DIOS LE PROMETIÓ LA TIERRA DE ISRAEL | ABRAHAM El Primer Patriarca

The Call of Abraham: A Journey Begins

The Divine Command

• A voice breaks the silence, commanding Abraham to leave his homeland and family for a promised land. This voice is described as more powerful than any storm.

• God promises to make Abraham a great nation, bless those who bless him, and curse those who curse him, indicating the significance of his future role.

Abraham's Background

• Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldeans, a bustling Mesopotamian city nourished by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. His father, Terah, was respected but lived a simple life in a polytheistic society.

• At 75 years old, after receiving God's promise under the stars, Abraham decides to confront his fears and embark on this divine journey.

Departure from Home

• He announces to Sarai (his wife) that they will leave for an unknown land as directed by God. Sarai expresses concern about their destination.

• They set out with Lot (Abraham's nephew), facing uncertainty but guided by divine promise as they travel towards Canaan.

Trials in Canaan

Arrival in Canaan

• Upon reaching Canaan, they encounter the Canaanites living in cities ruled by kings. Here, God reaffirms His promise to give this land to Abraham’s descendants.

Facing Adversity

• A severe famine strikes Canaan; provisions dwindle leading Abraham to question why they were brought there. In desperation, he decides to go to Egypt for survival.

The Dangers of Egypt

Fear and Deception

• As they approach Egypt, God reassures Abraham not to fear; He will protect him. However, fear for Sarai’s safety leads him to devise a plan where she poses as his sister.

Consequences of Deceit

• Upon entering Egypt, Sarai's beauty attracts attention; she is taken into Pharaoh's palace while Abraham receives livestock and servants as rewards.

• Plagues strike Pharaoh’s household due to this deception; he confronts Abraham about lying regarding Sarai’s identity.

Return to Canaan

Reflection on Protection

• After being expelled from Egypt with Sarai and their possessions due to Pharaoh's anger over the plagues caused by their deceitful actions, Abraham reflects on God's protection during trials.

Conflict Amongst Families

• Back in Canaan with increased wealth comes conflict between Lot’s herders and those of Abraham due to limited resources.

Separation from Lot

Choosing Paths

• To resolve disputes peacefully, Abraham suggests separating: he offers Lot first choice of land. Lot chooses the fertile Jordan Valley near Sodom while Abraham remains in Canaan.

Divine Assurance

• After separation, God speaks again promising all visible lands will belong to Abraham and his descendants forever; strengthening his faith amidst challenges.

Hospitality Towards Strangers

Encountering Visitors

• While resting under an oak tree at Mamre one day, three men appear before him. Without hesitation, he rushes forward offering them water and food.

Generosity Displayed

Abraham's Encounter with Divine Messengers

The Promise of a Son

• Abraham stands by as men eat; one asks about Sarah, revealing her future pregnancy.

• Sarah laughs silently at the idea of bearing a child in her old age; God questions Abraham about her disbelief.

• God shares His plans to investigate the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, prompting Abraham's concern for the righteous.

Intercession for Sodom

• Abraham pleads with God to spare Sodom if 50 righteous people are found there; God agrees.

• The negotiation continues down to 10 righteous individuals, showing God's willingness to spare the city for their sake.

Lot's Rescue from Sodom

• Angels arrive in Sodom; Lot insists they stay at his home despite initial reluctance.

• A mob surrounds Lot’s house demanding the angels be brought out; Lot pleads with them not to commit this evil act.

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

• Angels warn Lot to flee with his family before destruction comes upon the city due to its wickedness.

• Despite doubts, Lot is forcibly taken out of the city by angels as mercy is shown towards him.

Consequences and Judgment

• As dawn breaks, fire and brimstone rain down on Sodom and Gomorrah, leading to total destruction.

• Abraham witnesses smoke rising from the cities, realizing divine judgment has been executed while remembering God's promise.

Abraham's Deception in Gerar

Encounter with Abimelech

• After witnessing destruction, Abraham moves to Gerar where he claims Sarah is his sister again out of fear for his life.

Divine Intervention

• King Abimelech takes Sarah but is warned by God in a dream about her true marital status.

Restoration and Integrity

• Abimelech confronts Abraham regarding his deception; Abraham explains his reasoning based on fear of being killed for Sarah’s beauty.

Resolution and Blessing

• Abimelech compensates Abraham with livestock and restores Sarah; he offers land for them to dwell freely.

The Birth of Isaac and the Trials of Abraham

The Birth of Isaac

• Saray conceived and gave birth to a son, Isaac, in her old age as God had promised. She expressed joy, stating, "God has made me laugh; everyone who hears will laugh with me."

• At Isaac's weaning feast, Saray saw Ismael mocking him. This led her to demand that Abraham send away Agar and her son, asserting that Ismael would not share in Isaac's inheritance.

Conflict Between Saray and Abraham

• Abraham was troubled by Saray's request since Ismael was also his son. He felt conflicted about sending them away.

• God reassured Abraham in a dream, instructing him to heed Saray’s words because Isaac would be the heir while promising to make a nation from Ismael as well.

Agar and Ismael in the Desert

• After being sent away with provisions from Abraham, Agar found herself lost in the desert with Ismael. They faced dire conditions as their water supply ran out.

• In despair over her son's condition, Agar cried out to God. An angel comforted her, assuring that God had heard Ismael's cries.

God's Promise to Agar

• The angel instructed Agar to lift up Ismael because he would become a great nation. She discovered a well of water nearby which saved them both.

Abraham’s Test of Faith

The Command from God

• God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac on Mount Moriah. This command filled Abraham with turmoil but he remained faithful.

Journey to Sacrifice

• Early the next morning, Abraham prepared for the journey with Isaac. He told his servants they would return after worshipping at the mountain.

The Question of Sacrifice

• During their ascent, Isaac questioned where the lamb for sacrifice was. Abraham replied that "God will provide" indicating his faith despite inner conflict.

The Act of Sacrifice

• Upon reaching the designated place, Abraham built an altar and bound Isaac for sacrifice. Just as he raised his knife, an angel intervened.

Divine Intervention and Blessings

God's Mercy Revealed

• The angel stopped Abraham from harming Isaac and acknowledged his fear of God due to his obedience. A ram caught in thorns was provided instead for sacrifice.

Covenant Renewal

• Following this event, God reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham promising numerous descendants who would inherit blessings through obedience.

The Death of Saray

Mourning and Burial Plans

Abraham's Legacy and Family Dynamics

The Purchase of the Cave of Machpelah

• Abraham, identified as a foreigner among the Hittites, requests a burial site for his wife from the sons of Heth. They acknowledge him as a prince of God and offer their best tombs but he insists on purchasing the cave of Machpelah from Ephron.

• Ephron offers to give Abraham the cave and surrounding field for free, but Abraham firmly insists on paying a fair price. Ephron states that the land is worth 400 pieces of silver, which Abraham pays, securing his first property in the Promised Land.

• The acquisition marks a significant moment for Abraham as it establishes a family burial site in Canaan, symbolizing his commitment to God's promise regarding the land. He buries Sarah there, ensuring her resting place is honored.

Finding a Wife for Isaac

• After Sarah's death, Abraham seeks companionship through Keturah and has six more children but worries about Isaac's future without a partner. He calls upon Eliezer to find a suitable wife for Isaac.

• Eliezer swears an oath to find Isaac’s bride and travels to Nahor where he meets Rebekah at a well; she is revealed to be from Abraham’s family line, fulfilling divine providence in finding Isaac’s spouse.

The Meeting Between Isaac and Rebekah

• Upon meeting Rebekah, Eliezer shares his mission from Abraham; her family agrees to let her go with him to marry Isaac. This decision reflects familial support in fulfilling God's plan for their lineage.

• As Rebekah approaches Isaac while he meditates in the field, they share an immediate connection that signifies love blossoming between them—a pivotal moment in continuing Abraham's legacy through their union.

Passing Down the Promise

• In later years, as generations grow around him, Abraham reassures his children about God's promise that their descendants will be numerous like stars—an affirmation of faith passed down through storytelling by fireside gatherings.

• He entrusts all his possessions to Isaac as he recognizes him as the child of promise with responsibilities towards maintaining their covenant with God—a significant transfer of legacy within the family structure.

Final Moments and Legacy

• Ismael returns upon hearing news of Abraham’s impending death; both brothers unite at their father's side during his last moments—showing reconciliation despite past differences between them. Together they honor their father by laying him to rest in Machpelah alongside Sarah.

• As they bury him together, Ismael acknowledges brotherhood with Isaac amidst shared grief; this act symbolizes unity beyond familial strife while reinforcing themes of faith and obedience inherited from their father throughout generations ahead.