Abraham, Abram : etymology uncertain but interpreted as “Father Of  a multitude” [ Genesis 17:5, perhaps a play on words] his original name, use from Genesis 11:26 to 17:5, was abram H92, possibly short form abiram H53 “[ my] father is exalted” [ see. Abiram] ). Son of TERAH, Fouder  Of the Hebrew Nations and father of the people of God, he traced his ancestry back to  NAOH through Shem ( 11:10 – 27 ) and came into the bible story out of an Idolatrious background( Joshua 24:2) After the death of his broether HARAN ( Genesis11:28 ), Abram  move in obedience to a divine vision (Acts7:2-4)  From UR of the Chaldees in MESOPOTAMIA to the city of Haran in N. SYRIA. He was accompany byhis father Terah, his wife and half sister Sarai ( Sarah ) and his Nephew LOT ( Genesis 11:31 – 32 ). Abraham’s renown in the Bibe as a man of faith and the Father of te people of faith is a direct consequence of the way the Bible tells his story. Like all historical writing , Like all historical writing the Bible is  selective in the facts it record, choosing those that are most significants to bring out the meaning of events. The Genesis account of Abraham’s life Record the development of his faith– from the imperfect faith of Genesis 12 – 13, through the growing faith of  Chapters 14 – 17  and unto the mature faith of  Chapters 18 – 25. At Age  seventy five ( Genesis 12:4 ) Abraham was commanded to leave all and go out into the unknown, sustain only by the promises of God (12:1-3 ). Inn faithe he obeyed, but with an imperfect obedience. Contrary to the command to leave his “Father Household” he toke his nephew lot with him, laying the foundation for considerable future trouble ( Chapters 13;19 ). when Abraham arrived in canaan ( 12:6 ), God confirmed the Promise that this was the land Abram’s descandents would possess ( 12:7 ) but the imperfecton of Abram’s faith again appeared. Although assured by God that he was in the right place, Abraham deserted Cannan for  Egypt in a time of famine, and still uncertain whether the Lord could preserve him in trouble tried to pass off Sarai as his sister, hoping to purchase his own safety at her expense ( 12:10-20). Yet Abram’s imperfection of faith did not shake the promises of God, who first acted to protect the choosen family in Egypt ( 12:17 – 20 ) and then, when Abram try to solve family problems (13:7 ) by dividing up the promise land, reaffimed(13:14-17 ) that non but abram and his descandents cold inherite the promises. The fascinating glimpse into  the internetional tentions of the Ancient world given in Genesis 14 allow us to see Abram’s growing faith. Clearly he is now more aware of himself  as the man separated to God from the World. He first opposed the kings ( 14:13-16 ) and then refused the world wealth (14:21-24 ). Thhese are plainly the Acts of a man confident in thee protection and provision of God. The Lord was not slow  to respond in both regards  ( 15:1) But the richness of the divine respond provoked Abram to question the point of it all, for he had no son to inherit what the Lord woud give him. This lead to that hogh moment of faith when Abram, fully aware that every human aspect of the situation was against him ( Romans 4:18-21 ) rested wholly and absolutely Onn God’s words of promise; this is the faith that justifies ( Genesis 15:4-6 ) But thought Abram had leaped on to a pinnacle of faith He was only learninng to walk in the way of faith. The Lord confirm his promise of children and Land in a great Covenant Signed ( Genesis 15: 7 – 21 ) but Abram and Sari tired of waiting ( Chapter 16 ) turned from the way of faith to a human expedient that was permated— even expected — by the Law of the day: a childless Couples might ” have children” through the medium of a seconadry wife. Poor, mistreated HAGAR fell into this role. Yet the Lord was not diverted from his chosen course: ingentle grace he pick up the pieces of HAGAR broken life ( 16:7 – 16 ) ad reaffirmed his Covenant with Abram ( Chapter 17 ) Inn three ways the Lord made his  promises sign of CIRCUMCISION( 17:19-14 ) So that Forever after Abraham and his family would be able to look at their own bodies and say,”The Lord has indeed kept his promises to me!” Out of this experience of becoming thennew man, Abraham, and having the promisses confirmed and sealed, Abraham faith grew to maturity.  Genises 17:17 — 22:19 is the tale of two sons . Abraham deeply love his son ISHMAEL  and  ISAAC ( 17:18; 21:11-12 ), Yet he was call to give them both up — infaith that the Lord would keep his promisses corning them ( 21:11–13, 22:1–18 ) The Lord did not Spring the great desisions on Abraham, ut prepare him for them by his experience over LOT and SODOM ( Chapters 18 – 19 ) Inthis connection Abraham would learn two lessons: Firstt, that it is not a vain thing – to leave matters in the hand of God — He prayed and the Lord answered prayer (18:22-23 ); Second , that the Lord really meant the “family” aspects of his promises– even LOT was preserved because the Lord “remembe” Abraham” ( 19:29 ) To be linked with the Covenant man was to come under the soreign hand of the covenant God. And if LOT How much more ISHMAEL and how very much more the son of promise himself, Isaac! Thus Abrahem came to the Maturity of Faith that enable him to say (22:5 ), We will go…… We will Worship…. We will come back” — Knowing that the worship in question involved raising the knive over Isaac. Quity the underlining of the Maturity of Abraham Faith proceeds: Sarah was laid to rest in the promise land by her Husband, who was planning to be buried there himself, awaiting the forfullment of the promise of possession. Sternly Abraham servant was forbidden to move Isaac from the place of promise ( Genesis 24:6-8 ). Three main stream of New Testament though Focus on Abraham as the example of faith. Paul stresses faith as simple trust in the promises of God ( Romans 4:18- 22 ), Hebrews take note  of especially of the patience  faith ( Hebrew 11: 8-16; 6:11-13 ); and James bring out the essential Obedience  that provve faith to be genuine ( James 2:21-23 ).