Topical Encyclopedia Introduction:Abraham, originally named Abram, is a central figure in the Bible, revered as the patriarch of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Edomites, and Midianites. His account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, where he is depicted as a man of great faith who receives a divine promise from God. This promise is foundational to the Abrahamic covenant, which has significant theological implications in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Call of Abram: The narrative of Abraham receiving the promise begins in Genesis 12:1-3, where God calls Abram to leave his homeland and journey to a land that He will show him. The Berean Standard Bible records this call as follows: "The LORD said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household 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 peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'" The Promise of Descendants and Land: God's promise to Abram includes the assurance of numerous descendants and the gift of land. In Genesis 15:5-7 , God reiterates His promise: "And the LORD took him outside and said, 'Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.' Then He told him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness. The LORD also said to him, 'I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.'" The Covenant of Circumcision: In Genesis 17, God establishes the covenant of circumcision as a sign of the promise between Him and Abraham. The BSB states in Genesis 17:4-8: "'As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And to you and your descendants I will give the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.'" The Birth of Isaac: The promise of a son through whom the covenant would continue is fulfilled with the birth of Isaac. In Genesis 21:1-3 , the fulfillment is recorded: "Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised. And Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore to him." The Test of Faith: Abraham's faith in God's promise is tested in Genesis 22, where God commands him to sacrifice Isaac. The BSB recounts in Genesis 22:1-2: "Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. 'Take your son,' God said, 'your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.'" Abraham's willingness to obey demonstrates his unwavering faith, and God reaffirms His promise in Genesis 22:16-18 : "'By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.'" Significance: The promises made to Abraham are pivotal in biblical theology, establishing the foundation for the nation of Israel and the coming of the Messiah. Abraham's faith and obedience serve as a model for believers, illustrating the importance of trust in God's promises and the fulfillment of His covenantal commitments. Subtopics Abraham is Blessed by Melchizedek Abraham: Age of, at Different Periods Abraham: Ancestors of, Idolatrous Abraham: Deferring to Lot, Chooses Hebron Abraham: He Purchases a Place for Her Burial, and Buries Her in a Cave Abraham: His Questions About the Destruction of the Righteous and Wicked in Sodom Abraham: How Regarded by his Descendants Abraham: Independence of, in Character Abraham: Lives in Gerar; Deceives Abimelech Concerning Sarah, his Wife Abraham: Lives in Ur, But Removes to Haran Abraham: Provides a Wife for Isaac Abraham: Sarah, his Wife, Dies Abraham: Sends Hagar and Ishmael Away Abraham: Trial of his Faith in the offering of Isaac Abraham: Witnesses the Destruction of Sodom Miscegenation: Forbidden by Abraham Related Terms |