Why did God choose Abraham?
God chose Abraham to be the father of the Jewish nation and entered into a covenant with him. There are several key reasons highlighted in the Bible why God chose Abraham:
1. Abraham’s faith and obedience to God’s call
The book of Genesis highlights that Abraham demonstrated incredible faith in God by obeying His call to leave his homeland and family and go to the land that God would show him (Genesis 12:1-4). Hebrews 11:8 notes that “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Abraham trusted God completely and was willing to follow Him wholeheartedly. This sincere faith pleased God and led Him to choose Abraham.
2. God’s sovereign choice
Ultimately, God chose Abraham simply because He wanted to. The apostle Paul emphasizes God’s sovereign choice in Romans 9:6-18. God chose Abraham not because of his righteousness but in order to display His grace and use Abraham to fulfill His greater purposes. Deuteronomy 7:6-8 also highlights God choosing Abraham was based on His love for him and to keep the oath He swore to Abraham.
3. Abraham would lead his family to follow God
God told Abraham that through him “all peoples on earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). God knew Abraham would raise his children to follow the one true God and leave a godly legacy. Genesis 18:19 notes that God chose Abraham because He knew Abraham would “direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord.”
4. Abraham was righteous and obedient
Though Abraham was not perfect, Genesis 26:5 declares that “Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” In a world filled with evil, Abraham stood out as a man who truly sought after God and wanted to live according to His ways. This heart of obedience pleased God.
5. God intended to use Abraham to birth the Jewish nation
God chose Abraham because He had prepared him to father the Jewish people and made a covenant with him that included extensive promises to make his offspring into a great nation (Genesis 12 and 15). God would bring the Messiah into the world through Abraham’s descendants.
6. Abraham was hospitable and kind
Despite living in an age of wickedness, Abraham was set apart by his hospitality, kindness and concern for others. Hebrews 13:2 possibly alludes to Abraham’s hospitality and the fact he entertained angels. His righteous and compassionate heart made him well-suited for God’s purposes.
7. Abraham had a close relationship with God
Multiple times in Genesis God speaks directly to Abraham and Abraham interacts with God through prayer and sacrifice. God saw Abraham’s heart was fully devoted to knowing Him personally. This close bond resulted in God entrusting Abraham with greater and greater levels of responsibility.
8. Abraham was quick to repent of his sin
Though Abraham struggled with doubt and made mistakes at times, he demonstrated humility and sincerity in repenting before God. When confronted with his sin, such as lying about Sarah (Genesis 20), Abraham swiftly acknowledged his wrongdoing and turned from his sin. This humility was honorable to God.
9. Abraham was willing to sacrifice what he held most dear
God tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac. Despite Isaac being the key to God’s promises, Abraham obeyed immediately and was willing to surrender his beloved son (Genesis 22). Abraham’s faith and obedience clearly stood out in God’s eyes.
10. God is purposeful and knows the future
As an all-knowing, all-powerful God, He specifically chose Abraham because He knew the choice of Abraham would result in accomplishing His purposes in the future concerning the Messiah coming through Abraham’s lineage.
In summary, though God’s selection of Abraham was based on His sovereign will alone, key factors that possibly led God to choose Abraham include: his demonstration of sincere faith and obedience, his righteousness and desire to follow God wholeheartedly, his role as the patriarch of the Jewish nation, and God’s foreknowledge of how Abraham would lead his descendants to know the one true God.
11. Abraham demonstrated courage and leadership
At key moments, Abraham showed himself to be a courageous leader willing to take decisive action. In Genesis 14, Abraham courageously leads a small army to rescue his nephew Lot from invading kings. This courage and leadership reflected someone God could use for His redemptive plan.
12. Abraham was blessed to be a blessing
God’s covenant blessings on Abraham were so he could turn around and bless others (Genesis 12:2-3). Abraham’s heart for people pointed to him being a good candidate to mediate God’s blessings to the world. His descendants would also carry this mission.
13. Abraham persevered and grew in faith
Though Abraham struggled with doubt at times (e.g. lying about Sarah, questioning God prior to Sodom’s destruction), he continued to persevere and grow in his faith and intimacy with God. He did not allow setbacks to define him. His perseverance was commendable.
14. Abraham had important cultural influence
Abraham was well-respected in his day. His godly influence was shaping culture in positive ways in Canaan and Egypt. God knew Abraham would steward cultural influence well for God’s glory.
15. Abraham was a prayerful man
Scenes throughout Abraham’s life (e.g. Genesis 17, 18) reveal how often Abraham communed with God in prayer. His depth of prayer showed his dependence on God and deep spiritual roots – something God desired in the patriarch of Israel.
16. God saw Abraham’s spiritual legacy would endure
The blessing of all nations was predicated on Abraham’s descendants walking in covenant faithfulness (Genesis 17:7-9). God sovereignly knew Abraham would leave a godly legacy that would deeply impact centuries of descendants to follow after God.
17. Abraham was willing to wait on God’s timing
Though promises like the birth of Isaac lingered for years without fulfillment, Abraham did not impatiently take matters into his own hands but showed maturity in waiting on the Lord’s timing. God was looking for this steadfast trust.
18. Abraham loved and obeyed God with all his heart
The heart of the matter was Abraham’s heart. Despite imperfections, his life was characterized by a passionate love for God that expressed itself in wholehearted obedience as best as he understood at the time. This sincere devotion pleased the Lord.
19. Abraham trusted God’s faithfulness
God declares in Genesis 22:16-17 that because Abraham did not withhold his only son, He knew Abraham feared God. Abraham trusted God would keep His promises no matter what. His steadfast faith revealed he was a man after God’s own heart.
20. Abraham clung to hope against all odds
When promised a son in old age, Abraham did not waver in unbelief but was fully convinced God would do what He promised (Romans 4:18-21). His hope against all odds pleased God greatly.
21. Abraham had a global perspective
God’s call for Abraham to leave Ur and bless all nations aligned with Abraham’s global perspective and desire to see people from every tribe come to know God. His global outlook suited him well for God’s purposes.
22. Abraham was willing to do hard things
Abraham’s obedience in leaving Ur, pursuing warring kings to rescue Lot, and sacrificing Isaac demonstrated he was willing to do hard things in order to walk with God. His obedience in hard things foreshadowed the obedience of Christ.
23. Abraham bore incredible responsibility well
God blessed Abraham with wealth and influence and also made incredible, world-changing promises to him. Abraham stewarding this immense responsibility faithfully showed God he could bear the covenant promises.
24. Abraham was willing to live as a pilgrim/foreigner
To obey God’s call, Abraham lived much of his life dwelling in tents in foreign lands. He did not insist on comfort or familiarity but embraced living as a pilgrim. His willingness to live this way pleased God.
25. Abraham had a proper response to failure
When Abraham faltered and failed, he demonstrated humility, repentance, and a willingness to move forward in obedience again. This proper response to failure was honorable and increased growth.
26. Abraham pursued intimate friendship with God
Despite living before the time of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Abraham desperately pursued intimacy with God, as seen in his prayer before Sodom’s destruction where God spoke with Abraham like a close friend.
27. Abraham was willing to be misunderstood
God’s call on Abraham led him to be misunderstood at times by those around him, like his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeyed God even when it opened him up to scorn and questioning.
28. Abraham received God’s revelation well
When God spoke, Abraham recognized God’s voice and received the revelation with faith and obedience. He steward God’s words responsibly and walked in the light he was given.
29. Abraham honored God among pagan people
Abraham’s faithfulness to God as a worshipper of the one true God stood out in stark contrast to the pagan polytheists he lived among. His obedience honored God before unbelievers.
30. Abraham was generous and valued justice
Abraham showed generosity in how he cared for Lot and pursued justice for the people of Sodom. His treatment of others revealed God’s heart and values.
In conclusion, though the covenant with Abraham was absolutely an act of grace, God selected him due to Abraham’s faith, godly character, and future legacy that honored God. He was a pivotal foundation stone in God’s redemptive plan. Abraham’s friendship and walk with God serve as an inspirational model of faith for all believers.