Christian Stories - Biblical Stories
We have now come to what we like to call the 'Patriarchal Stage.' Within this stage we will cover biblical accounts which deal with the lives and legacies of some of the greatest people that ever lived. We will read about Abraham the Friend of God, Isaac the faithful Promise Bearer, Jacob the Father of the Twelve Tribes, Joseph the High Ranking and Job the Great Sufferer. During the 'Creation Stage' we saw how God dealt with the world as a whole, now during the 'Patriarchal Stage' we find that God has narrowed his focus. God's attention has now turned to a particular nation that is called Israel. The 'Patriarchal Stage' covers a time period that spans to around three hundred and fifty years. Within these three hundred and fifty years we will explore events like the destruction of the cities called Sodom and Gomorrah. We will also be introduced to a great and righteous king that was called Melchizedek. It's during this stage that we are also introduced to the promised covenant that God had made with Abraham also known as the 'Abrahamic Covenant.' So therefore I hope you will enjoy our journey as we get started with the biblical account of Abraham. We have now come to a point within the book of Genesis, where we are now being introduced to a great man of God. So great was he, that the Bible refers to him as being God's friend. The person I'm referring to is Abraham the Father of many Nations. Now normally we would go straight to the biblical account of Abraham's divine calling. But what I have decided to do is to try to shed some light about his life before God had called him. I find that there is some very interesting information that I would like to share with you. I hope that you are not too bored with this page, but instead find it very useful. When Moses had penned this section within the book of Genesis, he had already covered the first eleven chapters which covered a time period of about two thousand years. He had already written about God's wonderful creation along with the tragic Fall of Humanity. He also wrote about the Great Judgment Flood and the infamous -- Tower of Babel. But when Moses gets to the account of Abraham and his seed, he would dedicate the last remaining thirty nine chapters of Genesis for the recording of it. So like I stated earlier, this would span for a period of about three hundred and fifty years. As we start with the introduction of Abram (Abraham). I'll like for us to take a quick look at the biblical account that includes the introduction of his father, Terah. "Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Haran. But when they came to Haran they settled there." (Genesis 11: 31) From out of this scripture let's zero in on the city that Abram was called out of which was called "Ur of the Chaldeans." This city, "Ur of the Chaldeans" was a very important city which was located within the southern part of Mesopotamia. The city of Ur has also been acknowledged as perhaps the main place were civilization had started some of its first major cultural developments. But since the Sumerians had gained power over the city at that time, we find that it would be the Sumer civilization that would get the official credit within the secular history books. With developments like writing, pottery, and metallurgy just to name a few. We would find that the city of Ur was at the forefront when it came to early cultural advancements making it perhaps the greatest city that stood at that time. The cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, which was located within the Indus Valley civilization along the Indus River valley, would be the only exceptions. "And Joshua said to all the people, 'Thus says the Lord God of Israel: "Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the river in old times; and they served other gods."'" (Joshua 24: 2) We also find that not only was the city of Ur perhaps the greatest city of its time, but it had develop an idolatrous environment as well. At that time we find that the religious practices were directed mainly towards the moon god - Nanna. Within the northern part of Ur, an area that was dedicated to this god was blocked off strictly for religious worship. This enclosed area was about two hundred yards wide and four hundred yards long. Within this sacred area, we would find a brick ziggurat building which was named, The Tower of Nanna. This brick ziggurat tower stood about seventy feet in height, one hundred and fifty feet in width and two hundred feet in length. They believed that the moon god - Nanna possessed powers that dealt with the measuring of time (they observed the lunar calendar), being the light of the night and providing fertility for things like the rivers and lands. They also believed that the moon god - Nanna, also helped with the longevity of human life and the abundance and productivity of the lands livestock. I find it very important and interesting to know that Abraham not only had to pick up and leave the city of Ur and all that it was prosperous and recognized for, but he also had to go against the way his family and perhaps himself at that time believed when it came to their religion and the god they chose to serve. 01) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 02) The Divine Calling of Abraham 04) The Strife between Abram and Lot 06) Abram's Mission to Rescue Lot 10) Abraham the Father of a Multitude 11) Sarah the Mother of Nations 13) Abraham Bargains for Sodom 14) Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed 16) Abimelech Angry with Abraham 
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