studyabraham

A Brief Study of Abraham

Introduction:

Abraham was born in approx. 2169 BC.

Abraham died at the age of 175 years old
KJV Genesis 25:7-8
7. And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
8. Then Abraham gave up the Ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

Abraham married Sarai – known to us as Sarah - Genesis 17:15. And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
Genesis 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai

They Had Isaac (Abraham was 100 years old Genesis 21:5 and Sarah was ninety Genesis 17:17)
Genesis 21:3
3. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

Abraham bore Ishmael prior to Isaac from Sarah’s handmaid Hagar (Abraham was 86)
Genesis 16:15-16
15. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16. And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Abraham Re-married after Sarah died to Keturah (Genesis 25:1 and had at least 6 children that are recorded verse 2)

The Record also states that he had other sons of other concubines Genesis 25:6

Abraham was not perfect
KJV Genesis 12:11-20
11. And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
12. Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
13. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
14. And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16. And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
17. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
18. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
19. Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.
20. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

I. Through Him Shall ALL of the families of the Earth be blessed

All The Families of the Earth (Christ Matthew 1:1)
KJV Genesis 12:1-3
1. Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

God Expected Abraham to be perfect
KJV Genesis 17:1-5
1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4. As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Just as He demands us to be perfect
KJV 2 Corinthians 13:11
11. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

KJV Philippians 3:13-15
13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

KJV Colossians 1:25-28
25. Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

KJV James 2:10
10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

(Note) We realize that all have sinned Romans 3:32, yet perfection must be attained! Remember if we confess our sins he will forgive us (I John 1:7-9).

II. Why Abraham? Because of His GREAT Faith

Because Abraham Walked By Faith Not By Sight
KJV Hebrews 11:8
8. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

KJV 2 Corinthians 5:7
7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Because Abraham was a friend of God
KJV James 2:23
23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

KJV 2 Chronicles 20:7
7. Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

KJV Isaiah 41:8
8. But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

Because Abraham wanted to save others
Genesis 18:23-32 (Sodom and Gomorrah / Yet he could not as the majority chose unrighteousness Genesis 19:24)
23. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24. Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25. That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26. And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30. And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
33. And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

III. Abraham had enough faith in God to offer his Son –

Genesis 22:1-14
1. And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8. And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

God Did not make him do that – he provided a sacrifice for him

11. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

12. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

13. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

Conclusion:

God also provides the sacrifice for us

Matthew 27:26-50, Hebrews 9:28, and Hebrews 10:1-10

Abraham was not always perfect. He had his flaws. Do you have yours? Would you not like to wash those away? Take advantage of the blood of Christ through obedience to his plan of salvation.

Romans 10:14-17, John 8:24, Acts 3:19, Matthew 10:32-33, and Romans 6:1-6!

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