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◄ Abraham: Called Abraham►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction:
Abraham, originally named Abram, is a central figure in the Bible, revered as the patriarch of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Edomites, and Midianites. His account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, where he is depicted as a man of great faith and obedience to God. Abraham's life and legacy are foundational to the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Name and Meaning:
The name "Abram" means "exalted father," while "Abraham" means "father of many nations." God changed Abram's name to Abraham as a sign of the covenant and the promise that he would be the father of a multitude of nations. This name change is recorded inGenesis 17:5: "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations."

Call and Covenant:
Abraham's journey begins with a divine call from God to leave his homeland in Ur of the Chaldeans and go to a land that God would show him. This call is recorded inGenesis 12:1-3: "Then the LORD said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.'"

God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising him numerous descendants, land, and blessings. This covenant is reiterated and expanded inGenesis 15 and 17, where God promises that Abraham's descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

Key Events in Abraham's Life:

1.Journey to Canaan:
Abraham obeys God's call and travels to Canaan with his wife Sarai (later Sarah), his nephew Lot, and their possessions. Upon arrival, God appears to Abraham and promises to give the land to his offspring (Genesis 12:7).

2.Famine and Sojourn in Egypt:
A severe famine forces Abraham to temporarily relocate to Egypt. Fearing for his life, he instructs Sarai to say she is his sister, which leads to complications with Pharaoh (Genesis 12:10-20).

3.Separation from Lot:
As their herds and flocks grow, strife arises between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot. Abraham offers Lot the choice of land, and Lot chooses the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley, while Abraham settles in Canaan (Genesis 13:8-12).

4.Birth of Ishmael:
With no heir, Sarai gives her maidservant Hagar to Abraham, resulting in the birth of Ishmael. However, God clarifies that the covenant will be established through a son born to Sarah (Genesis 16:1-16).

5.Promise of Isaac:
God promises Abraham that Sarah will bear a son, Isaac, through whom the covenant will continue. This promise is fulfilled despite their old age, as recorded inGenesis 21:1-3: "Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him."

6.The Binding of Isaac:
In a test of faith, God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeys, but God intervenes, providing a ram as a substitute. This event, known as the Akedah, is a profound demonstration of Abraham's faith (Genesis 22:1-14).

7.Death and Burial:
Abraham lives to the age of 175 and is buried by his sons Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah, which he had purchased as a family burial site (Genesis 25:7-10).

Legacy:
Abraham is remembered as a model of faith and obedience. His unwavering trust in God's promises and his role as the father of many nations have made him a pivotal figure in biblical history and theology. His life and covenant with God are frequently referenced throughout the Bible, underscoring his enduring significance.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 17:5
Neither shall your name any more be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made you.
Nave's Topical Index

Nehemiah 9:7
You are the LORD the God, who did choose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham;
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Library

Christians are the Holy People Promised toAbraham they have Been...
... Chapter CXIX."Christians are the holy people promised toAbraham They
have beencalled likeAbraham. Then I said again, "Would...

Argument. --Moreover Also, from the Fact that He who was Seen of...
... Argument."Moreover Also, from the Fact that He Who Was Seen ofAbraham isCalled
God; Which Cannot Be Understood of the Father, Whom No Man Hath Seen at Any...

Of the Divine Preservation of Sarah's Chastity in Egypt, when...
... Book XVI. Chapter 19."Of the Divine Preservation of Sarah's Chastity in Egypt,
WhenAbraham HadCalled Her Not His Wife But His Sister....

Recapitulation of the Foregoing Argument, Showing thatAbraham...
... [3874]. 3. He is therefore one and the same God, whocalled Abraham and
gave him the promise. But He is the Creator, who does also...

Abraham's Loyalty to God
... The angel of Jehovah againcalled toAbraham and said, "Jehovah declares, 'Because
you have done this thing and have not kept back your son, your only son, I...

Hooker -- the Activity of Faith; Or,Abraham's Imitators
... So isAbraham called the "father of the faithful," because he is the copy of their
course, whom they must follow in those services that God calleth for....

Abraham's Four Surrenders
... In the first place,Abraham wascalled to give up his kindred and his native
country, and to go out, not knowing whither he went....

On the Words of the Gospel, John i. 10, "The World was Made...
... O generation of vipers." [3630] Theycalled themselves the children ofAbraham;
and he addressed them, "O generation of vipers." Did he doAbraham wrong?...

Consecration to God --Illustrated byAbraham's Circumcision
... The new manhood is indicated by the change of name"he iscalled no longer Abram,
butAbraham, and his wife is no longer Sarai, but Sarah....

Version ii.
... AndAbraham called one of his servants, and said to him: Go, bring me a beast that
the stranger may sit upon it, for he is wearied with his journey....