Genesis 12–36
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
One promise, three generations. An old man who sets out on God’s word, a son called ‘he laughs’, and a deceiver who becomes Israel. Follow their way on the map and in steps.
Four promises
In Genesis 12 God promises Abram four things. The whole Bible follows how they come true. Turn the cards over.
A land
‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ Abraham himself owns only a grave there. Hebrews: he was looking forward to a city with foundations, built by God himself.
A great nation
An old man without children has to count the stars: that is how many descendants he will have. Paul: whoever belongs to Christ is also a child of Abraham.
A great name
At Babel people wanted to make a name for themselves. Here God gives a name as a gift. Abram (‘exalted father’) becomes Abraham: ‘father of many nations’.
A blessing for all
‘All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ Paul calls this ‘the gospel in advance’: God always wanted to bless all nations.
Abraham’s journey
From Ur in Mesopotamia to a grave in Hebron: more than 1500 kilometres, on foot, with tents and flocks. Pick a place on the map or follow the road step by step.
A city with a tower
Ur is a rich city on the Euphrates, with a tall temple tower for the moon god. Joshua later says that Terah’s family served other gods there. Terah sets out with Abram, Sarai and his nephew Lot.
Abram lived in a big city. People there prayed to the moon. But Abram’s family went on a journey.
Views differ here: Usually identified with Ur in southern Iraq; some look for Abraham’s Ur closer to Haran.
On Mount Moriah
Abraham’s hardest story, and one of the most important in the Bible. Read it calmly, step by step.
Step 1 of 5: The hardest question
The hardest question
God tests Abraham: take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and offer him on a mountain I will show you. The text says beforehand that it is a test.
God asked Abraham something very hard. It was a test: do you really trust Me?
Jacob, the heel-grabber
Isaac’s son Jacob takes what he wants, with tricks and deceit. Yet God keeps going with him, and along the way he changes.
Step 1 of 6: A bowl of lentils
A bowl of lentils
Isaac marries Rebekah, and they have twins: Esau, the hunter, and Jacob, who holds on to his brother’s heel. One day Esau comes home exhausted. For a bowl of red lentil stew he sells his birthright to Jacob.
Esau was hungry. Jacob said: you can have soup if I can be the oldest. And Esau said yes!
The twelve sons of Israel
At every birth Genesis gives the name a meaning. Later Jesus chooses twelve apostles, as the beginning of a new people (Matthew 19:28).
Reuben
‘See, a son.’ The eldest, but he loses his birthright. He tries to save Joseph.
Levi
‘Attached.’ From Levi comes the tribe of the priests and the temple service; Moses and Aaron are Levites too.
Judah
‘Praise.’ From Judah come King David and Jesus, ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah’.
Naphtali
‘My struggle.’ His land lies in Galilee, where Jesus later lives and preaches.
Asher
‘Happy.’ The old prophetess Anna, who sees the child Jesus in the temple, is from the tribe of Asher.
Zebulun
‘Dwelling, honour.’ With Naphtali, the land of which Isaiah says: the people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
Joseph
‘May He add.’ His father’s favourite, sold by his brothers. His story is the next page.
Benjamin
‘Son of the right hand.’ Rachel dies giving birth to him. The apostle Paul is from the tribe of Benjamin.
Do you remember?
Six questions about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
6 questions about the story. Each answer shows where you can read it.
Questions people ask
Honest, also where Christians think differently.
Did Abraham really exist?
Er is buiten de Bijbel geen spoor van Abraham zelf; dat geldt voor de meeste nomaden van zo lang geleden. Namen, gewoonten en reizen passen in het tweede millennium voor Christus. Sommige geleerden denken dat de verhalen veel later zijn opgeschreven. Christenen en Joden lezen Abraham als de echte vader van het geloof.
How could God ask for Isaac to be sacrificed?
Het is een van de moeilijkste verhalen van de Bijbel, en dat mag gezegd worden. De tekst noemt het vooraf een beproeving, en het eindigt met Gods ‘nee’: geen mensenoffer. Later verbiedt God mensenoffers uitdrukkelijk (Jeremia 7:31). Christenen lezen het verhaal vooral als vooruitwijzing: God voorziet zelf in het offer.
Why does the Bible tell about their lies and mistakes?
Abraham liegt over Sara, Jakob bedriegt zijn vader, de familie zit vol jaloezie. De Bijbel maakt geen helden van hen. Het verhaal gaat over Gods trouw aan gewone, gebrekkige mensen.
Why did Abraham have children with Hagar, and Jacob four wives?
Zo ging het in die tijd, en de Bijbel vertelt het zonder het aan te prijzen. Je ziet vooral wat het oplevert: jaloezie, verdriet, verdeelde families. God zorgt intussen ook voor Hagar en Ismaël.
Is Abraham also the father of Judaism and Islam?
Ja, joden, christenen en moslims noemen Abraham hun vader in het geloof, elk op een eigen manier. Daarover gaat een aparte pagina.
Why does God choose Jacob, of all people, the deceiver?
Niet omdat hij beter was. Paulus gebruikt Jakob en Esau als voorbeeld dat Gods keuze genade is, geen beloning (Romeinen 9:10–13). Onderweg verandert Jakob wel: van hielgrijper tot iemand die met God worstelt en zijn broer om vergeving vraagt.
The story continues
- In the beginning
- Noah's ark
- Abraham, Isaac and Jacob(you are here)
- Joseph in Egypt
- Moses and the exodus
- Tabernacle
- David
- The temple
- Daniel and Esther
- The last week
- The journeys of Paul