Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality: The Gospel According to Abraham

An insightful and practical book about faith as illustrated in the life of Abraham. Faith is waiting for God to fulfill his promises.

One of the biggest problems that I have as a seminary student and as a Christian in general is that, for a lot of ways, many of today's Christians just don't want to seek and find the messages of the Gospel in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the Scripture used by Jesus Christ and His apostles, and for a larger point, the first century church. Thus Christians should realize that the Old Testament is not a separate entity from the New Testament. In fact, both books together culminate into one foundation of redemptive history. Thus the great thing about the Gospel According to the Old Testament series. This is a series that is for the basic reader, a series that introduces important people of the OT that helps us look back and read the NT. In this case, in the case of Duguid's book, we are introduced to Abraham. Abraham is the foundation of faith for both the OT and the NT, especially after reading works like the letters of Paul and the letter to the Hebrews. We must ourselves, in our follies and in our own fallings, which happen along with our times of great revelation and hope and joy, follow and recognize we follow Abraham. Like the song Sometimes by Step by Rich Mullins: "Sometimes I think of Abraham, How one star he saw had been lit for me, He was a stranger in this land, And I am that, no less than he" I too, then recognize myself in Abraham, both good days and bad days. And too, you too must realize yourself as you walk along the same roads Abraham followed. Of course there are minor problems with the book and there are minor points I disagree with Mr Duguid, with the series, because we aren't talking about an in-depth exegesis of the Scripture. So, there are points that you might want explained a bit more, but you wont find in this book. Still, Mr. Duguid does point you in the right direction. I really think you need to read this book to understand Abraham's travels and how they represent your own life and your own walk with the Lord in such an alien land like this we live in. Read this book, and read the series, especially the one on Daniel by Dr. George Schwab.

A fairly detailed look at the life of Abraham as recorded in Genesis. This book is organized for small group studies with each chapter focusing on one major section of Abraham's life and study questions at the end. The major focus is the growth of Abraham's walk with God and the lessons we can learn in our similarly fallen lives and circumstances. Abraham committed some big sins! So do we. How does God work even through those to "grow up" Abraham and bring about His promises? That's a big theme in this book. Occasionally, the author stretches the text to make an illustration. The points made are good and true, but they are not necessarily backed up in the biblical texts studied. I still recommend the book, just be aware of this.