Handbook:Abraham

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Abraham

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Article Sources:	Easton's Bible Dictionary

Abraham was a man who lived a very long time ago. His story is found in Genesis12-25. He was originally from a place called Ur of the Chaldeans. His name at that time was Abram, which means "exalted father". He moved with his father, wife and nephew to a place called Haran. (Genesis 11:31) Then God called Abram to leave his country and go to a place He would show to him. Abram obeyed God (Genesis 12:1-5).

Abram and his wife had no children, but God promised him that they would have a son (Genesis 15:4), that he would have many descendants (Genesis 12:2, Genesis 15:4-5 and Genesis 17:1-6), and that the whole world would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). God changed Abram's name to Abraham, meaning "father of many" as a sign that this promise was true (Genesis 15:5).

God did not send them their son Isaac until they were far too old to have children, but God said that nothing is too hard for Him, and he gave them a son (Genesis 18:14). See the article on the Israelites for the story of Abraham's descendants.

Jesus Christ, the Messiah and savior of the world, is a descendant of Abraham in his human nature (Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-37). This was fulfillment of God's promise that all the world would be blessed through Abraham's descendants.

The Bible teaches us that righteousness before God is a result of our faith in Him. Abraham is given as an example of this principle. He believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. (<v>Genesis 15:6</v> and <v>Romans 4:3>)

So, Abraham is the father of the Jews and also the father of all who live by faith in God.