The Lord confirms his covenant promise that Sarah will bear Isaac, the child of promise. The name of "Isaac" is a reminder that the Gospel promise is God's miraculous gift, and nothing that man can accomplish in his own power.

The incarnation is at the center of the biblical story of salvation, and Christ is at the center of the Belgic Confession's teaching of man's salvation.

In 1 Samuel 7 we see the centrality of worship in biblical faith, as the Spirit works through Samuel's faithful preaching to gather the saints at Ebenezer after 20 years of lamentation.

God gives Abraham the sign of the covenant to confirm the long delayed promise of a son born of Sarah, and renames Abram "Abraham" to indicate that he will be the father of many nations. Circumcision is fulfilled and confirmed in the circumcision on Christ on the cross, in which many nations become Abraham's children by faith.

The goodness of God's creation, with man and woman created in his glorious image, is fundamental to understanding the doctrine of sin and salvation.

In Genesis 15 Abraham believes God and is "reckoned righteous." God then seals this blessing by a covenant ceremony, swearing an oath do do all he has promised for Abraham and all who believe like him. This text is the foundation for the biblical teaching of justification by faith alone.

In Genesis 14, Abram enters into a common grace covenant with his Canaanite allies, but in Exodus 23 God's people are commanded NOT to enter into covenant with the Canaanites. What has changed? The climax of this chapter is the dramatic scene where Abram is met by both Melchizedek and the King of Sodom, and his dramatically different reaction to these two kings.