08.05.05 How Abraham and Sarah's Decisions Birthed a Nation A Biblical Revelation

How Abraham and Sarah's Decisions Birthed a Nation – A Biblical Revelation

The book of Genesis (Genesis 12–23) conveys Abraham and Sarah as one of the biblical couples whose decisions impacted history. Abraham was raised in the prosperous and culturally advanced city of Ur, while his wife, Sarah, is described as a woman of beauty and dignity. Their decision-making journey began when God called Abraham out of Ur into a future that seemed uncertain yet promising because ‘God had said'. Genesis 12:1 reports the instructions. It reads (NKJV): ... Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.

On leaving Ur, they settled in Haran. While there, another major decision awaited Abraham when God told him to relocate to Canaan. That was no simple task given that he had to move with his family, livestock and possessions. Nonetheless, the man chose to obey God’s instructions. That was when God promised that Abraham would have a son and become a great nation.

No sooner had he settled in Canaan than a severe famine hit the land, forcing Abraham and Sarah to make another tough decision; to temporarily relocate to Egypt in order to preserve their lives. It was there that Abraham and Sarah jointly decided that she would present herself as his sister rather than wife, to protect him from potential danger. However, the King discovered the lie thence evicting the couple out of Egypt.

After returning to Canaan, their flocks and herds increased in great numbers to the extent that the land could no longer support Abraham's livestock and his nephew Lot’s, which repeatedly caused wrangles between their herdsmen. Abraham had to make a firm decision to separate from Lot, allowing him to choose the Jordan plain, for the sake of peace and harmony. However, down the track, Lot got captured by powerful invading kings, prompting Abraham to lead a bold rescue mission with only 318 trained men. Fortunately, God was on Abraham's side and they came back victorious.

God had reassured the couple that Sarah would have a son yet they decided to use Hagar, Sarah's servant as a surrogate mother, a decision that was to torment Sarah later. That was how Ishmael was born to the 86-year-old Abraham. Later, when Isaac was born and Sarah saw Ishmael mocking him, she told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Abraham was upset but God told him to listen to Sarah, so he sent the maid and her son away with some provisions.

The promised son, Isaac, followed 24 years thereafter but God was to test Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice the boy. As difficult as it may sound, the man took the decision to obey God but that day, God provided a ram at the last minute thence sparing Isaac. The boy grew up, married Rebekah and they had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Jacob, who was later renamed Israel, became the father of 12 sons, who formed the 12 tribes of Israel.

That is how Abraham and Sarah's decisions shaped the history of the Israelites, impacting generations to this day.