Here is a Bible study in the form of a very creative annotated bibliography outline comparing the life of Abraham with the truths of Jesus Christ. Be blessed!

I. Abraham 

A. Passages in Old Testament & New Testament KJV

1. Old Testament -Note- (Results include Abram then shift to Abraham from Genesis 17 onward)

Genesis 11

Genesis 12                      

Genesis 13 

Genesis 15

Genesis 16

Genesis 17

Genesis 18

Genesis 19

Genesis 20 

Genesis 21 

Genesis 22

Genesis 23

Genesis 24

Genesis 25

Genesis 26

Genesis 28

Genesis 31

Genesis 32

Genesis 35

Genesis 48

Genesis 49

Genesis 50

Exodus 2

Exodus 3

Exodus 4

Exodus 6

Exodus 32

Exodus 33

Leviticus 26

Numbers 32

Deuteronomy 6

Deuteronomy 9

Deuteronomy 29

Deuteronomy 30

Deuteronomy 34

Joshua 24 

I Kings 18

II Kings 13 

I Chronicles 1

I Chronicles 16

I Chronicles 29

II Chronicles 20

II Chronicles 30

Nehemiah 9:7

Psalms 47

Psalms 105

Isaiah 29

Isaiah 51

Isaiah 63

Jeremiah 33

Ezekiel 33

Micah 7

2. New Testament KJV

Matthew 1

Matthew 3

Matthew 8

Matthew 22

Mark 12 

Luke 1 

Luke 3 

Luke 13 

Luke 16

Luke 19 

Luke 20 

John 8

Acts 3 

Acts 7

Acts 13 

Romans 4 

Romans 11

II Corinthians 11 

Galatians 3 

Galatians 4 

Hebrews 2 

Hebrews 6 

Hebrews 7

Hebrews 11

James 2 

I Peter 3 

II. Ten General Observations from the Bible Passages of Genesis 17-25 and Hebrews 11

A. In Genesis 17, the Lord appears before Abram, changes his name to Abraham, and establishes a covenant with him.  The changing of Abram’s name to Abraham signifies God’s plan for his life, and the designation of responsibility which comes with the fruit of faith.  Additionally, God revealing His plan for Abraham’s life represents His omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience.  He is greater than all things!

B.Genesis 18 reveals the Lord testing the faith of Abraham through the fruit of patience when He and 2 others visit Abraham’s tent.  It is worth noting the Lord is traveling with two others.  This may represent the Trinity of God in three persons.  Sarah’s faith is confronted when she laughs at the idea of having a child at such an old age.  Her doubt can represent our limited human understanding of God’s power.  Abraham requests the Lord spares the righteous people in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  This could indicate the Lord demonstrating his grace and mercy to Abraham.  Each repeated request from Abraham with a lower number of people gets the same graceful answer from the Lord. 

C.The book of Genesis chapter 19 reveals God keeping His promise to Abraham, and His love.  Lot and his 2 daughter s were spared from the destruction of the cities.  Abraham witnessed the aftermath of the destruction.  This element of love alludes to the Lord’s mercy and acceptance of our repentance if we obey Him.  

D.Genesis 20 represents the fear and suffering elements of faith.  The Lord instills His fear in Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham.  Abraham and Sarah were taken care of by the Lord because of their faith in Him.  Abimelech obeyed the Lord and returned Sarah.  It is because of his faithful obedience that he was not killed, and in fact he and his family were healed.  This reveals that when we are obedient to Christ that He will reward us.  He is always there through our suffering, but the fruits He rewards us with are greater as is He the Lord. 

E. Genesis 21 is about Sarah giving birth to her son Isaac.  This follows up on the rewards of suffering as giving birth is a joyous occasion.  God had kept His promise to Abraham and contentment of faith was the reward for both Abraham and Sarah.  The Lord continued to take care of Abraham as he made a covenant with Abimelech.  In covenants there is a factor of trust which is a vital component of faith.  An argument can be made that, the element of trust through faith was in action here, and is indeed applicable to our own lives.  

F. Genesis 22 confirms the faith of Abraham as the Lord tests His fear and discipline by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac.  Obedient behavior is contagious as seen in this chapter.  Abraham following the Lord, and Isaac following his father are interesting examples of this.  Both were disciplined to listen and obey.  Both feared the authority figures in their life through the power of faith.  

G. Genesis 23 covers the death of Sarah, and Abraham acquiring land to give her a proper burial.  This chapter demonstrates the humility of faith in Abraham’s suffering.  Losing a loved one is not easy, but Abraham prayed and remained humble before the Lord.  God provided everything Abraham needed.  Abraham’s humbleness is demonstrated as he bows down repeatedly throughout the chapter.  

H. Genesis chapter 24 shares the account of the search of a bride for Abraham’s son Isaac.  It is worth noting that the passage opens mentioning Abraham’s old age.  This is important because the timeframe of his life and relationship with the Lord has progressed.  Furthermore, in the chapter we see that Abraham’s servants are sent to search for this bride who is later revealed as Rebekah.  God rewards Abraham’s faith yet again, by using his servants to fulfill His promise to Abraham.  This holds significance because in order for us to utilize faith we must be willing to serve.  We must be prepared to obey just like the behavior of these servants.  In fact, many of the behaviorisms which follow Abraham up until this point in his life appear within the story of his servants.  

I. Genesis 25 demonstrates to us the blessings that promised Abraham by listing the various members of his family.  The order of how this was written is interesting because immediately after we learn Abraham dies.  It is almost as if the author, God, wants us to see that He allowed Abraham to see the Lord’s promise being fulfilled before death.  

J. Hebrews chapter 11 covers the various elements of faith from the Old Testament in the     New Testament.  We see in verses 8-12 that the author reiterates the life of Abraham and how God fulfilled his promises to him.  This is important because historically we see God continued to fulfill his promise to Abraham.  The numbers of the stars and the innumerable sand reference is in fact repeated here.

II. The Key Elements from the Ten Bible Passages of Genesis 17-25 and Hebrews 11

A.Observations related to “Who?”- For this scope section of research we can identify that Abraham, God, Sarah, and to an extent Abraham’s family are the central characters of importance.  Additionally, the names off Sarai and Abram were changed to Sarah and Abraham while God remained the same.  This is significant because God changes our lives, and He remains steadfastly the same throughout the story of Abraham’s life and the Bible.  “He was known at the beginning as Abram (“father is exalted”), but this was changed subsequently to Abraham (“father of a multitude,” Gen. 17:5)” (Chad Brand, 2003).

B.Observations related to “What?”- Throughout the story of Abraham’s life we see God testing the faith of Abraham and his willingness to serve.  Faith is God’s gift to us as believers in Him.  The elements of faith we see within the story of Abraham include fear, trust, courage, love, suffering, humbleness, contentment, discipline, patience, and responsibility.  “Abraham’s faith and obedience were tested by God in Moriah when he was commanded to sacrifice Isaac. God provided an alternative sacrifice, however, saving the boy’s life. As a reward for Abraham’s faithfulness, God renewed the covenant promises of great blessing and the growth of a mighty nation to father and son” (Chad Brand, 2003). 

C.Observations related to “Where?” “Abram said yes to God’s call, and he stepped out by faith on a spiritual journey that changed the course of history. He gathered up his wife, his nephew, and all of their possessions and started the long journey up the Euphrates River to the land that God promised He would show him—Canaan” (Hindson, 2003, p. 17).  “God called Abram to migrate to Canaan, assuring him that he would father a vast nation. At different times he lived in Shechem, Bethel, Hebron, and Beer-sheba” (Chad Brand, 2003).

D.Observations related to “When?” “For Abraham, the starting point came four thousand years ago (c. 2100 b.c.) in a burgeoning metropolis near the Persian Gulf. At the time, he was wealthy, successful, and prosperous. The last thing he needed to do was to abandon everything and follow God. That’s where the promise comes in” (Hindson, 2003, p. 17).  “Genesis 15 introduced the Abrahamic covenant as a formal covenant relationship with Abram. This took the form of an official treaty between God and Abram. The ritual of cutting the animals in half was symbolic of an official treaty between two individuals” ( Knowing Jesus Ministries, 2017, p. 35).

E.Observations related to “Why?” We are to be reflective of in our faith just as Abraham and Sarah were with God.  In order to have a full relationship and grow closer to the Lord we need to practice the elements of faith, and always be ready to serve Him.  “Abraham recognized God as the almighty Lord of all and the author of a covenant by which the Hebrews would become a mighty nation. God Himself was known subsequently as the God of Abraham (Exod. 3:6). Through him God had revealed His plan for human salvation (Exod. 2:24). The promises to Abraham became assurance for future generations (Exod. 32:13; 33:1). Abraham became known as “God’s friend forever” (2 Chron. 20:7)” (Chad Brand, 2003).  “As the nations turned away from God, He chose Abraham so that God could bring a blessing to the whole world through His descendants” ( Knowing Jesus Ministries, 2017, p. 35).

Addendum:  The connecting parallels in each passage reflect the elements of faith, and God being in control the entire time throughout the course of Abraham’s life.  When Abraham failed to fully put his faith in the Lord, God would intervene and bring Him back under His plan.  Through close reading of these passages we see that God is greater than all things, and the necessity to receive His gifts comes through faith, repentance, confession, and submission to Him.  The central root of all of these elements though is faith.  

III. A Timeline of Abraham

A.“God calls Abraham around 2100 BC” (Hindson, 2003, p. 17).

B. Abraham was 75 years old when he received the call from the Lord.  Genesis 12:4(KJV) “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran” (Holy Bible , 1997).

C. Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.  Genesis 16:16(KJV) “And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram” (Holy Bible , 1997).    

D. Abraham was 99 years old when the Lord tells him the law for circumcision, and He was 100 years old when Isaac was born.  Genesis 17-24 (KJV)“Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?  And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!  And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.  And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.  But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.  And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.  And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin” (Holy Bible , 1997). 

E. Sarah was 127 years old when she died. Genesis 23:1 (KJV) “And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah” (Holy Bible , 1997).  

F. Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah.  Genesis 25:20 (KJV) “And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian” (Holy Bible , 1997).

G.Abraham dies at 175 years old. Genesis 25:7 (KJV) “And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years” (Holy Bible , 1997).

Addendum: Using the year 2100 BC as a base from Courageous Faith, by Ed Hindson, and the Biblical ages of Abraham and his children, we are able to construct a brief outline of the actual historical date.  

2100 B.C.  Abraham was 75.

2089 B.C.  Ishmael is born and Abraham is 86.

2076 B.C.   Abraham is 99 years old and law of circumcision is given from God.

2075 B.C.  Abraham is 100 years old and Isaac is born. 

2035 B.C.  Isaac gets married and Abraham is 140 years old.

2000 B.C.  Abraham dies at 175 years old.  

IV. Interpretation of Biblical Wisdom

A. Genesis 17-18 reminds us that God’s timing is perfect.  It is God that changes the lives of people that He created.  It is necessary that we remain steadfast in our faith with Him as He is as steadfast in changing our lives with His forgiveness and perfection.  Ultimately, the takeaway here is for us to remain aligned with God.  

B. Genesis 19 represents God’s wonderful mercy by saving Lot and his two daughters from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The biblical wisdom that can be attained here is that God forgives us.  He takes us just as we are, transforms our old selves into essentially new beings that are able to glorify His will.  His grace and mercy were on display here which can be related to how we are saved in Him.  “Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Holy Bible , 1997).  In order to attain and begin to comprehend the grace of God we need to take the step of faith with the element of courage, and trust Him in all things. 

C. Genesis 20 contains the element of suffering, and that our attaining the gifts of the Holy Spirit becomes fruitful when we are faithfully obedient.  The Lord only gives us what we can handle when He tests us.  We need to keep our eyes on Him so we do not go astray and begin to sink in unfamiliar water as Peter in the New Testament.  I Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (Holy Bible , 1997). The chapters of Genesis 21-22 demonstrate joy of obtaining fruit from God when we are disciplined in our faith in Him.  There is also an emphasis upon contentment only coming from our trust in the Lord.  Only when we fully trust in Him as Abraham did can we experience true joy through His blessings.  

D. The element of humbleness and the willingness to serve others through the Lord are the main takeaways from Genesis 23-25.  When we serve others we are glorifying the Lord by following His will.  We are also helping others in the body of Christ.  This all comes full circle because Abraham followed God through faith, and was blessed by God’s grace.  Abraham had the humbleness of faith to follow God’s plan for his life.  The theme of surrendering all here is also touched upon.

 E.  Hebrews chapter 11 is a reflective examination on faith itself with the author sharing a plethora of examples throughout the Old Testament of biblical characters that followed the Lord’s instruction.  The takeaway here is that, we need to follow Christ through faith without questioning with our own humanistic reasoning.  Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Holy Bible , 1997).  In order for us to trust the Lord we need to have faith, and heed the instruction of the Lord.  John 5:8-10 (KJV) “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.  The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed” (Holy Bible , 1997). 

V. Correlation to Truth in Scripture-I submit that the elements of faith which we see carried out by Abraham throughout his life are connected to the truths of salvation in Jesus Christ.  

A. We need to admit we are sinners and that we are empty without God.  We need to pursue Him actively in our lives just as Abraham did in order to grow as a branch from the vine of Christ.  John 15:5 (KJV) “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (Holy Bible , 1997).  Romans 6:23 (KJV) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Holy Bible , 1997).  If we look back at the life of Abraham we see that we God first called him, and that he had the faith to follow God.  Genesis 12:1-4 (KJV) “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran” (Holy Bible , 1997).  Clearly here we see that, Abram follows God through obedient faith.  We are to do the same.  It requires obedient faith from us in God for us to admit we need Him.  Without him we are lost in death of the sinful nature of mankind.

B. This next element we see in the life of Abraham that reflects the biblical truth of salvation is belief in God.  Romans 3:23-26 (KJV)  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Holy Bible , 1997).  After a careful examination of the life of Abraham we can see the grace of God through the saving of Lot and his two daughters.  We also see God’s grace in blessing Abraham even after he listened to his own wife for council rather than seeking the Lord.  This is truly magnificent.  God’s grace which existed in the Old Testament still remains in the New Testament when He sends His own Son to die on the cross for our sins. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Holy Bible , 1997). 

C. Finally, in the life of Abraham we see God promising to bless him if Abraham decides to follow him.  Genesis 17:1(KJV) “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” (Holy Bible , 1997).  This represents the principle of confession in the New Testament of the Holy Word.  When we walk with the Lord faithfully, He views us perfectly because it is He that forgives our wrong doings and sins.  I John 1:9 (KJV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (Holy Bible , 1997).  When we are cleansed from all unrighteousness we become righteous before Him.  We become clean in the eyes of the Lord.  

VI. Ways the life of Abraham point to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

A. Historically, the life of Abraham establishes the linage for the family blood line of the Savior of the world in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Genesis 22:15-18 (KJV)  “And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Holy Bible , 1997).  One parallel we see when we examine the life of Abraham with the works of Jesus Christ is that, both followed God with faith.  Matthew 3:16-17 (KJV)  “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Holy Bible , 1997).  If we examine the works of Jesus Christ we see that he faithfully followed His Father’s instruction.  John 6:38 (KJV)  “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (Holy Bible , 1997).  

B. The life of Abraham points to Jesus through immaculate conception.  According to Ed Hindson in Couragoeus Faith, “Isaac, the miracle-born son of Abraham, was destined to become the forefather of another miracle-born son of Abraham, Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Messiah. He, too, would enter the human race by unconventional means—this time without a human father. Isaac would begin a miraculous line of people, and Jesus would be the culmination of their hopes and dreams” (Hindson, 2003, p. 28). The coming of Jesus Christ was prophesied throughout the Old Testament, and in Luke we learn of Him being born.  Luke 2:9-11 (KJV) “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Holy Bible , 1997).

C. The mercy of Jesus Christ is demonstrated throughout the Gospels of the New Testament.  We see this same parallel when Abraham is speaking with God about saving those who He finds righteous in the cites named Sodom and Gomorrah.  The answer that God gave Abraham was exactly the same each time.  This represents the steadfastness of God.  The basis of His steadfastness is established through faith.  We need our faith to remain steadfast.  Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Holy Bible , 1997).  In the life of Jesus Christ we see He exhibits faith in His Father all the way till His death on the cross for the sins of mankind.  

VII. Application 

A. The Question of Duty-The question of duty points to Abraham being faithfully obedient when the Lord called him to follow Him.  Genesis 12:1-4 (KJV) “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran” (Holy Bible , 1997).  We see this in the New Testament as well when Jesus begins teaching the disciples to be followers of Him.  

B. The Question of Character-The character of Abraham is best exhibited in Genesis 22 when the Lord tests Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his only son.  The son which God had promised in the covenant he made with Abraham.  Abraham remained faithful and maintained patience in the Lord that he would provide his needs, and God did just that.  Genesis 22:12-13 (KJV) “And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son” (Holy Bible , 1997).

C. The Question of Cause-The question of cause in the life of Abraham is illustrated when God explains His will for the life of Abram.  This is best seen when he changes the name of Abram to Abraham.  Genesis 17:5(KJV) “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee” (Holy Bible , 1997).  God promised that Abraham would be blessed, and through his faith he was continually rewarded.  It was the faith of Abraham that drove his cause to continuously follow the will of the Lord.  This is reestablished in the New Testament.  Hebrews 11:8 (KJV)  “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” (Holy Bible , 1997).  

D. The Question of Discernment-The question of discernment we see in the life of Abraham when he chose to listen to the advice of his wife instead of follow the Lord completely.  Genesis 16:2-4 (KJV) “And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.  And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.  And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes” (Holy Bible , 1997).  The Lord still remained steadfast in His covenant with Abraham, and blessed him as the father of many nations.  

Addendum:  By combining everything together here, we can apply the lessons of faithful service, faithful obedience, and faithful council to our daily walks with God.  Philippians 4:13-14 (KJV)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction” (Holy Bible , 1997).  

Works Cited

Knowing Jesus Ministries. “Illustrated Bible Survey.” Hindson, Ed. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Academic, 2017. 35.

Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England. “Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary.” Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003.

Hindson, Ed. Courageous Faith: Life Lessons from Old Testament Heroes. Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 2003. epub.

Holy Bible . Thomas Nelson Publishers , 1997.