The Old Testament

The Lord promises Abram he would have an heir and many descendants. Even though he was old, Abram believed. The Lord tells him that his descendents would be enslaved but would then be freed and return.

Abram's wife Sarai tells him to have children with Hagar their servant. Hagar conceives and gives birth to a son. Sarai treats her harshly and she runs away. The Lord hears Hagar's suffering and an angel sends her back. Her son is named Ishmael which means "God hears."

Three visitors come to Abraham and tell him that Sarah would conceive and give birth to a son the following year. According to the Orthodox teaching, this was a theophany of the Holy Trinity. The city of Sodom is exceedingly evil. Abraham begins to plead with God to spare the people of Sodom. 

Angels come to warn Lot that God will destroy Sodom and rescue him and his family from the sexually deviant mobs. Sodom is completely destroyed by fire. Lot's wife does not heed the angels warning and is turned to salt. The daughters of Lot give birth to his descendents. 

While in the city of Gerar, Abraham tells King Abimelech that Sarah was his sister, fearing he would be killed. King Abimelech takes Sarah to himself but God warns him in a dream and He returns Sarah to Abraham.

Sarah gives birth to a son and he is named Isaak which means "laugther" because Sarah secretly laughed when God told Abraham she would have a child in her old age. Hagar and Ishmael are sent away but God preserves them. Abraham and King Abimelech make a treaty.