Abraham, Canaan & the Test of Faith Creation to Kings | Episode 2
The next person of note in the biblical narrative is Abraham.
Named Abram at birth, he lived in Ur,
which is located in modern-day Iraq between the Persian Gulf and Baghdad.
Accompanied with his family, he moved to Haran
which is located in modern-day Turkey.
He lived there for several years, until at the age of 75
he received a call from God to move down to Canaan.
Complying with this command by God,
he and his family, his wife, his nephew, and his considerable belongings,
he moved down to Canaan.
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God promised that He would make of Abram a great nation,
that his descendants would be as numerous at the stars of the sky.
But the journey from this promise to its fulfillment was not a smooth or easy ride.
His wife Sarai was barren, meaning she couldn't have children,
and therein lies the problem.
His earthly situation was at odds with the biblical promise.
After living in Canaan for 10 years, Sarai his wife told Abram, now 84 years old,
that in order to fulfill the biblical promise
he should take Hagar, her Egyptian handmaid, and have a child with her.
This he did.
She conceived, bore a son, and his name was Ishmael.
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After the birth of Ishmael when Abram was 99 years old,
God changed his name to Abraham,
and again promised that he would be the father of many nations.
He was told he would have a son through Sarah,
who, despite her old age, believed in the promise and by faith she had a son.
Isaac grew up here in this country, enjoying life at home,
looking after cattle and enjoying the moderate climate.
Then, as a young man, his father had a test like no other.
Abraham was told to take his son, his only son, his only son that he loved,
and take him to the land of Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice.
Packing up the donkey the next day, he left with his son
and on the way Isaac asked him, 'Where is the lamb?'
His heart must have been pierced and heavy,
and by faith he responded, 'The Lord will provide.'
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Reaching the top of Mount Moriah and still no lamb in sight,
he built an altar and instructed his son Isaac to get on it.
Raising his hand to kill his son,
he heard the Lord call out, 'Abraham, Abraham!'
He responded, 'Here am I.'
God said, 'Do not lay your hand on your son or do anything to him,
for now I know that you fear God,
seeing you have not withheld your only son from Me.'
This test of faith, this irrefutable faith, this trust in God,
trust that God would fulfill His promise to make him a father of many nations,
trust to do anything that God asked,
is what sets him apart as being the father of the faithful.
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The three Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity
all recognize the importance of Abraham,
and believe that Moriah, where Abraham offered up Isaac,
is where the Temple Mount is today, located right here in Jerusalem.
For Jews, is where the temple once stood,
and today they worship at the Western Wall.
For Christians it's where the temple would have been that Jesus worshipped in,
and for Muslims it's the third holiest site, after Mecca and Medina.
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Abraham lies buried here in Hebron in the Cave of Machpelah.
He was a great man of faith who trusted God's Word implicitly,
always in obedience to God call.
The Bible says that if we are Christ's,
then we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29)
The blessings that were promised to Abraham and his children can be yours today
when you reach out by faith and live a surrendered life.