The Plan: God's Plan of Salvation Revealed Through the Old Testament

From the very beginning of Scripture, God reveals a plan, a divine blueprint woven through the lives, choices, failures, and victories of His people. This plan is not hidden or obscure. It is repeated, illustrated, and foreshadowed through story after story, generation after generation, until it reaches its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament is a great historical record, but it is far more than just a historical record. It is a progressive revelation of how God rescues humanity from sin and restores what was lost in Eden. Each narrative, each symbol, each act of deliverance points forward to the same truth: God has always had a plan for salvation, and He has never stopped communicating it with a repeating message to different generations, in different places. “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” Acts 15:18 (KJV) “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27 (KJV) A Pattern of Living Sacrifice and Redemption From the Beginning The pattern occurs multiple times in the first book of the Bible, starting with the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. With Abel’s offering, we see the first clear picture of substitutionary sacrifice. Innocent blood from a living sacrificial firstling of the flock is shed so that sinful humanity may approach God. "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:" Genesis 4:4 (KJV) This theme will echo throughout Scripture, culminating in life, death and resurrection of Jesus, "...the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29 In what I would call the clearest illustration, Abraham received a lamb caught in a thicket as a sacrificial substitute provided by God Himself. The lamb was discovered near the alter built by Abraham and his son while Abraham demonstrated obedience and his fear of the Lord. In the account, God told Abraham, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee to the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering...". Genesis 22:1-2. After traveling to the mount and building the alter, "...Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son." Genesis 22:10 But an "...angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham...Lay not thine hand upon the lad...for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me" Genesis 22:11-12 "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." Genesis 22:13 This clearly illustrates the plan of salvation outlined in the Romans Road series and in the most famous Bible verse, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 Peter also records the plan of salvation, "Foreasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." I Peter 1:18-19 In this series, we will explore these and other illustrations provided throughout the Old and New Testaments. These are not isolated events. They are threads of one tapestry, each revealing another facet of God’s redemptive plan. Why These Stories Matter Today Many believers read the Old Testament as a collection of moral lessons or historical accounts. But when we view these stories through the lens of God’s plan of salvation, they come alive with purpose. They show us: God’s consistency God’s mercy God’s sovereignty God’s desire to redeem God’s preparation for Christ The Old Testament is not merely a historical account and background, but it provides the foundation upon which the gospel stands. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning…” Romans 15:4 (KJV) What This Series Will Explore This article begins a new series on your site titled “The Plan”, a journey through the Old Testament to uncover how God repeatedly reveals His intention to save humanity. Each entry will: Examine a specific Old Testament story Highlight the elements that foreshadow Christ Connect the narrative to the broader theme of redemption Show how these depictions tie together into one unified message By the end of the series, readers will see that the gospel is not a New Testament invention—it is the heartbeat of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. A Closing Thought God’s plan has never changed. His message has never wavered. Through symbols, sacrifices, covenants, and stories, He has been pointing us toward the Savior from the very beginning. My prayer is that this series strengthens your faith, deepens your understanding, and helps you see the beauty of God’s plan woven through every page of His Word. “Order my steps in thy word…” Psalm 119:133 (KJV)