The History of Abraham’s Family
The history of Abraham’s family is recorded in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Among Abraham’s two sons, it was not Ishmael—the firstborn son of the slave woman Hagar—who was chosen as the heir, but Isaac, the second son born to his lawful wife Sarah. Through the process of choosing the heir in Abraham’s family, we can understand the kind of faith required to become an heir of God. The decisive reason Isaac was appointed as Abraham’s heir was the existence of his mother, Sarah. Likewise, to inherit the promised kingdom of God[1]—heaven—the existence of Mother is essential.
The Issue of Abraham’s Heir
Abraham’s original name was Abram, but God changed it to Abraham, meaning “father of many nations.”[2] He was born in Ur of the Chaldeans in Mesopotamia and later settled in the land of Canaan. As a tribal chief, Abraham possessed great wealth and numerous livestock, and he commanded hundreds of servants.[3][4]
In tribal societies, the selection of an heir was a matter of great importance, as it ensured the continuation of the family line.[5] The book of Genesis in the Old Testament records in detail—across several chapters—the story of how Abraham and his wife Sarah built their household, gave birth to their only son Isaac, and passed on their inheritance. What stands out most is that God Himself directly intervened in the process of choosing Abraham’s heir.
The Process of Selecting Abraham’s Heir
The Servant Eliezer
Eliezer, a servant from Damascus, had been brought up in Abraham’s household since childhood. Because Abraham had no son at that time, he considered making Eliezer his heir. However, God rejected this idea and revealed the condition that must be met for someone to become Abraham’s heir.[6]
A son coming from your own body will be your heir.
The condition was that the heir must be Abraham’s own offspring. This shows that Eliezer was disqualified simply because he was not Abraham’s son. Although Eliezer was a loyal servant who had devoted his life to Abraham’s household, he could not become the heir, for lineage—not devotion—was the determining factor.
The Firstborn Son Ishmael
Ishmael, Abraham’s first son, was born when Abraham was eighty-six years old.[7] Since his wife Sarah had been barren for many years, she gave her maidservant Hagar to Abraham as a concubine, and through her, Ishmael was born.[8] Ishmael fulfilled the first condition God had set—that the heir must be a biological son of Abraham. However, when Abraham sought to appoint Ishmael as his heir, God rejected him as well[9] and established another condition.
Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
The additional condition God established was that the heir must be the son of Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Although Ishmael was indeed Abraham’s son, he could not become the heir because his mother was not Sarah. Later, during the great feast held to celebrate Isaac’s weaning, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac. As a result, she demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away, and they were expelled from Abraham’s household.[10]
The Second Son Isaac
Isaac was the only son born to Abraham and his lawful wife, Sarah. God had declared that Sarah, though elderly and past childbearing age, would bear a son, and He named him Isaac, meaning “laughter.”[11] Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born.[12] In fulfillment of God’s promise, Abraham and Sarah were blessed with Isaac in their old age and were filled with joy.[13] After Eliezer and Ishmael were successively disqualified, Isaac was ultimately chosen as Abraham’s rightful heir.
Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.
Isaac fulfilled both conditions—he was the son of Abraham and also the son of Sarah. In those days, it was customary for the firstborn to receive the inheritance.[14] From the paternal line, Ishmael was the rightful firstborn and, by tradition, should have been the heir.[15] However, God disregarded the custom of primogeniture and chose Isaac instead of Ishmael as Abraham’s heir. This was in fulfillment of His prophecy that Sarah would bear a son and His promise to establish His covenant through the son.[11] Therefore, Isaac, though the second son, became Abraham’s heir because he was not only Abraham’s true son but also the son of Sarah—the free woman—not of Hagar, the slave woman.
| Category | Father (Free man) | Mother (Free woman) | Result (Inheritance) |
| Eliezer | X | X | X |
| Ishmael | O | X | X |
| Isaac | O | O | O |
Abraham, Who Represents God the Father
The history of Abraham’s family is closely connected to the mystery of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus, who said He would reveal what had been hidden since the creation of the world, explained this mystery through parables—showing that Abraham represents God the Father.[16] In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, when Lazarus dies and enters heaven, it is described as him going to “Abraham’s side.” Meanwhile, the rich man in hell calls out to Abraham, addressing him as “Father.” Since only God can be called “Father” in heaven,[17] Abraham is portrayed as a figure symbolizing God the Father.
The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham,’
Just as Abraham represents God the Father, Abraham’s heir represents the heir of God. The history of Abraham’s family is not merely a record of one man’s household—it foreshadows the story of God’s people who will receive salvation in the future. God’s direct intervention in determining who was qualified to be Abraham’s heir reveals a profound truth about who is qualified to become God’s heir.
The Children of Promise Like Isaac
The Bible describes those who will inherit the kingdom of heaven as “children of promise” like Isaac.
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
God’s promise is eternal life.[18] When the Bible speaks of eternal life—the ultimate goal of faith—it mentions Isaac, the son of Abraham. Abraham first had a son in the flesh, Ishmael, through his maidservant Hagar. Fourteen years later, he had Isaac, the child of promise, through his wife Sarah, the free woman.[7][12][19] Before Isaac was born, Ishmael held the position of the firstborn. But after the birth of Isaac, the child of promise, Ishmael could no longer receive Abraham’s inheritance and was cast out. In the same way, before the appearance of the spiritual Israelites, the physical Israelites held the position of God’s people. However, when the spiritual Israelites—those who keep the new covenant established by Jesus—appeared, the physical Israelites who clung to the old covenant could no longer receive God’s inheritance.
At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
The Absolute Requirement to Be God’s Heir: The Mother
The qualifications that the children of promise like Isaac must meet are clearly revealed in the process of selecting Abraham’s heir. Isaac became the heir not only because his father was Abraham, a free man, but also because his mother was Sarah, a free woman. Sarah played a decisive role in Isaac’s inheritance, for without her, he could not have been recognized as Abraham’s heir. In the same way, this illustrates that in the process of becoming God’s heirs, the role of Heavenly Mother is essential.
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother . . . Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
“The Jerusalem that is above” refers to the Heavenly Jerusalem,[20] whose reality is the Bride—Heavenly Mother, God the Mother. The Bible teaches that the saints, who are God’s heirs, have Mother, and it emphasizes that God’s heirs are the children of Mother, the free woman. A free person is the opposite of a slave, representing a state unbound by anything. In Abraham’s family, Hagar was a slave, while Sarah was a free woman. From a spiritual standpoint, those who have not received the forgiveness of sins are in the position of slaves,[21] whereas the only truly free being is God, who is without sin.[22][23][24] Just as Isaac, the heir, was born of Abraham and Sarah—both free—God’s people, the saints, are the children of God the Father and God the Mother, who are true free beings.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
God the Mother works together with God the Father, the Holy Spirit, in the last days to grant salvation. The history of Abraham’s family is not merely an event of the past, but a prophecy. This prophecy was first fulfilled 2,000 years ago when Jesus established the new covenant: The physical Israelites who clung to the old covenant could no longer be God’s heirs, while the spiritual Israelites who kept the new covenant became His heirs. In this age, the prophecy is being fulfilled once again through the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, who revealed the existence of Heavenly Jerusalem Mother. Just as Isaac, born of Abraham and Sarah, became the heir, today those who believe in both God the Father and God the Mother are recognized as God’s heirs.
Bible Verses About God’s Heirs
- Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)
- This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3: 6)
- Having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.(Titus 3:7)
- Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)
See also
References
- ↑ "James 2:5".
- ↑ "Genesis 17:5".
- ↑ "Genesis 13:2".
- ↑ "Genesis 14:14".
- ↑ Nancy M. Tischler, All Things in the Bible: An Encyclopedia of the Biblical World [2 Volumes], Bloomsbury Publishing, 2006, pg.385
- ↑ "Genesis 15:2–4".
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Genesis 16:15–16".
- ↑ "Genesis 16:1–2".
- ↑ "Genesis 17:18–19".
- ↑ "Genesis 21:8–21".
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Genesis 17:19".
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Genesis 21:2–5".
- ↑ "Genesis 21:2–6".
- ↑ "Genesis 25:31".
- ↑ Jean-Pierre Isbouts, The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas, National Geographic, 2007
- ↑ "Matthew 13:34–35".
- ↑ "Matthew 6:8–9".
- ↑ "1 John 2:25".
- ↑ "Romans 9:7–8".
- ↑ "Revelation 21:9–10".
- ↑ "John 8:34".
- ↑ "John 8:32".
- ↑ "Hebrews 4:14–15".
- ↑ "Galatians 5:1".