Abraham as recorded in Genesis, not merely as a piece of inspired history (though truly it is that), not as an obsolete narrative of something which happened in the far distant past, but as a portrayal of the experiences of Abraham’s children in all ages, and as a description of God’s dealings with HIS own in all time.
