Patriarch Abraham

Patriarch Abraham

  • Submitted By: jtatlnta
  • Date Submitted: 02/26/2009 7:50 PM
  • Category: Religion
  • Words: 361
  • Page: 2
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The father of the “Abrahamic religions” of Christianity, Judaism and Islam is first mentioned in the bible in Genesis, chapter 11. The story of Abram, son of Terah, from Ur of the Chaldeans, probably in southern Babylonia, is picked up in Genesis, chapter 12. At seventy-five years of age, Abram is called on by God to uproot his family and leave all his comforts and security of Haran behind. Abram immediately listens to Gods calling and takes off searching for the land God told him of. Even though Abram was a successful and wealthy man, God promised him that he would go to create a great nation in a new land. Abram struggled through several years of famine, exile from Egypt, war and disputes with his family but God kept his promises to him. Abram suffered other pain in his life. His wife Sarai was barren and unable to provide him with children. Abram decided to adopt a slave from Damascus to become his heir. But Abram was told that God would provide a child of his own to grow the nation. Sarai gave Abram her slave Hagar to bear a child for him. Abram would have his some but he would not be the beginning of the great nation. God and Abram join in covenant and this would become the turning point for Abram. God would change his name to Abraham and his wife would become Sarah. At age 99 Sarah gave birth to Isaac, a son for Abraham. Isaac would then become a test of Abraham’s faith, he was commanded to sacrifice his only son and did so without complain, according to what is written in the Old Testament. Only to be stopped by an Angel at the last moment, Abraham showed his true commitment to go by his willingness to sacrifice his only son. Abraham’s faithful obedience was a powerful instrument in God’s hands. At 127 years old Sarah dies at Kiriath Arba and would be buried in Hebron. Abraham would remarry and have six children yet he left everything to Isaac when he died at 175. Abraham was buried with his wife.

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