Who is “Abraham” in the Bible?

Who is “Abraham” in the Bible?

 

  Abraham is an physical and spiritual ancestor of the Jew. Particularly, It is Abraham who is root of Physical Israel, the chosen people at the Old Testament. Then, how can he be the beginning of the chosen people?

 

 

  The story of him starts in Genesis 12. Abraham’s original name was Abram. God called him to go from Ur(current Iraq) to Canaan. Then, God promised him and called Abram as “Abraham,” the father of all nations.

 

 

  Of course, God do not promise anyone. He confirmed Abraham’s faith. Sarah who was Abraham’s wife could not bear her baby. Dejected Sarah got maid Hagal by Abraham’s concubine and had her bear Ishmael(later, he became a root of Islam). But Ishmael was not the son promised by God. God sent three angels to predict that Sarah would be pregnant. She eavesdroped the saying and did not believe and laughed. But God recognized her action and later, named her baby as “Isaac,” the meaning of laugh. The prophecy was fulfilled. When Sarah bore Isaac, Sarah was 90 years old and Abraham was 100.

 

  However, about the time when Isaac grew, God made Abraham offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Isaac was very precious because Abraham got Isaac late. But Abraham decided to offer Isaac to God. So at the moment he tried to stab Isaac, God stopped his action and told that God saw his faith. Abraham believed the promise, God saying, “I make you have many offsprings like stars of heaven, so he thought God did not kill Isaac. God also saw Abraham’s real faith and decided to give him being blessed.

 

  By the way, there is a funny story between God and Abraham. There was a deal. Lot who was a nephew of Abraham made his nation in Sodom and Gomorrah. But Lot’s offsprings forgot God and became very corrupt. As a result, God told Abraham that he would judge to Sodom and Gomorrah. Then, Abraham said to God whether he would judge although there were righteous people.

 

Abraham : God, do you annihilate although there were 50 righteous people in the castle of Sodom and Gomorrah? Righteous person cannot be killed with villains. God who judge the world should act an unbiased view.

God : I’ll forgive if there were 50 righteous people.

Abraham : If there were 45 righteous people, would you annihilate?

God : Then, I’ll forgive

...

Abraham : If there were 10 righteous people?

God : In spite of only 10 righteous people, I do not annihilate.

 

 

  In a way, would he be fearful when he dealt with God as a person? But, he said right words to God and moved God’s mind. God would listen to right words of a person. And God accepted his words because he is a righteous person. However, finally Sodom and Gomorrah were judged by God because there were no righteous men. But God saved Lot and his family, the righteous people. If a person is righteous, God loves and forgives him or her.

 

  Abraham is a root of Physical Israel of the Bible. Abraham had faith acknowledged by God and God promised him and made him blessed. God listens to right words of righteous people. Let’s try and pray to be righteous people in the Bible.