Bible study on Abraham PDF Download

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The Lineage of Abraham

Abraham belongs to the lineage of Noah’s son called Shem (Genesis 11).

Abraham’s great-great-grandfather was called Reu (Genesis 11:20).

Abraham’s great-grandfather was called Serug (Genesis 11:22).

Abraham’s grandfather was called Nahor (Genesis 11:24).

Abraham’s father was called Terah (Genesis 11:27).

Abraham’s initial name

Abraham was initially called Abram (Genesis 11:27) before God renamed him Abraham, meaning ‘a father of many nations’ (Genesis 17:5).

Abraham’s brothers

Abraham had two brothers, that is, Nahor and Haran (Genesis 11:27).

Haran was the father of Lot (Genesis 11:27).

So Lot was Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 11:27)

Abraham’s wife

Abraham’s wife was initially called Sarai (Genesis 11:29), but later on God renamed her Sarah, meaning ‘a mother of many nations’ (Genesis 17:15).

Sarai was barren (Genesis 11:30).

Death of Abraham’s father, Terah

Terah lived for two hundred and five years and then died at a place called Haran (Genesis 11:32).

God appears to Abraham

After the death of Terah, God appeared to Abraham in Haran and directed him to depart from his country, his kindred, and his father’s house to a land that He would show him (Genesis 12:1).

Lesson for us:

Just as He spoke to Abraham, God is still speaking to us to this day. Like Abraham, we should be ready and willing to heed the voice of God and obey all that He directs us to do. God asked Abraham to leave his country because He had better plans for him. Abraham could not see the future, but God does. The good thing is that Abraham trusted God, obeyed him, and left his father’s ancestral home for a land unknown (Hebrews 11:8-10).

While calling Jeremiah, God tells him that He knew him before he was born and ordained him to be a prophet (Jeremiah 1:5).

So when God calls you to do something, do not be reluctant because of your inability to see the final outcome; just obey Him, and good will come your way.

Scriptures tell us that the thoughts God has for each one of us are ‘thoughts of peace and not evil’ to give us a ‘future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11).

So whatever it is God is asking you to leave, be it a neighborhood, a town, a city, a country, a relationship, a job, a habit, or whatever it is, just trust Him and follow His instruction; He will never disappoint you.

God’s promises to Abraham

God promised Abraham that:

1.       He would make him a great nation (Genesis 12:2).

2.       He would bless him and make his name great (Genesis 12:2).

3.       He would make him a blessing (Genesis 12:2).

4.       He would bless those that blessed him but curse those that cursed him (Genesis 12:3).

5.       Through him, all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

Lesson for us:

God does not ask you to follow Him in vain. There will always be a reward only if you obey. God fulfilled all the promises He made to Abraham. Sample the following:

·         He made Abraham a great nation (that is Israel) just as He had promised him.

·         He blessed Abraham with so much substance just like He had promised him. Genesis 24:1 says, ‘Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in ALL THINGS.’

·         He made Abraham a blessing to others; for instance, Lot was blessed because of his association with Abraham. But after parting ways with Abraham and going to Sodom, he lost all that he had.

·         He blessed those who blessed Abraham but cursed all that cursed him. God overthrew all individuals who contended against Abraham, and none prevailed against him as long as he was alive.

·         Through Abraham, the families of the earth have become blessed. This is because through Abraham, the nation of Israel was birthed. It is through Israel that Christ Jesus, the Messiah, came to the earth to save mankind. And thus the gift of everlasting life has become available to all who believe in Him (John 3:16).

So when God calls you, expect to be rewarded in this life and the one to come. This is in accordance with what Jesus told his disciples in Luke 18:28-30. The scriptures say

‘Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed you.” So he said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come everlasting life.’

In the book of Revelation, Christ Jesus gave the following promises to the saints who would overcome the world:

·         They will eat from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7);

·         They shall not be hurt by the second death (Revelation 2:11);

·         They will eat the hidden manna and receive a white stone (Revelation 2:17);

·         They will be given the morning star (Revelation 2:28);

·         They shall be clothed in white garments (Revelation 3:5);

·         They shall be saved from the great tribulation (Revelation 3:10);

·         They will be granted to sit on the throne of Christ (Revelation 3:21).

Abraham’s departure from Haran

Abraham obeyed God and departed from Haran, his ancestral land. He was seventy-five years old at the time of his departure (Genesis 12:4).

Abraham left with Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his nephew (Genesis 12:5).

Lesson for us:

God called Abraham while he was seventy-five years old. This means that God can call you at whatever age bracket you find yourself in. In short, age is not a factor when God decides to call someone. At the time of his calling, Jeremiah told God that he was a youth whom no one could listen to. But God told him that was not an issue to Him. This account is recorded in Jeremiah 1:6-7. The Bible says

‘Then said I: ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.’ But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am a youth,” for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.’”

Likewise, Moses was called when he was well advanced in age. And because of his obedience, he led the children of Israel out of the house of bondage in Egypt.

Abraham’s journeys

Abraham in Canaan

After leaving Haran, Abraham journeyed to the land of Canaan (12:5). He passed through Canaan and came to a place called Shechem.

Abraham in Shechem

While at Shechem, God appeared to Abraham again and promised to give his descendants the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:7).

So Abraham went ahead and built an altar to God at Shechem (Genesis 12:7).

Abraham settles between Bethel and Ai

Abraham then left Shechem and moved to the mountain east of Bethel and pitched a tent between Bethel and Ai (Genesis 12:8).

While there, Abraham built another altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD (Genesis 12:8).

Lesson for us:

In the above passages, we notice that everywhere Abraham went, he built an altar to His God and called on His name. This teaches us an important principle as believers. Everywhere we go, we should always remember to call on God’s name. For example, when you move from one neighborhood to another, or from one city to another, or even from one country to another, always seek the face of God and call on Him in that new location.

Our God is omnipresent; He will hear your voice and be with you wherever you go.

Abraham in Egypt

A time came when a famine arose in the land where Abraham dwelt with his household. This forced Abram to journey to the land of Egypt (Genesis 12:10).

Lesson for us:

Sometimes in our life, we may experience days of scarcity (famine) just like Abraham did. This does not mean that God has abandoned us, but it is just how things are in this fallen world. So, when such times come, let us always seek God’s direction on what we should do so as to remain aligned to His word and provision.

Abraham’s wife taken to Pharaoh

Before entering Egypt, Abraham conspired with his wife, Sarai, to tell whoever would ask her that she was his sister. He did this because he feared that the Egyptians would kill him and take Sarai from him because she was very beautiful (Genesis 12:11-13).

On noticing Sarai’s beauty, the princes of the land commended her to Pharaoh. She was therefore taken to Pharaoh’s house (Genesis 12:15).

However, God struck Pharaoh’s household with great plagues because of Sarai (Genesis 12:17).

After realizing that Sarai was actually Abraham’s wife, Pharaoh called him and reprimanded him for lying to them. He then gave him Sarai and asked him to leave Egypt with all his possessions (Genesis 12:18-20).

Lesson for us:

We should never act out of fear. Because he feared for his life, Abraham lied to the Egyptian regarding the true identity of his wife. As a result, Pharaoh almost committed adultery with Sarah, thinking that she was Abraham’s sister. Were it not for God’s intervention, Pharaoh would have fallen into sin and suffered the consequence thereof.

The Bible teaches that the fear of man brings a snare (Proverbs 29:25). So, we should always walk in faith, as this is the only weapon that God has granted us to overcome fear.

Abraham returns to Bethel and Ai

After departing from Egypt, Abraham returned to the place between Bethel and Ai, where he had initially built an altar to the LORD. While here, he again called on the name of the LORD (Genesis 13:1-).

Contention between the servants of Abraham and Lot

Abraham had great possessions in terms of livestock, silver, and gold (Genesis 13:2). Lot’s nephew was also very rich in terms of flocks, herds, and tents (Genesis 13:5).

Given the abundant possessions that both Abraham and Lot had amassed, the land was unable to support both of them. For this reason, their servants began to quarrel with each other (Genesis 13:7).

Lesson for us:

When we walk in obedience to the instructions God gives us, we will remain fruitful and prosperous.

Abraham separates from Lot

Abraham thus approached Lot and asked that they should go different ways to avert further conflicts. So Lot chose all the plain of Jordan and journeyed east. So Abraham and Lot separated from each other (Genesis 13:8-11).

Lesson for us:

Abraham was a peacemaker who never wished to contend with his nephew Lot for earthly possessions. It is for this reason that he asked Lot to be the first to decide which way he wanted to go. So after Lot had chosen the lands neighboring Sodom that appeared much better, Abraham agreed to go the opposite direction.

As believers, the action taken by Abraham teaches us never to strive with people over the things of this perishing world. Instead, we should always be content with what God has made available to us, for it will always be sufficient.

So believers should be the last people to be found fighting each other over trivial issues such as pieces of land, inheritance, wealth, or any other material things that will all be destroyed on the Last Day.

Abraham dwells in the land of Canaan

Thus Abraham pitched his tent in the land of Canaan, while Lot pitched his tent in Sodom (Genesis 13:12).

Then the LORD appeared to Abraham and told him to lift his eyes towards the north, the south, the east, and the west, for all the land that he saw would become his descendant’s (Genesis 13:14-17).

Abraham dwells in Hebron

After this encounter with God, Abraham moved to Hebron, where he pitched his tent and dwelt there. He then built an altar to the LORD (Genesis 13:18).

Abraham rescues Lot from captivity

A day came when the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela fought against the kings of Elam, Shinar, Ellasar, and another one called the king of nations. It so happened that the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela were defeated by the other four, and they then fled to the mountains (Genesis 14:8-10).

Consequently, the winners took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, together with all their provisions. They also took Lot captive together with all his goods (Genesis 14:12).

When they brought this news to Abraham, he pursued those kings, engaged them in battle, defeated them, and rescued Lot, his households, and all the goods (Genesis 14:13-17).

Lesson for us:

Because God was with Abraham, he was able to defeat the four kings who were much stronger than him, militarily speaking. This teaches us that as long as we are walking in obedience to God’s word, the size and strength of our enemies does not matter. That is, God will always fight for us and deliver them into our hands.

It is King David who teaches us that ‘through God he can run against a troop’ (Psalm 18:29) and ‘that it is God who teaches his hands to make war’ (Psalm 18:34). For as long as God is on our side, no weapon fashioned against us can prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

In addition, Abraham teaches us to be mindful of our relatives and any other brethren in need. This is because the main reason why Abraham pursued the four kings was in order to rescue Lot.

Abraham did not care about the size and power of the enemy while embarking on this dangerous mission. His only goal was to rescue Lot, his household, and his property. He thus left his own family to go and help his nephew. This act of selflessness is what we need among brethren in these last days of planet earth.

If only brethren would come to the rescue of those in their midst who are suffering one kind of need or another, we would win many souls to Christ through such acts of compassion. So let’s do it to the glory of God.

Abraham meets Melchizedek

Melchizedek was the king of a place called Salem. He was the priest of the Most High God. He came to meet Abraham after the battle with the four kings who had taken Lot captive. He brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham. Then Abraham gave him a tithe of all (Genesis 14:18-20).

Lesson for us:

Abraham gave a tithe of all his substance to Melchizedek. This happened well before the Law of Moses came into effect. This means that tithing is a practice that existed during the days of Abraham. Simply put, tithing is scriptural.

There are some individuals who have been pushing for the abolishment of tithing in the church, claiming that it is an outdated practice. But that is not true. Tithing is still as relevant today as it was in the days of old.

Through tithing, God continues to bless His people because of worshipping and honoring Him with their substance. Therefore, the giving of tithes and offerings still remains as relevant today as it was in the olden days.

In Malachi 3:10, God instructed Israel to tithe so as to ensure that His house was well stocked to meet the needs of the Levites, the widows, the fatherless, and strangers. The scripture says

‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.’’

This means that when you tithe, God blesses you abundantly. If He did it to the children of Israel, He will do the same for every believer who tithes today.

In the New Testament, tithing is also mentioned, showing that it was not only of the Law of Moses. This is found in Hebrews 7:8-10, which says:

‘Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.’

Why not try it and see it for yourself instead of listening to the voice of the naysayers?

Abraham turns down gifts from the king of Sodom

When the king of Sodom saw that Abraham had prevailed against the four kings who had attacked Sodom, he offered him the spoils of war. However, Abraham turned down the offer because he had made an oath to God that he would not take anything from the spoils of war (Genesis 14:21-24).

Lesson for us:

In this instance, Abraham teaches us a fundamental principle: not all gifts are to be accepted! Abraham knew that if he were to receive the gifts offered by the king of Sodom, the latter would forever claim that he was the one who had made Abraham rich. So Abraham politely declined the offer.

We see the same thing repeating itself when the prophet Elisha turned down the gifts offered by Naaman, the Syrian army commander. This happened after Naaman had been healed of leprosy. In appreciation, he had sought to give gifts to Elisha, who refused to take anything from him. We read this in 2 Kings 5:14-16. The scripture says

‘So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God (Elisha); and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him, and said, ‘Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; now, therefore, please take a gift from your servant. But he said, ‘As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.’ And he urged him to take it, but he refused.’’

This is a very important lesson for believers because there are people who offer you gifts with strings attached to them. The moment you accept such gifts, you discover that you have become intertwined in things that may end up compromising your salvation.

So whatever project you seek to undertake, if you are short of finances, be careful whom you receive help from; it may be blood money that may ultimately cost your life and that of your family members. This world is such a treacherous place for you to go about conducting your business carelessly!

Abraham was promised a son and informed about the slavery of his descendants

After the defeat of the kings, the word of the LORD came to Abraham, promising him a son despite the fact that Abraham Sarai was barren. God promised him that one who would come from his loins would become his heir (Genesis 15:1-5).

As a confirmation of the promise, God asked Abraham to bring him a sacrifice comprising a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, and a young pigeon. He then cut the heifer and the goat into two pieces each and placed each piece opposite to each other. When the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell on Abraham, and God informed him concerning the slavery of his descendants in a foreign land. However, they would later be delivered and return to the land of Promise (Genesis 15:9-16).

Then God, appearing in the form of a smoking oven and burning torch, passed between the pieces of the sacrifice offered by Abraham. This action by God sealed the covenant between Him and Abraham (Genesis 15:17-21).

Lesson for us:

Despite the barrenness of Sarah, God promised that she would ultimately conceive and bear a son for Abraham, something that happened. This teaches us that God’s promises are sure. Whatever God promises to do, He does it.

In your walk with God, there are certain things that you are sure that God has promised to fulfill in your life. Continue waiting on Him, faithfully obeying His word, and you will soon see it happen. The Bible teaches that the expectation of the righteous shall materialize. We read in Proverbs 10:28 that says

‘The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.’

God was also honest enough with Abraham by disclosing to him how his descendants would suffer in slavery despite the news being negative. However, He promised Abraham that his descendants would come out of that slavery in great power and with wealth.

Abraham begets Ishmael

Now, when Sarai saw that she could not bear children for Abraham, she asked him to sleep with Hagar, her maidservant, so that she could obtain children by her. Abraham did so, and she conceived and bore him a son, whom he named Ishmael. Ishmael was born when Abraham was eighty-six years old (Genesis 16:1-4, Genesis 16:15-16).

Lesson for us:

Sometimes we get tired of waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promises for our lives and go for plan B, with disastrous outcomes! Sarah became impatient of waiting for a child from God and therefore convinced Abraham to take Hagar, her maid, and bear a son with her. Clearly, this suggestion of Sarah was in total contradiction to the word of God to Abraham. Anyway, Abraham listened to his wife and bore Ishmael by Hagar.

Unfortunately, this action later on led to a tragic turn of events that culminated in the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 21:12-21).

Whenever we become impatient for God’s promises, we end up taking actions that we deeply regret afterwards. This usually happens when we succumb to the pressures of life, pressure from our spouse, and pressure from our peers, among other sources. In most cases, this impatience is usually a result of thinking that we are running out of time. One may think that they are running out of time to get married, get children, build or buy a home, or start a business, among other things. Whenever one succumbs to pressures from the mentioned quarters, they end up taking shortcuts that leave them in disgrace later on.

For instance, one may resort to theft or corruption in order to get money to buy that home or build that house they have been pressured to buy or build. Somebody else may choose to have an extramarital affair in order to sire kids. Someone else may end up borrowing money in order to start a business that completely fails just because he or she wanted to be seen to be doing something. All these efforts are futile if they are not aligned to the word and promises of God concerning that person.

So my dear brother or sister, let us learn to wait on the Lord’s promises, and He will come through for us at His set time. This is the advice we get from Psalm 27:14, where the Bible says:

‘Wait on the LORD, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD.’

Similar sentiments are echoed in Psalm 46:10. The scripture says:

‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’

We should also learn that it is never about us, but it is all about God and His glory.

God promises Abraham a son

At ninety years of age, God appeared to Abraham again and promised him a son and many descendants (Genesis 17:1-7).

The LORD made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants in which every male child born of him and his descendants would be circumcised on the eighth day after birth (Genesis 17:9-15).

God promised Abraham that Sarai, his wife, would conceive and give birth to a son whom he was to name Isaac (Genesis 17:15-19; Genesis 18:1-15).

God changes the names of Abraham and Sarah

God then changed the name of Abram to Abraham, meaning ‘a father of many nations’ (Genesis 17:5).

God also changed the name of Sarai to Sarah, meaning ‘a mother of many nations’ (Genesis 17:15).

Lesson for us:

God’s perspective of us is far more than what we have for ourselves. The Bible teaches that God knows our end from the beginning. So, when He promises us something, it is usually far better than what we had ever anticipated, because He has already seen it. For instance, Abraham wanted a son, but God gave him a great nation!

In Ephesians 3:20, scripture teaches that God usually does more than we can ever imagine. The scripture says

‘Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us’

Abraham intercedes for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah

The Bible teaches that the men of Sodom and Gomorrah became so wicked that the outcry against them reached heaven. Thus God came to Sodom to establish exactly what was going on (Genesis 18:16-21).

Abraham, knowing that the men of Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked and that they risked destruction, interceded to God on their behalf. He did so because Lot, his nephew, lived in Sodom together with his entire household (Genesis 18:16-33).

Unfortunately, the two cities were destroyed, but Lot and his two daughters escaped to the mountains through the help of the angels of God (Genesis 19:1-29).

Lesson for us:

We should learn to intercede for others so that God can have mercy on them and bring them to salvation. Be they a wayward spouse, child, sister, brother, parent, relative, workmate, neighbor, friend, etcetera, they all need our relentless prayers so as to come to the place of the knowledge of Christ. If we do not do it, then they may end up perishing in their sins.

This is because God has given to us the ministry of reconciling people back to Him through Christ. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:18 that says

‘Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.’

King Abimelech takes Abraham’s wife

It came to pass that Abraham journeyed to a land called Gerar. Once again, Abraham conspired with Sarah, his wife, to say that she was his sister so that his life would be spared. So the king of the land, called Abimelech, took Sarah, intending to take her as his wife (Genesis 20:1-3).

However, before King Abimelech could touch Sarah, God appeared to him in a dream, strongly warning him against touching Sarah (Genesis 20:3-7).

The next morning, King Abimelech called Abraham and restored Sarah back to him. He also gave to Abraham sheep, oxen, male and female servants, and a thousand pieces of silver (Genesis 20:8-16).

Then Abraham prayed to God that He would heal King Abimelech, his wife, and his maidservants. God did so, and they were able to bear children (Genesis 20:17-18).

Lesson for us:

Every time we tell lies out of fear for one thing or the other, we either land ourselves or others into trouble. We should thus learn to walk in faith and speak the truth regardless of the repercussions. This may help save a life from grave danger that the lie would have cost them.

Isaac is born to Abraham

At the set time that God had spoken to Abraham, Sarah, his wife, bore him Isaac. Abraham was one hundred years old by the time Isaac was born. Abraham circumcised him on the eighth day according to God’s command (Genesis 21:1-7).

Lesson for us:

God’s promises will always come to pass, no matter how long it takes. He teaches us in Isaiah 55:11 that His word will always fulfill the purpose for which He sends it. The Bible says

‘So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.’

Abraham sends Ishmael and Hagar away

A point came after Isaac had grown up that while they were playing with Ishmael, the latter scoffed at Isaac. This act did not go down well with Sarah, who demanded that Ishmael be sent away. However, Abraham was greatly displeased with the suggestion and was reluctant to act accordingly. So God intervened and instructed Abraham to let go of Ishmael and his mother, Hagar (Genesis 21:8-13).

So Abraham rose early the next morning and sent Ishmael and Hagar away, giving them bread and a skin of water (Genesis 21:14).

Abraham’s covenant with King Abimelech

In the passing of time, King Abimelech of Gerar witnessed the tremendous blessings with which God had blessed Abraham. He therefore approached Abraham so as to cut a deal with him concerning the king’s future generations. This is because the king had come to the conclusion that Abraham’s descendants would become mightier in the land and dominate all the inhabitants of Canaan. Abraham agreed to the king’s request, and they made a covenant at a place called Beersheba (Genesis 21:22-32).

After making the covenant, King Abimelech and his commander, Phichol, rose and returned to the land of the Philistines, leaving Abraham at Beersheba (Genesis 21:32).

After the two had departed, Abraham arose and planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and then called on the name of the LORD. Then Abraham continued with his journey in the land of the Philistines (Genesis 21:34). 

Lesson for us:

When God blesses you, those around you, including your enemies, will always notice. Consequently, they will always want to be in good books with you. This is what happened to Abraham after God had blessed him with much property. So, King Abimelech of Gerar sought to make peace with Abraham, having witnessed the blessings of God upon Abraham’s life.

This is what is meant by Proverbs 16:7, where the scripture says

‘When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.’

So just focus on pleasing God, and you will see this scripture being fulfilled before your own eyes.

God tests Abraham

A day came when God tested Abraham by asking him to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to Him. The next day, early in the morning, Abraham journeyed with his son Isaac and several servants to the land of Moriah as per God’s instruction. On the third day, Abraham reached the place where God had directed him to offer the sacrifice. He then asked his servants to wait for him while he and Isaac journeyed on. On seeing that they had everything except the lamb for the burnt offering, Isaac inquired from his father, who replied by saying that God would provide one (Genesis 22:1-8).

On reaching the exact spot where God had told him to offer Isaac, Abraham built an altar and placed the firewood on it. He then got hold of Isaac, tied him up, and placed him on the firewood. And when he had lifted up his knife, ready to slaughter Isaac, the Angel of the LORD called him out of heaven and stopped him. He then directed him to get hold of the ram that was in the nearby thicket and slaughter it instead (Genesis 22:20-13).

This act of obedience pleased God, and He reiterated the promises He’d made to Abraham (Genesis 22:14-16). God told Abraham that:

1.       He would greatly bless him (Genesis 22:17).

2.       He would multiply his descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore (Genesis 22:17).

3.       His descendants would possess the gate of their enemies (Genesis 22:17).

4.       In Abraham’s seed, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18).

Lesson for us:

God will always put us to the test, time and again, so that we may learn to fully trust Him, walk in patience, and become perfect or mature in our character. We read this in James 1:2-4. The Bible says

‘My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.’

The death of Sarah

Sarah was one hundred and twenty-seven years old at the time of her death (Genesis 23:1). In order to bury Sarah, his wife, Abraham purchased the field of Ephron (the Hittite), which was in Machpelah, at a cost of four hundred shekels of silver (Genesis 23:7-17).

So Abraham buried Sarah, his wife, in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan (Genesis 23:7-17).

Abraham procures a bride for Isaac, his son

When Abraham had become old and well advanced in age, he sent his oldest servant to procure a bride for his son from his father’s house. Abraham promised his reluctant servant that God’s angel would guide him to the right person and make his journey a success (Genesis 24:1-9).

Before embarking on this important journey, the servant prayed to God to guide him on his way to Abraham’s ancestral home and help him procure the right person for his master’s son. God heard his prayer and granted him his request. He ended up meeting Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, who was Nahor’s (Abraham’s brother) son. Rebekah was the sister of Laban (Genesis 24:12-29).

On meeting Rebekah’s father (Bethuel) and her brother (Laban), the servant narrated to them the mission of his journey and how God had worked out everything to his favor. He then requested from them the hand of Rebekah, which they accepted. He then presented Rebekah with gifts of jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing. He also gave precious gifts to Laban and Rebekah’s mother. On being asked if she was willing to go with Abraham’s servant, Rebekah agreed (Genesis 24:30-58).

After a safe journey back home, Rebekah met Isaac, who took her into his mother’s tent, and she became his wife. So Isaac loved Rebekah, and he was thus comforted after the death of Sarah, his mother (Genesis 24:61-67).

Lesson for us:

Abraham’s servant had come to learn that the God of his master was reliable and faithful. So before embarking on his journey, he prayed to God for help, and he got answered. His was a very simple prayer requesting God to give him a sign pertaining to the person who would become Isaac’s bride. God granted the servant an answer that was completely aligned to his request.

This teaches us that, firstly, whenever we want to do a particular task, however big or small, we should always seek for God’s help. This will always ensure the success of the task as long as it is aligned to God’s word and desire for our lives.

Secondly, we should always seek God’s help in every assignment given to us by our superiors at the place of work or any other station. Abraham’s servant became successful in his journey because he prayed that God would grant his master Abraham the desire of his heart. That is, to get Isaac a wife from his ancestral home.

Keturah, Abraham’s second wife

After the death of Sarah, Abraham married a woman called Keturah, who bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah (Genesis 25:1-4).

Abraham’s concubines

Abraham also had concubines. He gave gifts to the sons of the concubines and sent them eastward away from his son, Isaac (Genesis 25:6).

Abraham leaves all his inheritance to Isaac

In Genesis 25:5, scripture tells us that Abraham left all that he had to Isaac, who was the son of promise.

The death of Abraham

Abraham then died at the age of one hundred and seventy-five years, an old man, and full of years. He was then buried with Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah, the field he had purchased from Ephron, the Hittite (Genesis 25:7-10).

I hope this is helpful. Shalom.

Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/

Prayer to get born again

Are you willing to become a born-again Christian? Make the following prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and hereby ask for your forgiveness.

I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are the only begotten Son of the living God.

I believe that you were sent by your Father to the earth to save sinners like me.

I believe that you died and were resurrected in order for me to receive eternal life.

I now accept you as my personal Lord and Savior.

Come into my heart and baptize me with the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for saving me.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen!”

Congratulations, friend! You are now a born-again Christian!

Welcome to the family of God!

Also Read: Abraham’s test of faith

Related Post: Good scriptures for faith

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