Prophetic Permutations of the Patriarchs

"What happens to the fathers, happens to the sons." Much of prophecy consists of a retelling of history with an added twist, sometimes with the names and locations changed. Consider the repeating elements in the stories of the patriarchs:

• Name change
• Moving away from home
• Flight from famine or persecution
• Exile by force
• Trouble with wives and daughters ending in wealth
• Return from exile

We can count on this pattern continuing. What happened to God's people in the 21st century B.C. also happened to them in the 8th century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. and will happen to them again. The details change, but much stays the same, especially God's promises.