Abraham is the patriarch of the Hebrew people and Judaism. He was born in Ur, Babylonia, and was a practicing polytheist who worshiped many gods. He was commanded to leave his homeland and go to Canaan, a land promised to him by God. This article discusses about 5 qualities of abraham in the bible.
He left his family behind and traveled with his nephew Lot and their servants. They settled in Canaan and built two cities: Sodom and Gomorrah.
Abraham’s wife Sarah had been barren for many years. God told Abraham to take Sarah’s handmaiden Hagar as a second wife so that she would have children for them both. Abraham did as he was told, but Hagar became jealous of Sarah’s pregnancy and ran away from Abraham’s camp with Ishmael (who would later become one of the Three Patriarchs). God told Abraham that Ishmael would be with him as long as he lived but that his descendants would not inherit the promise made to Abraham; instead, God promised that through Isaac—Sarah’s son with whom she conceived after her return from Egypt—Abraham’s offspring would inherit it instead (Genesis 17:19–21). This exposition also talks about short story of abraham in the bible.
Facts About Abraham In The Bible
Abraham was born in Ur and lived there for 75 years.
Abraham was born in Ur, which is modern-day southern Iraq. He lived there for 75 years before leaving at the age of 75 to go to Haran, where he would live another 10 years before he was called by God to leave Haran and go eastward into Canaan.
Abraham is a descendant of Noah’s son Shem (Shem means “name”), who was the father of all Semitic people (Arabs, Jews, etc). His father was a pagan idolater named Terah who followed other gods such as Baal and Ashtoreth—the goddesses of fertility and sex respectively—because they were popular at the time among many people throughout the region.
He was the first to be given the title “Hebrew” by the pharaoh of Egypt.
The word “Hebrew” is derived from the name of a city in Egypt. The meaning of this word is “from across the river.” Abraham was rescued by pharaohs, who ruled over Egypt at one point in history. This means that Abraham was “from across the river” which explains the origin of his title Hebrew.
God promised Abraham three things.
God promised Abraham three things:
- Land. God said that he would give Abraham his own land, but not just any land. He would give him all of Canaan—the land where Israel (the people who became the Jews) lived.
- Descendants. God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, which means people groups. And since Jesus was like a son to Abraham, Jesus is also part of this promise! For example, Muslims trace their ancestry back to Ishmael instead of Isaac because they believe Ishmael was the chosen son (although scholars disagree). Also, in Genesis 12:8–9 you see another example when God says: “To your descendants I give this land forever; no one will drive them out before them.” This meant that no matter what happened or who tried to take over their land or prevent it from happening again; eventually God would make sure everyone knew what had been promised originally by him so they could live freely on their own land again someday soon after any trouble came up during history’s long span of time between then and now!
He was given a covenant from God.
Abraham had great faith, and God was so impressed that he gave Abraham a covenant. A covenant is a promise or agreement between two parties. In this case, God promised to make Abraham’s descendants into a great nation.
The story of Genesis contains many important lessons for us today. In every generation there are people who have faith in God and are willing to do what is right even when they may not understand why. We can learn from their example how to live our lives according to His will and purpose for us!
After 20 years, he had his first son, Isaac.
Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah when they were 100 years old. They had not been able to conceive a child for 20 years, so it was a joyous occasion for them. Isaac grew up with his father Abraham and then married Rebecca, who is the daughter of Bethuel and Rebekah.
Isaac and Rebecca had two sons together: Jacob (who would later become Israel) and Esau (who would eventually be known as Edom). Jacob’s descendants became 12 tribes that made up Israel, while Esau’s descendants became another 10 tribes that also made up Israel at some point in time after his death.
He married twice and had a total of 8 children.
Abraham married twice, and had a total of 8 children. He had his first son, Isaac, at the age of 99. Isaac was born to his wife Sarah when she was 90 years old. After this time he had six more sons with his second wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2).
Abraham’s oldest son was Ishmael who he fathered with Hagar (Genesis 16). He also fathered 7 half brothers who were born through his stepmother Keturah whom she bore him 6 sons and 2 daughters who later formed tribes throughout the Middle East region like Iraq/Syria as well as Iran or modern day Persia/Iraq where they settled down creating their own communities in those areas.
His great faith in God is considered an example to follow by Christians and Muslims alike.
Abraham is considered a great example of faith, perseverance and obedience. He is also known for his patience, self-sacrifice and faithfulness to God.
When you think about Abraham’s life, it’s important to keep in mind that he lived hundreds of years before Jesus was born on earth. The two men did not know each other personally but were both obedient servants of God who trusted Him completely even when they didn’t understand what He was doing or why He did it.
Abraham was one of the most important biblical characters, with a great faith in God
Abraham was one of the most important biblical characters, with a great faith in God and a covenant granted by him. He was given the title “Hebrew” by the pharaoh of Egypt, who allowed his family to settle in Canaan on condition that they had no contact with other Egyptian people. Abraham was also the father of Isaac and Ishmael through his wife Sarah (Genesis 17:15; 21:2).
5 Qualities Of Abraham In The Bible
Abraham Is a Warm Host
By this time, Abraham was well into his nineties and making his home in the region now known as Jordan, close to the Dead Sea. Chapters 18 and 19 give the impression that this happened in the spring, yet it was obviously an exceptionally hot day because Abraham is resting from the midday heat in the coolest place he can find, outside the entrance to his tent. Stay cool and out of the sun.
The three men who walked up to us on the street did not come with a staff of any kind. Neither animals nor belongings were brought along. Even though it is made obvious in the Bible that this was YHWH heading to Sodom, it is also evident that Abraham did not know this until they had left their camp. There is zero evidence to suggest they weren’t just regular guys at first glance. Abraham probably saw a lot of nomadic workers who lived and worked a lot like these folks did.
Despite his suffering, he got to his feet when he heard three men arriving from a distance1>, hurried to meet them, and pleaded with them to rest and eat at his tent. He couldn’t have bargained with them or accepted payment from them for anything he offered because they had nothing of value to barter. He was preoccupied with his own thoughts while he waited for them to approach. Abraham was simply very eager to supply them with water from his own resources. He thought it was a privilege to have complete strangers in his home.
Abraham Gives to Others
Most sources I consulted agreed that a seah is a dry measure equal to approximately two gallons, however Abraham instructed Sarah to bake bread using three seahs of flour for his guests. That’s a lot more bread than any one person could eat in a day! Either Abraham planned to host a feast for his guests and the rest of the family, or he wanted to send them on their way with plenty of bread for the trip. Either way, his generosity exceeded what they would have expected to pay for it.
While such things as stale bread and breakfast leftovers were certainly available, this was neither. Neither was the flour coarse or made from barley; rather, it was made from finely ground wheat, a luxury item for most people.
After selecting a newborn calf from his herd, Abraham ordered one of his servants to kill and prepare the animal quickly. When sending a calf to the butcher, ranchers usually wait until it is at least nine months old, and more commonly between twelve and eighteen months old. Optimal weight and uniformity coincide at this age, boosting each animal’s profitability. Younger calves may have more tender flesh, but there’s also considerably less of it, so they’re more expensive overall. yet it’s still way more than three men can consume.
Simply put, Abraham showed extraordinary kindness to three strangers whom he most likely never expected to see again.
Abraham is a Neutral Party
Joseph lavished extra attention to his brother Benjamin over their Egyptian family meal. By demonstrating preference for his only complete brother, he was suggesting to the others that he understood more about them than they did about him. A wealthy individual in the desert who hosts a group of travelers might be expected to provide more to the group’s leader.
Although Abraham did not immediately try to establish which of the three individuals he had encountered on the way was the best, he did not ignore the possibility that they might be equals. He didn’t try to figure out who was in charge or give any special treatment to any one of the three, he just bowed to them all at once. He instructed Sarah to use three measuring cups of flour for baking bread. Abraham planned to make bread using one measure for each man, despite the fact that one seah would have been sufficient for all three. He could send each man with almost the same amount if he used the remainder.
His actions reflected a basic tenet of God’s Law, which states that everyone, regardless of material means or social standing, deserves to be treated with decency.
Let YHWH’s dreadful presence be with you now. Take care, for YHWH, our God, does not show favoritism, accept bribes, or engage in any other form of wrongdoing.
Two Chronicles Chapter Nineteen Verse Seven
The Humility of Abraham
When Abraham spotted the three men, he didn’t hesitate to get to his feet and rush to meet them; he didn’t even wait for them to come to him; and when he did, he greeted them by stooping to the ground and addressing them as “lord,” as if they were kings. Perhaps, but it doesn’t appear that he had any conscious understanding of it, he knew that he was encountering God himself, hence his usage of the singular “lord.”
Besides his money, Abraham also possessed considerable power in his community. Lot was a peer of the rulers of the area, as evidenced by the narrative of his abduction in Genesis 14. Anyone who visited Abraham’s camp likely would have bowed and called him lord, but Abraham did not greet his guests that way. Upon first meeting them, he immediately felt his pride diminish. He adulated them, pleaded with them, and served them before standing by to replenish their drinks and food as they relaxed. After they broke camp, he traveled with them.
Like the Messiah Yeshua, Abraham was rich and powerful, but he became a servant for the sake of outsiders.
Abram is the Head of His Family
If Abraham had left his visitors alone for more than a moment, he would have been negligent in his duties as a host, despite the fact that he served them. Instead, he told Sarah to bake some bread, and a servant to cook some meat. They both failed to inquire as to the necessity of such a large quantity for only three men. The guests probably expected such opulent treatment from the patriarch, but they didn’t seem to mind. They, like Noah’s family, did as he said, even if it sounded completely crazy.
It’s one thing to order slaves and lead troops in war, but this wasn’t the first time Abraham showed great leadership qualities; think back to the time he saved Lot. It’s something else entirely to move your wife to such unwavering loyalty that she calls you “lord” when you’re humiliating yourself in front of strangers, as Peter described happening to him.
So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their families, and give the enemy no opportunity to slander (1 Timothy 5:14). Lest you think this trait is exclusive to men, consider what Paul said about women in the churches he built throughout the Roman Empire. Both men and women, subject to the authority of their respective husbands, have roles of leadership in the home as husbands and parents.
Short Story Of Abraham In The Bible
The biblical narrative frequently returns to Abraham. His whole life narrative is written down in great detail in the book of Genesis. Truth be told, there is just too much data regarding Abraham for a single paper to do justice to. To keep this brief, I will highlight a few key topics. Genesis 12–25 contains Abraham’s entire tale. Later, he comes to be known as an early forebear of the Israelites. Abraham, the father of all, is a title often applied to him. R. 4:16 (NASB)
Context from the Past
About 1800 B.C. is when Abraham lived (see timeline). Despite having spent his formative years in Ur, a city in southern Babylonia, Abraham spent the majority of his life as a wanderer in the area now known as Israel. Abraham was commanded by God to leave his country.
“Depart from your own land, your own people, and your father’s house, and go to the place that I will show you,” the Lord commanded him. And I will bless you and make your name big, so that you will be a blessing, and I will build a great nation out of you. All the families of the earth will be blessed because of you, and I will bless those who bless you and curse those who insult you (Genesis 12:1-3).
The special covenant between God and Abraham’s offspring, the Israelites, began with this promise. Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham and the ultimate blessing for all nations, is the one through whom this promise was fully realized.
A long period passed while Abraham waited.
At the age of 75, Abraham received God’s call. It had been some time since Abraham and Sarah had started a family. But the Lord had promised to make him fruitful in the earth… Abraham had a difficult time with that and even tried to solve the problem by himself by marrying one of his servants and producing a son by her. On several instances, though, God reminded him that He would keep His word. In places like Genesis 15:1-6, the Bible provides us with a personal look into Abraham’s interactions with the Lord.
Following these events, Abram had a vision in which the Lord said, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very large.” Abram, however, prayed, “O Lord God, what will You give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then Abram said, “Behold, You have given me no kids, and a member of my household shall be my successor.” And lo, the Lord spoke to him, saying, “This man shall not be your successor; your very own son shall be heir.” Then He had him go outside and told him to “look upward” and “number the stars,” if he could do so. Following this, He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” Also, the Lord credited his faith as righteous.
Abraham’s wife Sarah gave birth to their first child when he was 100 years old. In the words of the Hebrew Bible: “And thus Abraham, having waited patiently, gained the promise” (Hebrews 6:15).
The Faith of Abraham as a Role Model
In the New Testament, Abraham is held up as a paragon of faith: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was summoned to travel out to a country that he was to receive as an inheritance.” Then he walked out the door, aimless (Hebrews 11:8-10). Abraham’s faith was challenged again after the birth of his son Isaac.
The Lord had spoken to him, saying, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and travel to the land of Moriah, and give him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2). That has to be one of Abraham’s darkest hours. But despite his skepticism and opposition, his trust in God won out.
In the face of adversity, Abraham put his confidence in God and sacrificed his son Isaac, of whom it was prophesied that his descendants would be named. God, he reasoned, could even bring him back from the dead, from which he had, in a sense, already been resurrected (Hebrews 11:17-19).
In the end, God provided a ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. This is an excellent illustration of how Jesus’ sacrifice covers all believers, even the father of faith, Abraham.
Abraham, the progenitor of the Jewish people and of everyone who would later call themselves Christians
Abraham, together with Isaac and Jacob, is the progenitor of the Israelites or Jews. The descendants of Israel enjoy special status among the nations as a result of the covenant God established with Abraham. They took great pride in being the offspring of Abraham.
However, God had also promised that through Abraham, all nations would be blessed. This prophecy was realized through the life and work of Jesus Christ. Paul writes, “This mystery is that the Gentiles [non-Jewish people] are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus via the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6).
In a biological sense, most humans are not Abraham’s offspring. “That is why it [=the promise of blessing and salvation] depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations” (Hebrews 11:16). (Romans 4:16-17).
Important things we’ve learned
Abraham waited a very long time before he was blessed with a son. Due to their advanced ages, he and his wife could no longer have children. Still, God kept His word! Let us take encouragement from Abraham’s example and maintain trusting in the Lord if we ever have to wait for Him to fulfill His promises.
Abraham did not have perfect trust. There were instances when he lost hope or made poor decisions. As in when he had a child with his servant Hagar or when he convinced Pharaoh that his wife was actually his sister and had him take her as his wife (Genesis 12:10-20). But here’s how it all comes down: “Abraham believed God, and it was considered to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Consider the faith of Abraham as an example to follow.
God’s consistency is demonstrated in Abraham’s life. God’s steadfastness to Abraham’s promises endured even in the face of his own doubt and wrongdoing. In fact, God blessed Abraham with a son and used him to pave the way for the rest of humanity.