Not another Bible-blog!

There was a man called Thera, who, although commanded to go west, settled en route in Mesopotamia. God then spoke to Thera's son, Abraham, familiar to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, telling him to leave his kin and his land, to go some place God had decided to give him and his descendants.

The well-known stories of Abraham and his wife Sarah are said to come from different traditions sewn together and edited in episodes taking a few chapters of Genesis.

Other people got scattered across the Earth, and God allowed them to become nations, but God himself chose a land for this man and the future nation of Israel, a nation apart from the rest.

The first episode found in our Bibles is the one in which Abraham is called to journey to Canaan with his wife, his nephew Lot and their servants. God tells Abraham that all people on Earth will be blessed through him. The route these people follow corresponds to the one that will be followed when their descendants invade the same land under the leadership of Joshua, after the death of Moses and a long long time erring in the desert.

Speaking of the desert, there is an episode in which Abraham and Sarah go dwell in Egypt because of a famine in Canaan. Pharao wants to make Sarah his wife but God won't allow it and sends some plagues. So, Pharao gives treasures to Abraham, summing him to depart at once.

One can't but see the shadow of the time Abraham's descendants will be slaves in Egypt. Then too will God send plagues against Pharao, and make his people start their long Exodus to the Promised Land through the leadership of Moses.

Genesis indicates that Abraham was a powerful man: Back to Canaan, there's an episode in which Abraham and friends defeat neighbouring cities' leaders. This time he doesn't count on a man's treasures, like he did in Egypt. He got the lesson. This time, Abraham puts his trust in his God. In return, he is blessed by the King Priest of [Jeru]Salem. Another symbol, since King David will also be a Priest in Jerusalem.

Later, Abraham and his nephew Lot part because their herdsmen can't settle disputes. Abraham lets his nephew choose the part of the land he wants. Abraham was entitled to choose first, but he lets his nephew select the green and fertile land and leave the desertified part to his uncle.

Abraham takes a look at all the land around him... He follows God's direction and walks and walks... Deep in his heart, Abraham knows the Most High is working to give him this land. He knows God is taking care of things for him. God speaks with him in his dreams. The Creator tells him that all the land, as far as he can see, will belong to his descendants.

And Abraham trusts the Lord, although he's getting old and has no child...