In a world increasingly confused about the identity of God, it is crucial to distinguish between the God of the Bible and the gods of ancient paganism. One of the oldest and most persistent misconceptions is the idea that “Allah,” as worshiped in pre-Islamic times, is simply another name for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. History tells a different story.
Abraham’s Pagan Background
Abraham’s journey of faith is among the most significant life changes ever recorded. At seventy-five years old, Abraham was well established in Ur of the Chaldees—a prosperous Sumerian city teeming with commerce, education, and sophisticated urban life. Ships arrived from distant lands bearing gold, ivory, and rare goods. Yet this city was also steeped in idolatry. Its people worshiped many gods, but chief among them was the moon god, known variously as Nanna, Su’en, or, in Arabic usage, Allah—meaning simply “the god.”
This pagan deity was symbolized by the crescent moon, an image still found atop many mosque domes and minarets today, though Islamic theology has redefined Allah beyond his lunar past. But in Abraham’s time, Allah was not the God of heaven and earth. He was merely one of a pantheon of regional deities, bound to creation rather than the Creator of it.
A Call From the True God
Against this backdrop of idol worship, the one true God broke into Abraham’s life:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
This was no moon god speaking. The God who called Abraham was not bound to the cycles of the moon or seasons. He was the Creator of all that exists, the eternal “I AM.” No shrine, idol, or celestial object could contain Him.
A Decision of Faith
Abraham’s decision to follow God was monumental. He left the comfort of his prosperous homeland, turned his back on idols, and embarked on a journey without even knowing his destination. Hebrews 11:8 tells us:
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
Unlike Allah of Ur—who demanded rituals but offered no personal relationship—the God of the Bible spoke promises and offered covenant relationship. Abraham was promised descendants as countless as the stars, and land stretching from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. At the time, these promises seemed impossible. Abraham was childless, and he and Sarah were well past childbearing age.
Yet God directed Abraham’s gaze heavenward:
“Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them. So shall your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5)
The Contrast of Gods
Here we see the stark contrast between the God of Abraham and the pagan deities of Mesopotamia. Pagan gods like Allah of Ur were tied to physical objects: the moon, stars, sun, and rivers. They required appeasement but gave no assurance of eternal purpose. They ruled specific territories but had no dominion over the entire cosmos.
The God of the Bible, however, is sovereign over all creation. He controls history, fulfills prophecy, and makes covenant promises. His word does not return void.
Ishmael, Isaac, and the Ongoing Conflict
Abraham’s faith faltered at times. After years of waiting, he and Sarah took matters into their own hands, producing a son, Ishmael, through Sarah’s servant Hagar. Yet God made clear that Ishmael was not the child of promise:
“No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.” (Genesis 17:19)
God’s plan would come through Isaac, not Ishmael. And so began a story of two peoples whose descendants would live in tension—a tension we still witness in the Middle East today.
Israel’s Divine Destiny
Even today, Israel occupies only a fraction of the land God promised Abraham. Arabs control over 99% of Middle Eastern territory, leaving Israel with less than one-tenth of one percent. Yet despite persecution, dispersions, and attempts at annihilation, the Jewish people remain—a phenomenon the writer Mark Twain once marveled at:
“All things are mortal but the Jews; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?”
The answer is simple: the God of Abraham keeps His word. He is not a regional moon god but the living, eternal God who chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.
A Call for Today
Too many today equate the God of the Bible with any deity called “Allah.” While the Arabic word Allah simply means “God,” its historical roots as the moon god of pagan Ur should not be ignored. The God who called Abraham is utterly different from any pagan deity. He is the God who gave His Son for the salvation of the world. He alone can bless all the families of the earth through the covenant He made with Abraham.
Abraham’s story calls us to radical obedience. Like him, we are invited to leave behind idols of culture and convenience and follow the God whose promises are eternal. As Hebrews 11:6 reminds us:
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Let us not settle for man-made gods tied to earthly symbols. Let us seek the God of Abraham—the true and living God who holds our future and who alone is worthy of worship.
