How Old Was Abraham When God Called Him?
The biblical story of Abraham is one of the most pivotal in all of scripture. Abraham’s journey of faith began when God called him to leave his homeland and travel to an unknown place that God would show him.
This calling started Abraham on the path that would eventually lead to him becoming the father of many nations and a central figure in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Abraham was 75 years old when God first called him to leave his homeland of Haran and travel to Canaan, according to Genesis 12:4.
God’s First Call to Abraham in Haran
Abraham, originally named Abram, was born in the Sumerian city of Ur to Terah. At some point, Terah moved his family, including his son Abram, Abram’s wife Sarai, and Abram’s nephew Lot, to the city of Haran.
While living in Haran, Abram received a call from God that would change his life and impact history.
Abraham’s Family Background
According to the biblical account in Genesis, Abraham came from a family of idol worshipers (Joshua 24:2). His father Terah built idols for a living. God called Abram (later renamed Abraham) to leave his country and people and go to a foreign land that God would show him (Genesis 12:1).
Abram obeyed God’s call, taking his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot with him, and set out on a journey of faith not knowing where he was going.
God’s Call and Abraham’s Obedience
God first called Abraham while he was living in the city of Haran (Genesis 12:1-4). This call is considered a turning point not only in Abraham’s life, but also in God’s plan of redemption for the world.
God promised to make Abraham a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and that through him all families of the earth would be blessed. The calling and promise came completely unconditionally, as an act of God’s grace.
Despite not knowing where he would end up, Abraham trusted and obeyed God’s call.
Abraham’s obedience is seen as a supreme example of faith in God. Leaving everything familiar behind and venturing towards an unknown destination simply on God’s word required tremendous faith. Abraham’s story marks the beginning of God’s covenant plan to reverse the effects of sin through Abraham’s descendants, culminating in Jesus Christ.
Abraham’s Age at the Time
The Bible does not explicitly state Abraham’s age when God first called him. However, based on information provided later about his age when major events occurred, such as the birth of his son Isaac, many Bible scholars estimate he was around 75 years old at the time of God’s initial call.
Here is a summary of key details that help estimate Abraham’s age:
- Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born (Genesis 21:5)
- Isaac was born 25 years after Abraham lived in the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:4; 21:5; 17:1-21)
- Therefore, when God first called Abraham in Haran, before he moved to Canaan, Abraham was about 75 years old (100 – 25 = 75)
God’s Covenant and Promises to Abraham
God’s Covenant with Abraham
God made a covenant with Abraham when he was 99 years old (Genesis 17:1-27). This covenant included several key promises:
- God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and that kings would descend from him (Genesis 17:4-6).
- God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5).
- God promised to give Abraham’s descendants the land of Canaan as their possession forever (Genesis 17:8).
- God instituted circumcision as the sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). All males were to be circumcised at 8 days old.
This covenant established a special relationship between God and Abraham. God pledged to make Abraham into a great nation and to give his descendants the land of Canaan. Circumcision was the outward sign to mark who was part of this covenant.
God’s Promises to Abraham
In addition to the covenant, God made several key promises to Abraham:
- God promised that He would make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5).
- God promised that through Abraham’s offspring all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3, 22:18). This was a promise about the coming Messiah.
- God promised to give the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants as their possession (Genesis 12:7, 13:14-17, 15:18-21).
- God promised that Abraham would become a great nation (Genesis 12:2).
- God promised to bless those who blessed Abraham and to curse those who cursed him (Genesis 12:3).
These divine promises shaped the future of Abraham’s lineage. God pledged blessings, land, descendants, and ultimately the Messiah. Abraham’s faith was anchored in the certainty of God’s promises.
Abraham’s Faith and Righteousness
Abraham is commended for his faith in response to God’s promises. When God called Abraham to leave his homeland, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham’s faith was displayed through his obedience (Hebrews 11:8-12).
Even when the fulfillment of God’s promises seemed unlikely, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed” (Romans 4:18). Abraham believed that God would provide an heir and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Romans 4:18-21). His faith did not waver (Romans 4:20).
Abraham also demonstrated faith when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeyed, trusting that God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19). God stopped Abraham and provided a ram instead, sparing Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19).
Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith, not because of circumcision or the law (Romans 4:9-12). His story illustrates man’s justification by faith rather than works. Abraham continues to stand out among men of faith.
Abraham’s Age at Key Events
Abraham’s Age When He Left Haran
According to the biblical account in Genesis 12, Abraham was 75 years old when God called him to leave his homeland of Haran and journey to the land of Canaan. This was a pivotal moment in Abraham’s life, as it marked the beginning of God’s covenant with him and set into motion the events that would lead to the formation of the nation of Israel.
The Genesis account provides specific details about Abraham’s age as the story progresses. Genesis 12:4 states, “Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.” This helps provide a chronological framework for Abraham’s story and enables us to determine his approximate age at other important milestones.
Abraham’s Age When God Changed His Name
God initially interacted with Abraham under his original name, Abram. However, when Abraham was 99 years old, God established his covenant with him and changed his name to Abraham as a symbol of the promise. This key moment is recorded in Genesis 17.
Genesis 17:1 states, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him.” Verse 5 says, “No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.”
So according to the biblical timeline, Abraham was 99 when God gave him his new name and identity as the patriarch of many nations.
Abraham’s Age at the Birth of Isaac
The birth of Isaac when Abraham was 100 years old was a fulfillment of God’s promise to give him a son and establish him as the father of a great nation. Genesis 21:5 states, “Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.”
This long-awaited event came 25 years after God’s initial call for Abraham to leave Haran. The extended wait tested Abraham’s faith and trust in God’s timing and ability to fulfill His word. But at the old age of 100, Abraham finally held the child of promise in his arms.
Isaac’s birth marked the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham. Through Isaac’s line would come the nation of Israel along with the Messianic promise. So Abraham’s age underscores the significance of this event.
- 75 when he left Haran for Canaan
- 99 when God established His covenant and changed his name
- 100 at Isaac’s birth
The Genesis account anchors Abraham’s story in history and gives insight into the scope of his life and journey of faith. Examining his age at pivotal events enables us to appreciate key aspects of his story on a deeper level.
Significance of Abraham’s Age in God’s Plan
Abraham’s Advanced Age Highlighted His Faith
When God first called Abraham, he was already 75 years old (Genesis 12:4). This highlights that Abraham had a tremendous amount of faith to leave his home and go to an unknown land at such an advanced age. Most people that age would not have the desire or energy to pick up and move to a new place.
However, despite his age, Abraham trusted God and followed His call immediately. Abraham’s willingness illustrates his deep faith in God’s promise, even when it seemed unlikely he would live to see it fulfilled.
In addition, God chose to call Abraham at an old age to demonstrate that it was only by God’s power, not Abraham’s strength, that His promise would be accomplished. As the apostle Paul explained, Abraham’s body was “as good as dead” from a reproductive standpoint (Romans 4:19). Yet God told him he would be the father of many nations.
This highlights that the fulfillment of God’s promise to give Abraham innumerable descendants was a miracle and work of divine intervention.
God Fulfilled Promise Despite Abraham’s Age
Not only did God call Abraham at an old age, but He reiterated His promise to make Abraham a great nation when he was around 99 years old (Genesis 17:1-2). At this point, after waiting for decades with no child, Abraham laughed in disbelief (Genesis 17:17).
Yet, incredibly, when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90, they miraculously conceived and bore Isaac (Genesis 21:2-5). This demonstrated God’s amazing power and confirmed that He was able to fulfill His promise no matter how impossible it seemed.
God purposefully waited until Abraham and Sarah were extremely elderly and unable to have children naturally before giving them Isaac. This proved that Isaac’s birth was a direct work of God, not a mere coincidence. It highlighted that God is never limited by human circumstances or abilities.
When God chooses to act, He can always accomplish His purposes and keep His promises, no matter how unbelievable they may seem at the time.
Lessons for Readers About Waiting on God’s Timing
Abraham’s story provides important lessons for readers about waiting on God’s plan to unfold. When God first promised to make Abraham a great nation, Abraham could not see how this would happen. Yet instead of doubting, Abraham trusted in God’s faithfulness.
He patiently waited decade after decade for God’s timing.
Similarly, God often gives believers promises and calls us to trust Him even when we cannot yet see how His plan will come about. Like Abraham, we should choose to have faith in God’s trustworthiness rather than doubting. We may have to wait many years with no visible confirmation.
Still, we can follow Abraham’s example and patiently rely on God knowing He will accomplish His purposes in His perfect timing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Abraham was already 75 years old when God first called him to leave Haran and travel to the land of Canaan. This advanced age makes Abraham’s obedience and God’s fulfillment of His promises to Abraham even more remarkable.
Despite his age, Abraham trusted in God, and his story provides an inspirational example of faith for believers throughout the ages as they await God’s promises in their own lives.
