Abraham and Jacob Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Abraham and Jacob - Essay Example arity between these two patriarchs rests in the strength of their faith and their obedience to the Lord, which set them apart from the other Hebrews and qualifies them as patriarchs. Abraham is the earliest Hebrew patriarch and plays an important role because God made a covenant with him, to make him the father of a great nation: â€Å"I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations.† (Genesis 17:7). God entered into a similar covenant with Jacob at Bethel to bless his offspring with good things: â€Å"†¦..all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and your offspring†¦.know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Genesis 28:15). The singular similarity between these two patriarchs is the strength of their faith, which is why they are called and chosen by God to be the patriarchs of the Jewish people. Abraham’s exemplary faith is demonstrated throughout his story, in his prompt obedience to the Lord. When God calls to him and says, â€Å"Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and†¦.offer him there as a burnt offering† (Genesis 22:2), Abraham does not hesitate to obey, even if it means sacrificing his only son. Jacob is also able to survive in an alien country on the strength of his faith in God. He enters Egypt penniless but when he leaves Egypt, he is a rich man. Despite Laban’s efforts to cheat him on several occasions, the strength of his faith ensures a steady flow of the Lord’s blessings, so that he is able to flourish and thrive and his twelve sons become the forbears of the twelve tribes of Israel. Abraham the patriarch was the flag bearer of God’s covenant with the Hebrew people. Abraham’s role as patriarch is unique in that he was the first one that God selected, promising him that He would make him the father of a great nation. It was after God established his covenant with Abraham that the requirement for circumcision was set out, which forever