Abraham

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 Abraham, known in Hebrew as Avraham "Avinu" (Abraham our Father), was born approximately 4,000 years ago in the ancient city of Ur in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). Born into a family that worshipped idols and multiple gods, Abraham grew up in a world dominated by polytheistic beliefs. According to Jewish tradition, he was born around 1948 from Creation (circa 1800 BCE) to a father named Terach. As a young man, Abraham began questioning the idol worship practiced by his community and his own family. Through deep contemplation and reasoning, he came to the revolutionary conclusion that there must be one invisible, all-powerful God who created and governed the universe. This radical idea would change the course of human history. 

Abraham is most renowned for establishing monotheism—the belief in one God—which became the foundation for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, collectively known as the Abrahamic faiths. At age 75, following God's command, Abraham left his homeland and journeyed to Canaan (the land that would become Israel) with his wife Sarah. God made a covenant with Abraham, promising that his descendants would become a great nation and inherit the land of Canaan. Abraham's greatest test of faith came when God asked him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac on Mount Moriah. Just as Abraham raised the knife, an angel stopped him, and a ram was provided for sacrifice instead. This story, known as the Akedah (the Binding of Isaac), demonstrated Abraham's unwavering faith and established that God abhors human sacrifice—a revolutionary concept in an era when child sacrifice was common in the region. 

Abraham's impact on human civilization cannot be overstated. He introduced the concept of ethical monotheism, establishing the idea that there is one God who cares about human morality and justice. This single idea transformed how billions of people across thousands of years would understand the divine, ethics, and their place in the universe. The three major world religions that trace their spiritual lineage to Abraham—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—collectively represent more than half of the world's population today. Abraham's emphasis on hospitality, justice, and compassion toward strangers became core values in these traditions. His covenant with God established a special relationship between the divine and humanity, based not on fear or capricious gods, but on mutual commitment, moral behavior, and faith. Abraham's legacy teaches that one person's conviction and courage can fundamentally alter the trajectory of human civilization. 

• Founded monotheism - the belief in one God that billions follow today
• Established ethical principles including hospitality, justice, and caring for strangers
• Created the covenant relationship between God and humanity
• Pioneered the idea that faith requires personal conviction, not just inherited tradition
• Demonstrated that God values obedience and faith over ritual sacrifice
• Served as the patriarch of the Jewish people and spiritual ancestor to Christians and Muslims
• Challenged conventional wisdom by rejecting idol worship when it was the norm

Monotheism    Covenant    Canaan    Faith   Sacrifice   Isaac    Sarah  Hospitality  Patriarch  Jerusalem  Blessing   Ur   Moriah    Heritage 

1. Abraham was born in the city of _______ in Mesopotamia.
2. Abraham's wife was named _______.
3. The belief in one God is called _______.
4. Abraham's son was named _______, which means "laughter."
5. The agreement between God and Abraham is called a _______.
6. Abraham is considered the _______ (founding father) of Judaism.
7. Three major world religions that trace back to Abraham are Judaism, Christianity, and _______.

Answers: 1. Ur, 2. Sarah, 3. Monotheism, 4. Isaac, 5. Covenant, 6. Patriarch, 7. Islam