What has God been doing since Adam sinned to bring about redemption?
Ever since Adam sinned, God has been preparing for the coming of the Redeemer. For roughly 2,000 years He has been making preparation, and the Old Testament, including Job and the promise of Isaiah 59:20, looked forward to that Redeemer’s arrival.
Les teaches that this truth is pictured by a little boy who made a boat, lost it, and then bought it back, saying, “I made you. I lost you. But I have bought you back. You’re mine.” Les explains that this illustrates what God did: God lost us when Adam sinned. For 2,000 years, God prepared for the coming of the Redeemer. All the Old Testament, like Job, looked forward to that coming. Les points out that the Redeemer concept is not Pauline; Paul puts the cap on it and the frosting on the cake. He compares it to a boy scooping snow and mowing lawns, getting ready for the day he could go back and pay the price of redemption. Les then directs attention to Isaiah 59:20 as prophecy and promise of the coming Redeemer, before turning to Romans chapter 3.