History Review: Part I

In verses 2-8, Stephen reviews the life of Abraham and mentions Isaac and Jacob.

Promise’s Primacy

In verses 17-18, Paul explains that the Law of Moses was introduced long after God first made his unconditional promise with Abraham.

I wonder why older things hold special places of honor in the Bible.

The BibleGateway.com commentary on Galatians 3 helped me understand these verses better.

To Your Descendants

We read, in verses 15-16, that Abraham’s covenant with God applies to us.

This agreement is still in effect, just like a contract still holds many years later once it is established.

Foolish Galatians

In verses 1-9, Paul reminds the Galatian church that Abraham’s belief was credited to him as righteousness.

He emphasizes the fact that it is faith, not hard work, that prompts God’s blessings.

Nameless Servant

Abraham’s head servant prayed for a sign before meeting Rebekah, Isaac’s future wife.

First Prayer

I was surprised to find that the word “pray” doesn’t appear until Genesis 20.

Abimelech was tricked into taking Abraham’s wife, Sarah, into his harem. God appears to Abimelech in a dream and threatens his whole household with death if he doesn’t return Sarah to Abraham.

Abimelech agrees to these terms but states his innocence. God agrees, but tells Abimelech that Abraham will pray for his forgiveness.

This places much more of the process of forgiveness on an intermediary than I’d expect.