By Faith Abraham....

Back-story

Spans Gen 12-23

Obeyed

Left land of Ur (Babylonian region)

Came to Palestine (Canaan)

Apparently still a few true believers there (Melchizedek)

After the initial obedience God changed his name

Abram—the Father is Exalted (probable pagan origin)

to Abraham—Father of a Multitude

Not Without Issues

Lied twice to hide his wife’s identity

Had moments of doubt—took Hagar to be the mother to his children

That gave no end of problems

Learned His Lesson

Isaac was born—child of the promise

Unthinkable

Genesis 22:2 ESV

He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Genesis 22:9–10 ESV

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

That was faith

Genesis 22:11 ESV

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Genesis 22:12 ESV

He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”