A Recap for all the millions (ahem) who have now joined the blog.

My very passionate staff.

If you're just joining us at the SoWhat blog, me and my staff are doing an extensive review of the foundational stories and structure of the Bible. As in all good accounts, we've started at "once upon a time" or in this case, Genesis. Lately we've been looking at the life of Abram, particularly the covenants between Abram and God. Today, however, we are going to look at how Abram messed up in the outplay of that covenant and how God responded. You may notice, as you read this, that but for a few exceptions I'm not making a whole lot of tie-ins to the New Testament, Jesus, the church, and how this affects the Christian. The reason why is I am trying to teach the multitudes of people, (read-less than 10), who read this blog the basic structural story lines in the Bible about God, man, sin, salvation, etc. The staff and I are not focusing on the details of everything within the Bible, but are trying to provide a framework for the reader to study and read the Bible for themselves. Now that you know let's get back to Abram.

My staff, hard at work.

When we last left Abram in Genesis 15 he and the Lord just had a really good meeting together. God, in dramatic fashion, promised Abram that his descendants would indeed inherit the land God had promised. God had also previously promised Abram that he would make him into a great nation. Abram, seeing that he had no children, (and realizing having no children is typically necessary to produce a great nation), he asks the Lord how this is all going to happen. God promises Abram that his own offspring would be his heir and the means through which God would build the nation. Now Abram and his wife, Sarai, were very old. Old people typically do not produce offspring. What's more, Sarai is barren, which is typically a hindrance to producing offspring. Abram, knowing all of this, decides not to trust in what he can see and understand, (i.e. his oldness and his barren wife), but to trust that God, the Almighty, is able to bring life, (children), from what is dead, (an old lady's barren womb). God sees Abram's faith and counts it as righteousness. Thus Abram becomes the father of those who would believe in God, (Romans 4, but we're not there yet), and the example of how God grants righteousness to men. It's not granted through works, effort, good deeds, giving, sacrifice, accomplishments, or sending money to shady preachers in Arkansas. Righteousness with God comes through trusting in Him and in His revelation. If you want to read more, check out the prior blog on this subject.

Not how God rolls.

(Cue dramatic and inspirational music) So Abram has had a dramatic encounter with God. He has believed God will do the impossible in his life. He has seen God, through dramatic visions and burning pots, (prior blog), promise that HE will fulfill the covenant unconditionally in Abram's life and through his descendants. No one has ever had such a dramatic personal experience and encounter with God! Surely Abram will be the standard for faith in God, righteous living, and unconditional obedience, right? RIGHT!?

(Cue farting sound).

No. It doesn't quite work out that way. Fortunately, God is faithful. Tune in to the next blog to see how this all plays out and to see the first cat-fight recorded in Scripture.

Now you know, and