Topical Bible: Abraham: Called Abraham

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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 and obedience to God. Abraham's life and legacy are foundational to the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Name and Meaning:
The name "Abram" means "exalted father," while "Abraham" means "father of many nations." God changed Abram's name to Abraham as a sign of the covenant and the promise that he would be the father of a multitude of nations. This name change is recorded in Genesis 17:5: "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations."

Call and Covenant:
Abraham's journey begins with a divine call from God to leave his homeland in Ur of the Chaldeans and go to a land that God would show him. This call is recorded in Genesis 12:1-3: "Then the LORD said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your kindred, 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, so that you will be a blessing.'"

God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising him numerous descendants, land, and blessings. This covenant is reiterated and expanded in Genesis 15 and 17, where God promises that Abraham's descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

Key Events in Abraham's Life:

1. Journey to Canaan:
Abraham obeys God's call and travels to Canaan with his wife Sarai (later Sarah), his nephew Lot, and their possessions. Upon arrival, God appears to Abraham and promises to give the land to his offspring (Genesis 12:7).

2. Famine and Sojourn in Egypt:
A severe famine forces Abraham to temporarily relocate to Egypt. Fearing for his life, he instructs Sarai to say she is his sister, which leads to complications with Pharaoh (Genesis 12:10-20).

3. Separation from Lot:
As their herds and flocks grow, strife arises between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot. Abraham offers Lot the choice of land, and Lot chooses the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley, while Abraham settles in Canaan (Genesis 13:8-12).

4. Birth of Ishmael:
With no heir, Sarai gives her maidservant Hagar to Abraham, resulting in the birth of Ishmael. However, God clarifies that the covenant will be established through a son born to Sarah (Genesis 16:1-16).

5. Promise of Isaac:
God promises Abraham that Sarah will bear a son, Isaac, through whom the covenant will continue. This promise is fulfilled despite their old age, as recorded in Genesis 21:1-3: "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 him."

6. The Binding of Isaac:
In a test of faith, God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeys, but God intervenes, providing a ram as a substitute. This event, known as the Akedah, is a profound demonstration of Abraham's faith (Genesis 22:1-14).

7. Death and Burial:
Abraham lives to the age of 175 and is buried by his sons Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah, which he had purchased as a family burial site (Genesis 25:7-10).

Legacy:
Abraham is remembered as a model of faith and obedience. His unwavering trust in God's promises and his role as the father of many nations have made him a pivotal figure in biblical history and theology. His life and covenant with God are frequently referenced throughout the Bible, underscoring his enduring significance.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 17:5
Neither shall your name any more be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made you.
Nave's Topical Index

Nehemiah 9:7
You are the LORD the God, who did choose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham;
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Library

Christians are the Holy People Promised to Abraham they have Been ...
... Chapter CXIX."Christians are the holy people promised to Abraham They
have been called like Abraham. Then I said again, "Would ...
/.../chapter cxix christians are the holy.htm

Argument. --Moreover Also, from the Fact that He who was Seen of ...
... Argument."Moreover Also, from the Fact that He Who Was Seen of Abraham is Called
God; Which Cannot Be Understood of the Father, Whom No Man Hath Seen at Any ...
/.../chapter xviii argument moreover also from.htm

Of the Divine Preservation of Sarah's Chastity in Egypt, when ...
... Book XVI. Chapter 19."Of the Divine Preservation of Sarah's Chastity in Egypt,
When Abraham Had Called Her Not His Wife But His Sister. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 19 of the divine preservation.htm

Recapitulation of the Foregoing Argument, Showing that Abraham ...
... [3874]. 3. He is therefore one and the same God, who called Abraham and
gave him the promise. But He is the Creator, who does also ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter vii recapitulation of the foregoing.htm

Abraham's Loyalty to God
... The angel of Jehovah again called to Abraham and said, "Jehovah declares, 'Because
you have done this thing and have not kept back your son, your only son, I ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/abrahams loyalty to god.htm

Hooker -- the Activity of Faith; Or, Abraham's Imitators
... So is Abraham called the "father of the faithful," because he is the copy of their
course, whom they must follow in those services that God calleth for. ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/hooker the activity of.htm

Abraham's Four Surrenders
... In the first place, Abraham was called to give up his kindred and his native
country, and to go out, not knowing whither he went. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/i abrahams four surrenders.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John i. 10, "The World was Made ...
... O generation of vipers." [3630] They called themselves the children of Abraham;
and he addressed them, "O generation of vipers." Did he do Abraham wrong? ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxi on the words.htm

Consecration to God --Illustrated by Abraham's Circumcision
... The new manhood is indicated by the change of name"he is called no longer Abram,
but Abraham, and his wife is no longer Sarai, but Sarah. ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/consecration to godillustrated by abrahams.htm

Version ii.
... And Abraham called one of his servants, and said to him: Go, bring me a beast that
the stranger may sit upon it, for he is wearied with his journey. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the testament of abraham/version ii.htm