Under the umbrella of most religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, Abraham is a highly revered patriarch whose close relationship with God gives us the provision of God’s foundational relationship with humankind. With deep faith in God, as the Bible suggests in Genesis 12:1, Abraham trusted God’s promises and set sail on the journey to a promised land he knew nothing about. Many believers of Abraham’s faith in God wonder why God really chose Abraham. So, why did God choose Abraham?
God chose Abraham to bring forth the nation of Israel, which would then introduce to the world His son Jesus Christ, a fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham that he would bless all the nation. (Genesis 12:3). Abraham had unique characteristics that made God choose him over any other person. These unique qualities were sacred to God and included, among others, total faith in God and obedience to his command. His faith in God was also a significant contributor to his being chosen by God.
So how did God choose Abraham? Does the Bible give reasons why God chose Abraham? Did God fulfill all the promises He made to Abraham? Keep reading this article to learn the answers to this article.
How did God choose Abraham?
God called Abraham while he was living with his father, Terah, his wife Sarah, and the nephew Lot. Based on several biblical and scholarly articles, we learn from Abraham what it means to be chosen by God. Christians widely refer to Abraham as the great father of faith. His immense love for God and trust in his promises are spiritually analyzed to relate to why God chose him to form a great descendant.
In the book of Genesis 22:1-2, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham,” God called, take your son Isaac, Your only son- yes Isaac, who you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you”. This is the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith in God, and he passed it as he did what God had instructed him. God demands ultimate trust in His word, and that is what Abraham did, he trusted God, and through that, God chose him.
Also, Abraham showed unwavering love for God and belief in his word. He allowed God’s will to be done throughout his life, to the point of almost sacrificing his only son to God as he commanded. This relates to the statement that faith can move mountains. Just by Abraham’s total faith in God, he is chosen to be the father of all great nations.
Moreover, Abraham’s obedience to God and his steadfast trust in God’s promises are outstanding reasons why and how God chose him as his own. God commanded Abraham to live with all his people in Ur and all his kindred and go to another foreign land that He was going to show him. (Genesis 12:1). He accepted this and took with him his wife Sarah and nephew Lot to the place that God had instructed him to.
Lastly, Abraham had an interesting response to God’s command; he started obeying right away with no further questions to his Master, the source of all life. Abraham believed in God even when he had no sign to do so. When God told him to leave his land, his birthplace, and his own people and go to another promised land, he showed trust and obeyed His command. He trusts God’s promises of making him a father and a great descendant. God’s promises to Abraham are all fulfilled. Consequently, God intensifies his blessings on Abraham and makes his name great.

Does the Bible give reasons God chose Abraham?
The Bible does not clearly outline any reasons why God chose Abraham. However, theologians say that salvation only comes by detesting and choosing a different way that aligns with God. They note that faith played a significant role in why God chose Abraham because even after being tested to sacrifice his only son, whom he had gotten in old age, he still chose God’s word over any other voice. When God spoke to Abraham, he listened and obeyed. He trusted in God’s promises. His readiness to accept and execute God’s command substantially gives us a lead to why God chose Abraham.
Abraham’s faith separated him from his people’s way of leading a pagan life and started him towards a new kind of life that pleases God. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, and behold, the new one has come”. (2nd Corinthians 5:17). He had total faith in God and trusted all that God communicated to him. The book of Hebrews also recounts Abraham’s exceptional faith in God, hence why he is referred to as “the father of faith.”
The Lord looks at the heart, and therefore, one must show a total willingness to leave behind everything that does not please Him. God cannot lead us into new ways of living unless he helps us walk out of our unpleasing past. This gesture of agreeing to leave Ur and his people and follow God’s command as portrayed in the book of Romans 12:2, that one should not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind and that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect with God.
In the book of Genesis 12:1, God commanded Abraham to go forth from his own land, his birthplace, and from his father’s house to the land that God was going to show him. Abraham is the first Hebrew and the founder of the Hebrew nation. His were pagans and believed in other gods (Joshua 24:2). God disconnected Abraham from his old ways and promised to make him a great name and father of a great nation.

Did God fulfill all the promises He made to Abraham?
God’s promises to Abraham are recorded in the book of Genesis 12:1-3 “now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your father’s house to the land I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” The Bible later on clearly indicates that God fulfilled all the promises he made to Abraham.
First, God fulfilled his promise to Abraham that he would take him to a promised land. Genesis 12:7 records the fulfillment of God’s promise after Abraham arrived in Canaan. Later on, God extended his promise to Abraham’s descendants, referenced in Genesis 17:8. Even though the Israelites were exiled twice from their land, God made sure he restored them back to the land as promised to their ancestors (Abraham).
God also fulfilled the promise of a great nation (Genesis 22:17). God promised Abraham many descendants as the stars of the sand which is on the seashore. This is fulfilled in the Jews and the twelve tribes of Israel. Abraham is recorded to be one of the three patriarchs of Israel.
He also fulfilled the promise to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who dishonor him. This is seen throughout the Bible: the fall of ancient Greek, the Roman Empire Babylon, and the plagues on the Egyptians. Many a time, those who opposed Israel fell.
The promise to make Abraham a blessing also passed, just like God had stated. The gentiles were blessed through Abraham as foretold in Galatians 3:8 “scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘all nations will be blessed through you.'”
Lastly, God fulfilled the promise to make Abrahams’s name great. Abraham is greatly referenced in Christianity and Muslims alike as the ‘father of faith’ or father Abraham.’ Therefore, we can be sure that God will fulfill our promises too. The Bible notes that he is faithful even when we are unfaithful.
References
What is the land that God promised to Israel?
Why was Abraham chosen by God?
Did God fulfill the promises he made to Abraham?

As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.