The Thread of Redemption

It Begins with Abraham

Introduction

Today we begin a new series titled The Thread of Redemption.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been praying about what the Lord wants me to preach as we close out this year. I considered several directions — the Judges, the Psalms, even prophecy — especially with all that’s happening in our world. Yet none of those seemed to be where God was leading.

Then, last Wednesday night, while teaching on Abraham and his call from paganism to faith, the Lord made it clear: this is the message — this is the thread to follow.

So I set aside all my other studies and began tracing God’s redemptive plan throughout Scripture. From Genesis to Bethlehem, we find a single thread — one story woven through every page — revealing that God is alive, active, and working to redeem His creation.

From Abraham to Bethlehem, the Bible weaves a single, unbroken story—God redeeming humanity through faith and promise.

Over the next ten weeks, we’ll follow that thread through the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Ruth, David, Esther, Nehemiah, Malachi, and finally to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus.

And it all begins with Abraham.

1. The Weaving begins with Abram

Genesis 12:1–3 (ESV)

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”

God begins weaving His redemptive plan through a covenant promise — not with a nation, but with a man named Abram.

The name Abram means exalted father — a bit ironic for a 75-year-old man with no children. He lived in Ur, a thriving pagan city devoted to the moon goddess Nanna. Both Abram and his wife, Sarai (“princess”), were likely involved in that false worship.

Yet out of idolatry and darkness, God called Abram — not because of his merit, but because of His mercy.

Joshua later reminds Israel of that truth:

Joshua 24:2 (ESV) “Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.”

God was not merely calling Abram to a new location — He was calling him to a new life.

Abram’s call wasn’t just geographical, it was transformational.

He promised:

To make Abram a great nation - To bless those who bless him

To curse those who curse him - And through him, to bless all families of the earth

This covenant was initiated by God and hinged on one thing: Abram’s faith.

2. The Thread of Redemption Is Woven by Faith

Genesis 12:4 (ESV)

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”

The writer of Hebrews describes it this way:

Hebrews 11:8 (ESV)

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

It wasn’t just Abraham — Sarah believed too:

Hebrews 11:11–12 (ESV)

11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Genesis 15:6 summarizes their faith simply:

“And he believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.”

Faith is the loom on which redemption is woven, and God uses faith to weave redemption into the story of humanity.

When God calls you out of darkness, He extends the same invitation to all of us — trust Him completely.  Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

3. The Thread of Redemption is Shared in Community

Genesis 12:5–6 (ESV)

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.

Abram may have heard the call alone, but he didn’t travel alone. Others joined him in the journey of faith.

Likewise, our walk with God is not a solitary path.  Faith is meant to be shared — to invite others along. The journey may be long, uncertain, or difficult, but God’s promises are sure.

If we follow the thread of redemption by faith, God will bring His purposes to pass — in His time and in His way.

Moses ends this section of scripture with statement, “At that time the Canaanites were in the land.”

There is always danger for the person who dares to walk by faith.  Going to that place that may not be safe or forsaking security for the cause of Christ.  

I have walked into drug houses, to help get a son out of a very bad and dangerous place.  My life has been threatened as I shared the gospel.  We cannot escape that if we walk by faith, God may call us to places that may be dangerous.  

But never forget that His Glory is your rear guard and His presence is your forward shield.

The man or the woman of God is indestructible until the Lord has finished with them on this earth!

4. The Thread of Redemption Inspires Worship

Genesis 12:7 (ESV)

“Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”

Abram had no offspring, no land, no proof — only a promise. Yet he worshiped.

Faith always leads to worship. To believe God when circumstances seem impossible is to lay your doubts on the altar and honor Him as faithful.

As one wise saying reminds us:

“Never doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light.”

Worship flowed from faith in God’s promise not fulfillment.

Years passed. No child. Still, Abram believed. 

At 99, the son of promise arrived.  Worship is not just praise—it’s belief in the face of delay.

Even though Abram struggled and waited twenty-four years for the promised son, he continued to believe — and that belief became a life of worship.

5. The Thread of Redemption Continues with a Lifestyle of Worship

Genesis 12:8–9 (ESV)

“From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel… and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.”

Everywhere Abram went, he built an altar. Worship became the pattern of his life — the visible sign of faith in an invisible God.

And he continued.  He didn’t stop, he would go as far God allowed and then he stopped and worshipped.  He then moved further, 

And that is how the Thread of Redemption continued to be woven — not just through promises believed, but through lives surrendered in worship.

Conclusion

Will the thread of redemption continue or will it end with you?

We are all called out of darkness and into a journey of faith, just as Abraham and Sarah were.

From a pagan idolater to the father of faith, Abraham’s story shows us that redemption always begins with God’s call, continues through faith, and culminates in worship.

The same God who called Abram out of Ur calls us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

He still weaves His redemptive thread — through ordinary people who believe extraordinary promises.

Abraham’s story is the first stitch in God’s tapestry of redemption. It begins with a call, continues through faith, is shared in community, and is sustained by worship.

As we begin this series, ask yourself:

Is God calling me out of darkness?

Am I walking by faith, even when the promise feels distant?

Who will I bring along on this journey?

Is my life marked by worship?

The thread of redemption is not just Abraham’s story—it’s ours. Let’s follow it together.