Bible tale: Abraham part 1 of 3

Abraham part 1 of 3
from Genesis 11:10-32 & 12:1-5.
Re-told by Debbie Dunn.

• Story Highlights:
  * God told 75-year-old Abram/Abraham to leave father's household & travel to place God would show him
  * God promised to make Abram (aka Abraham) and Sarai (aka Sarah) into a great nation.
  * At God’s command, Abram/Abraham took wife Sarai/Sarah & nephew Lot and set out for land of Canaan.

Narrator #1: This role-play is the first of a few stories about Abraham, the 'father of faith.' What made him so faithful?

Narrator #2: Abraham was willing to follow God's commands, even when they might feel challenging or heartbreaking.

Narrator #1: When our story begins, he is known as Abram, and his wife is known as Sarai [sair-eye].

Narrator #2: Later, God would change his name to Abraham, which means 'father of many nations.'

Narrator #1: God would also change his wife's name to Sarah, which means 'mother of nations.'

Narrator #2: One day, when Abram was 75 years old and his wife, Sarai was 65, he heard a voice calling his name.

Father God: Abram.

Narrator #1: Abram probably looked around and thought, "Who is calling my name?" Then, he heard it again.

Father God: Abram.

Narrator #2: It must have dawned on Abram that it was God calling his name. But which god?

Narrator #1: After all, Abram grew up watching his father and grandfather worship carved images they called a god.

Narrator #2: But Abram had never once heard any of those carved images talking.

Narrator #1: Abram knew that Adam, Eve, and Noah only worshipped one God.

Narrator #2: Abram may have wondered, "Why are my father and grandfather willing to anger the Creator of heaven, earth, the animals, and humankind by worshipping images created by carvers?"

Narrator #1: When Abram heard an invisible presence calling his name, all the little hairs on his arms and the top of his head probably stood at attention.

Father God: Abram.

Narrator #2: We can picture that Abram likely fell to his knees in awe at hearing the voice of the only true God.

Narrator #1: Trembling, he might have asked, "Is that you, the God of Adam, Eve, and Noah?"

Father God: I am.

Narrator #2: Woe! Still shaken, Abram probably asked, "God, uh..., what would you like me to do?"

Father God: Go from your country, your people, and your father's household to the land I will show you.

Narrator #1: Wow! Abram did his best to digest this news.

Narrator #2: God was asking him to become a nomad who would travel from his home in Haran, part of the modern-day country of Turkey, to go to some unknown location.

Narrator #1: Many years earlier, his father and nephew, Lot, had asked him and his wife to do something very similar.

Narrator #2: They left his birthplace in Ur of Mesopotamia, part of today's southern Iraq, to make the 600-mile-long journey to his current home of Haran.

Narrator #1: He wondered how far God expected him and his wife to go this time. It turns out it would be about 400 miles.

Narrator #2: Since God can hear our thoughts, He probably waited until Abram could process the first part of His unexpected announcement. Then, God said:

Father God: Abram, I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

Narrator #1: Huh?!! Abram might have thought, "Did I hear right? How am I supposed to father a nation?"

Narrator #2: Abram thought, "After all, I am 75 years old. My 65-year-old wife has never been able to have a baby, so we had given up on the idea of having children.”

Narrator #1: Then, God said something both surprising and comforting. He said:

Father God: I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Narrator #2: Abram might have said, "Uh, ..., okay, Almighty God. Sarai and I will do all that you have told us to do. Uh, ..., thank you."

Narrator #1: As Abram walked home, he likely practiced the speech he would make when he saw his wife.

Narrator #2: Genesis 12:4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. (NIV)

Narrator #1: Genesis 12:5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. And they arrived there. (NIV)

Narrator #2: END OF SKIT. Let’s give our volunteers a great big hand!

Are you a Bible enthusiast or do you lead a Youth Group or Family Bible Study? To get a FREE PDF download of this story, click on this link below:

Free PDF download of the 1st of 3 Abraham stories

Do you want more stories about Abraham and Sarah? If so, visit the chapter called ‘ABRAHAM AND SARAH from my EXPLORE BIBLE STORY dot org website.

Click here to get more stories about Abraham and Sarah.

My ever-expanding Explore Bible Story dot org website includes Bible stories and Biblical Family Trees about

• Creation, Adam, & his Descendants
• Noah, the Ark, & the Flood
• Abraham & Sarah
• Isaac & Rebekah, Esau & Jacob
• Jacob & his 4 wives
• 12 sons of Jacob who became known as the 12 Tribes of Israel
• Moses who was from the line of Levi
• Joshua who became leader of Israelites after death of Moses
• 12 Judges of Israel including Deborah, Gideon, & Samson
• Kings of Israel including Saul, David, & Solomon
• 4 Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, & Daniel
• 12 Minor Prophets of Israel
• 4 other important Prophets of Israel: Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, & Nathan
• Jesus Christ, our Messiah, Lord, Savior, & King of king
• 12 Disciples of Jesus
• Apostle Paul & other Significant Followers of Christ
• Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
• The Free Gift of Salvation & The Sinner's Prayer
• About the author: Debbie Dunn