St. Abraham
Saint Abraham
Life and Dedication
Saint Abraham was popularly known in the Bible as God’s best friend. He’s one of the oldest Christian patriarchs.
Saint Abraham was initially known as Abram. He was born in Ur, which is now known as modern-day Iraq, around 2000 B.C.His father’s name was Terah.
When Abraham was young, his father moved the family down to Harlan, which is now modern-day Turkey. Abraham believed in God even as a child and lived his life to please him.
After his father died, Abrahan was said to have been instructed by God to move onward to Canaan. He was promised abundance to live on and a prosperous generation.
As a man who genuinely believed in God’s words, he did exactly as he was told. He traveled on to Canaan with his wife Sarah, who was then known as Sarai, his nephew, and his servants.
They settled in Canaan and lived a prosperous life for a while. Their happiness was cut short by a famine that drove them out of the land.
Abraham and his family traveled on to Egypt, where they lived for awhile. They then moved back to Canaan when Abraham was old..
Sarah has also grown very old and was saddened by the fact that she had no child to call her own. Agitated and anxious for a child, Sarah decided that she could wait no longer.
She convinced a reluctant Abraham to lay with her maid Hagar. Sarah discovered that Hagar was pregnant and was bitter with rage and jealousy.
Instead of the happiness that she thought she would feel for this baby that she was going to adopt, she treated Hagar with cruelty. Hagar soon gave birth to a son named Ishmael.
Abraham and Sarah received strange guests one day. They cared for the men by giving them a place to lay and serving them fresh fruits and wine.
These men turned out to be angels of God and announced to Abraham that, in a while, Sarah would take in a son. Sarah, who was eavesdropping, heard them and laughed out loud.
To her surprise, however, Sarah took it in at the stipulated time. She gave birth to a boy, whom she cherished with her whole heart. She named this child Isaac.
It is recorded that Sarah’s disdain for Hagar and Ishmael only increased. For the safety of Hagar and her child and also to appease Sarah, Abraham set Hagar free and sent her far away.
It is said that God promised to protect Hagar and the child.
Legacy
Saint Abraham lived happily with his family until he heard shocking news from God years later. God commanded Abraham to make an altar and sacrifice his son on it.
Although sad, Saint Abraham chose to have complete faith in God and did as he was told. He built an altar and led his only child like a ram to be slaughtered.
It is recorded that as Saint Abraham tried to slaughter his son, he suddenly heard a thunderous voice. It was God commanding him not to sacrifice his son anymore.
The saint was said to have praised God. God’s love was free for him, and he once again promised Abraham a descendant that would be as numerous as the grains of sand on the ground.
Instead of the son he had waited for all his life, Saint Abraham was made to sacrifice a ram instead.
Saint Abraham is mentioned in the New Testament as an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ. His name is used in the Roman Catholic Church as part of mass and other prayers.
Death
He died at the age of 175 years. He is celebrated on the 9th of October in the Roman Catholic Church and Lutheran Churches.
5 Interesting Facts About St. Abraham
- Did you know that Saint Abraham is venerated in Christianity?
Judaism and Islam? - Did you know that Saint Abraham’s full name was Abram Ben Terah?
- Did you know that Saint Abraham’s father, Terah, was the ninth in
descent from Noah? - Did you know that Saint Abraham was 70 years old when he left Ur?
- Did you know that Saint Abraham was part of a race of Semites?
Prayer to St. Abraham
Abraham, your faith has conquered all evil, offering food to the three angels; you are willing to offer your beloved son Isaac to show your precious obedience to God Almighty. By this faith, you have shown how little we know, how corrupt, and how selfish we are towards God. Please pray for us, for we are weak and sinful. Please carry us in your blanket, which contains all the souls of believers, thanks to your humble and gracious first reaction to God. Amen.
Source:[https://www.communityofhopeinc.org/Prayer%20Pages/Saints/abraham.html]{.ul}
