Bible story · Genesis 12–21

Abraham and God’s Promise

God promises Abraham a family as many as the stars, and keeps his word. A 2-minute animated story, told simply for children and families, with each verse from the King James Version.

Start the story For parents

1 of 8

God said to Abram, “Leave your country and your family’s home, and go to a land that I will show you.”

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:
Genesis 12:1 KJV

2 of 8

God promised, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you, and you will be a blessing to others.”

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:
Genesis 12:2 KJV

3 of 8

So Abram set out, just as the LORD had told him, with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and all their animals.

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.
Genesis 12:4 KJV

4 of 8

One night God took Abram outside and said, “Look up and count the stars, if you can. Your family will be like that, too many to count.”

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Genesis 15:5 KJV

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Abram believed God, and God was pleased with his faith.

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 15:6 KJV

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Years later, three visitors came to Abraham’s tent and said that Sarah would have a son. Sarah was very old, and she laughed. But the LORD said, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”

Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
Genesis 18:14 KJV

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Just as God had promised, Sarah had a baby boy, and they named him Isaac. Sarah said, “God has made me laugh with joy!”

And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
Genesis 21:6 KJV

8 of 8

God kept his promise. Abraham became the father of many nations, a family as countless as the stars in the sky.

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.
Genesis 17:5 KJV

The end

Next story: Jacob’s Ladder

What does this story teach?

God keeps his promises, even when it takes a long time.
Faith means trusting God before we see the answer.
Nothing is too hard for God.
God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others.

Questions to talk about

Use these with your children after the story, at bedtime, at the table or in a class.

How do you think Abram felt leaving his home?
What did God tell Abram to count?
Why did Sarah laugh?
What promise of God can you trust today?

Read the story in the Bible

This retelling uses simple words for young readers. Read the full account in Genesis 12–21, one verse per screen:

Genesis 12 Genesis 15 Genesis 18 Genesis 21

Frequently asked questions

Where is the story of Abraham in the Bible?

Abraham’s story fills Genesis 12–25. God’s call is in Genesis 12, the promise of the stars in Genesis 15, the three visitors in Genesis 18 and the birth of Isaac in Genesis 21.

Why did God change Abram’s name to Abraham?

In Genesis 17:5 God changed Abram, meaning “exalted father,” to Abraham, “father of many nations,” as a sign of his promise. Sarai’s name became Sarah at the same time (Genesis 17:15).

How old were Abraham and Sarah when Isaac was born?

Abraham was 100 years old (Genesis 21:5) and Sarah was about 90 (Genesis 17:17), which is why Sarah laughed at the news.

What is the lesson of Abraham’s story?

God keeps his promises, and he counts faith as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 says Abram “believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness,” a verse the New Testament quotes several times.

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