Day 1: The Seed of Abraham

Did you know that Jesus’ birth was a fulfillment of a promise? And not just any promise, but a promise from God Himself.

In Genesis 17 when God gave Abram the new name of Abraham, God also gave him a promise of being the father of many nations that He would bless. One of the blessings God promised can be found in Genesis 22 when it was written that the Messiah would come from the Seed of Abraham.

This covenant came after God showed Abraham a picture of what was to come—God sending His one and only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sins. Isaac was a son born to Abraham in his old age and a living picture of God’s faithfulness to make Abraham the father of many nations. However, after his boy had grown into a young man, Abraham and Isaac were directed by God to travel to the region of Moriah. It was a tough trip for Abraham because God had told him he was to sacrifice his son.

When they got to the place of worship, Isaac pointed out there was no lamb to sacrifice. Abraham answered him, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8). Right as Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, an Angel of the Lord stopped his hand and showed him a ram whose horns were caught in a thicket.

God provided the lamb, both then and in the future. The ram was a replacement for Isaac’s life, but we have an greater and eternal substitute for our sins. Our Savior came as the Lamb of God and the promised Seed of Abraham.

God originally told Adam and Eve after they fell to the curse of sin that He would send this Seed that would crush the head of the enemy and ultimately bring salvation to the world. And God did! Jesus came as a baby, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again from the dead to prove His victory over sin and death. And wonder of wonders, all who place their trust firmly and only in Him receive forgiveness and salvation. Praise God today that He is a promise-keeping God!

”Seed of Abraham,” Thou art, Lord,
By God’s promise Thou hast come,
That the blessing He hath promised
On all people thus might come.
Abraham Thou hast preceded,
For Thou art the great “I AM,”
Yet Thou cam’st to be his offspring
And become God’s promised “Lamb.”
- Witness Lee