Story of Abraham
The story of Abraham begins in Ur, Mesopotamia. Abraham (originally known as Abram), was considered the father of the Hebrews, and was born in Ur at about 2000 B.C.E. The Mesopotamians in Ur believed in the polytheistic idea of multiple gods. Even though the entire city of Ur worshiped multiple gods, Abram chose to believe that there was only one god. This belief in one God sent Abram’s religion (Judaism) apart from many other religions. Abram remained loyal to his belief and was proven correct when God contacted Abraham. God requested for Abram to
“Leave your own country and your father’s house, and go to a country I will show you”. Keep in mind that God asked of this while Abram was at a very old age. The trek would be difficult with or without the variable of age. Yet, Abram was loyal to God and obeyed. As a result, Abram gathered his many relatives, and at around 1950 B.C.E he and his family set out west to the land of Canaan.
At the age of 99, after Abram and his family had settled into Canaan, God spoke to Abram. God offered to eternally protect and favor all of Abram’s descendents, meaning that his children and the generations that would follow would remain protected. On the other hand, Abram promised to always devote his people to God. Next, God decided to mark the convent they made by changing Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of many”. God also promised the land of Canaan to Abraham’s people. To them Canaan became the “promised
God promised Abram three promises which the narrator repeated several times. It is important to know to understand the rest of the bible. The first promise was that Arbam would have a great nation. The second promise to Abram was that the lad he was standing on would be for him and his people and family. The final promise was that God would bless the whole earth through one of his descendants. God created a covenant with Abram and renamed him Abraham. This was a patron covenant. It is a covenant that solely depends on God and does not rely on others.
The life of Abraham is one of varied geographical places as Abraham moves from place to place as well as an expedition through life's ups and downs with its challenges and disappointment. Abraham's spiritual life is also a journey, as he moves from periods of great faith to those moments of weakness and sin. Ultimately we find that Abraham, this man of faith, learned to trust in God as he traveled, not only from his home in Ur but as he journeyed towards faith.
The covenant dominates the relationship, and was created to teach Abraham how to live in a civilized manner. We can prove that the relationship between the two is a guiding one because God speaks unto Abraham, saying “Be thou perfect” Gen 17.1, during the formation of the covenant. God means to guide Abram in two distinct ways to bring him closer to refinement. The first is changing Abram’s name to Abraham. This represents the changing of Abram’s purpose in life, away from a husband with no children, to a father of a multitude of nations. The second change is the
Finally, they both received similar covenants, however they communicated with God in a different way. God told Abraham, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3). These covenants set
We can believe that the Abrahamic covenant would be fulfilled when, God called Abraham to leave his country, relatives, and family to go to the land that he was going to be given. God said, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.” The land that the Lord took Abraham too, was the land that would be given to him and his descendants. After Abraham was gone, his descendants would be in possession of the land.
Because of a new arrangement that was established between Abram and God, the nation of Israel begins to grow and to move forward in their relationship.
God’s covenant with Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham, was to be the father of many nations. The covenant includes promises concerning a land covenant, a seed covenant, and a blessing covenant. The foundation will flow out of the “Seed Covenant” to his descendants Isaac and Jacob, through whom the twelve tribes of Israel were born.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” God makes an extensive covenant to Abram, declaring that he will become a great nation. Little does Abram know, this is the dawn of the nation of Israel, God’s chosen
The primary patriarch of Judaism's history is Abraham. Abram was born with the name Abram; he often questioned the faith of his father and sought truth. Eventually, the one Creator and God that Abram sought called to him and told him to leave his home and family, and God would bless him with a great nation and a great number of descendants. Abram obeyed, and the forever-lasting covenant between God and the Jewish people was created. This covenant would be a start to Judaism. The covenant involves obligations and rights between God and the Jews. Over time the terms of the covenant became more stated. Abram's faith was tested to prove himself to God.
According to traditional Old Testament historians, Abraham became the first human to establish a covenant with God and with his second son Isaac and grandson Jacob they became the first of three Patriarchs of Judaism and Christianity. Abraham, original name Abram or Avram, along with his wife Sarah, original name Sarai, became the "Father of the Multitudes and Father of the Israelites." Sarah's hand-maiden Hagar, gave birth to Abraham's first son Ishmael who later became a prominent prophet and patriarch of the Islamic faith.
Abram, which becomes Abraham, is called by God when he is seventy-five years of age to leave his homeland of Ur and travel to become the father of many nations. Abraham
Abraham’s seriousness and dedication in regards to his covenant with God control tense actions and events between Abraham and Isaac. Abraham is compelled in his actions by his understanding and faith that his belief in God will reap benefits. Without hesitation, he considers doing everything that God tells him to do. Abraham’s willingness and sacrifice of Isaac show the great power that God has over Abraham. Abraham’s desire for God’s approval and blessings compel him toward grave actions without the concrete command from God. Abraham merely implies God’s intentions from the limited conversations held between Abraham, God, and the angel.
Disillusioned Latin students, who cringe at the thought of repeatedly scribbling their grammar, are often told by their teachers, "Per repitio nos studiare," which translates to "through repetition we learn." Though this may seem hard to believe as their hands begin to cramp, it bears a certain amount of truth. As my grandfather once told me, "Experience is often the best teacher." Truly gaining an understanding of something often comes from repeated involvement.
In reaction to God’s call, Abraham departed Haran enroute to Canaan. At 75 years of age, he abandoned his way of life assembled his wife, his nephew Lot, his servants, livestock, and material possessions and moved in accordance with God’s leading. Abraham’s obedience to God serves as an example for all believers to emulate. He left his “comfort zone” of living to follow God’s spoken promises even though there was definite uncertainty as to how they were going to come to pass.
Abram leaves his home and family, and departs into the "strange land" of Canaan, showing an extreme obedience to God and understanding of his duty to father this great race. Throughout Genesis, Abraham builds altars to God and sacrifices animals. In Genesis 22:2, God tells Abraham, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains". The next day, Abraham sets off for Moriah "and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son." After God stops the sacrifice, he tells Abraham, "Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."