Rhoades rader biography of abraham

How old was the patriarch when Isaac was born? When was he severely tested by having to sacrifice his own son? How many children did he ultimately produce? Abram his birth name before being renamed Abraham is the third son born to a man named Terah living in Ur of the Chaldees. At the time of his birth his older brother Haran is about 60 years old Genesis with second brother Nahor at an unknown younger age.

Terah is about years old at the time of Abraham's birth. The family into which he is born was known to worship pagan deities Joshua Modern archeology dates the city of Ur, located in ancient Mesopotamia near the Euphrates River, to around 3, B. It was resettled, after the great flood took place in , by Noah's son Shem and his descendants.

Terah, at the age of , decides to move his entire family out of Ur after the death of Haran Genesis Those leaving include Abraham, now 70, his wife Sarah Sarai , Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife, as well as Lot Haran's son and his wife Genesis - The family migrates northwest to a city named Haran located in a region of ancient Syria named Padanaram.

Terah, at the ripe old age of , dies in the city of Haran Genesis God then calls Abraham, now age 75, and commands he leave the city for the land of Canaan. Nahor and his family, however, although they stay in the city Genesis - 5 , will play a major role in the lives of the patriarch's descendants. Abraham's future son Isaac will end up marrying Rebekah, the daughter of Nahor's son Bethuel - 23, Bethuel's son Laban will employ Isaac's son Jacob for many years and provide him two of his own daughters, Rachel and Leah, as wives.

Abraham's travel to Canaan takes him first to Shechem Genesis - 7. After arriving in the city, God appears to him and promises his descendants the land of Canaan. The travelers continue their journey south, staying for an unknown time near Bethel before continuing their journey verses 8 - 9. A severe famine, the first one mentioned in the Biblical record, then strikes Canaan.

This grievous event forces the weary sojourners to Egypt in search of relief. Abraham, ever since leaving Haran, has feared his wife's beauty would get him killed. As a result, God reaffirms His promises to Abraham, solidifying his legacy. He establishes a model for faith and obedience, inspiring future generations. His relationship with God encapsulates the essence of trust, illustrating how faith can lead to divine blessings.

The name Abraham holds profound meaning in biblical context and signifies a central figure in the history of faith. In Genesis , God calls Abraham to leave his homeland, promising to make him a great nation. You can observe how this divine calling illustrates themes of faith, obedience, and trust. The covenant between God and Abraham, marked by rituals like circumcision, reinforces this relationship.

Rhoades rader biography of abraham

These elements underscore the overarching narrative of faith that resonates through generations, making Abraham a cornerstone of biblical teaching. This sacred agreement establishes a profound relationship between Abraham and the divine, underscoring faith, trust, and promises that would shape the future of nations. The sign of the covenant between God and Abraham serves as a tangible reminder of their agreement.

This includes:. Abraham plays a crucial role in key biblical events, shaping the foundation of faith and covenant with God. His journey and significant actions mark pivotal moments in biblical history. Though there were moments of doubt, the general trajectory of his life was belief in the impossible. He was willing to sacrifice Isaac , believing that God would raise him from the dead.

In each case, we see that his faith resulted in obedience. This reminds us of the truth taught in James that faith and works are connected. James — For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. Genesis — Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.

How did Abraham show himself to be unselfish? Although he was older than Lot and could have chosen for himself which land to settle in, he gave Lot the first choice. Later, Abraham risked his life to save Lot. Worship ful — Abraham continually built alters to God and gave him glory and praise Genesis , This showed his dependence upon God for everything in his life.

Abraham is the first person in the Bible who is recorded as tithing. God blessed Abraham and multiplied his possessions all the more. God wants us to be good stewards of what we have. If a person is a good steward of what God has given him to manage, then it is likely the Lord will give him more Luke Hospitality Genesis 18 - Abraham was very hospitable to strangers.

He invited the three men to eat and killed a calf for them. Abraham and the Three Angels by James Tissot. P ersevering in prayer Genesis 18, - Abraham pleaded earnestly with God for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. His prayer in Genesis 18 shows his close relationship with God. It was almost as if he was bargaining with God.

Yet the Lord did not blame him for it. Abraham did act as a friend of God in his prayers. Most of the people he was interceding for were people he did not know. But his prayer revealed a heart of love and compassion for all people. We should also pray for others with the same boldness and intensity. How he died : He died after a long and fulfilling life at the old age of Genesis Once Abram was moving it would be easy for him to change direction.

But an object that is not moving cannot change directions. At that time, traveling was not nearly as easy as it is today. The final journey was almost two thousand five hundred kilometers long. And there were many unknowns on the way. It was a world far more dangerous than today where the rule of law was not established. But Abraham was obedient.

And because of his obedience the world was changed forever. Application: God may ask us to leave our comfort zone in order to follow him. This could take many forms. He may ask you to leave your family and country to serve Him. He may ask you to quit your job. He may tell you to share the gospel with somebody when it makes you nervous. He may ask you to befriend another believer or unbeliever and therefore spend less time with your own circle of friends.

Are you ready to make sacrifices, go into the unknown, put complete faith in God, and obey His call? It starts with the small things Luke and as you obey, He will give you more significant responsibilities. What do you think is an area where God is calling you to have faith in Him and leave your comfort zone? Abraham made a big mistake in choosing to procreate with Hagar and attempt to have a child through her.

These problems are still manifesting in the world today in many conflicts in the Middle East. And yet, even when Abraham failed, God looked out for him and kept His promise. God did not go back on His promise. Instead, He forgave and restored Abraham. Application: God is merciful. When we sin, He does not cast us out. Rather, He is waiting with open arms to receive us to Himself again and cleanse us from our sins.

Abraham did not take the best for himself but instead gave others the first choice. We can learn a lot from this attitude. Are we the type of people who always want to pick first, or do we give others the first pick and look out for their interests? Abraham gave Lot the first pick of the land when he had the right to choose. He then accompanied his father and the entire family to the city of Haran.

His older brother Haran, the father of Lot, died in Ur sometime before this migration took place. Terah, after living in Haran for five years, dies at the age of Soon after this event God tells Abraham Genesis - 2 , who is now 75 years old, to leave Haran and take his family to the land of Canaan the land of promise. He then makes a startling promise to Abram.

God says that he will bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him Genesis ! The Eternal's plan for man, through a single person, was so important that God personally promised to treat anyone the same way they treated Abram and his descendants! In Genesis 15 God promises Abram that his wife Sarai will no longer be barren, but will bare him a child to be his heir.

Several years later, when he is 99, God again appears to him promising that he will soon have a son Isaac and that he will be the father of countless descendants. It is at this time that God renames Abram to Abraham which means "father of a great multitude" and Sarai to Sarah which means "princess of the multitude". Isaac is born when he is and Sarah is Years later, when Isaac is 15 years old or a little older , God tests the faith of Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his only son Genesis Isaac is spared when the Angel of the Lord stops his father from sacrificing him.