Abraham

Abraham, a very important hero from Genesis, was the first person to believe in a

single God. He was the first to show devoted faith to God and risk everything to follow

God. He always found strength in his faith in God, but sometimes his unyielding, strong

faith was a weakness that almost got good people hurt.

Abraham is one of the most important people in the Old Testament because he was

the first person to believe in and be called by God. "The Lord said to Abram, 'Go forth

from the land of our kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.

I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that

you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.

All the communities in the earth shall find blessing in you."' (Genesis 12:1-3). This is

God's call to Abraham and God promises to give Abraham all of those things if Abraham

will do what God tells him to do. Abraham does what God says not knowing what he

might have to do in the future and only knowing that he is leaving almost everything

behind him. Abraham has no real reason to believe in God other than what God said to

him. Promises from a god that nobody knows and that one person has only briefly spoken

with is not much to base leaving everything behind to do what this God says. Another risk

Abraham takes is believing in, and following a God that no one else believes in. He

follows God through a pagan society where everyone worships different gods. Knowing

that God is the one and true god he openly worshiped God and put himself in danger, but

he always has faith that God will protect him.

Whenever Abraham needs help and strength he could find it in his faith in God.

Abraham's main strength is his faith because with it he is able to get through things that

are hard for him and situations in which he needs God's help.

One instance when Abraham's faith in God brings him strength is when he is upset

that he has no children and a servant is going to be his heir. "'O sovereign Lord, what can

you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezar of

Damascus?... You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my

heir."' (Genesis 15:2,3). Because Sarah is barren Abraham can't have any children that

are of his blood. God promises Abraham that he will have a son. '"This man will not be

our heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir... Look up at the

heavens, and count the stars, if you can... So shall your offspring be."' (Genesis 15:5).

Abraham had faith in what God told him even though it seemed impossible. This gave

Abraham strength because he had hope for getting a son instead of discouragement

because a servant would be his heir. Because he believes God will let him have a son and

is always faithful