Running head: ABRAHAM'S PROMISES

Abraham's Promises
Samantha Langford
Fr. Joe Hirsh
World Religions
May 10, 2009
Regis University

Abraham's Promises
In this we shall discuss and review some areas of conflict as well as the covenants, circumcision, characteristics, and touch on the roots of Abraham. Abraham gave his life to obeying God and his word and finding favor in God’s eyes. Abraham received plenty from the Lord just for his obedience as well as his descendants.
The covenant is a basic agreement between two parties. Some covenants often promise rewards or blessings for people who agree to keep the covenant. In the past covenants were sealed by blood or animal sacrifices. The covenant may have been made between family members, kings, states, or God himself. Those who did not keep a covenant was punished or even cursed. Often times the covenant would display a sign or symbol as a reminder of the covenant, such as: Adam and Eve disobeyed and received death, Jesus covenant was displayed through the cup and the drinking of wine as if it were his blood, the rainbow with Noah, and circumcision with Abraham. It is said Abraham shall be numerous and become a great nation while inheriting the Promised Land Cannon later to become Israel while others become blessed in and through him and their sign of the covenant was through circumcision. Abraham believed in monotheism, he believed in the promise from God of receiving the “Holy Land” and that he was the chosen one. God’s covenant with Abraham was considered a promise or unconditional covenant. “God alone who bind’s himself by a solemn oath to keep the covenant” (Campbell, 2009). The Mosaic covenant is a promise of blessing if obedience is kept and if broken a curse will take effect. From one’s understanding God’s promise to Abraham was not conditional once the circumcision was required a penalty would be in place for nonobservance. From the Old Testament the covenant between Abraham and God for the promise of land was the earliest to be recorded (Campbell, 2009). Although the covenant of marriage is considered a covenant with God and Adam and Eve were technically married so that leaves us to question about which was the first covenant. The Israelite religious identity is the sign of circumcision. The sign of circumcision from Abraham through his descendants, slaves, and any male member of his household must be completed as observance and obedience from God. Circumcision is the identity and sign of faith. Abraham displayed perfect obedience through the practice of circumcision. The fulfillment of fertility was the promise of Isaac.
The everlasting covenant between God and Abraham was the fertility promise. A sign of the promise was the name change between Abram to Abraham as the father of multitudes of nations. The Israelites and Ishmaelite were the start of his descendants. Isaac and Ishmael were both blessed. Isaac received the birth right as natural son of Abraham and received the descendants blessing while Ishmael received the blessing of father of twelve princes and a great nation provided they keep the covenant as well as their descendants. Abraham was to walk before God and be perfect and not fall into the violence of the human race. As long as there are Jews there will be a covenant with Abraham (Harless, 2009). The promises or covenants in the past are still in effect today, and one must choose between their faithfulness and their identity with God to practice circumcision for God has not forgotten his promises. The circumcision was to be a symbol of covenant as well as a condition (Harless, 2009). Although the Jews did not perform the circumcisions while they journeyed into the Promised Land they performed the circumcision once they arrived into the Promised Land.
Abraham had characteristics of what was considered to be an idol worshipper before turning into a monotheist. Abraham understood that there was a divine being and was even in prison for his belief. The king was afraid that Abraham would corrupt his people so he was banished to Syria and all possessions were acquired by the king. He was the first to publish the notion of only one God our Creator of the universe (Harless, 2009). Abraham and God became close and he appeared to him giving him revelation. One may believe that his trust and faith in what was seen and what was not gave God the desire to increase his possessions and descendants. He displayed traits of mercy, grace, forgiveness, and charity as well as loves for his people and speaks on their behalf. Abraham displayed the obedience when placing Isaac on the altar showing selflessness and righteousness. There is no answer to why God would choose Abraham he was chosen by God for his reasons all we can do is speculate and give our opinions. The revelation that we are all chosen by God to do exactly what we are doing and what our outcome is to be before the existence of the world. The reason why I believe he chose Abraham is it is just his way as he chose us which should humble one to the degree of complete and total happiness.
Through the acts of obedience God granted Abraham and his descendant’s fertility, land and blessings. The fact that God only never stated that his Abrahams descendants would inherit the land of Cannon until he had already arrived and stated this is the land I give to you and your descendants. He had to make the journey first before the whole promise was given unto him. God considered him to be faithful and obedient. Although God does not actually state why he chose Abraham but one may believe it is because he trusted and believed in him and did as commanded and fulfilled God’s purpose: such as the line of Christ.
Abram or Abraham was and still is today recognized by all Moslems, Jews, and Christians and some of the western religions trace their roots to Abraham. The Israeli and Arab conflict go back all the way to Abraham, the conflict is revered by Jews, Arab, and Christians (Young, 2005). Muslims can trace themselves back to Abraham through Ishmael the conflict between Koran and the Holy Bible teachings show one true God and it is up to the individual to determine the truth. Although the bible shows prophecies and detailed predictions fulfilled for over 1500 years without error and continue to prove it-self as time passes (Young, 2005). The Koran on the other hand is flawed full of deception and without a prophet the Koran implies that Ishmael was the child of Abraham to be sacrificed. To be honest I believe that jealously wrote the Koran. The Koran states the Isaac and Jacob to be killed while the bible states of blessings to Isaac, Jacob, and Ishmael. Many of Ishmael’s descendants found themselves identified with ancient national names some of which rooted back to Ishmael and Esau’s ancestry (Young, 2005). Although some of those belonging to Israel may remain in spiritual blindness until the day of repentance then they shall have peace with their Ishmaelite then all the nations can come to know the true God. Islam claims their roots to Abraham although they tend to share some of the same beliefs as Muhammad. Islam tracing its roots back to Abraham through his son Ishmael instead of Isaac as the Jews did, believe that they are the descendants of God’s promise (conservapedia, 2009).
We have reviewed some of the areas of Abraham’s challenging times. Some may say that the covenant is a promise made from God or between two parties a promise to be unbroken. The covenants and responsibilities are stated. Abraham displayed a character of divine obedience as well as many other traits God was looking for. The roots of Abraham that descended through Isaac and Ishmael are given.

References
Blake, E. (n.d.). The Covenant Old and New Retrieved on 8 May 2009 from http://warc.ch/where/ugc/sermon/index.htm
Campbell,N.(2009).Covenant, General Inforamtion. Retrieved on 8 May, 2009 from www.http://mb-soft.com/believe/text/covenant.htm Chamberlain, D. (2008).Western Religious History: One for All. Retrieved on 8 May 2009 from http://www.davidmuse.co.uk/relig_history_1.html
Conservapedia (2009). Islam. Retrieved on 8 May 2009 from http://www.Conservapedia.com/Islam
Harless, H.(2009). A Land, A Seed, A Blessing: The Abrahamic Covenant. Retrieved on 8 May 2009 from http://www.thethreshingfloor.com/paper/abe3.htm
Just,F.(2006). Covenants, Pillars and Theologies in Ancient Judaism. Retrieved on 8 May 2009 from www.http://catholic-resources.org/bible/covenants.htm
Stowell, J. (2009). Chosen, Strength for the Journey. Retrieved on 8 May 2009 from htpp://www.rbc.org/bible-study/strength-for –the-journey/2009/04/06daily-message.aspx
Young, D. (2005).The Roots of Israeli-Arab Conflict,Focus on Jerusalem. Retrieved on 8 May 2009 from http://focusonjerusalem.com/therootsoftheisraeli_arabconflict.htm

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