While justly angry¹
God did not turn his back
on a world bent on destruction;
he turned his face to it in love.²
With patience and tender care he set out³
on the long road of redemption
to reclaim the lost as his people⁴
and the world as his kingdom.

1 Gen. 3:9-15
2 John 3:16
3 Luke 1:68-75; 3:23-37
4 Rev. 11:15

Although Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden¹
and their work was burdened by sin's effects,
God held on to them in love.
He promised to crush
the evil forces they unleashed.

1 Gen. 3:15-19

When evil filled the earth,¹
God judged it with a flood,
but rescued Noah and his family²
and animals of all kinds.
He covenanted with every creature
that seasons would continue
and that such destruction would not come again
until the final day.

1 Gen. 6-9
2 1 Pet. 3:18-22

The Creator pledged to be God¹
to Abraham and his children,
blessing all nations through them
as they lived obediently before him.
He chose Israel as his special people²
to show the glory of his name,³
the power of his love,⁴
and the wisdom of his ways.
He gave them his laws through Moses,⁵
he led them by rulers and teachers,
so that they would be a people
whose God was king.

1 Gen. 12:1-3
2 Deut. 7
3 Rom. 9
4 Mic. 6:8
5 Ps. 103:7

When Israel spurned God's love¹
by lusting after other gods,
by trusting in power and wealth,
and by hurting the weak,
God scattered his people among the nations.
Yet he kept a faithful few²
and promised them the Messiah:
a prophet to speak the clear word,
a king to crush the serpent's head,
a priestly servant willing to be broken for sinners.³
And he promised the gift of the Spirit⁴
to bend stubborn wills to new obedience.

1 2 Chron. 36
2 Isa. 10
3 Isa. 53
4 Jer. 11; 31