Abraham in the Bible
Meaning: father of a great multitude
Exact Match
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers,
Therefore all the generations from Abraham to David [are] fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon [are] fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ [are] fourteen generations.
And do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham [as] father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!
But I say to you that many will come from east and west and {be seated at the banquet} with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
But touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac,
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead but of the living.
But as to the dead coming back to life; have you not seen in the book of Moses, about the burning thorn-tree, how God said to him, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,
just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants {forever}."
The oath which he made to Abraham, our father,
Make clear by your acts that your hearts have been changed; and do not say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children of Abraham.
The son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Then the rich man said, 'I beg you therefore, forefather [Abraham], that you would send Lazarus to my father's house,
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
Abraham replied, if they disregard Moses and the prophets, they will not believe any one, though he rose from the dead.
"It happened in a similar way in the days of Lot [i.e., Abraham's nephew]. People were eating and drinking and buying and selling and planting and building.
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
They answered unto him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye will be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's offspring:
I know that ye are Abraham's seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.
They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham.
You are doing the works of your father. They said to him, We are true sons of Abraham; we have one Father, who is God.
The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself?
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers,
You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.
“Brothers and fathers,” he said, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,
"The glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. God told him, "Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land I'll show you.'
On this, Abraham left the country of the Chaldaeans and settled in Haran; and from there, after his father's death, God caused him to migrate into this very country, in which you are now living.
He did not give any of it to him for an inheritance, not even a foot of ground, yet God promised to give it to him as his possession, and to his descendants after him, even though Abraham as yet had no child.
And God had spoken about this [beforehand] by saying that Abraham's descendants would live in a foreign country and that they would [eventually] be ill-treated as slaves for four hundred years.
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.
“As the time was drawing near to fulfill the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people flourished and multiplied in Egypt
I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
since indeed it is one [and the same] God who will justify the circumcised by faith [which began with Abraham] and the uncircumcised through [their newly acquired] faith.
What then shall we say - as touching Abraham our forefather?
For, if Abraham by works was declared righteous, he hath whereof to boast; - nevertheless, not towards God, -
For what doth the Scripture say? And Abraham believed in God, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.
This happiness, then, is it for the circumcision, or for the uncircumcision? for we say - His faith was reckoned unto Abraham as righteousness:
And father of circumcision - unto them who are not of circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of the faith, while yet uncircumcised, of our father Abraham.
For, not through means of law, doth the promise belong unto Abraham or unto his seed, - that he should be heir of thee world; but, through a righteousness by faith.
For this cause, it is by faith, in order that it may be by way of favour, so that the promise is firm unto all the seed, - not unto that by the law only, but unto that also which is such by the faith of Abraham; who is father of us all, -
just as it is written [Gen. 17:5], "I [i.e., God] have made you [i.e., Abraham] forefather of many nations." He received this promise in the presence of God, in whom he believed, and who gives life [back] to dead people and who refers to things [promised] as though they were [already] fulfilled.
Which Abraham, contrary to hope, believed in hope: that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall thy seed be."
Abraham's faith did not become weak [even though] he was about one hundred years old and considered his body almost dead and Sarah's womb incapable of conceiving a child.
So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone,
Neither, because they are seed of Abraham, are all children, - but, In Isaac, shall there be called unto thee a seed.
That is, it is not Abraham's natural descendants who are God's children, but those who are made children by the promise are counted his true descendants.
I say, then - Hath God cast off his people? Far be it! For, I also, am an Israelite, - of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin:
Now if the first-fruits of the dough Abraham and the Patriarchs are holy, so also is the whole mass their descendants. And if the root of a tree Abraham is holy, so also are the branches his descendants.
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they descendants of Israel? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Even as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness?
Notice then that the true sons of Abraham are children of faith.
And the Scripture, anticipating God's justification of the Gentiles by faith, announced the gospel to Abraham beforehand in the words, In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed.
So then they who are children of faith are blessed with Abraham the faithful;
to the end that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit.
Now it was to Abraham that the promises were spoken, and to his offspring. God did not say, "offsprings" as if speaking of many, but "and to your offspring," as of one; and this is Christ.
Here is what I am saying: The Agreement originally made by God [with Abraham], with its attending promises, was not canceled when the law of Moses was given some four hundred and thirty years later.
For if the inheritance comes from law, it no longer comes from a promise; but God did give it as a free gift to Abraham by a promise.
Now the mediator or go-between [in a transaction] is not [needed] for just one party; whereas God is only one [and was the only One giving the promise to Abraham, but the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity depended on both].
And if you belong to Christ, then you are the descendants of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman;
Now, brothers, you [Christians] are children of the promise [made to Abraham. See 3:29] just like Isaac, [Abraham's son] was.
What does the Scripture say about this matter? [It says, Gen. 21:10-12], "Get rid of the slave woman [Hagar], with her son [Ishmael]; for the son of the slave woman [Ishmael] will not inherit [what God promised to Abraham and his descendants], along with the son of the free woman [i.e., Isaac]."
for we are the genuine sons of Abraham, who worship God in the spiritual manner, and value no other dependance than that on Jesus Christ, without confiding in any external advantages:
For of course it is not angels but descendants of Abraham that He is to help.
For God who promised to Abraham, since he had none greater to swear by, swore by himself,
And so by patiently waiting, Abraham obtained the promise.
Since God wanted to show conclusively to those who would inherit the promise [i.e., Abraham and all of his spiritual descendants], how unchangeable His purpose was, He confirmed it with an oath.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, having met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, also blessed him.
To whom also Abraham divided a tenth of all. Being actually translated, first, king of righteousness, and then also, king of Salem, which is king of peace,
And notice how great this man was, to whom also the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the best spoils.
Now indeed those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have commandment to collect tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, although having come out of the loins of Abraham.
But the man who did not descend from them has received tithes from Abraham, and has blessed the man having the promises.
And, so to speak, Levi also, the man who receives tithes, has paid tithes through Abraham,
for Levi was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met Abraham.
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
By [having] faith, Sarah herself received the ability to have children, even though she was [sterile, being] past the age of child-bearing, since she considered God faithful to His promise. [Note: Some translations consider "Abraham" to be the subject of this highly controversial verse. See Lightfoot, pages 222-225].
Therefore, from one man [Abraham], who was as good as dead [i.e., because of having a sterile wife], were born descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the [grains of] sand on the seashore.
But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten'son ;
Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way.
But, idle boaster, are you willing to be taught how it is that faith apart from obedience is worthless? Take the case of Abraham our forefather.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
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Thematic Bible
Abidah » Descendant » Abraham
Abraham » Piety of
Abraham » God's covenant with
And, therefore, those whose lives are based on faith share the blessings bestowed upon the faith of Abraham. All who rely upon obedience to Law are under a curse, for Scripture says--'Cursed is every one who does not abide by all that is written in the Book of the Law, and do it.' Again, it is evident that no one is pronounced righteous before God through Law, for we read--'Through faith the righteous man shall find Life.' But the Law is not based on faith; no, its words are--'Those who practice these precepts will find Life through them.' Christ ransomed us from the curse pronounced in the Law, by taking the curse on himself for us, for Scripture says--'Cursed is any one who is hanged on a tree.' And this he did that the blessing given to Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through their union with Jesus Christ; that so, through our faith, we also might receive the promised gift of the Spirit. To take an illustration, Brothers, from daily life--No one sets aside even an agreement between two men, when once it has been confirmed, nor does he add conditions to it. Now it was to Abraham that the promises were made, 'and to his offspring.' It was not said 'to his offsprings,' as if many persons were meant, but the words were 'to thy offspring,' showing that one person was meant--and that was Christ. My point is this--An agreement already confirmed by God cannot be canceled by the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, so as to cause the promise to be set aside. If our heritage is the result of Law, then it has ceased to be the result of a promise. Yet God conferred it on Abraham by a promise.
(The word Hagar meaning in Arabia Mount Sinai) and it ranks with the Jerusalem of to-day, for she and her children are in slavery. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she it is who is our mother. For Scripture says--'Rejoice, thou barren one, who dost never bear, Break into shouts, thou who art never in labor, For many are the children of her who is desolate--aye, more than of her who has a husband.' As for ourselves, brothers, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfillment of a promise. Yet at that time the child born in the course of nature persecuted the child born by the power of the Spirit; and it is the same now. But what does the passage of Scripture say? 'Send away the slave-woman and her son; for the slave's son shall not be co-heir with the son of the free woman.' And so, Brothers, we are not children of a slave, but of her who is free.
Abraham » Faith of
Now wages are regarded as due to the man who works, not as a favor, but as a debt; While, as for the man who does not rely upon his obedience, but has faith in him who can pronounce the godless righteous, his faith is regarded by God as righteousness. In precisely the same way David speaks of the blessing pronounced upon the man who is regarded by God as righteous apart from actions-- 'Blessed are those whose wrong-doings have been forgiven and over whose sins a veil has been drawn! Blessed the man whom the Lord will never regard as sinful!' Is this blessing, then, pronounced upon the circumcised only or upon the uncircumcised as well? We say that-'Abraham's faith was regarded by God as righteousness.' Under what circumstances, then, did this take place? After his circumcision or before it? Not after, but before. And it was as a sign of this that he received the rite of circumcision-to attest the righteousness due to the faith of an uncircumcised man-in order that he might be the father of all who have faith in God even when uncircumcised, that they also may be regarded by God as righteous; As well as father of the circumcised-to those who are not only circumcised, but who also follow our father Abraham in that faith which he had while still uncircumcised. For the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his descendants through Law, but through the righteousness due to faith. If those who take their stand on Law are to inherit the world, then faith is robbed of its meaning and the promise comes to nothing! Law entails punishment; but, where no Law exists, no breach of it is possible. That is why all is made to depend upon faith, that all may be God's gift, and in order that the fulfillment of the promise may be made certain for all Abraham's descendants-not only for those who take their stand on the Law, but also for those who take their stand on the faith of Abraham. (He is the Father of us all; As Scripture says-'I have made thee the Father of many nations.') And this they do in the sight of that God in whom Abraham had faith, and who gives life to the dead, and speaks of what does not yet exist as if it did. With no ground for hope, Abraham, sustained by hope, put faith in God; in order that, in fulfillment of the words-'So many shall thy descendants be,' he might become 'the Father of many nations.' Though he was nearly a hundred years old, yet his faith did not fail him, even when he thought of his own body, then utterly worn out, and remembered that Sarah was past bearing children. He was not led by want of faith to doubt God's promise. On the contrary, his faith gave him strength; and he praised God, in the firm conviction that what God has promised he is also able to carry out. And therefore his faith 'was regarded as righteousness.'
And, therefore, those whose lives are based on faith share the blessings bestowed upon the faith of Abraham.
You see, then, that it is as the result of his actions that a man is pronounced righteous, and not of his faith only.
Abraham » Divine call of
Abraham » How regarded by his descendants
If, then, the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed! I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you are seeking to put me to death, because my Message finds no place in your hearts. I tell you what I have myself seen in the presence of my Father; and you, in the same way, do what you have learned from your father." "Our father is Abraham," was their answer. "If you are Abraham's children," replied Jesus, "do what Abraham did. But, as it is, you are seeking to put me to death--a man who has told you the Truth as he heard it from God. Abraham did not act in that way.
Abraham » Children of
Abraham » Trial of his faith in the offering of isaac
Abraham » Canaan given to
Abraham » Friend of God
Abraham » In paradise
'Child,' answered Abraham, 'remember that you in your lifetime received what you thought desirable, just as Lazarus received what was not desirable; but now he has his consolation here, while you are suffering agony. And not only that, but between you and us there lies a great chasm, so that those who wish to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they cross from there to us.' 'Then, Father,' he said, 'I beg you to send Lazarus to my father's house-- For I have five brothers to warn them, so that they may not come to this place of torture also.' 'They have the writings of Moses and the Prophets,' replied Abraham; 'let them listen to them.' 'But, Father Abraham,' he urged, 'if some one from the dead were to go to them, they would repent.' 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets,' answered Abraham, 'they will not be persuaded, even if some one were to rise from the dead.'"
Abraham » Age of, at different periods
Abraham » Angels appear to
Abraham » Lives in ur, but removes to haran
Abraham » Wealth of
Abraham » Sends hagar and ishmael away
(The word Hagar meaning in Arabia Mount Sinai) and it ranks with the Jerusalem of to-day, for she and her children are in slavery. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she it is who is our mother. For Scripture says--'Rejoice, thou barren one, who dost never bear, Break into shouts, thou who art never in labor, For many are the children of her who is desolate--aye, more than of her who has a husband.' As for ourselves, brothers, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfillment of a promise. Yet at that time the child born in the course of nature persecuted the child born by the power of the Spirit; and it is the same now. But what does the passage of Scripture say? 'Send away the slave-woman and her son; for the slave's son shall not be co-heir with the son of the free woman.'
Abraham » Is blessed by melchizedek
Consider, then the importance of this Melchizedek, to whom even the Patriarch Abraham himself gave a tithe of the choicest spoils. Those descendants of Levi, who are from time to time appointed to the priesthood, are directed to collect tithes from the people in accordance with the Law--that is from their own Brothers, although they also are descended from Abraham. But Melchizedek, although not of this lineage, received tithes from Abraham, and gave his blessing to the very man who had God's promises. Now no one can dispute that it is the superior who blesses the inferior. In the one case the tithes are received by mortal men; in the other case by one about whom there is the statement that his life still continues. Moreover, in a sense, even Levi, who is the receiver of the tithes, has, through Abraham, paid tithes; for Levi was still in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.
Abraham » Isaac born to
(The word Hagar meaning in Arabia Mount Sinai) and it ranks with the Jerusalem of to-day, for she and her children are in slavery. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she it is who is our mother. For Scripture says--'Rejoice, thou barren one, who dost never bear, Break into shouts, thou who art never in labor, For many are the children of her who is desolate--aye, more than of her who has a husband.' As for ourselves, brothers, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfillment of a promise. Yet at that time the child born in the course of nature persecuted the child born by the power of the Spirit; and it is the same now. But what does the passage of Scripture say? 'Send away the slave-woman and her son; for the slave's son shall not be co-heir with the son of the free woman.'
Abraham » Deferring to lot, chooses hebron
Abraham » Defeats chedorlaomer
Abraham » Independence of, in character
Abraham » Sojourns in egypt
Abraham » Unselfishness of
Abraham » Circumcision of
Abraham » And canaan
Abraham » death
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Mighty in prayer
Abraham » Called abraham
Abraham » Lives in gerar
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Incorruptibility-refused to receive gifts for service rendered
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Wonderful in faith-was willing to offer up his only son, isaac
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Benevolence-gave tithes to melchizedek, the priest
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Courage-defeated the robber kings
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Unselfishness-gave lot the first choice of the land
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Obedience-left home and friends at the call of God
Abraham » His questions about the destruction of the righteous and wicked in sodom
Abraham » Witnesses the destruction of sodom
Abraham » Son of terah
Abraham » He purchases a place for her burial, and buries her in a cave
Abraham » Ishmael born to
Abraham » Sarah, his wife, dies
Abraham » Testament of
Abraham » Ancestors of, idolatrous
Abraham » Marries sarah
Abraham » Lives in bethel
Abraham » Marries keturah
Abraham » A prophet
Abraham » Lives in gerar; deceives abimelech concerning sarah, his wife
Abraham » Provides a wife for isaac
Altar » Built by » Abraham
Blessing » Temporal blessings, prayer for » Abraham
Boldness » Instances of, in prayer » Abraham
holy Boldness » Exemplified » Abraham
the Canaanites » Abraham » Was promised , for inheritance
the Canaanites » Abraham » Had his faith tried by dwelling amongst
the Canaanites » Abraham » Called to dwell amongst
Circumcision » Instances of » Abraham
Communion » Instances of » Abraham
Communion with God » Exemplified » Abraham
Concubinage » Laws concerning » Practiced by » Abraham
Covenant » Instances of » Abraham
Nor is that all. There is also the case of Rebecca, when she was about to bear children to our ancestor Isaac. For in order that the purpose of God, working through selection, might not fail-a selection depending, not on obedience, but on his Call-Rebecca was told, before her children were born and before they had done anything either right or wrong, that 'the elder would be a servant to the younger.' The words of Scripture are-'I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.'
The Covenant » Made with » Abraham
And should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days.
the Death of saints » Exemplified » Abraham
Decision » Instances of » Abraham
Early rising » Exemplified » Abraham
Eldaah » Descendant » Abraham
Faith » Example of victorious » Abraham
Faith » Instances of faith in Christ » Abraham
Families » Good--exemplified » Abraham
Family » Good--exemplified » Abraham
Godly Fear » Exemplified » Abraham
Glorifying God » Exemplified » Abraham
God's Call » Examples of Leadership » Abraham
Hebrew » Applied to » Abraham
Heroic faith » Abraham
Holy land » Promised to » Abraham
Hope » Exemplified » Abraham
Hope » Messianic » Abraham
the Human nature of Christ » Was of the seed of » Abraham
Humility » Exemplified » Abraham
Importunity » Importunity, examples of » Abraham
Incest » Instances of » Abraham
intercession » Additional instances of » Abraham » In behalf of sodom
intercession » Additional instances of » Abraham » In behalf of abimelech
Jews, the » Promises respecting made to » Abraham
Justification before God » Exemplified » Abraham
Leaders » Names of persons spoken of as » Abraham
Master » Good master, instances of » Abraham
Masters' » Good--exemplified » Abraham
Meekness » Instances of » Abraham
Messianic hope » Abraham
Mountain » Mount moriah » Abraham » Offers » isaac » Sacrifice
Obedience » Instances of » Abraham
God's words were these--'Abraham's descendants shall live in a foreign country, where they will be enslaved and ill-treated for four hundred years. But I myself will judge the nation, to which they will be enslaved,' God said, 'and after that they shall leave the country and worship me in this place.' Then God made with Abraham the Covenant of Circumcision; and under it Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him when he was eight days old; and Isaac became the father of Jacob; and Jacob of the Twelve Patriarchs.
Again, it was faith that enabled Sarah to conceive (though she was past the age for child-bearing), because she felt sure that he who had given her the promise would not fail her. And so from one man--and that when his powers were dead--there sprang a people as numerous 'as the stars in the heavens or the countless grains of sand upon the shore.' All these died sustained by faith. They did not obtain the promised blessings, but they saw them from a distance and welcomed the sight, and they acknowledged themselves to be only aliens and strangers on the earth. Those who speak thus show plainly that they are seeking their fatherland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they could have found opportunities to return. But no, they were longing for a better, a heavenly, land! And therefore God was not ashamed to be called their God; indeed he had already prepared them a city. It was faith that enabled Abraham, when put to the test, to offer Isaac as a sacrifice--he who had received the promises offering up his only son,