The Abraham Story

When the earth was, again, full of people, God scattered them and confused their language because of their continued wickedness.

Then God chose one man and told him to leave his family. This man, Abraham, obeyed. The Lord promised Abraham many descendants, a new land, and that all the families of the earth would be blessed through Abraham’s offspring.

God tested Abraham, saying, “Take your only son, Isaac, whom you love and offer him as a burnt offering.” So, Abraham took Isaac to the mountain God showed him. Arriving at the place, Abraham built an altar and bound his son Isaac on it. Then Abraham grabbed the knife to slaughter his son. But an angel stopped him saying, “Do not hurt the boy, now God knows you fear him.” There was a ram caught in a nearby bush, so Abraham offered the ram as a burnt offering in place of his son. The angel told Abraham that because of his obedience, God would surely give him many descendants, the new land, and that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through Abraham’s offspring.

Meaning: Abraham is not “The Promised One,” but through his story the promise continues and expectation grows. God’s promise to Adam and Eve of a snake-slaying-savior will now be fulfilled in the offspring of Abraham. God promised to Abraham a great nation who would inherit the Promised Land. This nation-descended-from-Abraham would then bless all the other nations. But what is this blessing of the nations? Surely it is the reversal of the curses – the undoing of the fall. Through Abraham’s offspring, God promises to restore the perfection of Eden and save all the families of the earth. The greatest blessing of all would be a return to life in the physical and manifested presence of God, just as Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden.