Abraham, who is considered to be the founding father of the Jewish people as well as being central to the belief structure of Islam and Christianity, is a figure that appears in all three of the major monotheistic religions. While some may argue that there are certain events attributed to Abraham that are religiously inaccurate or even insulting, Abraham remains the individual who embodies everything important about the God of Israel and those who follow Judaism.

The Torah is the first five books of the Bible. It contains many stories, including that of Abraham.

In this blog post, I will be discussing how Abraham is presented in the Torah and what factors contributed to his importance within Judaism.

Abraham was born in Ur in Mesopotamia around 2000 BCE (Eichler). His father Terah was a worshipper of many gods, while his grandfather Nahor was a believer in one god: El Shaddai (Eichler). It was from his grandfather that Abraham learned about El Shaddai and this belief later became central to his own religion.

When he was 75 years old, God told Abraham to leave Ur and go to Canaan (Genesis 12:1-4). There he built an altar at Beersheba and worshipped El Shaddai there (Genesis 12:7). He remained there for several years before God commanded him to move again so that he could become a great nation (Genesis 12:2-3).

He then travelled with his wife Sarah until they reached Egypt where they settled down for awhile (Genesis 12:10-20). However, after ten years the Pharaoh died while they were still living there.

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Abraham In The Torah

Introduction

Abraham is a special figure in the Bible. He is the first person to be called “Hebrew” by God (Genesis 14:13), which means “one from across” to indicate that he was not originally from Canaan, but had been called there. It could also mean “one who has crossed over,” referring to Abraham’s journey from idol worship and sinful excess to true faith in God as a righteous man. The Hebrews are thus descendants of this great figure, and it is often said that we can learn more about our religion by studying his life than we can by reading all the other books of the Torah combined.

Abraham is the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Abraham is considered the founder of the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He is believed to have lived from 2027 to 1653 BC.

The name Abraham means “father of many nations.” It comes from the Hebrew word abhraham meaning “father” or “ancestor,” combined with the possessive suffix -iym meaning “his” or “-ites.” That’s where we get B’nai Yisrael (Children of Israel), which literally translates to Sons/Sons of Israel. This is what Abraham called his descendants after God told him that he would be fathering many nations in Genesis 17:5-6:

“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.” Then God said to Abraham, “As for me, here am I; I will give this land to your descendants.”

Abraham’s father Terah was an idol merchant in Ur. God told Abraham to leave his land and leave his people.

Abraham’s father was an idol merchant in Ur. God told Abraham to leave his land and leave his people.

Abraham obeyed, but he did not know where God was leading him. He traveled first to Haran, but God had promised him a new land (Canaan), so he continued on further east until he came to the Euphrates River where it meets the Tigris River in what is now modern day Iraq.

He settled there for a short time until God told him that it was time for them to go farther south into Canaan—what we call Israel today. So they packed up their belongings and headed south into Canaan over 1,000 years before Moses led the Jews out of Egypt during the Exodus!

God led him to Canaan but because of a famine he ended up in Egypt. God protected Abraham’s wife Sarah from being taken by Pharaoh.

You may know of Abraham as the man who built an altar to God, or maybe you’ve read about his journey with Isaac. But did you know that he spent time in Egypt?

Abraham left Haran and headed for Canaan, but because of a famine he ended up in Egypt. God protected Abraham’s wife Sarah from being taken by Pharaoh who wanted her for his own.

God told them to come back, they were very old and did not have a child. God said your child will be your heir.

Abraham, as we all know, is the father of Judaism and Islam. He was a nomad who wandered with his family and his flocks between Canaan and Egypt. God appeared to him in many visions, giving him orders to sacrifice his only son Isaac as a test of faith. Abraham was ready to obey God unconditionally but then on the way home he saw a ram caught in some bushes and offered it up instead. The story goes that this event took place at Mount Moriah in Jerusalem where the first Temple was later built by King Solomon (1 Kings 8).

After this incident God promised Abraham that he would have many descendants who would inherit the land from Egypt to Euphrates River (Genesis 15:18). This promise was fulfilled through Isaac’s wife Rebekah who bore Jacob 12 sons; Joseph being one of them (Genesis 25:23). In Genesis Chapter 24 we read about how Abraham sent his servant Eliezer with gifts for Isaac’s new bride Rebekah whom he wanted her husband marry so that they could have children together since she had not yet given birth yet after she married her husband; an important point because if they did not conceive children soon they would both die before having any offspring due their old age!

Finally they had a son named Isaac, who would inherit all of Abraham’s property. Isaac grew up and married Rebecca.

Finally, they had a son named Isaac, who would inherit all of Abraham’s property. Isaac grew up and married Rebecca. They had twin boys: Jacob and Esau. From the beginning, the brothers fought over who would inherit their father’s wealth. Jacob tricked Esau into giving him his birthright by giving him some bread and some lentil stew in exchange for it; this is why we call it “Jacob’s stew” today.

Ishmael lived in the desert with his mother Hagar. Later Isaac and Rebecca had twins; Esau and Jacob.

Ishmael was the son of Abraham and his Egyptian slave Hagar. He was born when Abraham was 86 years old.

Ishmael became the father of the Arab people. The story of Ishmael and Isaac is found in Genesis 21.

The story of sacrifice of Isaac is found in Genesis 22. After many years, Abraham died at age 175.

The story of sacrifice of Isaac is found in Genesis 22. After many years, Abraham died at age 175.

The story of Isaac’s birth is told in Genesis 21:1-21:5. Abraham and Sarah were old and no longer able to bear children. They gave up hope that they would have a son until God promised them one if he was willing to sacrifice his only son at God’s command (see Genesis 15:1). When Isaac was born, Abraham named him “Laughter” because he had laughed when God promised him a child (see Genesis 17:17). But with such a name comes danger from enemies who might think that the child was not worth anything! For this reason, we can understand why God told Abraham to name his son “Isaac” which means “he laughs,” as if he knew all along that the boy would survive his father’s attempts to kill him (see Genesis 17:19).

After many years, Isaac became an adult man who had married Rebekah and settled down near Beersheba where both lived happily together until she became pregnant with twins – Esau (or Edom) whom she bore first followed by Jacob later on after they were born during winter season when people ate meat only during cold weather months since there was no way yet discovered how cook food over open fire instead…

The Torah says that Abraham was the first real prophet of God and that he taught humans about monotheism, one true god

According to Torah, Abraham was the first real prophet of God and taught humans about monotheism, one true god. Abraham was the first person to lead a monotheistic way of life when he believed in one God, and taught others to do the same.

The Torah also states that it was through Abraham’s obedience and trust in God that he became righteous before Him and received His covenantal blessings, as well as being promised many descendants who would inherit land from Syria (Genesis 15:18-21).

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 were 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 the Scripture as an example of how we should live as believers. Let us look at the biblical ideas of being saved by faith, not works, and the equally biblical idea of doing works as a natural result of the gratitude we experience from being forgiven. 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 He 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). We are not saved by good works, but we are saved to do good works.

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 those elements also.

Conclusion

While the Torah is foundational to Judaism, it serves as a historical record and documentation of events known only by tradition. The story of Abraham in the Torah creates a general foundation for Jewish identity that is held firm even today.