When was the Law given in relation to God's promises to Abraham?
The Law was given after God gave Abraham the promises recorded in Genesis 12, 15, and 17. It came later because man needed to understand right and wrong, and it was added because of sin, not to remove sin but to reveal it.
Les explains that after Abram came out and was given all the promises—the 'I wills' of Genesis chapters 12, 15, and 17—God then gave the Law because man had to understand what is right and wrong. Man didn't seem to get it, so God laid the Law down punctually, beginning with 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me,' which directly confronted everything that happened at Babel, the beginning of all false worship. Romans 3:19-20 and Galatians show the Law was added because of sin; it did not take sin away but merely showed sin. Paul writes that the Law speaks to those under the Law—Israel.
More Questions
What did God promise through Abraham in Genesis 12?
God promised through Abraham that all the nations of the world would be blessed.