
Genesis 12:1-3 New International Version
The Call of Abram
12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”[b]
Abraham was initially known as Abram and lived in the first era of God’s master plan, before the Old Covenant law and New Covenant period.
He was found righteous in the eyes of God.
He was born and raised in Ur of the Chaldeans, a Mesopotamian city about 200 miles southeast of current day Baghdad, Iraq.
Abraham is best known and recognized for his faith and trust in God. He obeyed without question when God told him to uproot and leave the land of his father.
He also obeyed without question when God ordered that he take Isaac to the mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. Of course, God did not require Abraham to follow through; He was simply testing his faith.


However, there were times when Abraham showed a lack of faith and human weakness. As you study his life, you will find several times when Abraham failed God.
Abraham, at around the age of 75, would receive the promise of God that his “seed” or male child, would inherit the land of Canaan and become a numerous nation.
Becoming impatient as Sarah was unable to have a child, he went along with her idea and at about the age of 86 had Ishmael by Sarah’s maidservant Hagar. This was a definite lack of faith in the promise that Abraham and Sarah would have a son.
When Abraham was 100 years old the promise of God was fulfilled when Isaac was born. In fulfilling this promise at the advanced age of 100, God was showing his miraculous power and cementing the faith of Abraham. A faith that he would pass down to his descendants.
Isaac would be the heir of the promise made by God.

After Isaac was born, Ishmael and Hagar were sent away at Sarah’s urging.

Like Abraham's grandson Jacob, Ishmael would become the father of 12 tribes.
Genesis 17:20 New International Version
20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.
Take time to study about Ishmael and the promise that God made to him.
Chosen People and The Seed of Abraham
In God’s master plan, the first chosen people were the Hebrews, later called Israelites after the new name of Abraham’s grandson Jacob, as his name was changed to Israel.
This chosen people were to show and teach the world about the one true God.
Later as the time drew nigh, God’s master plan entered into its last phase with the incarnation of Jesus and the New Covenant.
Now, God’s chosen people are the Christian believers that make up the body of the Church. If Christ is our Lord and Savior then we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise made to Abraham.
All Christians, regardless of race or nationality, are blessed through Christ and the lineage of Abraham.
If you are a Christian, you are of Abraham's seed.
Galatians 3:29 New International Version
29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
We hope you continue your study of Abraham.
RVH