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(Genesis 12, 15, 17, 18) Once there was a man named Abram. One day the Lord told Abram to leave his home and move to a country called Canaan. "I will go, Lord," Abram said. He took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot and together they traveled many miles until they reached the land of Canaan. God promised Abram that he and Sarai would be the parents of a great nation, even though they were old and had no children. He changed Abram's name to Abraham, which means "father of many". He also changed Sarai's name to Sarah. Abraham laughed when God told him that he and Sarah would have a child in their old age. One day three visitors came to Abraham's tents. He hurried to greet them. "May I get you something to eat and drink?" Abraham asked. "Please stay here and rest."
"Very well," the strangers said. So Abraham brought food to them. "Where is Sarah, your wife?" they asked him. "She is in the tent," Abraham replied. One of the men was the Lord. He told Abraham, "I will come back to see you this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." When Sarah heard that she would have a son, she laughed. She was almost a hundred years old! "Why did you laugh? the Lord asked. "I didn't laugh!" Sarah said. "Yes, you did," the Lord replied. Sarah did have a son. She
and Abraham named him Isaac, which means "he laughs." They thanked God
for their son.
(From Classic Bible Stories, A
Family Treasury retold by Lise Caldwell (c) 1998 Standard Publishing.
Used by permission. This book may be purchased at your local Christian
Bookstore or from Standard Publishing (800-543-1301). |
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