Understanding God's Character from the Example of Abraham
Abraham's narrative reveals God's character through a relationship marked by testing, covenant faithfulness, and intimate friendship. The patriarch's experiences illuminate divine attributes that shape biblical theology across both testaments.
Testing and Divine Pedagogy
God's testing of Abraham demonstrates a pedagogical dimension to divine character. "After these things, God tested Abraham" [1] introduces the binding of Isaac, a trial that came "after all the other exercises he had had, all the hardships and difficulties he had gone through" [9]. The timing matters: God tested Abraham not at the beginning of his journey but after a long settlement in communion, examining whether his faith "continued so strong, so vigorous, so victorious" as when he first left his country [9]. This pattern reveals a God who shapes character through progressive trials, each building on what preceded.
The test itself exposes God's willingness to create apparent contradiction within his own word. Calvin observes that God "assumes a double character, that, by the appearance of disagreement and repugnance in which He presents Himself in his word, he may distract and wound the breast of the holy man" [7]. The command to sacrifice Isaac directly contradicted the promise that through Isaac Abraham's descendants would be numbered. Yet this very tension served to cultivate "constancy of faith" by forcing Abraham to "apply all our senses to the word of God" [7]. God's character here includes a refusal to make faith easy or intellectually tidy.
Covenant Faithfulness
Abraham's story establishes that God relates to humanity through covenant grounded in faith rather than works. Genesis 15:6 records that Abraham "believed God" and "this faith was never inactive, it was accounted to him for righteousness" [11]. Paul later argues that "if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God" [2], making Abraham's experience "foundational in defining God's relationship with humanity" [8]. The covenant with Abraham stands as God's enduring commitment even when other covenants face questions [10].
This covenant structure reveals a God who initiates relationship and maintains it through promise rather than human achievement. Abraham's faith was "the basis for relationship with God and for receiving what God has promised" [8], establishing a pattern that would define Israel's identity as "Abraham's descendants" [10]. God's character emerges as fundamentally promissory—one who binds himself by word and then honors that word across generations.
Divine Friendship
The relationship between God and Abraham transcends covenant formality to reach friendship. Jesus identifies both Abraham and Moses as those "called friends of God," describing this as "the highest relationship possible between God and a person" [6]. This friendship meant God took Abraham "into intimate communion with himself, and poured out upon him the choicest of his blessings" [11]. The language of friendship suggests mutuality and shared confidence, a God who chooses to relate not merely as sovereign to subject but as friend to friend.
Clarke notes that "among friends every thing is in common," and God treated Abraham accordingly [11]. This friendship was demonstrated through obedience—those who are Jesus's friends "demonstrate their friendship by obeying him" [6]—but the obedience flows from intimacy rather than mere duty. Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac, described as an act "by faith" when "being tested" [3], expressed the trust that characterizes friendship with God.
Typological Significance
Abraham functions typologically, pointing beyond himself to Christ. He appears in lists of types alongside Adam, Abel, and David [4], suggesting that God's character revealed through Abraham anticipates fuller revelation. The testing of Abraham, where "God never intended for Abraham to offer his son but was testing Abraham's faith" [5], foreshadows God's actual offering of his own Son. The character of God disclosed in Abraham's story—testing yet faithful, demanding yet intimate—prepares readers for the God who would himself provide the sacrifice that Abraham's ram only prefigured.
Sources
- Genesis “After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” -- Genesis 22:1”
- Romans “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. -- Romans 4:2”
- Hebrews “By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; -- Hebrews 11:17”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Types of Christ — Adam -- Ro 5:14; 1Co 15:45. Abel -- Ge 4:8,10; Heb 12:24. Abraham -- Ge 17:5; Eph 3:15. Aaron -- Ex 28:1; Heb 5:4,5; Le 16:15; Heb 9:7,24. Ark -- Ge 7:16; 1Pe 3:20,21. Ark of the Covenant -- Ex 25:16; Ps 40:8; Isa 42:6. Atonement, sacrifices offered on the day of -- Le 16:15,16; Heb 9:12,24. Brazen serpent -- Nu 21:9; Joh 3:14,15. Brazen altar -- Ex 27:1,2; Heb 13:10. Burnt offering -- Le 1:2,4; Heb 10:10. Cities of refuge -- Nu 35:6; Heb 6:18. David -- 2Sa 8:15; Eze 37:24; Ps 89:19,20; Php 2:9. Eliakim -- Isa 22:20-22; Re 3:7. First-fruits -- Ex 22”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 11:17: 11:17-31 Great examples of faith take the reader from Abraham’s family to Rahab. These examples build up evidence that faith is the only appropriate response to God. 11:17-19 Abraham offered Isaac: See Gen 22:1-18. God never intended for Abraham to offer his son but was testing Abraham’s faith, which he expressed through his obedience.”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 15:14: 15:14-16 Both Abraham and Moses were called friends of God (Exod 33:11; 2 Chr 20:7; Isa 41:8; Jas 2:23). This is the highest relationship possible between God and a person. Jesus chooses his friends (John 15:16), who demonstrate their friendship by obeying him.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 26.6: shaken off. But now all occasion of doubt is removed; so that, without controversy, he acknowledges the oracle, which he hears, to be from God. Meanwhile, God, in a certain sense, assumes a double character, that, by the appearance of disagreement and repugnance in which He presents Himself in his word, he may distract and wound the breast of the holy man. For the only method of cherishing constancy of faith, is to apply all our senses to the word of God. But so great was then the discrepancy of the word, that it would wound and l”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 3:6: 3:6-9 Abraham’s experience shows that faith has always been the basis for relationship with God and for receiving what God has promised. 3:6 This quote is from Gen 15:6, where God established his covenant with Abraham (see Gen 15:1-21; 17:1-27). This statement is foundational in defining God’s relationship with humanity (see Hab 2:4; Rom 4:1-8, 17-22).”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 22:1: Here is the trial of Abraham's faith, whether it continued so strong, so vigorous, so victorious, after a long settlement in communion with God, as it was at first, when by it he left his country: then it was made to appear that he loved God better than his father; now that he loved him better than his son. Observe here, I. The time when Abraham was thus tried (Gen 22:1): After these things, after all the other exercises he had had, all the hardships and difficulties he had gone through. Now, perhaps, he was beginning to think the storms had all blown over; but, ”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 105:6: 105:6-11 The story of Israel is based on the Lord’s commitment to Abraham. Even when a question arises about the future of God’s covenant with David (Ps 89), God’s covenant with Abraham stands, as does the spiritual bond between God and Israel, Abraham’s descendants.”
- James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 2:23: The scripture was fulfilled - He believed God; this faith was never inactive, it was accounted to him for righteousness: and being justified by thus believing, his life of obedience showed that he had not received the grace of God in vain. See the notes on Gen 15:6; Rom 4:3 (note); Gal 3:6 (note); where this subject is largely explained. The friend of God - The highest character ever given to man. As among friends every thing is in common; so God took Abraham into intimate communion with himself, and poured out upon him the choicest of his blessings: for as God can n”