‌The Importance of Abraham

Abraham is one of the most significant figures in the Bible. The record of his life is covered from Genesis 11:26 to Genesis 25:10. The importance of his life emerges as we read through these chapters and note not only the outstanding faith of this remarkable man, but also the promises that God made to him. Though these promises were made specifically to Abraham, God in His grace is willing to extend the same blessings to all who understand and believe as he did. We will see the importance of these things as we read through his life and consider these promises.

Because of Abraham’s faith we find that he was given the title “the Friend of God” (James 2:23). Apart from the details that are given of his life and other references to him in the Old Testament, there are over 70 occasions where he is mentioned in the New Testament. The Gospel taught in the New Testament cannot be understood without knowing the promises that God made to Abraham. In fact the Gospel that the Lord Jesus Christ taught is bound up with God’s promises to Abraham: “The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen [Gentiles] through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed” (Galatians 3:8). The word “justify” means to declare a person to be righteous. This means God has forgiven their sins.

The call of Abram (Genesis 11:27–32)

We first notice that Abraham’s original name was Abram (Genesis 11:27). His name was changed by God for a specific reason, as we will see when we come to Genesis 17:5. He lived in Ur, an important city in Chaldea on the Euphrates River, near its mouth. Archaeologists who have researched the area tell us that Ur was a highly developed city in Abram’s day providing all that was considered modern and necessary for very comfortable living.

Genesis 11:30 “But Sarai was barren; she had no child” Abram had married Sarai his half sister (Genesis 20:12). The fact that she was unable to bear children is impressed upon our minds early in the account of their lives. This becomes a very important point in God’s dealings with them. We will find that Sarai has her name changed to Sarah at the same time as Abram’s name is changed to Abraham (Genesis 17:15).

Genesis 11:31 “they went forth...from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan” The reason for this journey was that God had spoken to Abram instructing him to leave Ur (Acts 7:2–4). They travelled as far as Haran where they stayed until his father Terah died, and after that Abram continued his journey into Canaan.

God’s Promise to Abram

God promises to bless Abram (Genesis 12:1–3)

Genesis 12:1 “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee” In Ur Terah had served “other gods”. God was calling Abram out of this environment, where idolatry was practised not only by all around him, but also in his very household (Joshua 24:2–3).

Any who choose to obey God and follow Christ must separate themselves from all that can hinder their total commitment (Matthew 19:27–30; 2 Corinthians 6:17–18). In faith, convinced that the living God had spoken to him, Abram set out in obedience to God’s command (Hebrews 11:8).

Genesis 12:2 “I will make of thee a great nation” The nation God is speaking of is the nation of Israel, of which Abraham is the father. It became a great nation in the days of its most illustrious kings, David and Solomon but, because of disobedience, the Kingdom was eventually destroyed and the Jews driven out of their land by the Romans in AD 70. After centuries of dispersion they began to return little by little to their homeland. It is one of today’s modern miracles that Israel was declared a nation in 1948. Since then the Jews have continued to return to their land from many countries.

The people of Israel will only be fully regathered after the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth (Ezekiel 37:21–23). They will be educated in the truth of the promises made to Abraham and see their fulfilment in the Lord Jesus Christ. After they have recognised the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah, they will have to change their ways entirely (Zechariah 12:10; Ezekiel 36:24–26).

Only then will they inherit the land promised to Abraham and live under the rulership of Christ, as will all other nations (Jeremiah 30:10–11; 31:31–34; 33:15–21; Ezekiel 37:21–28; Romans 11:1, 14–28).

“I will bless thee, and make thy name great” Although God did bless Abram during his life, this promise has yet to be completely fulfilled at the return of Jesus Christ (Matthew 8:11).

Genesis 12:3 “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee” History has shown this to be true, both in the life of Abraham himself, and his descendants, the people of Israel. Babylon and Edom are two ancient nations that were punished by God because they persecuted the Jews. In modern times Hitler’s attempt to exterminate the Jews ended in failure and the defeat of Germany in 1945.

“in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” This is the most important point of these promises. Through Abraham all families of the earth will be blessed by God. The apostle Paul states that this is the essence of the Gospel: “The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed” (Galatians 3:8). The blessing is offered to both Jew and Gentile. But how can this be so? As we follow through God’s dealings with Abraham we will see what this blessing is, and how God has made it available to all mankind through faith in Jesus Christ.

Abram’s Journey

Abram journeys to Canaan (Genesis 12–13:4)

In obedience to God, Abram left Haran and commenced his journey to the land which God would show him. With him went Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, together with their servants and their substance. Abram was now 75 years old.

He arrived at Sichem (Shechem), in the heart of the land of Canaan, and there God spoke to him saying, “Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Genesis 12:7). Abram was now aware that the land that he had been promised was the land of Canaan, or Israel, as we now know it.

Notice that God promised the land to his seed or descendant. This would present a question to the mind of Abram for we remember that Sarai was barren (Genesis 11:30), and he had as yet no seed. In response Abram built an altar and worshipped God there (Genesis 12:7).

From Sichem he continued south to Bethel and then, because of famine, he journeyed further south into Egypt. Later when he returned he pitched his tent between Bethel and Hai, or Ai (Genesis 13:3–4).

Abram and Lot separate (Genesis 13:5–13)

God blessed Abram just as he had promised. He was now very rich “in cattle and in silver and gold” and Lot too had been blessed while he was with Abram (Genesis 13:2,5–6). However this very increase in cattle caused strife between their herdsmen, which was resolved by Abram suggesting that they part company.

Abram gave the choice of land to Lot, who elected to take his company down to the lush plain of the Jordan River, near to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. We will see as we progress through the life of Abram what disastrous effects this move to Sodom had upon the family of Lot. We are told that “the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly” (Genesis 13:13).

Adapted from “The Exploring the Bible Course” by David Evans