Principle
The focus of the entire Bible story is how God fulfilled His promises to Abraham (and his descendants).
Explanation
We previously established that GOD made Abraham a series of promises as a reward for Abraham's faith.
- Abraham—who, at the time, had no children—would become the father of many nations.
- GOD would make Abraham's name great.
- All nations of the world would be blessed through Abraham.
- GOD would give Abraham and his seed the land of Canaan. (Remember: Abraham's seed are those with his faith, not his mere physical descendants.)
- Abraham's seed would be as numerous as the dust of the earth.
However, Abraham and all the faithful in Scripture lived their life without receiving the promises. Instead, they saw them afar off.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
...
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
(Hebrews 11:8-16, 39-40 NKJV)
Many things had to be accomplished in order for Abraham and his seed to inherit the promises GOD had made. But every single thing that happens in the rest of Scripture is recorded in advancement—whether good or evil—towards GOD accomplishing His eternal purpose, resulting in bringing about what He promised Abraham.
