Abraham, the Greatest of Israel's Patriarchs - Essay Example

?Full Abraham, the Greatest Patriarch Among the Jews Becoming great does not just come as a miracle, rather, is coupled by many trials that mold a person. As gold would be purified through extremely high temperature and as diamonds need cutting and polishing to bring out their beauty, so does a leader need to be trained through tribulations. This has been the life that Abraham went through and has been considered for centuries, as the greatest among the patriarchs. Considered the “Father of faith” by the New Testament heroes, Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham as a part of God’s covenant with him, did not just represent a life that received the promises of his God, but also, showed how he may have struggled to develop the faith that he is now known for. Abraham’s weaknesses as shown in the narration of his life in the book of Genesis are almost minimized by the completion of his faith as he obeyed God. However, what probably brought more fame and appreciation to this patriarch not only among the Jews but among other nations as well, is not just his moments of achievements but also his first steps when he was asked to leave his hometown and obey the God who has not been introduced to him in his place. Ur, the homeland of Terah, Abraham’s father (Genesis 11:31), is a place where polytheism is practiced and so it could be safely considered that Abraham was raised in such beliefs (Vos). However, when he heard the voice of God, without a doubt, he took his first step to the place God promised for him without even knowing where it is located or what lifestyle and economic status they might have there. The call of Abraham could be considered something great because with all the weaknesses Abraham showed afterwards, God still raised him to become the ancestor of Israel. He was not a perfect choice if one would look at the standards of a perfect God, yet, his weaknesses were overlooked and his strengths were rather magnified and nurture in the process. Faith and obedience were the basic ingredients Abraham possessed, and these qualities were needed for the task God had in store for the person He wanted to have a covenant with, and the great patriarch showed these through his obedience without question. However, the same faith that he had was still to be put to test in the many circumstances he had to undergo within twenty-five years before he will finally get the point of God’s covenant with him. When he was seventy-five years old, Abraham was called from Haran to Canaan and although at that age, he and his wife, who was ten years younger, did not yet have a child; God promised Abraham to make him into a great nation and he believed Him (Genesis 12). It was only faith that would make an old man with a wife who was on the post-menopausal stage, believe God to make Abraham’s descendants numerous as the stars or countless as the sand. Abraham was the first among the patriarchs with whom God covenanted with and his descendants always referred to him whenever they claim the promises of God, reminding Him of his covenant with Abraham. For the creator of all things in heaven and on earth to make a covenant with His creation, there must be something great in the human being to have attracted the eyes of God and Abraham had such qualities. Although Abraham was not perfect in all his ways rather, he was a picture of great faith when God speaks to him about His covenant but, in times of trials, he showed little faith. For instance, during a time of famine that he and his wife had to go to Egypt for some time so that they will not perish because of all the hardships the famine brought, he feared for his life and asked for Sarah’s protection. He knew that his wife was very beautiful and that the Egyptians can kill him for her sake. He then asks his wife to tell the Egyptians that she is his sister so that he would be treated well instead. Sure enough, he was given many gifts because of Sarah, however, God inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household so they were asked to leave the place (Genesis 12:10-20). Abraham learned how God would expose him with his lies and even in God’s anger, He would not punish Abraham but show him how He could be so merciful and still bless him in his weakness. As a leader, Abraham did not show signs of weakness when fear overwhelmed him; rather, he showed passion and great courage in protecting his family. When his nephew, Lot, who journeyed with Abraham as his protector, being the brother of his deceased father; was taken captive after Sodom, Gomorrah and three other nations lost against the kings of Elam, Goiim, Shinar and Ellasar, Abraham went after them and saved Lot and all his possessions as well as the other captives. In this event, Abraham showed his tactical abilities as he pursued Lot’s captors with only a few men, three hundred eighteen, against four victor kings and their armies. One could also see how Abraham treated his men during this time for it is mentioned that the three hundred eighteen men were born in his household and were trained for battle. It could be said here that Abraham was skillful in battle and was always prepared for such moments as witnessed with the rescue he performed for Lot and the other captives. They were not engaged in battle, yet, he was ready to fight in defense of his bloodline. In addition, he did not hinder his men from being blessed although he himself did not receive any gift from the rescued kings, he let his men get what they deserved, their portion from the plunder (Genesis 14). Abraham was not in Sodom and although Lot could have been a concern for him, the idea of helping him out from trouble would have been more feasible. Yet, it was not only because Abraham was just concerned of his nephew but of all the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. He spent time with the angels who appeared to him at the great trees of Mamre, to plead for the lives of his neighbors. When the angels that Abraham entertained were leaving, they revealed to him how the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah have reached their full measure and God planned to destroy them. Abraham did not just go home thanking God that he and his household are not included in the impending doom but he pleaded with God for the sake of the people who were not his own. This shows what kind of heart Abraham had, unselfish and is equally burdened as any individual who is directly affected by a disaster would feel. The greatest moment that probably made Abraham highly revered was when he was tested about his son Isaac. Abraham and Sarah finally had their promised son when he was a hundred years old and one could only imagine how happy they would have been. However, Abraham’s happiness was plunged extremely low when God asked him to sacrifice his only son who was said to inherit his vast wealth and become the seed of a great nation. This was the final test that would make Abraham prove what he would give to show his faith in God. Since his son, Isaac was born in his old age; Abraham might have thought that sacrificing his son was the end of all his hard work and belief in God. Still, in obedience and faith that God would be able to raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrew 11:19), he journeyed with his son to the mountain where Isaac was supposed to be sacrificed. It is noteworthy that Abraham did not procrastinate in following God’s instructions, possibly thinking that God might change his mind about his request but he got up early in the morning to do what God wants him to do. This was a sign of Abraham’s seriousness in obeying God. When he was about to slay his son, God spoke to Abraham and refrained him from killing the child because he has already shown how much he could sacrifice for God. Because of Abraham’s faith, God affirmed his covenant with him and again reiterated that the blessings will surely be given because Abraham obeyed God. Without Abraham’s obedience, he would not be esteemed now as he is by the Jews and Muslims. There might be no Judaism or Islam because Abraham is the sole patriarch that both peoples trace their bloodlines and inheritance. However, since God said it is through Isaac that Abraham’s offspring would be reckoned (Genesis 21:12) and his act of obedience concerning his son was probably the most difficult test for any person, the Israelites consider him as the greatest patriarch. Works Cited Archeological Study Bible. n.a. Michigan, USA: Zondervan, 2005. Print. Vos, Howard F. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999. Print. Read More