Today I discovered that Abraham had five qualities in the Bible that made him brave and fearless. In fact, those five qualities would be very helpful in today’s world. The Bible is a large book with many characters. In this blog post, we’ll explore the qualities of Abraham in the Book of Genesis. Abraham was a man who believed in God, and he wasn’t afraid to show it. He was willing to go against tradition and leave his family behind in order to follow God’s call. When he arrived at Canaan (the land where he would settle), he built an altar there and sacrificed animals to God. Even though it could have been difficult for him, Abraham chose to demonstrate his faith by being willing to offer up these sacrifices.
Abraham was also very generous. He gave gifts to those who needed them, such as when he gave food and water to travelers passing through or when he sent gifts back home after visiting Egypt (Genesis 18). In fact, one of the reasons God loved him so much is because of how generous he was (Genesis 22:16). We see this same generosity when Abraham offered hospitality to three strangers who came into his tent during their journey (Genesis 18:1–8). He also shared food with Lot’s family when they had nothing left after fleeing from Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1–29).
5 Qualities Of Abraham In The Bible
Abraham exhibited many godly traits. He was a righteous man with an unwavering commitment to God, He also showed compassion and generous hospitality.
He was a man of peace and a friend of God. Abraham is pictured with various characteristics: a righteous man, with wholehearted commitment to God; a man of peace (in settling a boundary dispute with his nephew Lot), compassionate (he argues and bargains with God to spare the people of Sodom and Gomorrah), and hospitable (he welcomes three visiting angels).
Godly Traits Exhibited by Abraham:
Abraham’s Strengths and Accomplishments
- His faith pleased God.
- Became the founder of the Jewish nation.
- Was respected by others and was courageous in defending his family at any cost.
- Was not only a caring father to his own family, but practiced hospitality to others.
- Was a successful and wealthy rancher.
Short Story of Abraham in The Bible
Ishmael was the son of Abraham and another woman, Hagar.
The name Ishmael means “God hears.” The story of Ishmael’s birth is found in Genesis 16. Abraham and his wife Sarah were unable to have children, so they sent their servant Hagar out into the desert with a supply of water and bread. After giving birth to a son named Ishmael, she and her child struggled in the desert for many years until God provided water for them to drink.
When Sarah learned about this, she said, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of that slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac!” (Genesis 21:10). Abraham obeyed his wife’s command by banishing Hagar and Ishmael into an uninhabited part of the land where he knew no one would bother them or take care of them if they became hungry or thirsty.
Ishmael was now alone in the wilderness without any food or water—but God saw him through all those difficult times during which he could have died from starvation or thirst had it not been for God’s mercy upon him!
God spoke to Abraham personally.
God spoke to Abraham personally. God spoke to Abraham through a vision, in the form of a man, by a burning bush and even by a donkey.
God told Abraham, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). The rest of his life was spent as an alien in the land of Canaan, where he lived with his wife Sarah, who was barren. He then fathered Isaac through her, and that’s just how it started!
Abraham acted out of faith.
Abraham acted out of faith. He acted on God’s promises. Abraham did not know how he was going to have a son, but he trusted that it would happen because God had said so.
God made the promise to Abraham that he would have a son, and even though there were obstacles in his way—he was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was barren—Abraham believed and waited patiently for this child who would become the father of many nations. The Bible says that “Abraham believed God, who credited it to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). That is what you call faith!
Abraham did not doubt God.
It is often said that Abraham was a man of great faith. It is also said that he did not doubt God at all. While this may be true for the most part, there are instances where Abraham doubted God and even shared those doubts with Him.
The first time we see this occur is when Abraham asks God to kill Isaac (Genesis 22:1–19). It must have been difficult for him to ask such a thing—not only because it would mean putting his son through an unimaginable ordeal, but also because he knew how much pain it would cause Sarah and himself if God actually did go through with the request. He eventually decided that he had no choice but to obey whatever command God gave him because of his love for Yahweh (Genesis 22:12).
Another notable instance where Abraham doubted God occurred after Isaac’s birth: after receiving word from his servant about Isaac mocking him about being childless again, he says, “Shall I give up now? How could you do this?” (Genesis 21:9). Yet despite these moments of doubt and fearfulness toward what might come next in life if things don’t turn out as expected, whether good or bad, it seems clear that these doubts never kept him from trusting in the Lord enough so as not to just accept whatever happened next; they only strengthened his resolve even more so than before!
Abraham obeyed God without question.
Abraham’s obedience was the key to his success in life.
As a leader, he was able to lead his family out of the land of Ur and into Canaan. He became a great man who had power and wealth because of his obedience to God’s commands.
Abraham obeyed God without question. He trusted Him even when things seemed impossible to understand or accomplish. When Abraham was told that he would have a son at an old age, he didn’t protest but instead believed God’s promise and acted accordingly by preparing for the arrival of Isaac through Sarah (Genesis 17:19–21).
These are great qualities to strive for in our own lives.
Abraham was a man of faith. He trusted in God, even when things didn’t look good. Abraham is an example of the kind of man we should all strive to be: someone who can put their trust in the Lord no matter what life throws at them.
Strengths And Weaknesses Of Abraham In The Bible
I. A THREEFOLD SOURCE OF STRENGTH.
1. His enjoyment of gracious visits from God.
2. His exercise of faith in God.
3. His cultivation of communion with God.
II. A THREEFOLD SOURCE OF WEAKNESS.
1. An unwarrantable fear of man.
2. A heedless reliance on worldly policy and craft.
3. A sinful preference of self-interest to the happiness and welfare of others.
Short Story Of Abraham In The Bible
Abraham is a man whose character looms large in the history of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Abraham plays an important part in each of these religions. He is seen as a holy prophet in Islam. Judaism considered him the ‘father’ of their religion. In Christianity, it is through Abraham’s lineage that the Savior of the world comes (Matthew 1; Luke 3). Let us look at a brief history of this man and how his life is an example for us in our walk with Jesus.
Abraham’s World
God created man in His image in order that man might represent Him here on earth. By Abraham’s time, humanity had turned completely away from God, been destroyed by a flood (except for eight people), and was once again turning away from God, as evidenced by the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9). God began implementing this part of His plan of salvation by calling Abram, as he was known then, to leave his hometown of Ur and travel to a new land that God would show him (Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 7:2-4).
Abraham’s name was originally “Abram”, which means ‘the father is exalted’. His name was changed to “Abraham”, which means ‘father of a multitude’, when God initiated His covenant with him (Genesis 17). God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many people. However, Abraham was 99 years old and his childless wife was 90 (Genesis 11:30; 17:1-4, 17). They were apparently past the normal age for having children; therefore, it would clearly be a miracle of God were they to have any. Nevertheless, Abraham trusted God and believed God could accomplish what He had promised.
Abraham’s Sons
God had promised that Abraham would have children (Genesis 15:5; 22:17). When this did not take place as quickly as Abraham thought it should, he became impatient with God and took matters into his own control. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was still childless, so she told Abraham to sleep with her handmaid so that they might get a child from the union. A son was born from this union; his name was Ishmael.
However, this was not God’s plan; God’s promise was for the offspring of Abraham and Sarah’s union (Genesis 15:3–4). Isaac was the name of the son that came from the union of Abraham and Sarah; it would be through Isaac that the nations would be blessed.
God Tests Abraham
Abraham is a man whose character looms large in the history of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
Abraham is a man whose character looms large in the history of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
Abraham and Sarah were very happy with their new son, Isaac; however, God had a test for Abraham. God told Abraham, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2 ESV). This would have been a tremendous shock to any parent—to be blessed by a long-awaited child, only to have God tell you to sacrifice that child.
Nevertheless, the Bible does not say that Abraham hesitated for a moment. In fact, there are certain passages that indicate Abraham’s strong faith that God would not take his son at all (Genesis 22:5, 8). Abraham believed God would raise Isaac back to life if the sacrifice actually did take place (Hebrews 11:19). Whether for God’s sake, Abraham’s sake, Isaac’s sake, or for our sake as an example, Abraham took his son up to a mountain, lay him down, and prepared to kill him in obedience to God’s command. However, God intervened by stopping Abraham from killing his son and by providing a sacrifice in the form of a ram caught in the nearby brush. Abraham’s faith had been tested, and proved, by his obedience to God.
The Promise fulfilled in Jesus
It would not be out of line to see the act of God, in supplying a ram in place of Isaac, as a picture of God sending Jesus as a substitute sacrifice for you and me. We are sinners and destined for eternal death. God Himself provided payment for our sins, so that we can be forgiven and enjoy eternal life if we will repent and follow Him.
God had promised Abraham, “…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18 ESV; cf. Genesis 12:3b, 18:18; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8). How could one man’s children be responsible for the entire earth being blessed? The answer lies in the fact that one of Abraham’s descendents would be the Savior of the world. Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise. The apostle Paul explains this clearly, “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring”. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16 ESV). God’s plan was at work the entire time; moving toward the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Faith lessons from the life of Abraham
The life of Abraham is often used by the writers of Scripture as an example of how we should live as believers. Let’s examine the biblical ideas of salvation by grace through faith alone and the equally biblical idea of doing good deeds as a natural outgrowth of the gratitude we feel for receiving forgiveness. These are important concepts to understand if one wants to have a balanced walk with Jesus.
(1) We are saved by faith, not by works
The Bible tells us that Abraham did not work his way into God’s good favor, but “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness… And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Romans 4:3, 5 ESV cf. Galatians 3:6). The book of Hebrews contains many examples of people who lived by faith; verses 8-12 and 17-19 give us details about Abraham’s faith. Take some time to read it closely.
The Bible is crystal clear that no one can do enough to become righteous in God’s eyes. “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace” (Romans 4:16 ESV, cf. Ephesians 2:8–9). Forgiveness (salvation, eternal life) is a gift from God; He initiated it and brought it about by His own will and power. We do nothing to gain salvation other than accept His gracious offer by faith in Jesus Christ.
(2) Our works reveal the genuineness of our faith
James says that we may not be saved if claim to be Christians, but do not live it out, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22 ESV, cf. Romans 2:13; Matthew 7:21; Matthew 7:24-27; John 13:17). Ephesians 2:10, right after saying that grace is a gift that one cannot get by works, tells us that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). Good deeds do not save us; rather, they save us to perform good deeds.
Abraham is presented as an example of how our faith should result in our doing good things (James 2:20–24). An inward faith that does not result in an outward change of behavior may not be a genuine faith at all. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17 ESV). The life of Abraham included both faith in God and works motivated by that faith. Our Christian walk should have both of those elements as well.
Conclusion
Much more could be written about Abraham, but space does not permit it here. Abraham was not a perfect man; however, the overall direction of his life was towards God. We will not always walk perfectly in our Christian life either, but we should remember that, just as God was with Abraham even when he struggled, God loves us and will gladly forgive us if we fail.
The New Testament presents Abraham as a model of faithful life—a life that believes the truths of God and lives out those truths in day-to-day living. This is the kind of faith we should seek to duplicate, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able.