God makes a covenant with Abram, where He promises to make him the father of A great nation…even though he had no kids

A Covenant Hebrew word for Contract is Berit – indicating a binding agreement In business it was a contract Internationally it was a Treaty Within a state it was a Constitution Between individuals it was a binding agreement

The Covenant with Abram was A legally binding oath To confirm for all time his Firm intention to keep his Promise to Abraham God wanted to show he Was fully committed To the Jewish People

Abram was told He was to be the Father of nations But he had no kids What to do, what To do?

Sarai, who is barren, Decides to give her Egyptian maid servant to Abraham to allow him to Have a child

In the ancient Middle East the idea of the Surrogate Mother started with the Ancient Babylonian code set by Hammurabi

Sarai presents her Maid – Servant Hagar to Abraham

Hagar has a child Named Ishmael Sarai is very jealous Of Hagar and her New child

God reaffirms his Covenant with Abram, but With a twist, the blood covenant of Circumcision

A Blood Covenant Is the most Binding Of the ancient agreements

And oh, by the Way… God states “You and Sarai Are going to have A child… Abram Laughs, He is almost 100 Years old!

Three Angels Visit Abraham And Sarah The three Visitors tell Abraham and Sarah they Are going to be Parents

Sarai laughed – She and Abram were very Advanced in age

The Name Change The Lord changed the name of Abram to Abraham – Meaning “Father of a Multitude” The Lord changed the name of Sarai to Sarah – Meaning “Princess”

The three visitors left And God tells them that There has been an Outcry against the Wicked ways of Sodom And Gomorrah God tells them he is Going to destroy the towns

Sarah gives birth to Isaac

After the Birth of Isaac, there Was an issue On which child Would be the leader of the Hebrews after the Death of Abraham.

Sarah convinces Abraham to make it Isaac Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent away

Hagar and Ishmael Are struggling Hagar leaves Ishmael under the Bushes to die She can’t carry on, they Both are dying in the desert

God called out and Showed them water God stated that he Would make Ishmael Into a great nation

Split between the Jews and the Muslims Hebrews (Jews) Believe that the line of Abraham comes from Isaac The land that was promised Abraham should go to the ancestors of Isaac Muslims Believe that the line of Abraham comes from Ishmael The land that was promised Abraham should go to the ancestors of Ishmael

Isaac was the focus of Abraham after Hagar and Ishmael were sent Out of the Camp The story of Abraham and Isaac will show The Israelites distain For Child Sacrifice And will show Abraham’s faith in God

There were hundreds of Pagan gods in the region Many of the religions had fertility gods

In the Ancient Near East, the god that provides “fertility” is also entitled to demand a portion of what has been produced This is expressed in the sacrifice of animals, grain and children

Deuteronomy and Leviticus expressly Forbade the practice Leviticus talks about the sacrifice of children to Molech

Molech was national god of the Ammonites

The Ammonites descended from Lot Their territory was located across the Jordan River

The worship of Molech involved child Sacrifice, some historians say that the first Born was sacrificed Others state to enter the 6 th and final church Of Molech required the sacrifice of a child

God tells Abraham to go to The top of Mt Moriah and Sacrifice his son Isaac

The Muslim Faith States that it was Not Isaac that went With Abraham to Mt. Moriah, but it Was Ishmael The Muslims believe That Ishmael will Inherit the promised Land of Canaan The Israelites believe That Isaac will Inherit The promised land

Isaac is told to bring The wood and go with Abraham to Mt. Moriah Isaac tells Abraham “The wood and the fire Are here, but where is The lamb for the burnt Offering?”

Abraham tells him that The lord will provide The lamb for the Offering, and the two Went on together

Abraham placed the Wood, bound Isaac and laid him On the alter… He brought out a knife

The angel of the Lord called out From Heaven “Abraham, Abraham”