Chain and Cross IV: Abraham

Abraham, ancient Prophet in both the Old Testament and the Koran, manifests the Spirit of God in His exemplary determination and willingness to obey, even to the point of offering His son. This sacrificial willingness prefigures God's sacrifice of the Son of God, Jesus; and the surrender, by Baha'u'llah, of His son, Mirza Mihdi, "The Purest Branch" in the his tragic death in the prison in Akka.

'Abdu'l-Baha tells us, "Among the great prophets was His Holiness Abraham who being an iconoclast and a herald of the oneness of God, was banished from His native land. He founded a family upon which the blessing of God descended; and it was owing to this religious basis and ordination that the Abrahamic house progressed and advanced. Through the divine benediction, noteworthy and luminous prophets issued from the lineage of His Holiness. There appeared Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David and Solomon. The Holy Land was conquered by the power of the Covenant of God with Abraham, and the glory of the Solomonic wisdom and sovereignty dawned. All this was due to the religion of God which this blessed lineage established and upheld. It is evident that throughout the history of Abraham and His posterity this was the source of their honor, advancement and civilization. Even today the descendants of His household and lineage are found throughout the world." (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 271)

Touching upon lessons from both the bible and the Koran, 'Abdu'l-Baha says further, "Abraham then came into the region of the Holy Land. His enemies considered that His exile would lead to His destruction and ruin, as it seemed impossible that a man banished from His native land, deprived of His rights and oppressed on all sides -- even though He were a king -- could escape extermination. But Abraham stood fast and showed forth extraordinary firmness -- and God made this exile to be to His eternal honor -- until He established the Unity of God in the midst of a polytheistic generation. This exile became the cause of the progress of the descendants of Abraham, and the Holy Land was given to them. As a result the teachings of Abraham were spread abroad, a Jacob appeared among His posterity, and a Joseph who became ruler in Egypt. In consequence of His exile a Moses and a being like Christ were manifested from His posterity, and Hagar was found from whom Ishmael was born, one of whose descendants was Muhammad. In consequence of His exile the Báb appeared from His posterity, and the Prophets of Israel were numbered among the descendants of Abraham. And so it will continue for ever and ever. Finally, in consequence of His exile the whole of Europe and most of Asia came under the protecting shadow of the God of Israel. See what a power it is that enabled a Man Who was a fugitive from His country to found such a family, to establish such a faith, and to promulgate such teachings. Can anyone say that all this occurred accidentally? We must be just: was this Man an Educator or not?" (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, 1981 edition, pp. 12-13)

A rich understanding of the significance of Abraham can begin with looking at God's covenanting, not once, but twice, in two different periods. the first is with Abram begining in Genesis 15:18 ("In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates"). Here, Abraham retains His original name, Abram, and Ishmael is born. The second begins with Abraham in Genesis 17:4-5 ("As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee."). Here, Abraham is given a new identity, and Isaac is born. Each covenant is described separately. Each is the covenant of its own moment. Each is treated in the singular. Each requires study.

"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, 'Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.'

"And Abram said, 'LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?' And Abram said, 'Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.'

"And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 'This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.' And he brought him forth abroad, and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.'

"And he said unto him, 'I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.' And he said, 'LORD God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?' And he said unto him, 'Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.' And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

"And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

"And he said unto Abram, 'Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.'

"And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

'In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.'

"Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, 'Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her.' And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

"And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

'And Sarai said unto Abram, 'My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.' But Abram said unto Sarai, 'Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee.' And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

"And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, 'Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?' And she said, 'I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.' And the angel of the LORD said unto her, 'Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.' And the angel of the LORD said unto her, 'I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.'

"And the angel of the LORD said unto her, 'Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.'

"And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, 'Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?' Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

"And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram." (Genesis 15:1-16:16)

"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, 'I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.'

"And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 'As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.'

"And God said unto Abraham, 'Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.'

"And God said unto Abraham, 'As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.'

"Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? And Abraham said unto God, 'O that Ishmael might live before thee!'

"And God said, 'Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.'

"'But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.'

"And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

"And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.

"And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him." (Genesis 17:1-27)

"And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him." (Genesis 21:1-4)

In the passages above, one can see two distinct events with two regions specified and promised to the heirs of Abraham. The first, the lands "from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates." This land encompasses the Arabian peninsula, the land of the revelation of Islam, the land from which Arabia and the Arabs have their name. Here, Muhammed raised up a following and established the geographic heart of the Moslem Faith with the Kaaba of Mecca and the sister city of Medina. From here, Islam spread out into the world.

The Arabs descended from Ishmael. God's promise to Hagar, "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude" was fulfilled. Ishmael was born after this first covenant was made. The reader will note in Genesis XVII ("...twelve princes shall he beget...") the twelve princes that indicate the peoples they gave rise to. It is further notable, however, that Muhammad, Who descended from Ishmael, gave rise to twelve princes of the Muslim revelation that served as guardians of Islam. These twelve Imams, as they are called, led lives of sanctity, sacrifice and martyrdom in the name of God.

The second event is the covenant of the land of Canaan, later to become Israel, the land of the Judges of the Hebrews, of the Kings Saul, David and Solomon; the geographic center of the twelve tribes of Israel with the Temple built in Jerusalem and the repository of the Ark of the Covenant.

The Hebrews, out of which the Jews, the people of Judea, came were the descendants of Isaac, the son born to Abraham after this second covenant was made. As the fulfillment unfolded in the birth of Isaac's grandsons, the reader can see in Genesis 35, God's promise of kings to come ("...kings shall come out of thy loins..."). These, of course are all recorded in the books of the Chronicles and the Kings in the Old Testament.

In the account at right, the attentive reader will count thirteen offspring, each name of which becomes the name of a tribe. Levi was a tribe apart, never granted land of their own for they were the tribe of the priests and took duties with the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple. Two tribes are named from the two sons of Joseph and take lands in the land of Canaan, which becomes Israel. This makes the twelve landed tribes plus the Levites.