Why were the Old Testament patriarchs wealthy?
In the Old Testament economy, God rewarded obedience with material blessings. Scripture repeatedly shows this pattern, and that is why many great patriarchs were wealthy: God materially rewarded them. This was part of that covenant economy, not the modern prosperity salvation message that promises wealth merely because someone gets saved.
Les explains that in the Old Testament economy, God rewarded obedience with material blessings, and this is a theme throughout the Old Testament. That is why many of the great patriarchs were wealthy: God rewarded them materially. He qualifies that under law this was far more demanding than what we are responsible for, but it was not impossible. God was not asking them to live a life of misery to keep His commandments; obedience would have brought blessing to the hilt and made them the happiest, most contented nation on earth. Les contrasts this with today’s so-called prosperity salvation, which claims that if you just get saved, God will pour out all kinds of wealth upon you, and with appeals guaranteeing that sending $50 or $100 will erase debt or make someone a half-millionaire. He insists that is not according to the Book.