Abraham is a patriarch of Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Abraham lived in Ur of Mesopotamia, which is modern-day Iraq, around 2000 BCE. His father, Terah, owned an idol shop, where Abraham helped him with work. Abraham is considered to be the first person to teach monotheism – the idea that there is only one God. He was called by God to spread this idea among other people, and in return, God promised him four things. He said everyone would know Abraham as a father to many nations, he will have numerous descendants, and much land, and he and his people will be forever blessed.
The land that God promised to Abraham was later known as Canaan; Abraham obeyed God, even though he did not know who God was. Abraham and his wife Sarah did not have any children until God gave them one, and they named them Isaac. One day God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, and once again, Abraham obeyed. Just before he was about to strike Isaac, an angel stopped him, and God gave him a goat to sacrifice instead. The interpretation of the connection between God and Abraham was essential for Judaism to form.
The relationship between Abraham and God is based on agreements, or in other words, covenants. God’s promise to bring blessings upon Abraham and his people and Abraham’s trust in him are what gave birth to many religions we have today.
