TEXT:"And he said, Men and brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,"-Acts 7:2

Our father Abraham was born Abram in Mesopotamia in Ur of the Chaldees. His father was Terah. He married Sarah his sister of the same father, but of another mother. When he was seventy five years old, God said to him to leave his country, his family and relatives, and his father's house, unto the land of Canaan. God also promised to make him a great nation, and he will bless him, and make his name great; and Abraham shall be a blessing.

He obeyed God, and left with Sarah his wife, and Lot his nephew. When he arrived the land, he built an altar and worshipped the Lord. And when there was famine in the land, he went down to Egypt. And in Egypt, he told Sarah to say to the Egyptians that she is his sister, and not his wife, so that the Egyptians will not forcefully take her from him, and kill him, because she is beautiful.

After the famine, he came back to the land of Canaan. And when there was a violent disagreement between his workers and Lot's workers, because the land cannot contain both him and his nephew, he brokered peace between them, by separating from his nephew Lot. While Lot chose first the lush area of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham remained in the land of Canaan.

Furthermore, after Lot was separated from him, God told him to look from where he was, and as his eyes can see, to the north, to the south, to the east, and to the west. Abraham actually looked with the eyes of the spirit for him to be able to see the four corners of the land. And God reassured him that he will give the land to him and his descendants. Abraham then walked the length and breadth of the land.

In process of time, Sodom and Gomorrah was invaded by the enemies, and Lot was captured, including the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. When Abraham was told, he armed his trained three hundred and eighteen men, went after the enemies, defeated them, and rescued his nephew Lot. And as Abraham returned from the battle, he met Melchizedek king of Salem, who blessed Abraham, and Abraham gave him tithes. Also, when God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness, he remembered Abraham, and rescued Lot from the destruction.

In another development, after Abraham had lived ten years in the land, and an old man of eighty five years, and still without a child of his own. He listened to Sarah his wife, and married his wife's maid Hagar. And when he slept with her, she conceived and gave birth to son called Ishmael.

And when Abraham was ninety nine years old, God changed his name from Abram to Abraham, because he has made him a father of many nations. God entered into a covenant of circumcision with him. Abraham was circumcised at that age, with Ishmael his son, and all the male child that was in his household. Sarah's name was also changed from Sarai to Sarah, because she too has been made a mother of many nations. When Abraham was one hundred years old, and Sarah was ninety years old, Isaac was born. God tested Abraham to see if he loved his son Isaac more than him, but Abraham passed the test, because he proved to God that he loved him more than any other thing in the world.

However, before Isaac was born, Abraham believed in God even when there was no reason to do so. He did not consider his body dead when he was an hundred years old, and also Sarah who was ninety years old, and has passed menopause. He staggered not in unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully persuaded that, what God had promised, he was able also to perform. This is because God called him alone and blessed him in all things, Isaiah 51:2; Genesis 24:1.

In addition, after the death of Sarah, Abraham married again, Genesis 25:1-4. And he gave birth to children. But, he gave all that he had to Isaac, meaning he gave Isaac the blessing, which is the inheritance, Genesis 28:1-4. And unto the other children he gave them gifts.

And finally, Abraham died, when he was one hundred and seventy five years old. His sons: Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; Abraham bought the field from the sons of Heth, for a burial ground. And there they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. This same burial site was where Isaac and Rebekah were buried, including Jacob and Leah, Genesis 49:29-33. You can research for more details in the book of Genesis chapters 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; and 25.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Pastor K. C.