Portraits of the Trinity: Abraham

Purpose Media Productions

Portraits of the Trinity: Abraham; Father of the Nations

No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. Gen. 17:5

Abraham is fondly known as the father of faith and friend of God. He was called out of Ur of the Chaldean (later Babylonian empire) from his kindred to the land of Canaan to which he obeyed. The virtue of obedience was what characterized the life of Abraham in his sojourn with God. He was initially called Abram, (“great father”) but his name was later changed to Abraham (“Father of multitude of father of many nations”). God promised Abraham that he would be blessed and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Much more than revealing the redemption plan that would be accomplished through Jesus Christ, a new race is borne in Abraham’s bossom just like the writer of the letter to the Hebrews makes us understand that Levi was in the loins of Abraham when he paid tithe to Melchizedek. This portrays the role of the Father in predestining before hand, even before the foundation of the earth, those elected in Christ Jesus. Salvation began in the bossom of the Father, as He purposed and ordained salvation even before the world began. How can Levi be in Abraham when even Isaac the promised child was not yet born? Those of us who are saved are in the bowels of the Father’s love even before the appearance of Christ. We are as though in Him, yes that is where we are, through Christ.

Abraham was a father of many nations. Although the name was a covenant name, yet it was also a revelation. He took Lot his niece alongside him into the land of Canaan and from Lot descended Moab and Ammon. As a result of impatience, he birthed the Ishmaelites. He also had 318 men who were raised in his house from infancy and Eliezer, who was one of them so much saw Abraham as a father figure and was trustworthy to find a wife for the master’s son. Through Isaac, Israel and Edom was birthed. After the death of Sarah, Abraham married Keturah and had six nations: Zimran (Asshurites), Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.

What is the implication or import of Abraham as the father of many nations? Exodus 19:4-6, talks about God being the father of all nations. He beget all the nations by creation and preservation. Abraham depicts God as a loving Father whose kindness is great. He is the Father who sends His sunlight and rain both on the wicked and the good.

God revealed His nature and design through Abraham as he was to sacrifice his son, and God was not mistaken to say, “take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” Gen. 22:2. God was aware that he had Ishmael in Genesis 17 and literally wouldn’t have called Isaac the only son of Abraham. Of a truth, Ishmael has been sent away making Isaac the only available son for Abraham but it is much more symbolic of the redemption story. Jesus Christ is the Father’s beloved Son, Matt. 3:15-17 and God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16. Isaac was to be offered on a specific mountain in Moriah just in the same way that the Son of God, the Son of His love was to be crucified and offered on Mount Calvary.

At near death, Abraham sent all his other sons away while giving the inheritance to Isaac, the son of his love and the heir of the promise. This speaks of the common grace of God in distinction with the saving grace. He preserves all by the common grace. A passage in Scripture says He gives all flesh their food and the eyes of all wait upon Him. The gifts of God like prosperity, good health and others are also freely given by His benevolence and generosity and as such it will be a grave error to link the gospel as the direct cause of it. The grave error of the prosperity movement is to make material or physical blessings the focus of the gospel. God decides to bless anyone by virtue of his great and marvelous benevolence with or apart of the gospel. Nevertheless, the peculiar or special grace is a covenantal relationship that brings men into a peculiar and special relationship with God. It is the covenant of redemption/ salvation. This is the heritage of the saints, our eternal reality.

There is no one or nation on earth that can accuse God of injustice or unrighteousness. Abraham loved Ishmael because he was his son but alas, he had to send him and his mother, Hagar away by himself. Abraham also gave his six sons gifts but Isaac was the heir being the son of promise. Everyone, tribe and nation are traceable to God by virtue of creation. Everyone finds their existence in and through God. There is no one who has not felt the perseverance of His great love and mercy. Rom. 9:22-23. Some will say that God is loving and as such cannot send anyone to hell. These are ignorant of the love of God that it reflects the justice and perseverance of God. Abraham loved Ishmael that he prayed for him in Genesis 17, that let Ishmael live before you. But God said no. Abraham also despite his love for Ishmael had to send him away in the most despicable/ miserable supply. His covenant is found in Christ alone. Hagar was a slave and John says that the slave does not abide in the house forever, it is only the son of that has a lasting place in the house. It is only those who are in Christ that has an eternal place for whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God for our God is a consuming fire. God is holy and He cannot behold iniquity, sin cannot dwell with Him. This is to make us fear and tremble before Him. It should also make us appreciate the marvelous grace we have received in Christ. The righteousness we have is not based on any of our good works but by His covenant in Christ. Another symbolism of Abraham as the father of many nations implies that all creation emanated from God and all religious groups or affiliation claim allegiance to Him. Even those who claim to be atheists have God as the center of their controversy. However, Abraham cast Ishmael and his other six sons away from his presence, so also, anyone, nation or religion not found in Christ, the promised Son will be cast away into eternal damnation even though they may benefit from His benevolence and gracious gifts or blessings.

Finally, Genesis 24 gives a typology of the Father’s love for His Son to seek a bride for His Son. God preordained us unto salvation to be united to His Son. Is it not in the New Testament of a great king who prepared a wedding feast for his son, Matt. 22:2-14. The wedding or marriage was the initiation of the Father. He sent out His servant, the prophets ranging from Moses to John the Baptist to prepare the bride for her groom. In comparison with the gospel parallel, that is what Eliezer represents. They were accompanied with signs and wonders to authenticate their mission and they prepared the bride to come to Christ, the Bridegroom. The bride thus entered into the

© Purpose Media Publications, 2020