Abraham's origins were an ancient civilization called "Ur of the Chaldes". Originally, his name was "Abram", which is
translated "Father of high and windy places". Young Abram was the son a the high priest of Ur, whose name is lost to
history, and this is one reason for his original name. He would one day follow his father as priest, and that lofty
station was such that he would oversee the rites of their religion, worshipping the Moon God, atop a high monument
called the "ziguraut". Some historians believe this slender edifice climbed as high as 300 feet into the air.
I for one wouldn't want to be caught up on the "old zig" with a brisk storm in the making! Methinks the technology in those
days didn't build little, skinny stone piles that high and make them stable! It probably attracted lightning, too. But,
this was the future Abram was born to.
So anyway, Abraham, as he would come to be called, left behind the trappings of a rich life, and an assured position of
pretiege in the society of Ur, to follow his God. He took with him a beautiful wife, Sarai, a number of his family, and
a fair sized following that consisted of shepherds, "ranch hands" and a contingent of men trained in the arts of military.
Sarai, incidentally, means "bitch", or "contentious" in the Aramaic. She would become "Sarah", meaning "princess". I can't
restrain myself, with this humorous combination of names; "Father of High and Windy Places, and his lovely wife, Bitch."
Has a ring to it, eh?
Abraham was a studious man, born of an aristocratic family, who possessed great wealth as it was measured in those times.
One telling aspect of his leadership was the training he demanded his followers, which number about 300. To a man, they
practiced with the bow and sword, participated in tough training exercises, and learned the martial arts. In those times
a man of means was a ripe target for any marauding band of pirates, which abounded. The Amelikites, a nomadic people of
Arab decent, are one of the oldest known races, famous for their depredations as road agents and theives.
Just a little imagination creates a picture of Abram and his voluptuous wife in their elaborate tent, camped somewhere
on the vast plains. Sarai was also high-born, and the account of one incident in Egypt reveals that she had breathtaking
beauty. But we'll come to that tale soon.
Given that her name was "bitch", and that she had enjoyed a lavish life in Ur, one can assume that she raised holy hell with
poor Abe, railing about their unstable life, and demanding that he settle down and build a sustantial dwelling. They
certainly had the money to afford a fitting estate, but Abram would come to see his wandering as his destiny, and he
would later say that he would have no permanent dwelling until he occupied the heavenly digs that God had promised him.
God, indeed, did promise Abraham many wonderful things, all of which came to pass, and many which will yet come. Of
Abraham God made a mighty people, but it is the spiritual undercurrent which is the significant work at play in the
relationship of this man and The Almighty.
The people, Israel, that sprang from Abraham would one day be the first Client Nation to God amoung men, responsible for the
stewardship of the Word, and to carry out God's will on earth. The Jews would originate the practice of missionary activity,
part and parcel of their charge from God to spread the news of Jehovah and salvation.
Abraham the Precedent
Abraham also serves as a precedent for all believers who would come after him, to the end of time.
"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
(Rom 4:3)
The key component of salvation is imputed Righteousness. God must give us His Righteousness, for we have it not of
ourselves, nor do we possess the ability to satisfy the unattainable goal of divine Righteousness. The importance of
this attribute is central to our relationship with God, for none can dwell in His midst without it. Human righteousness is
pitifully short of perfection, and this shortcoming will be the indictment of the damned, not sin.
So Abraham stands as a monument to this aspect of salvation for all generations, our possession of perfect Righteousness,
given to us at salvation.
There are more dimensions to the spiritual implications of Abraham's life. One of these is a common practice in our time,
but a peculiarity in ancient times; circumscision. Many times in the Old Testement this word is used to identify the
saved, for it was a ritual given to Abraham as a distinctive mark of those who accepted Jehovah as Savior.
In times of apostacy in Israel the scriptures declare that "not all are circumscised" or that not all Jews are
"of the circumscision". Salvation and "circumscision" are synonymous as they are thus used in the Bible. Paul further
nails down the symbolism of this rite when he says that we must be "circumscized of heart", meaning that our souls are
to be loaded with divine viewpoint.
"Heart" in the bible never means the pump in our chest, by the way. The Greek word "cardia", and Hebrew "leb", are
transliterated heart, but they both mean the soul, the immortal mentality where we recieve and sort information. It was
common for the authors of scripture to use body functions and organs as analogy for intangible human charactaristics.
"Bowls" are a reference to emotion, and is "rein", or "kidney". The word "kidney" in scripture always alludes to feelings.
"Stoma", translated "stomach" also had a figurative connotation.
Circumscision, for the Jewish people, signifies the spiritual overtones of God's covenant with them. This is a personal
matter between God and Israel which we, the gentiles, have no part. Ofcourse, if we update this term, which was first
employed in Abraham's lifetime, only Jews who have accepted Christ as Savior are true "circumscision".
The furure of Israel is tied to this symbolism, for Abraham's promise from God of a promised land, which is recorded in
detail, has yet to be fulfiled. The nation Israel of today is but a small segment of the "land covenant" which God gave
him. This promise will be kept immediately following the Tribulation. That tract includes Turkey, Israel, most of the
middle east, and a large part of Africa. In other words, Israel of the Millenium will be the largest nation on the Asian
continent.
Friend of God
The highest honor a man can attain is to earn the title "Friend of God". Only a small handful of human beings have ever
exploited the spiritual life to this degree. Abraham is one of them. But before The Father of the Jews distinguished himself
in this regard, he was guilty many times of cowardice and malfeasance.
This is one of the most compelling aspects of scripture, as it relates to men of ancient times, that their foibles serve
as our examples, the means of avoiding the snares of this life, which are many, wouldn't you agree?
Abraham, when he was operating from a position of carnality, was less than inspirational, but then so are we all. But his
life was one of contrast that can serve as a beacon to all of us, for no matter how flawed we are, or weak, we can attain
what Abraham did, "Friend of God".
That accolade came about as a result of his greatest test, the command of God to sacrifice his beloved Issac on Mt. Moriah.
On that ocassison he left their animals with their companions at the base of the mountain, and he bade them wait, then
assured them that they would both be returning. This is the testemony to Abraham's unwavering faith in Jehovah, for he knew
that even though he would kill his son on the crest, God would restore his life and they would come down together.
This episode, too, serves as a "template" for the christian life. all of those who commit their lives to God will eventually
face their own Moriah. But please take note, that this "test" was not a command from God that would prove Abraham's faith,
but rather one that would permit him to demonstrate his devotion. There is a vast difference.
In way of comfort, we know that this great test, whatever it may entail in our lives, will only come when we have
achieved "Friend of God". This is God's "showing off" one of His heroes to all of human history.
When Sarah died Abraham took another wife, and sired the sons that would one day become the entire Arab world. It may
interest you to know that all Arabs consider Abraham their progenitor. It seems odd, in that case, that there is such
implacable animosity between Jew and Arab, for they both sprang from the same beginnings. Ofcourse, the angelic conflict,
and the ongoing struggle of Satan to eradicate the Jews, is the explanation of this prevailing hatred.