24 years after Abram had first been promised to become a great nation, in Genesis 18 Abram is told that his promised child would finally arrive the next year, when Abram would be 100. Romans 4 tells us that his faith did not waver, but instead he was fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.
In stark contrast to this highlight of Abram’s life comes the destruction of Sodom, and the narrow escape of Lot. We see the end result of the choices Abram and Lot made, one choosing to remain in the promised land, the other the well watered Jordan Valley.
Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm, describing the results of the choices that Jesus made, the pain and anguish he experienced on the cross, yet still he maintained his trust in God. “For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.”
It also describes a time we all long for, “All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.” A fulfilment of the promise God made to Abram, that we have been invited to share.