Abraham was an absolute boss. When reading his story from the book of Genesis, chapters 11 to 25, you can’t help but admire him. He was always humble, daring, bold, kind, intelligent, strong, loyal, God-fearing and wealthy. It really should be no surprise that his life continues to significantly impact people today, thousands of years later. If you’re not familiar with the extent of his influence, click below:

Abraham’s influence on the world today

THE INFLUENCE OF ABRAHAM

The extent of Abraham’s influence on both the modern and historical world is huge. The three big ‘Abrahamic’ religions cover 57.6% of the today’s global population. In Christianity, Islam and Judaism, Abraham’s life and story of origin plays a major role in the foundation of each faith. The well known religious narratives of leaving ‘Babylonian’ idolatry, the promise of a Messiah, and the promise of the land, all have their origin in Abraham. The region known as the “holy land” (from the north of Israel to the south of Arabia) remains one most fought-over land regions in the world, partly due to people’s sense of entitlement to it linking back to Abraham’s promise. It is also one of the most visited sites on earth to this day with Jewish, Christian and Islamic pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Islamic pilgrimages (for Haj/Hagar) to Mecca linking back to the journeys of Abraham and his descendants.

There are some lesser known facts about Abraham, did you know many of the the English words we use today which trace back to Latin and Greek actually originated in Hebrew? A language that, according to historic ancient Jewish sources was taught to Abraham by angles! Take the word such as “Alphabet”, from the first two letters of the Hebrew alphabet being “Alef” and “Bet” or even the word “Eye” from the Hebrew word and letter “Ayin” meaning sight. According to the same Jewish sources*, Abraham was responsible for a significant agricultural breakthrough through in his redesign of the Plough. His ethnic origin was was from Chaldea (Kasad), a descendant of Arpha-Kasad (Arphaxad Gen 11:11-28), a people known for the invention of the plough. Chaldean (Kasadim) translates as a ‘clod breaker’. Abraham was responsible for the redesign of the plough to enable the seed to fall into the cracks in the ground that the plough was making.

The book of Genesis does not elaborate on Abraham’s early life in the same way as other non-canonical sources do, such as Jubilees 11-12. Genesis does however provide us with some “breadcrumbs” about his father’s family. It also gives us the original names of the place he was born in, which we ca do quite a bit. You might find the research on this quite helpful. Click ‘Abram’s Babylonian beginnings’ to find out more:

Abram’s Babylonian beginnings

IN THE BEGINNING

‘The beginning of his kingdom was Babel’… is a short but important verse about Nimrod, a man famously known for building the tower of Babel. When Abraham and his father are introduced shortly afterwards, we learn straight away that they are leaving “Ur” (Babel) of the “Chaldees” (Babylon/Iraq). The word Babylon comes from the Hebrew word ‘Babel’ which means confusion, a name that it inherited after the work on Nimrod’s tower ended in confusion [Genesis 10:8-10; 11:9]. There is not much backstory in Genesis of how Abram’s brother Haran died nor about much else on their life in Ur for the first 70 years of Abram’s life. But there are some things we can learn from looking at Nimrod in the preceding passages (Genesis 10-11). Why did Nimrod, a Cushite whose dwellingplace was designated in East Africa (see map below), decide to establish his Kingdom here in Shem’s land?

The Garden of Eden, planted on the east of Eden, was most likely situated where the Persian Gulf is today. The Persian Gulf is the meeting point for two of four rivers mentioned in Genesis that flowed through Eden [Genesis 2:10-14]. It cannot be overlooked that Babel was situated so close to the mouth of these rivers that enter the Persian gulf. The native name of the ruins where the foundation of the tower was built is know as ‘Etemenanki’ translating as “gateway to god”. Did Nimrod believe this was site from which heaven could be accessed? Genesis 3:8 explains that God would previously come down into the garden of Eden to dwell with Adam and Eve. it is possible Nimrod was attempting to ‘ascend into heaven, exalt his throne above the stars of God’ like what we read of in Isaiah 14:13.

Jubilees 10:18 and 11:1-10 explains how, during the era when people planed to build the tower of Babel, Ragew, the same ‘Reu’ in Genesis 11:18-19, married Ara the daughter or ‘Ur’ and grand daughter of ‘Kesed’ (Chaldea in Hebrew) and settled in the city of Ur they had built. It should not be overlooked however, that Arphaxad, (Regew’s great-great-granddad) could well be the same person identified here as Kesed: as Ar-pha-kasad (the Hebrew letters for ‘Kasad’ being identical with Kesed). It is from btoh Arphaxad’s and Ragew’s lineage that Terah and Abram are born. A closer look at the meaning of the words ‘Ur’ and ‘Kasad’ may also indicate something important here. Ur means flame perhaps linking to the technological advance of brick making with a firing-kiln to enable them to build cities and town unlike before [Jubilees 10:20]. The word ‘Kasad’ (Chaldea) is translated as “clod-breaker” – an agricultural device such as a plough that helps to break up the earth. The book of Jubilees describes how it was Abram, in his youth, who became famous for two agricultural successes, one of which was the redesign of the plough [Jubilees 11:23-24]. So perhaps when we see in Genesis 11:31 that Terah took his family out of Ur and along the Euphrates in the direction of modern-day Syria is situated, where Aram (Arphaxad’s brother) had settled, we ought to remain curious about the reason why.

My most significant discovery on the life of Abraham is how each story is a prophetic sign pointing to a future event in chronological order. I was already aware of the passage on the sacrifice of Isaac having striking resemblance to Christ’s sacrifice, and the birth of Isaac resembling the birth of John the Baptist, however it hadn’t occured to me that his whole life could be a time map until I began a more thorough study of his life roughly one year ago. Consider the following text:

‘Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.’
– Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 10:11

As we look back, we must remember that these historic texts not only have the ability to speak to our time today, but that they were designed to do so. Unlike the major prophets, who mainly prophesy through their books, there are others who’s very life story act as a prophetic ‘sign’ such as Elijah, Noah, or Abraham. When Jesus was asked of a sign to prove he was really a prophet, he refused to give them a new sign, but rather pointed them to an unfulfilled sign from the prophet Jonah in the belly of the whale which he was to fulfil shortly. Similarly, Jesus indicated that John the Baptist ‘was Elijah’ (Matthew 17:10-13) – not to be understood literally but rather allegorically, as a prophetic sign. Since discovering this way of interpreting Bible stories, I have compiled some simple Bible-based guidance on interpreting the prophetic signs safely and effectively:

Biblical-derived guidance on the interpretation of signs

GUIDANCE ON INTERPRETING PROPHETIC SIGNS

Here are seven Bible-based foundational principles on how to understand prophetic signs:
1. Signs foretell of something that God can see ahead of time – Isaiah 46:9-10
2. God reveals these secrets because we’re His friends – Amos 3:7, John 15:14-15
3. When they are fulfilled, it boosts our confidence in God – John 14:29
4. If there is no fulfilment, that prophet is false – Deuteronomy 18:21-22
5. If there is fulfilment, but leads people to sin it is also false – Deuteronomy 13:1-3
6. Never reject a sign if details do not match perfectly – John 3:14, Luke 11:29-30
7. Meaning of symbols may vary in each story – Matthew 13:1-23 vs 13:24-43

For more on guidance to help with interpretation, I would recommend reading William Miller’s Rules of Biblical Interpretation. I have found to William Miller’s framework of Biblical hermeneutics to be helpful when trying to understand prophetic passages of scripture. You can find more on how I use this to underpin my textual analysis on this site here: Framework of Hermeneutics & Scriptural Research

THE SIGNS OF THE PROPHET ABRAHAM

Abraham’s life and the fulfilment of sign are listed from 1 – 18. In following section I am encouraging a deeper exploration about this prophetic chronological timeline. I alongside my own analysis I have created space under each section for comment and dialogue with anyone. Any thing new, alternative observations, corrections, additional scriptures or even just to share what it has made you think.

1. The Oath: From Home to Haran, Shechem & Beth-El – Genesis 11
   Fulfilment: Jacob
2. Abram leaves Shechem for Arabia and Egypt – Genesis 12
   Fulfilment: Joseph
3. Abram leaves Egypt & moves to Arabia – Genesis 13
   Fulfilment: Moses
4. Between Beth-El & Ai – The land is divided – Genesis 13
   Fulfilment: Joshua
5. Abram rescues Lot & Sodom – Genesis 14
   Fulfilment: Gibeonites & the 12 Judges
6. Abram’s vision of the stars & 400 year darkness – Genesis 15
   Fulfilment: Samuel & David
7. Sarah and Hagar: a divided house – Genesis 16
   Fulfilment: Solomon & Jeroboam
8. Reform, prophecy of a son & circumcision – Genesis 17
   Fulfilment: Hezekiah & Hosea
9. Meal, prophecy of a son. & Lot’s Intercession – Genesis 18
   Fulfilment: Isaiah
10. The sins of Sodom & the scattering – Genesis 19
    Fulfilment: Jeremiah (I & II Kings)
11. Abimelech takes and returns Sarah – Genesis 20
    Fulfilment: Nebuchadnezzar & Cyrus
12. The Miraculous birth of Isaac – Genesis 21
    Fulfilment: John the Baptist & Jesus
13. Ishmael and Hagar are sent away – Genesis 21
    Fulfilment: Herod & Samaria
14. Abraham’s treaty with Abimelech – Genesis 21
    Fulfilment: Jesus & the Gentiles
15. Abraham offers up his son Isaac – Genesis 22
    Fulfilment: Jesus’ Death & Resurrection
16. The death and burial of Sarah – Genesis 23
    Fulfilment: Judah’s close of Probation
17. Rachel’s Betrothal via Eliezer
    Paul and the Apostolic Era
18. Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah – Genesis 24
    Fulfilment: Christ’s Bride
19. Abraham’s new marriage to Keturah – Genesis 25
    Fulfilment: A New Covenant

1. the Oath

Abram leaves his country of birth, receives an oath from God, he leaves Haran and moves to a field in Shechem, he sets up an altar, then moves to Beth-El where he sets up another altar. The thing is, Jacob does the same thing and his activity at each site seems to match.

Is it a coincidence that their experiences match? Obviously not. Jacob knew his granddad Abraham personally, however I do not believe Jacob was trying to “follow in his grandfather’s footsteps” but rather it was “Abraham was foreshadowing his grandsons life”. His life was a warning, a way-marker, a sign. Jacob would go on to say in Genesis 47:9 that,

“…few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.”

In contrast to Abraham, Jacob’s experiences at each stage were marked with great difficulty. He was destitute when left home with nothing. He experienced 20 years of trickery, hostility and violence at the hand of his uncle Laban in Haran. On his way to Shechem, he learnt that his brother Esau was approaching him with 400 men. This was the same brother who had previously vowed to kill him. At Shechem his daughter Dinah was raped and his sons handled it in a way which he felt made it worse. On the way to Beth-El, his mother’s nurse, Deborah died. Shortly after leaving Beth-El, his beloved wife Rachel during the birth of his son Benjamin. The shame of his eldest son from Leah having sex with his wife Bilhah, and the grief of losing his son Joseph at age 17 were two further tragedies that Jacob had to deal with during this time. Hebrews 11:8-10 describes how it was by faith that ‘Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.’ It adds that it was ‘By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:’ This section of Abraham’s life was certainly developing something in him that God would like to develop in us all.

2. The Famine

Abram journeys further south next – most likely into Arabia. There is not much description about what he does there or how long he stays there. The following verse does indicate he was forced from there into Egypt. It is at this point that Jacob’s fulfilment of this sign and Joseph’s overlap. You see Jacob and his family also moved into Egypt due to a sore famine – however the story of Jacob’s move and surrounding events are all told from the perspective of Joseph. The last 12 chapters of Genesis centre Joseph as the main character. It is Joseph, not Jacob, that travels temporarily to the ‘Negev’ (the south).

Notice how Joseph was sold from the Midianites directly to the Egyptians, and instead to the Ishmaelites? This meant he travelled into Arabia like his great-grandfather Abraham did. The Midianites are descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2) who lived in the region on the north-west coast of the Red sea at (where northern part of Saudi Arabia is today). The Ishmaelites are descendants of Abraham through Hagar (Genesis 16:16) who lived further south toward Yemen, Oman and the southern region of Arabia. Both were involved in merchant-trade between Cush (Ethiopia), Edom (Jordan), Lebanon, Syria, Chaldea and Egypt. Whilst Abram’s and Joseph’s journey into Egypt differed somewhat, it is remarkable how both Abram and Joseph demonstrate the same weariness around the provoking Pharaoh to feel threatened. They both had something they knew Pharaoh would covet. In Abram’s case it was Sara’s beauty. In Josephs case it was the wealth and prosperity of his fathers household. Sarah in this stir is the house of Jacob. Like Abram to Sarah, Joseph ends up coaching his family members what to say to Pharaoh to prevent any harm to come to the family. In both cases they are half-truths: Sarah technically was a half sister – having the same biological father but different mother (Genesis 20:12). In Joseph’s case, the half-truth about his brothers being shepherds was of course true (Genesis 37:14) however the part that was omitted was that they had already become become a great and mighty people, capable of subduing of nations (Genesis 34:27-30). There are a few characters who are not mentioned in this particular portion of Abram’s story, but would have been present such as his nephew Lot, his servant Eliezer, and Hagar – Sarai’s maid who would have been acquired during their time in Egypt. We can focus to these characters later, however it stands to reason that those who were already “adopted” into the Israelite family who represent Lot. These would have travelled with them into Egypt during the time of the famine. Likewise their servants (see Genesis 34:29). Hagar however was already in Egypt before the rest of Jacob’s family arrived. This represents the house of Potiphar.

3. The Captivity

Man like Moses. Filled with fortitude, determination and wise counsel, he remains one of the most referenced Bible characters by others authors. Perhaps the two most notable acts of Moses are are the grand exodus of Israelites through the Red sea and receiving the law at Sinai. These two however are not however the key signs highlighted in the life Abraham. Instead it is the captivity, the plagues of Egypt, and the route back to Israel via the the land of Midian that is the significant event emphasised by Abram.

Moses in this story is Abram. It is Moses him who is the remains on the peripherals of Egypt (in Goshen/Midian) and negotiates with Pharaoh on the release. Pharaoh is Pharaoh – that is quite straightforward. The children of Israel however are Sarai. Sarai was the one who was taken into Pharaoh’s house against her will. In the same way as the children of Israel were flourishing in wealth, enough to make the Pharaoh envious, Sarai’s beauty was also coveted. The Lord plagues Pharaoh on behalf of Moses and Israelites just like he had done so on behalf of Abram and Sarai. Remember it was to his brothers that Joseph forewarned what to say to Pharaoh to lower the risk of being a threat, like how Sarai was forewarned of what to say to Pharaoh. But let us discuss Lot

4. the Division of land

There are four significant prophetic signs in this section; The return to the land of Canaan near BethEl, Positioning between Bethel and Ai, Dividing the land among each household, and the setting up the Tabernacle. These four prophetic signs in this section revolve around the place and its meaning: BethEl. BethEl means House of God. Given no other places are named, it is most likely Abram took an alternate route to Beth-El via the east of the dead sea. Following on from Moses’ final address to Joshua, the Levites an the congregation of Israel to Deuteronomy 31:23-32:47, Joshua leads Israel westward across the river Jordan. After defeating the city of Jericho and losing to the city of Ai, Joshua changes tactic. Joshua mo

12-20 Chapter of Joshua

5. The Wealth of Kings – Joshua / Judges 14

Gibeon is Sodom. Trickery. Joshua and Judges.

Move southward to Hebron and Jerusalem

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6. Move to Mamre & counting stars 15

Judges – Davidic Kingdom

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7. THE HOUSE Divided – ISHMAEL

Solomon, Rehoboam, Ishmael born = Jeroboam

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8. the Circumcision

Elijah Hosea, Isaiah

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9. Meal under tree & Prophecy against sodom 18

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10. Sodom destroyed – Move to Gerar 19

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11. Babylon captivity 20

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12. Isaac born

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13. Hagar Divorce

Beef with Ishmael, Hagar divorce 21

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14. TREATY WITH Heathen

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15. SACRIFICE OF ISAAC 22

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16. Death of sarah 23

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17. Marriage of Isaac 24

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18. marriage of abraham & Keturah 25

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