Abraham's
Journey
Laurent de la Hyre - Abraham Sacrificing
Isaac c1650
This study
of Abraham provides both a biographical and geographical view
of Abraham's journey through the Bible lands.
Abraham is one of the most fascinating
characters in the Bible. God took an ordinary man who had no
hope of having a family and made him father of multitudes. God
took the impossible things in Abraham's life and worked through
them, perfecting in Abraham the great character we know him
as.
Abraham is important to Jews, Christians
and Muslims by establishing the Jewish race, the lineage of
Jesus Christ, and several of the Mid-Eastern races. Abraham
is identified as a great man of faith by obeying God (Hebrews
11:8-12).
Hebrews 11:8-12
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would
later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though
he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home
in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he
lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with
him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the
city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself
was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered
him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one
man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as
the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
God began a good work in Abraham's life by asking him to trust
and follow Him. Interestingly, Abraham was seventy-five years
old, when he was called by God. The Lord then spent a lifetime
perfecting Abraham to be His faithful servant and to be obedient
to His Word (see
chart of events during Abraham's life).
Abraham lived with his family in Ur of the Chaldeans (modern
day Iraq). His name at that time was Abram (Exalted Father).
His father's name was Terah and he had two brothers, Nahor and
Haron. Haron died in Ur, but before his death his son Lot was
born. Abram married his half-sister Sarai (Princess). Because
of her name, she was undoubtedly very beautiful and being his
half sister, Terah obviously had multiple wives (Gen
11:27-30 also Gen
20:12).
Abraham's
journey begins circa ~2000 BC. Ur
was a great city at the time of Abraham. It had wealth, libraries,
courts and culture. The archaeological site is located in southern
Iraq near Nasiriyah about 160 kilometers northwest of the Kuwait
border.
Abraham departs Ur with his father, Sarah and Lot to move to
Canaan. However, they stop and dwell in Haran (Gen
11:31). Haran
is located in Turkey about 32 kilometer Southeast of Urfa and
is located near the river Balih. Haran was centrally located
along a trade route and was a city known for its worship of
Sin, god of the moon.
Apparently his father and brother fell to the calling of this
religious cult (no doubt owing to their former city Ur). It
is interesting that years later Nahor's grandson Laban would
be ready to kill Abraham's grandson Jacob over idols (Gen
31:29-30).
The Lord singled out Abram in Haran by promising to make him
a great nation. This was a great thing except for one problem;
his wife Sarah (then called Sarai) was barren. Nevertheless,
Abram trusted God and was obedient to Him. At this point God
commands Abram to leave his family in Haran and go to a new
land that He will lead him to (Canaan). Therefore, Abram departs
for Canaan leaving his father and brother in Haran behind.
This account is given in Gen
12:1-5 and also amplified in Joshua
24:2, where we are told that Terah and Nahor both served
other gods.
Abram was 75 years old when he departed Haran. He brought
with him his entire household including his wife Sarai, his
servants, and nephew Lot. After entering Canaan, he then stops
in Shechem
(Gen 12:6). This
is where the Lord appeared to Abram and he built an altar (years
later his grandson Jacob will dig a well there). Abram then
moves to Bethel
(Bethel on the west and Ai on the east - Gen
12:8). There, he builds an alter and called on the name
of the Lord. At this point, Abram is seeking help and direction
from God. The Lord had led him to the land He had called Abram
to. Even though the Lord had appeared to him in Shechem (which
must have been very reassuring to him), there are times when
the Lord seems to depart and His promise, thus making it become
seemingly empty. In this case the land of "milk and honey"
that God had called Abram to, was becoming barren due to famine.
He then journeys further south as the famine becomes more severe
- (Gen 12:10).
Finally, due to the severe famine, he journeys
to Egypt.
While Abram is in Egypt, he is confronted by Pharaoh, who desired
Sarai as his future wife. Abram, fearful for his life tells
Pharaoh that Sarai is his sister (actually a partial truth since
she is half sister). Sarai is taken to be a wife for Pharaoh;
in return Abram receives great wealth including livestock and
servants. This is probably when they acquired Hagar, Sarai's
Egyptian maidservant (Gen
12:16). God intervenes and reveals to Pharaoh that Sarai
is Abram's wife and Pharaoh rebukes Abram for being dishonest
to him. Abram departs Egypt and returns to Canaan with all his
wealth and family (Gen
12:17-20).
Although Abram was undeserving of the great wealth given to
him by Pharaoh, the Lord had still blessed him. We find in our
own lives we are undeserving of God's redemption. However, it
is not about doing good deeds or just being a good person (although
that is important to God). It is really about trusting and following
God. This was the message God was teaching Abram. Unfortunately,
Abram didn't have the trust that God required of him. God was
beginning to teach him a series of lessons in life to perfect
the trust in Him that he would someday need to become the historical
figure we all know him as - a great man of faith.
Abram journeys from Egypt passing through the Negev (the South).
Along this route, he probably stops at Beersheba
- "well of seven". He finally returns to Bethel
(between Bethel and Ai - the place of the altar he had previously
built) (Gen 13:1-4).
There, Abram called on the Name of the Lord from this place.
Having returned to the place he earlier departed from, Abram
rededicates his life to the Lord and calls upon God's Name to
continue His good work that He had begun in him.
Abram and Lot were very wealthy and there was not enough room
for the two of them together. Therefore, they split up and Lot
chose the Plain of Jordan and journeyed eastward (Gen
13:10-11). Now, the Plain of Jordan was like a "garden
of the Lord", as you go toward Zoar. Lot dwelt in the plain
of Jordan, as far as Sodom and Abram dwelt in Canaan (The location
of Sodom is unknown, but is believed to have been located in
what is now the Dead Sea). It is here that God makes a promise
to give Abram and his descendants the land of Canaan forever
(Gen 13:14-15).
God promises to make Abram's descendants a great number (as
the dust of the earth (Gen
13:16). Abram is told to arise and walk through the land.
He also decides to move to the terebinth trees of Mamre, which
are in Hebron
and built an altar to the Lord there (Gen
13:17-18).
Lot is now established in Sodom, a place known for its outlandish
lifestyles and sexual perversion. Located in the Valley
of Siddim, which means cultivated fields. This area may
have been part of what is now the Dead
Sea. This fertile plain actually consisted of five cities:
Zeboiim, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zoar.
War broke out between the Kings of the valley (Sodom and Gomorrah)
in the Valley of Siddim - the Salt Sea (Gen
14:1-3). They served the kings of Shinar (Babylonia and
Persia) for 12 years and rebelled in the 13th year. The Kings
of Sodom and Gomorrah fled (some falling into tar pits in the
Valley of Siddim). Lot was taken captive (Gen
14:10-12).
When Abram was told of Lot's captivity he armed 318 trained
servants who were born in his own house and went in pursuit
of them at Dan
(Gen 14:14). Abram
attacks by night splitting his forces. They pursued them as
far as Hobah (north of Damascus) (Gen
14:15). Abram's forces defeat them and recover all the captive
people and their goods. After Lot's rescue, Abram returns the
property to its owners (including the captives). The king of
Sodom comes out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (King's
Valley - located near Jerusalem)
upon his return. He offers to give Abram everything, but Abram
insists on not accepting anything from this king (Abram is able
to see through his motives). However, Abram does give a portion
of the property to his servants and a tenth to Melchizedek,
King of Salem and the priest of the most high God. Abram doesn't
keep any of it for himself (Gen
14:18-24)
God makes a promise to Abram, revealing that he will have a
son. God commands him to count the stars and God said "so
shall your descendants be" (unable to be numbered) - Gen
15). Abram believed God and it was accounted to him for
righteousness (Gen
15:6). At this point, Abram is also told by God of the coming
captivity in Egypt (Gen
15:13-16) and its duration. God then deeds the land of Canaan
to Abram's descendants (Gen
15:18-21).
Genesis Chapter 16 - 17
At this point, Abram and Sarai have been in Canaan for ten
years. Aware that they aren't getting any younger, they decide
to "help" God along in His plan for the promised son.
Sarai convinces Abram to take Hagar her Egyptian servant and
have the promised child through her. After Hagar conceived Ishmael,
Sarai becomes despised by Hagar and what friendship they once
had is shattered. Hagar then runs away into the desert and heads
toward Egypt. Along the way, God confronts her at a spring of
water on the way to Shur near Kadesh-barnea
and commands her to return to Abram and Sarai. She is told Ishmael
would become the father of a great multitude (the Arab people)
(Gen 16:9).
Finally, the Lord appears to Abram in Hebron at the age of
99 as Almighty God (Gen
17:1). He commands Abram to walk before Him and to be blameless.
It is interesting to see the work that God is doing in Abram's
life to make him a great man of faith in God. God promises to
establish His covenant between Him and Abram and multiply him
exceedingly and make him father of many nations. He is commanded
to change his name to Abraham (father of multitude) and his
wife to Sarah (princess). God promises to establish His covenant
with Abraham and his descendants as an everlasting covenant
(Gen 17:7). Also,
God promises Abraham the land of Canaan for his descendants
(Gen 17:8 - it
is interesting to know who the real owner of Canaan (the Holy
Land) is - GOD.
God then commands Abraham, all of his male family members and
descendants to be circumcised as a sign of God's covenant -
all males, in all generations. God instructs Abraham that he
who is not circumcised is to be cut-off from God's covenant
(Gen 17:14). It
is here that God tells Abraham that His covenant concerning
the Jews shall be with his future son Isaac (also at this point
He tells him to name his son, Isaac-which means laughter) -
Gen 17:19.
The next time God makes His appearance to Abraham is by the
terebinth trees of Mamre, (in Hebron) during the heat of the
day (Gen 18:1).
This time two angels appear with God in flesh like form (in
the form of men, as they are able to consume food and drink).
Abraham prepares lunch for them – (Gen
18:6-8 ) and God tells Abraham that He will return after
nine months and Sarah shall have a son (Gen
18:10). Sarah, who has overheard the conversation, laughs
because this was certainly an impossibility (she is 90 years
old at this point) and God tells her "Is anything to hard
for the Lord" (Gen
18:14). It is here too that we learn of God's plan to destroy
Sodom and Gomorrah "Because the outcry against Sodom and
Gomorrah is great and because their sin is very grave"
(Gen 18:16-20).
Abraham pleads with God not to destroy them for the sake of
the righteous. Finally, God tells Abraham that if only 10 righteous
people are found in Sodom, He will spare the cities (Gen
18:23-32).
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Two of the angels who had lunch with Abraham begin their journey
to Sodom. They depart after lunch and arrive at Sodom that evening.
When they arrive, Lot is sitting at the city gate. It is interesting
that Lot immediately recognizes who they are and tries to convince
them to stay the night at his house. He knows what would be
in store for them if they hang out in the city at night (although
Lot doesn't yet recognize the supernatural power of angelic
beings over mortal men). The angels insist that they want to
spend the night in the open square. But, Lot finally convinces
them to stay at his house. After arriving at Lot's house, he
prepares dinner for them and they eat (Gen
19:1-3). After dinner, the men of Sodom (both young and
old) surround Lot's house (Gen
19:4). They demand that Lot bring the men out so they can
rape them (Gen 19:5).
Lot then offers his two virgin daughters (interestingly, they
were married to men of Sodom, but were still virgins). After
showing no interest in Lot's daughters, they threatened Lot.
The angels then rescue Lot (who is caught outside the door)
and struck the men who were threatening him with blindness.
It is interesting that having been struck with blindness they
continued to try to gain entry to Lot's house and wearied themselves,
despite their blindness. These people were probably so overcome
by lust that they didn't even care about their blindness (Gen
19:8-11)!
Since there is not much time left, the angels desperately try
to get Lot's family together. Lot's sons-in-law (who had married
his daughters) thought the whole thing was a joke and refused
to leave Sodom (Gen
19:12-14). At dawn, the angels finally grab Lot, his wife
and two daughters by their hands and lead them out of Sodom.
The angels instruct Lot to escape to the mountains. However,
Lot argues with them to allow him to escape to the city of Zoar
instead. He finally convinces the angels to allow them escape
to Zoar (which means small city). It was sunrise when Lot entered
Zoar (Gen 19:23).
The explosion that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah must have been
massive. Fire and brimstone rained down upon Sodom and Gomorrah
(Gen 19:24). All
the cites and every living thing on the plain were destroyed.
Lot's wife, ignoring the angels' command not to look back, decides
to have a look anyhow and became a pillar of salt (Gen
19:26).
The catastrophe that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha may have
created the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on the
earth's surface, 1320 feet below sea level. It contains large
amounts of salt deposits. Abraham observed the destruction "as
the smoke from a furnace" (Gen
19:27-28) Geography
of the Dead Sea
What Happened to Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah and the cites of the plain were all destroyed
by a catastrophe that rained fire and brimstone them. As Abraham
observed "the smoke of the land which went up like the
smoke of a furnace" (Gen
19:28). Some have suggested that a great earthquake or volcanism
may have been responsible. Deposits of bitumen (a petroleum
based shell deposit) have been discovered in the area. This
could have ignited and would certainly create a fire and brimstone
type catastrophe described in the Bible.
Lot's wife either lagged behind (not wanting to leave Sodom)
or possibly decided to observe the destruction of the cities.
Unfortunately, she didn't do as she was instructed and became
a pillar of salt. (Click
here to see what happened to Lot's wife)
Lot's Losses
Lot lost his wife and all his possessions. He moved from Zoar
to the mountains (that he originally didn't want to flee to)
and dwelt in a cave with his two daughters (Gen
19:30). They later deceived Lot and became pregnant by him.
Two sons were born (one by each daughter) who would someday
be at war with Israel. Moab (father of the Moabites (Gen
19:37) and also, ancestor of Ruth in David's line and Jesus.
The other was Ben-Ammi (father of the Ammonites). After these
events Lot seems to disappear from history. It is possible he
may have returned to Abraham for assistance (but no evidence
of this is found in Scripture). Lot most likely moved east to
the hills of Moab. 2
Peter 2:7 identifies Lot as a righteous man who was oppressed
by the filthy conduct of the wicked.
The economy and geology of the area would have been effected
by the great destruction in the plain which was probably on
its way to becoming the Dead Sea. Therefore, Abraham journeys
South between Kadesh
and Shur and stayed in Gerar
(Gen 20:1). He
is confronted by Abimelech, king of Gerar, who wants to take
Sarah as his wife (Gen
20:2). This is truly an interesting situation because by
this time, Sarah is 90 years old and pregnant with Isaac! Just
as in Egypt, Abraham tells Abimelech that Sarah is his sister.
God once again intervenes and warns Abimelech. As commanded
by God, he restores Sarah back to Abraham, in which case he
is publically rebuked for his deception. Abimelech also gives
Abraham even more wealth and we discover here that Sarah really
is Abraham's half sister (Gen
20:12).
Although Abraham intentionally deceived Abimelech, we find
in Gen 20:18 that
Abimelech was unable to have any children in his household because
the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech.
Perhaps Abimelech was attracted to Sarah because she was pregnant
in her old age. He might have been so stunned by this that he
could have interpreted it as a Divine intervention as we see
he was a man who acknowledged God.
Sarah had become pregnant at the age of 90 (Abraham would have
been between 99 and 100 when Isaac was born). Isaac was born
at the time God previously revealed to them, while they were
living in Hebron (Gen
21:2). The name Isaac means "laughter" and you
can certainly see the joy they must have felt after Isaac's
birth. When Isaac was born, they had been in Canaan for 25 years
and continued to dwell in Gerar.
Hagar and Ishmael Depart
After Isaac had been weaned, Abraham made a great feast (Ishmael
is about 16 years old). During the feast, Sarah observed Ishmael
scoffing Isaac. She perceived that Ishmael would someday become
a threat to Isaac and demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael
away. Abraham sought the Lord in this situation and God concurred
with his wife that Hagar and Ishmael should leave (Gen
21:12). Abraham provided them with provisions and sent them
away.
After Hagar and Ishmael departed, they wandered in the wilderness
of Beersheba.
They ran out of water in this wilderness and God provided for
them (Gen 21:17-19).
God spared them according to His promise that He had previously
made to Hagar. Hagar took a wife for Ishmael from Egypt (Gen
21: 21) and they dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran. From
Ishmael came a great nation, according to God's promise.
Abraham's Treaty With Abimelech
Abimelech came to Abraham to establish a peace treaty with
him. After clearing up a matter of disagreement over a well
which Abraham had dug, they made the treaty. Abraham called
the place where they ratified the treaty, Beersheba.
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree and called on the Name of the
Lord.
Sacrifice of Isaac
Now we come to one of the greatest events in the Bible. God
commanded Abraham to take Isaac, his only son, and travel to
the land of Moriah to offer him as a burnt offering. God instructs
Abraham to travel to one of the mountains that He shall reveal
later in the journey (Gen
22:1-2).
Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey and took
two of his young men with him along with Isaac. On the third
day, Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. Abraham
told his young men: "Stay here with the donkey; the lad
and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you"
(Gen 22:5). Abraham
took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac. He
took the fire and the knife in his hand and the two of them
started out on their journey afoot (to climb Moriah). Isaac
asked Abraham why he didn't have the sacrificial lamb. Interestingly,
Abraham replied that God "will provide for Himself the
lamb for a burnt offering" (Gen
22:8).
Then they came to the place that God had told him and he built
an altar. He placed wood on the alter and bound Isaac (who is
probably in his early thirties at this point) and laid him on
the alter, upon the wood. Abraham took the knife to slay his
son, and an Angel of the Lord called out from heaven and told
him not to slay Isaac (Gen
22:11). God provided a ram caught in the thicket by its
horns for the sacrifice instead of Isaac.
Abraham called the name of the place "The Lord Will Provide"
as it is said to this day "In the Mount of the Lord it
shall be provided" (Gen
22:14).
God rewarded Abraham for his great obedience to Him. He promised
Abraham that He will greatly multiply his descendants and through
him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed (Gen
22:18).
God demonstrated through Abraham and Isaac, the sacrifice
that God Himself would one day make to cover our sins. In their
obedience to God, Abraham and Isaac were unknowingly acting
out a future event that would someday happen about 2,000 years
later. God offered Himself, His only begotten Son, as a sacrifice
on Moriah. A place in the Mount of the Lord that "The Lord
Will Provide" and where "it shall be provided".
Through the sacrificial offering of Isaac, a model was acted
out for the sacrificial offering of Jesus for sins. Many believe
that the place of Christ's crucifixion and the place where Abraham
offered his son Isaac, are the same location on a hill in Moriah.
Who
is Jesus
