Abraham

A study of the patriarchs and matriarchs reveals that they were very imperfect people, but blessed by God because of faith. This should be an encouragement to us who are likewise very imperfect, but trust in God.

Why was Abram’s name changed to Abraham? Why is he called father Abraham? Let’s look at Genesis 12-25 and the life of a patriarch of our faith.

God’s Will for Abram

In Genesis 12 God said to Abram six times “I will.”

“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, those who curse you I will curse; all the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.’ ” (Genesis 12:1-3 CEB).

At age 75, Abram left a comfortable life in Harran because he believed God’s promise.

“I will give this land to your family forever.” (Genesis 12:7b CEV)

The whole point is Abram’s faith, not any kind of sinless perfection, because he was far from perfect.

“When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, ‘I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, “This is his wife.” Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.’ ” (Genesis 12:11-13 ESV)

Abram & Lot

Abram had large herds of animals. The land could not hold both his and Lot’s herds so they separated. Revealing his character, Abram let Lot choose the best land.

“Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.” (Genesis 13:9 KJV)

Lot chose the greener, sin-filled plains, but eventually needed rescue. Eastern kings attacked, captured Lot and his family. With hundreds of fighting men Abram saved them. Then he met Melchizedek king of Salem [Jerusalem], a priest of God.

“And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has handed over your enemies to you.’ And he gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:19-20 NASB)

Covenant of Promise

God blessed Abram, and despite his human faults, he is counted as righteous because he believed the Lord.

“He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:5-6 NIV)

His belief was not perfect though. Sarai used her handmaid as a surrogate and Abram complied. Ishmael was the result. As you can imagine, Abram’s family life became pretty messed up because of that. Yet, God changed Abram’s name from High Father (Abram) to Father of a Multitude (Abraham), and Sarai’s name from Princess (Sarai) to THE Princess (Sarah).

God instituted circumcision as a sign of the covenant and promised a son via Sarah. Both laughed in mockery that God would give two old people a son. So God gave them a constant reminder of that laughter. Yitzhak or Isaac in Hebrew means he laughs.

“But God said, “No, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac [he laughs]; and I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” (Genesis 17:19 NASB)

Sodom & Gomorrah

A heavenly trio visited Abraham, promised a son and shared God’s plans for Sodom. Abraham asked what if there were fifty, forty-five, forty, thirty, or twenty righteous people there.

“Finally, Abraham said, ‘Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?’ And the Lord replied, ‘Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.’ ” (Genesis 18:32 NLT).

Lesser known sins of Sodom included pride, idleness and neglect of the poor and needy.

“Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” (Ezekiel 16:49 NKJV).

Their more well-known sin was sexual.

“But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. They called to Lot, and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them.’ ” (Genesis 19:4-5 WEB)