Abraham

Abraham was born around 2000BC in the city of Ur in Mesopotamia, which is located in present-day Iraq. Ur was an important city in ancient times and was known for its sophisticated culture, art, and science. Abraham's father, Terah, was a wealthy merchant who lived in Ur, and Abraham was one of his sons. 

God called Abraham while he was living in the city of Ur and told him to leave his country, his people, and his father's household and go to the land that God would show him. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation and to bless him, and through him, all the families of the earth would be blessed. 

Abraham obeyed God and left Ur with his wife Sarah, his nephew Lot, and all their possessions, beginning a journey of faith that would eventually lead him to the land of Canaan.

Abraham's Journey from Ur to Canaan, by József Molnár, 1850

Abraham and his nephew Lot lived together in the land of Canaan. As their flocks grew, they began to experience conflicts between their herdsmen over grazing lands.

To resolve the issue, Abraham suggested that they separate, with Lot given the first choice of land. Lot chose the well-watered Jordan Valley, which was rich in vegetation and grazing lands, while Abraham settled in the land of Canaan.

However, Lot's choice proved to be a bad one, as the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were located in the Jordan Valley. These cities were notorious for their wickedness, and their inhabitants were known for their sins, including homosexuality and violence.

As a result, God decided to destroy the cities and their inhabitants, and He warned Abraham of His plan. Abraham pleaded with God to spare the cities if there were any righteous people living there. God agreed, and Abraham went to Sodom to find Lot and his family, hoping to save them before the destruction.

Abraham found Lot and his family living in Sodom, and he urged them to flee before the city was destroyed. Lot and his family hesitated, but the angels of God intervened and urged them to flee immediately. Lot and his family fled the city just before it was destroyed by fire and brimstone.

In Canaan, God appeared to Abraham and promised him that he would be the father of a great nation, and his descendants would be greatly blessed. Abraham's faith was tested as he and his wife Sarah were childless for many years. 

Eventually, Sarah  suggested that Abraham have a child with her maidservant Hagar. Abraham agreed, and Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. However, God kept his promise to Abraham and Sarah, and when Sarah was 90 years old and Abraham was 100, she miraculously gave birth to Isaac.

Abraham's faith in God was so unwavering that he was willing to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac at God's command. But just as he raised the knife to obey, God stopped him and provided a ram in Isaac's place.

The Angel Hinders the Offering of Isaac, by Rembrandt, 1635 

Through Isaac, Abraham became the father of the Jewish nation and the foundation of monotheism, which paved the way for Christianity. And through Ishmael, he became the father of the Arab people and Islam.

Abraham's obedience to God, his trust in God's promises, and his unwavering faith make him an inspiring example for all believers. He was the first to undergo circumcision and remains greatly revered by Christians, Jews, and Muslims to this day. Let us follow in his footsteps and trust in God's faithfulness.