Download Abraham and Family

Abraham and Family
Michael Abell
Marc Fuller
Michael Musgrove
Overview
General similarities and differences between
Jewish, Christian, and Islamic beliefs in
regards to Abraham and Family
Conflict between Isaac and Ishmael
Who was sacrificed? Who is the “chosen” son?
Importance of the Circumcision and the Covenant
Abraham’s Name
Arabic: Ibrahim
Hebrew: Avraham / Avram
English: Originally Abram, changed
to Abraham (Gen 17:3-5)
Importance
Judaism: Forefather of Jews through line of
Isaac
Christianity: Father of faith
Islam: Built the Ka’bah; prophet of God
History
Originally from city of Ur
(ancient city in Mesopotamia)
1800 B.C.E. Abraham departs homeland for
Canaan at God’s command (Gen 11:1-6)
Lived to be 175 years old
Built Ka’bah
Hagar
Judaism
Sarah’s Egyptian maid servant
(Gen 16: 1)
Told to sleep with Abraham by Sarah
(Gen 16: 2)
Viewed negatively by Sarah
(Gen 16: 4-5)
Just a concubine so that Abraham could
have a
child Ishmael (Gen 16: 3)
Hagar left because of abuse
(Gen 16: 6)
Hagar
Christianity
Slave woman (Gal 4: 22)
Son is born naturally (Gal 4: 23)
Corresponds to present Jerusalem (Gal 4: 25)
Represents slavery through her and her children
(Gal 4: 25)
“Drive out the slave woman and her son! For the son of the
slave woman shall not share the inheritance with the son
(Isaac)” (Gal 4: 30)
Hagar
Islam
Hagar is not mentioned in the Qur’an
Only recognized in footnotes as
“Mother of Ishmael” n. 160
Sarah
Judaism
Abraham’s half-sister and wife (Gen 20: 1-18)
Earlier in her life she could not bear children
God promises her a son (Gen 18: 9-16)
Has Isaac at age of 90 (Gen 21: 7)
Sarah
Christianity (Gal 4:21-31)
Freeborn woman
Son is born though a
promise of God
Only through her son, Isaac,
is the promise of
God preserved
Mother of children of the
promise of God
Sarah
Islam
Sarah isn’t mentioned in the
Qur’an
Isaac
Judaism
Born through Sarah as a promise of God
(Gen 21: 6)
As a promise to the covenant Abraham circumcised Isaac
(Gen 21: 3-5)
Seven years later God tests Abraham by commanding
him to sacrifice Isaac
Angel stops him at last moment
Isaac
Christianity
God blesses Sarah and gives her a son:
Isaac
(Gen 17)
God establishes his covenant with Isaac
(Gen 17)
God tests Abraham by commanding him
to
sacrifice his promised son Isaac
(Gen 22)
Abraham’s servant finds a wife for Isaac,
Rebekah. (Gen 24)
Isaac
Islam
Issac is “a prophet, One of the
Righteous” (Surah 37: 112)
The Qur’an refers to Isaac as if the
reader already knows about him
Yishm'e'l
Judaism
Viewed as wicked through repentant in most Jewish traditions
Ishmael was born through Hagar and Abraham, Sarah’s
Becomes jealous and claims that Hagar looking upon
Sarah with disdain. (Gen 16: 5)
Sarah abuses Hagar, until she flees, she has a child, and
God tells her to name him Yishm’e’l. (Gen 16: 6)
Yishm’e’l was 13 when he was circumcised.
God says Yishm’e’l shall become the father of 12
chieftains. (Gen 17: 20)
Ishmael
Christianity
Since God had kept Sarah from having
children, she gives her maid servant,
Hagar, to Abraham as a birth mother.
(Gen 16:2)
Hagar gives birth to Ishmael; however
Sarah is displeased with Ishmael and
forces Abraham to send them away.
(Gen 21)
Hagar is sent away with Ishmael under the
command of Sarah, however is given a
promise by God that Ishmael will have a
great nation. (Gen 21)
Ismā'īl
Islam
Muslims trace their connection to Abraham through
Ismā'īl
Built the Ka’bah with father: Abraham (2:127)
Most Muslims believe that Ismā'īl settled in Mecca
During the hajj each year Muslims reenact the time
Hagar lost her infant son Ismā'īl
Sacrifice
Judaism
God commands Abraham to sacrifice son in Moriah
(Gen 22: 2)
Isaac wondered where the sacrificial animal was (Gen 22: 7)
Right before Abraham sacrifices son an angel stops him
(Gen 22: 11)
Abraham proved his devotion to God (Gen 22: 12)
Sacrifice
Christianity
Abraham is put to the test when
asked to sacrifice Isaac
Abraham thinks that even if
Isaac dies, God will be able to
raise him from the dead.
Seen as a supreme act of
perfect faith in God
(Heb 11: 17-19)
Sacrifice
Christianity
Although Abraham is very important to
Christianity, remember Jesus is still key
figure to Christian faith.
Abraham is father of Christian faith, but
Jesus is Son of God
“Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham
came to be, I AM.” -Jesus John 8:58
Sacrifice
Islam
Eid ul-Adha: ceremony focused on Abraham’s
willingness to sacrifice his promised son, which
Muslims believe was Yishm'e'l.
God spared Yishm'e'l ‘s life and instead
Abraham sacrificed a sheep
This was considered Abraham’s test of faith.
(Surah 37: 102-113)
Covenant
Judaism:
God commanded Abraham to circumcise himself,
his offspring and his slaves as a sign of an
everlasting covenant.
Isaac was circumcised on the 8th day after his birth,
by Abraham, like God commanded of him.
(Gen 21: 4)
Covenant
Christianity
The First Church Council in Jerusalem
decided that circumcision was not a
requirement (Acts 15)
Paul warned Gentile Christians against
adopting Jewish practices.
(Galatians 6: 12-16, Philippians 3:2-3)
Covenant
Islam
Circumcision is not mentioned as a requirement in the
Qu’ran
However it is recommended in Sunni Islam
(http://lexicorient.com/e.o/abraham.html)
Some quote the sayings of Muhammad in the
Hadith, saying that circumcision is a requirement
based on the covenant made with Abraham and
Allah.
Summary
Abraham
Ju: Forefather of the Jews
Ch: “Father of Faith”
Is: A prophet
Hagar
Ju: Despised
Ch: Mother of slaves
Is: Mother of chosen child
Sarah
Ju: Mother of Isaac
Ch: Mother of freemen
Is: Not mentioned
Ishmael
Ju: Illegitimate child
Ch: “Shall not share the inheritance with the son (Isaac)” Gal 4: 28
Is: Chosen son/ Father of 12 tribes
Summary
Isaac
Ju: Father of Jacob, Jacob father of 12 tribes of Israel
Ch: Represents the freeborn, chosen son (Gal 4: 26)
Is: Son of Abraham
Covenant
Ju: Promised land and kingdom
Ch: Moving on from traditional Jewish practices
Is: Ishmael promised a kingdom
Sacrifice
Ju: Proof of Abraham’s devotion to God
Ch: Highest form of sacrifice, and ultimate declaration of
faith
Is: Ishmael was the sacrificial son