Fast Facts About Father Abraham

His original name was Abram, but God gave him a new name when he blessed him.

[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. [6] And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. – Genesis 17:4-6 KJV

He married his half sister, which may be why his wife was barren even though the law was not yet given, but when it was given, it was against God’s law.

And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. – Genesis 20:12 KJV

Abram was highly favored even though he concealed the fact that he was married and only claimed Sarai as his sister when he was among Abimelech. Therefore, Abimelech wanted to take Sarai as his wife because she was very beautiful. Abimelech believed God and feared God, but Abram was favored over Abimelech and God warned Abimelech even though Abimelech did not desire her intentionally. Abram did this three times with different leaders and every time they gave him wealth because they feared God and were plagued so they paid Abraham to leave. This was how he became wealthy. The reason God favored him is because Abram obeyed God’s only command.

[7] Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. [8] Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. [9] Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. [10] And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? [11] And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake. – Genesis 20:7-11 KJV

He was quite wealthy.

And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. – Genesis 13:2 KJV

Other than obtaining wealth through men who feared God, Abram did not accept free things, but always paid for them.

[22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, [23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: -Genesis 14:22-23 KJV

He was a warrior, a commanding general, and a hero who rescued Lot and the King of Sodom from their captivity by another king.

[14] And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. [15] And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. [16] And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. -Genesis 14:14-16 KJV

He had great faith and feared God.

[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. [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. ~Genesis 22:7-13 KJV

Because of his faith, God gave him children. He had two sons: Isaac and Ishmael. Through Isaac, God blessed Abraham. Ishmael became an archer and a great nation. The promise of a seed came because of Abraham’s faith.

[15] And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be . [16] And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. [17] Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? [18] And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! [19] And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.- Genesis 17:15-19 KJV

He always gave honor to God by building altars to God to establish places and naming them.

[6] And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. [7] And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord , who appeared unto him. – Genesis 12:6-7 KJV

[18] Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. – Genesis 13:18 KJV

He held a great feast when Isaac was weaned.

And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. – Genesis 21:8 KJV

He was circumcised at 99 years old and his son Ishmael was circumcised on the same day.

[24] And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. [25] And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.- Genesis 17:24-25 KJV

He was a prophet.

[7] Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. ~Genesis 20:7 KJV

He had a polygamous marriage because his wife talked him into it, but she realized her wrong.

And Sarai said unto Abram, “My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.” – Genesis 16:5 KJV

Abraham is called the father of many nations because God blessed him abundantly for believing Him, fearing Him, and obeying Him. We serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is an important distinction for our faith.

[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. [6] And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. [7] And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. [8] And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.- Genesis 17:5-8 KJV

[25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. – Acts 3:25 KJV