W16:D1 - How the Bible, Quran, and Jewish Tradition Tell the Story of Abraham - Adventure Box Podcas

The Story of Abraham: From Childhood to Death

Abraham, known as Abram in his early life, is one of the most important figures in the Bible (and even the Quran for the Islamic religion). He is the founding patriarch of the Hebrew people. His journey, spanning from his birth in Ur of the Chaldees to his death in Hebron, is filled with moments of great faith, trials, and divine promises. His story is foundational not only for the Jewish people but also for Christianity and Islam, where he is revered as a model of faith and obedience to God. This narrative will take you through the life of Abraham, starting with his early years and ending with his final days.

 

1. Abraham’s Early Life: Growing Up in Ur

Abraham was born as Abram, the son of Terah, in Ur of the Chaldees (Genesis 11:27-28), a prosperous city located in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). Little is said about his early life in the Bible, but Ur was a major cultural and religious center in the ancient world, dominated by the worship of many gods, particularly the moon god Sin. Abram’s family was likely involved in this polytheistic society, as the Bible later mentions that his father, Terah, worshipped other gods (Joshua 24:2).

 

When Abram was still a young man, decided to leave Ur and migrate westward with his family, including his father Terah, his wife Sarai (later called Sarah), and his nephew Lot, and they traveled to the city of Haran (Genesis 11:31). Haran was another significant city, similar to Ur, where they settled for some time. Terah returned to his polytheistic ways and Abraham left him, leaving with Lot and their wives. Terah died in Haran at the age of 205 (Genesis 11:32).

 

2. The Call of Abram: Leaving Haran

Abram’s life changed dramatically when he received a call from God. In Genesis 12, God spoke to Abram and commanded him to leave his homeland, his family, and everything familiar to him, and journey to a land that God would show him. Along with this command came a monumental promise:

“Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:1-2).

 

At the age of 75, Abram, in obedience, left Haran, taking Sarai, Lot, and all their possessions, and set out for the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:4-5). This marked the beginning of Abram’s journey of faith, where he would trust in God’s promises, even when the fulfillment seemed impossible.

 

3. Abram in Canaan and Egypt

Upon reaching Canaan, God appeared to Abram again, reaffirming His promise that this land would belong to Abram’s descendants (Genesis 12:7). Abram built altars to worship God at key places, including Shechem and Bethel. However, soon after arriving in Canaan, a severe famine struck the land, and Abram was forced to travel south to Egypt to find food (Genesis 12:10).

While in Egypt, Abram faced a difficult situation. Fearing that the Egyptians might kill him because of Sarai’s beauty, he asked her to say that she was his sister rather than his wife (Genesis 12:11-13). Pharaoh took Sarai into his palace, but God intervened, sending plagues upon Pharaoh’s household. Pharaoh eventually learned the truth and, in fear of divine retribution, returned Sarai to Abram and sent them away from Egypt with riches (Genesis 12:14-20).

 

4. The Separation from Lot and God’s Covenant with Abram

After leaving Egypt, Abram returned to Canaan with his household and livestock. Abram’s and Lot’s herdsmen began quarreling over grazing land, so Abram proposed that they part ways to avoid further conflict. Lot chose the fertile plains near Sodom and Gomorrah, while Abram settled in the land of Canaan (Genesis 13:5-12).

 

After Lot’s departure, God again reaffirmed His promise to Abram, declaring that his descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth and that all the land of Canaan would belong to them forever (Genesis 13:14-17). Abram continued to build altars and worship God, marking significant moments in his journey of faith.

 

One of the most important events in Abram’s life occurred in Genesis 15, where God formalized His covenant with Abram. God promised Abram that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and that they would inherit the land of Canaan. Abram believed God’s promise, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). God also foretold that Abram’s descendants would be enslaved in a foreign land for 400 years but would eventually return to Canaan with great possessions (Genesis 15:13-14).

 

5. The Birth of Ishmael and Isaac

Although God had promised Abram countless descendants, many years passed, and Sarai remained barren. In desperation, Sarai suggested that Abram have a child with her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar. Abram agreed, and Hagar gave birth to Ishmael when Abram was 86 years old (Genesis 16:15-16). Ishmael became the ancestor of many Arab tribes, fulfilling part of God’s promise to Abram regarding his descendants.

 

However, God’s promise of a son through Sarai was still to come. In Genesis 17, when Abram was 99 years old, God appeared to him again and reaffirmed the covenant. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of many nations,” and Sarai’s name to Sarah, meaning “princess.” God promised that Sarah would give birth to a son, to be named Isaac, through whom the covenant would continue (Genesis 17:15-19).

 

As a sign of this everlasting covenant, God commanded Abraham to circumcise every male in his household, including himself and Ishmael, marking the beginning of the practice of circumcision in the Jewish faith (Genesis 17:10-14).

 

6. The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Shortly after God’s promise of Isaac, Abraham experienced one of the most dramatic events in his life—the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19). God revealed to Abraham that the wickedness of these cities was so great that He planned to destroy them. Abraham interceded on behalf of the cities, asking God to spare them if even ten righteous people could be found there. However, not even ten righteous people were found, and the cities were destroyed by fire and brimstone.

 

Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and his family were spared from the destruction and fled to safety. The story serves as a powerful lesson about God’s justice and mercy and Abraham’s role as an intercessor.

 

7. The Birth of Isaac and the Test of Faith

Finally, when Abraham was 100 years old, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, the promised son (Genesis 21:1-3). His name, which means "laughter," reflected the joy and disbelief that Sarah had experienced when God promised her a child in her old age. Isaac’s birth fulfilled God’s promise, and Abraham’s faith in God’s word was rewarded.

 

However, Abraham’s faith would be tested once more in a dramatic way. In Genesis 22, God commanded Abraham to take Isaac, his beloved son, to Mount Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed without hesitation, taking Isaac to the mountain and preparing to sacrifice him. At the last moment, God intervened, providing a ram to sacrifice in Isaac’s place. This event, known as the Binding of Isaac, is seen as a supreme test of Abraham’s faith and trust in God’s promises. God commended Abraham for his obedience and reaffirmed the covenant, promising to bless Abraham and multiply his descendants (Genesis 22:15-18).

 

8. The Death of Sarah and Abraham’s Final Years

After many years, Sarah died at the age of 127 in Hebron (Genesis 23:1-2). Abraham mourned her deeply and purchased the Cave of Machpelah as a burial site, marking the first piece of land owned by Abraham in Canaan (Genesis 23:19-20). This cave would later become the family tomb for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

 

As Abraham grew older, he arranged for Isaac to marry a woman from his own people. Abraham sent his servant to his family’s homeland, where the servant found Rebekah, who became Isaac’s wife (Genesis 24).

 

After Sarah’s death, Abraham took another wife, Keturah, and had several more children (Genesis 25:1-6). However, Isaac remained the chosen heir of the covenant, and Abraham ensured that his other children received gifts and were sent away from Isaac to avoid conflict.

 

9. Abraham’s Death

Abraham lived to the age of 175 and died peacefully, “old and full of years” (Genesis 25:7-8). He was buried next to Sarah in the Cave of Machpelah by his sons Isaac and Ishmael, a poignant moment