I was listening to the latest Hello Saints video and Pastor Jeff caused my ears to perk. In his latest video talking with Dr. Jared Halverson around the 10:30 min mark Pastor Jeff says: “Abraham was a pagan idol maker out east and then becomes the father of the Covenant.” I was like, HOLD THE FRONT DOOR!
What? Abram (before he was Abraham) was a pagan idol maker? I had never heard that. OK, I better look into this.
The first thing that pulls up when I search online is this: Now, if this is what they are using to declare that, they are wrong. It says Terah served other Gods. This is known, in the Pearl of Great Price Terah wanted to sacrifice his son Abraham. So, it makes sense that someone was an idol worshiper at a minimum.
Joshua 24:2
2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
Joshua 24 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
Another search and I found Bereshit Raddah. I had never read or heard of this record before… What is the world is Bereshit Rabbah?
It is a religious text from Judaism’s classical period, probably written between 300 and 500 CE with some later additions. It is a midrash comprising a collection of ancient rabbinical homiletical interpretations of the Book of Genesis. Wow, I never knew this. Genesis Rabbah – Wikipedia
Here is what it says:
Bereshit Rabbah 38
“Haran died in the presence of Teraḥ his father in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans” (Genesis 11:28).
Bereshit Rabbah 38:13 (sefaria.org)
“Haran died during the lifetime of Teraḥ his father” – Rabbi Ḥiyya grandson of Rav Ada of Yafo: Teraḥ was an idol worshipper [and a seller of idols]. One time, he went away to some place, and he installed Abraham as salesman in his stead. A person would come seeking to buy. He [Abraham] would say to him: ‘How old are you?’ He would say to him: ‘Fifty or sixty years old.’ He would say to him: ‘Woe to this man who is sixty years old and seeks to prostrate himself before something that is one day old.’ He would be ashamed and leave. One time, a certain woman came, carrying a dish of fine flour in her hand. She said to him: ‘Here, offer it before them.’ He arose, took a club in his hand, shattered all the idols, and placed the club in the hand of the largest among them. When his father came, he said to him: ‘Who did this to them?’ He said to him: ‘I will not lie to you, a certain woman came, carrying a dish of fine flour in her hand. She said to me: Here, offer it before them. I offered it before them. This one [idol] said: I shall eat first, and another one said: I shall eat first. This big idol, who was standing among them, got up and took the club and shattered them.’ He [Teraḥ] said to him: ‘What, are you mocking me? Are they sentient at all?’ He said to him: ‘Do your ears not hear what your mouth is saying?’
He [Teraḥ] took him and handed him over to Nimrod. He [Nimrod] said to him [Abraham]: ‘Let us bow down to fire.’ Abraham said to him: ‘Let us better bow down to water, that extinguishes fire.’ Nimrod said to him: ‘[All right,] let us bow down to water.’ He said to him: ‘If so, let us bow down to the clouds, that bear the water.’ He said to him: ‘[All right,] let us bow down to the clouds.’ He said to him: ‘If so, let us bow down to the wind, that scatters the clouds.’ He said to him: ‘[All right,] let us bow down to the wind.’ He said to him: ‘Better let us bow down to a person, who can withstand the wind.’ He said to him: ‘You are saying mere words. I bow down only to fire. I will cast you into it, and let that God to whom you bow down come and rescue you from it.’ Haran was there and he was conflicted. He said: ‘Either way [I will know what to do]; If Abraham is victorious, I will say: I am with Abraham, and if Nimrod is victorious, I will say: I am with Nimrod.’ When Abraham descended into the fiery furnace and was rescued, they said to him [Haran]: ‘With whom are you?’ He said to them: ‘I am with Abraham.’ They took him and cast him into the fire and his innards were scorched. He emerged and died in the presence of Teraḥ his father. That is what is written: “Haran died in the presence of Teraḥ…”
Let me interpret… Abarahms father Terah left Abraham in charge of the shop selling idols. Everyone that came in asking to buy an idol was more or less mocked and turned away by Abraham. Ultimately Abraham ended up smashing all the Idols and blaming it on an idol. Then Terah took Abraham to Nimrod who wanted Abraham to worship fire. Abraham more or less reasoned his way out of worshiping an idol. But ultimately his brother Haran dies by fire testing the Gods. I’m not even sure I interpreted that 100% correct. It was completely new to me.
But, I will say, nothing in here tells me that Abraham was a “maker” of idols. His father sold them. His father may have made them. It does imply that Abrham may have been expected to work the family business. But, the story makes it sound as if Abraham may have been unsupportive. Pastor Jeff implied that he was supportive before he turned to God and I don’t see that here. He more or less said that Abraham was an idol worshiper and maker and I don’t see that here.
In the next statement I found the commentator makes a broad assumption (out of thin air) that Abraham was an idol worshiper because others in the area were. However, the scriptures do not confirm his assumption. Honestly when you read Genesis 12:1-3 it is shocking that the author even came up with such an assumption. This is one commentary and I’m sure there are others like it. I refuse to believe that Abraham was an idol worshiper in any way shape or form. It is clear that without light and truth, poor assumptions are made about Abraham who is the father of nations and the father of the covenant.
Commentary on Genesis 12:1-3
(Read Genesis 12:1-3)God made choice of Abram, and singled him out from among his fellow-idolaters, that he might reserve a people for himself, among whom his true worship might be maintained till the coming of Christ. From henceforward Abram and his seed are almost the only subject of the history in the Bible. Abram was tried whether he loved God better than all, and whether he could willingly leave all to go with God. His kindred and his father’s house were a constant temptation to him, he could not continue among them without danger of being infected by them. Those who leave their sins, and turn to God, will be unspeakable gainers by the change. The command God gave to Abram, is much the same with the gospel call, for natural affection must give way to Divine grace. Sin, and all the occasions of it, must be forsaken; particularly bad company. Here are many great and precious promises. All God’s precepts are attended with promises to the obedient. 1. I will make of thee a great nation. When God took Abram from his own people, he promised to make him the head of another people. 2. I will bless thee. Obedient believers shall be sure to inherit the blessing. 3. I will make thy name great. The name of obedient believers shall certainly be made great. 4. Thou shalt be a blessing. Good men are the blessings of their country. 5. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee. God will take care that none are losers, by any service done for his people. 6. In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Jesus Christ is the great blessing of the world, the greatest that ever the world possessed. All the true blessedness the world is now, or ever shall be possessed of, is owing to Abram and his posterity. Through them we have a Bible, a Saviour, and a gospel. They are the stock on which the Christian church is grafted.
Genesis 12 Bible Commentary – Matthew Henry (concise) (christianity.com)
After reading all that hogwash. I am so grateful for the Pearl of Great Price that adds clarity to the subject. From reading the pearl of Great Price as well as the Bible, I see a man who stands out. Someone who does not conform to the idol worshiping society in which they live. I see someone who has had his own tribulation within his own family as a result of family members intent on idol worshiping. Yet, Abraham resisted and had a deep desire to worship the one true God. So what do we know from the Pearl of Great Price?
First of all, we learn that Abraham recognized he needed to relocate. We learn later that is because his father’s home is not safe.
Abraham 1:1, 10, 12
1 In the land of the Chaldeans, at the residence of my fathers, I, Abraham, saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of residence;
10 Even the thank-offering of a child did the priest of Pharaoh offer upon the altar which stood by the hill called Potiphar’s Hill, at the head of the plain of Olishem.
11 Now, this priest had offered upon this altar three virgins at one time, who were the daughters of Onitah, one of the royal descent directly from the loins of Ham. These virgins were offered up because of their virtue; they would not bow down to worship gods of wood or of stone, therefore they were killed upon this altar, and it was done after the manner of the Egyptians.
12 And it came to pass that the priests laid violence upon me, that they might slay me also, as they did those virgins upon this altar; and that you may have a knowledge of this altar, I will refer you to the representation at the commencement of this record.
Abraham 1 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
As Abraham was upon the alter about to be slain, he raised his voice to God and he was delivered and given a land of promise. This would not have happened had he been worshiping dumb idols.
Abraham 1:15-16
15 And as they lifted up their hands upon me, that they might offer me up and take away my life, behold, I lifted up my voice unto the Lord my God, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and he filled me with the vision of the Almighty, and the angel of his presence stood by me, and immediately unloosed my bands;
16 And his voice was unto me: Abraham, Abraham, behold, my name is Jehovah, and I have heard thee, and have come down to deliver thee, and to take thee away from thy father’s house, and from all thy kinsfolk, into a strange land which thou knowest not of;
Abraham 1 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
These are hardly the actions of an idol worshiper. In fact, it almost appears as though beings sacrificed was punishment by the priest for not worshiping the idol. The thing that hook line and sinkers me is the desire in Abrahams heart. He has a desire to have the blessings of the fathers. He knew those blessings. I knew the father who had come before him. He desired to have what they had.
Abraham 1:2-3
2 And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.
3 It was conferred upon me from the fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundation of the earth, down to the present time, even the right of the firstborn, or the first man, who is Adam, or first father, through the fathers unto me.
Abraham 1 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
After all this, I do not believe that Abraham was an idol worshiper. I believe this person got it right.
Abraham was not a pagan who converted to monotheism. He was a member of the Hebrew ruler-priest caste which believed in God Father and God Son. The text is clear that Abraham worshiped according to the beliefs of his Horite Hebrew ancestors. The oldest known site of Horite Hebrew worship was Nekhen on the Nile (4000 BC). The idea that Abraha was a idol worshiper comes from a late source in the Book of Joshua. In olden times, your forefathers – Terah, father of Abraham and father of Nahor – lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods. (Jos. 24:2)
Just Genesis : Was Abraham an Idol Worshiper? (jandyongenesis.blogspot.com)
In other instances that I found, it seemed a lot of liberty was taken to class Abraham as an idol worshiper. He was classified as such because of the location he lived, the time he lived, and because his father was. But in all of the accusations and assumptions, they do not realize that Abraham would have never been blessed as he was had he been an idol worshiper. His blessings were due to his faithfulness unto the God of his fathers. Otherwise, the Abrahamic covenant would never have been made.
Interesting Perspective:
“Salvation does not come all at once; we are commanded to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect. It will take us ages to accomplish this end, for there will be greater progress beyond the grave, and it will be there that the faithful will overcome all things, and receive all things, even the fulness of the Father’s glory.
“I believe the Lord meant just what he said: that we should be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. That will not come all at once, but line upon line, and precept upon precept, example upon example, and even then not as long as we live in this mortal life, for we will have to go even beyond the grave before we reach that perfection and shall be like God.
“But here we lay the foundation. Here is where we are taught these simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in this probationary state, to prepare us for that perfection. It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today. Why? Because we are on that road, if we are keeping the commandments of the Lord, we are on that road to perfection, and that can only come through obedience and the desire in our hearts to overcome the world.” (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:18–19.)
Genesis 17:1-3
1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
Genesis 17 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
I see a man whose sole desire is to worship and be faithful to God. This is Abraham.