The Abrahamic Template

UV 1221/10,000 The Abrahamic Template
Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;

Nehemiah 9 v 7


God chose Abram, a lone man with not much of a future. He gave him hope and a future. He called him out of his homeland in Mesopotamia to Canaan. He left his own relatives and friends but God now became His only Friend. He transformed his identity and gave him a new name Abraham, a father of many nations. He blessed him and made him a blessing. The act of sacrifice that he was willing and about to do of his own begotten son Isaac, a child of promise led to God eventually sacrificing His own begotten Son Jesus for all mankind. The ram that God provided instead of Isaac was the foreshadow of how God was going to eventually allow the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

The question “Who am I?” is best answered by first answering “ Whose am I?” Abraham identified himself not by the land he lived in or by his father’s family. He was willing to leave all these earthly ties behind and move to a new homeland in obedience to the call of God. He identified himself and his destiny as one who belonged to Jehovah, the Almighty God. God blessed him with protection from powerful foes, rivals, adversaries and mortal enemies. He gave him land, possessions, a family and progeny. He who was childless became the father of many nations. Abraham was warned ahead of time when Sodom and Gomorrah was about to be destroyed. He could rescue his nephew Lot. Abraham was no weak and ineffectual leader. He was wise, influential, strong, pragmatic and effective. He was wise, hospitable and humble towards even strangers who came to his home. He was fearless and invincible towards his aggressive neighbours and led a force to rescue his servants and flocks who had been taken captive. He did what he had to do and allowed God to do that which He alone can do. Abraham’s life is a template for what God can do in the life of a man or woman who has surrendered to Him. He had his weaknesses like each of us and listened to the advice of his wife Sarah who urged him to act in the flesh to help and hasten God’s will. Sometimes, he too was overcome with fear even as he lied about his wife Sarah being his sister for fear of being killed by Pharaoh in Egypt. His weaknesses served to show that he was chosen or saved not because he was perfect, holy or righteous but as he had placed his incomplete faith in the perfection of God. His faith had made him righteous.


To this day God chooses those who belong to Him. He blesses them and makes them a blessing. He calls them to leave their comfort zones, to take certain risks to prove that they indeed belong to Him and He protects and preserves their lives. He multiplies His grace in our lives through many manifestations. He gives us a new and transformed identity. Where formerly, we only believed what we saw now we believe the Word of God, the promises of God and that He is faithful and able to fulfil His promises. Our faith will grow with each promise fulfilled. Our obedience and devotion to God will also increase as our faith grows. Just as Abraham were given divine visitations, encounters and tests of obedience, each of us will experience the supernatural as well as tests of our obedience and faith. The Lord will redeem us from destruction. He will bring to fulfilment and fruition both our hopes and our words. Just as Abraham talked and walked with God, we can talk and walk with God every day of our lives. Our friends might leave us and cease to be friends but He has chosen us to be His friends forever. Our parents will leave us when they die but the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. We will be the instrument or source of redemption and blessing for many. We are chosen but we have nothing to be proud about for we are chosen by grace not by virtue of our exceptional qualities or merit. We are a called out people. We are called out from darkness to light, from death to eternal life, from sin to righteousness, from curses to blessings. We are blessed so that we are a blessing.

Prateep V Philip