God makes a covenant with Abram, whereHe promises to make him the father of A great nation…even though he had no kids

A CovenantHebrew word for Contract is Berit – indicating a binding agreement

In business it was a contract

Internationally it was a Treaty

Within a state it was a Constitution

Between individuals it was a binding agreement

The Covenant with Abram wasA legally binding oath

To confirm for all time his Firm intention to keep his Promise to Abraham

God wanted to show he Was fully committedTo the Jewish People

Abram was told He was to be the Father of nations

But he had no kids

What to do, whatTo do?

Sarai, who is barren, Decides to give her Egyptian maid servant to Abraham to allow him toHave a child

In the ancient Middle East the idea of the Surrogate Mother started with the Ancient Babylonian code set by Hammurabi

Sarai presents her Maid – ServantHagar to Abraham

Hagar has a childNamed Ishmael

Sarai is very jealousOf Hagar and her New child

God reaffirms his Covenant with Abram, but With a twist, the blood covenant of Circumcision

A Blood CovenantIs the mostBindingOf the ancientagreements

And oh, by the Way… God states“You and SaraiAre going to have A child…

Abram Laughs, He is almost 100Years old!

Three AngelsVisit Abraham And Sarah

The three Visitors tellAbraham and Sarah theyAre going to be Parents

Sarai laughed – She and Abram were veryAdvanced in age

The Name Change

The Lord changed the name of Abram to Abraham – Meaning “Father of a Multitude”

The Lord changed the name of Sarai to Sarah – Meaning “Princess”

The three visitors left And God tells them thatThere has been an Outcry against theWicked ways of SodomAnd Gomorrah

God tells them he is Going to destroy the towns

Sarah gives birth to Isaac

After the Birth of Isaac, thereWas an issueOn which child Would be the leader of the Hebrews after the Death of Abraham.

Sarah convincesAbraham to make it Isaac

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent away

Hagar and Ishmael Are struggling

Hagar leavesIshmael under the Bushes to die

She can’t carry on, they Both are dying in the desert

God called out and Showed them water God stated that heWould make IshmaelInto a great nation

Split between the Jews and the Muslims

Hebrews (Jews)

Believe that the line of Abraham comes from Isaac

The land that was promised Abraham should go to the ancestors of Isaac

Muslims

Believe that the line of Abraham comes from Ishmael

The land that was promised Abraham should go to the ancestors of Ishmael

Isaac was the focus ofAbraham after Hagar and Ishmael were sentOut of the Camp

The story of Abrahamand Isaac will show The Israelites distainFor Child Sacrifice

And will show Abraham’s faith in God

There were hundreds of Pagan gods in the region

Many of the religions had fertility gods

In the Ancient Near East, the god that provides “fertility” is also entitled to demand a portion of what has been produced

This is expressed in the sacrifice ofanimals, grain and children

Deuteronomy and Leviticus expressly Forbade the practice

Leviticus talks about the sacrifice of children to Molech

Molech was national god of the Ammonites

The Ammonites descended from Lot

Their territory was located across theJordan River

The worship of Molech involved childSacrifice, some historians say that the firstBorn was sacrificed

Others state to enter the 6th and final churchOf Molech required the sacrifice of a child

God tells Abraham to go toThe top of Mt Moriah and Sacrifice his son Isaac

The Muslim FaithStates that it was Not Isaac that went With Abraham to Mt. Moriah, but itWas Ishmael

The Muslims believeThat Ishmael willInherit the promised Land of Canaan

The Israelites believeThat Isaac will InheritThe promised land

Isaac is told to bringThe wood and go with Abraham to Mt. Moriah

Isaac tells Abraham“The wood and the fireAre here, but where isThe lamb for the burnt Offering?”

Abraham tells him thatThe lord will provide The lamb for the Offering, and the twoWent on together

Abraham placed the Wood, boundIsaac and laid him On the alter…He brought out a knife

The angel of the Lord called out From Heaven“Abraham, Abraham”