><>...Abraham...><>
Summary. Abraham was the father of the Hebrews and the prime example of a righteous man. In spite of impossible odds, Abraham had faith in the promises of God. Therefore, he is presented as a model for human behavior. Hospitable to strangers <Gen. 18:1-8>, he was a God-fearing man <Gen. 22:1-18> who was obedient to God's laws <Gen. 26:5>. The promises originally given to Abraham were passed on to his son Isaac <Gen. 26:3>, and to his grandson Jacob <Gen. 28:13; 35:11-12>. In later biblical references, the God of Israel is frequently identified as the God of Abraham <Gen. 26:24>, and Israel is often called the people "of the God of Abraham" <Ps. 47:9; 105:6; Is. 41:8>. Abraham was such an important figure in the history of God's people that when they were in trouble, Israel appealed to God to remember the covenant made with Abraham <Ex. 32:13; Deut. 9:27; Ps. 105:9>.
In the New Testament, Abraham is presented as the supreme model of vital faith and as the prime example of the faith required for the Christian believer <Gal. 3:6-9; 4:28>. He is viewed as the spiritual father for all who share a similar faith in Christ <Matt. 3:9; Luke 13:16; Rom. 11:1>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) |
