Abraham and Sarah

Second Millenium B.C. (?)

Although we have no definitive historical knowledge of Abraham and Sarah, we hear their story in the opening book of the Hebrew Scriptures, a story to which the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions trace their roots and ancestry. Abraham and Sarah's migration from the Fertile Crescent to Canaan and Egypt is consistent with the route of the Amorite people who may have made a similar journey over two thousand years ago.

Abraham and Sarah (then known as Abram and Sarai) were living in Haran when God called Abraham to leave his home and set out for the land of Canaan. God promised Abraham that his descendents would be blessed and would make a great nation. Without questioning God, Abraham obeyed God's command and began a nomadic lifestyle with Sarah.

As Abraham and Sarah moved from place to place, they began to doubt God's promise when Sarah did not become pregnant. How could they have the descendents that God had promised? Responding to Abraham's confusion and frustration, God made a covenant with Abraham and promised him an heir and many descendents, as well as land.

Despite God's promise, Sarah still did not conceive. Sarah decided to encourage Abraham to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar, so that he would have his heir. Abraham agreed, and Hagar gave birth to a son, Ishmael.

Many years later, God informed Abraham that Sarah would bear him a son. Considering how old both of them were, Abraham could not believe this. God insisted that this would be true and made a covenant with Abraham that reinforced the promise of descendants and land. Circumcision would be the sign of this covenant. God blessed both Abraham and Sarah ? at this time, their names were changed from Abram and Sarai. Sarah could not believe the news, either, but she conceived and bore a son just as God had said. They named him Isaac.

The final story of Abraham involves the sacrifice of Isaac. In Genesis 21, God called Abraham to bring Isaac to Moriah and to sacrifice him. Never questioning God, Abraham did as he was commanded. In the story's climactic moment, God stopped Abraham from killing his son and renewed the covenant. While this story may be difficult to understand today, Abraham showed incredible faith in God, a quality that he exhibited throughout his life. Abraham and Sarah are considered the founders of all of Israel and are remembered for their obedience and devotion to God. They listened to God's call and responded in great faith.

"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 of the earth shall find blessing in you."

-  The Lord's promise to Abraham, (Gen. 12: 2-3, NAB)