Abraham, A Triangle of Faith

What is the significance of Abraham in the history of the world? I wouldn’t necessarily say, that it's Abraham himself who is significant with his impact on history, but instead, I’d say that its the relationship between him and his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, that has had the most significance. Through his sons, be it, Isaac or Ishmael, people most belonging to Judaism or Islamic faiths have tried to claim their link to Abraham as the strongest. In the pod cast, it was mentioned how in the biblical scriptures(?) it says that all are children of Abraham, and in the Christian bible, it is said that gentiles can also become children of Abraham. This confused me. How can that happen, people who are neither can still become it? I think it's interesting how depending from what religion's perspective you see it through, the story of Abraham and his two sons changes, and they inspire different emotions. In 'Speaking of Faith' they mention something about the original story of Abraham, but how do they know what that story is? Is based on which one can be traced back farthest? Because if so, there is not prove that it is the original, it could have been modified.

Somewhere along the story, Sarah asks Abraham for the servant and his son, Ishmael, to leave, and god basically tells him, Listen to Sarah because your offspring will continue through Isaac. I will make a nation of Ishmael too, so don’t worry. The significance of the rivalry between the brothers, Isaac and Ishmael, is important when contrasting the history that the faiths that claim to have developed through them, Muslims through Ishmael and Jews through Isaac, have had. This is because although at one point, Muhammad, and the Islamic values, was open to the various interpretations on the story, once Judaism shifted the story to better suit them, Islam did the same. From what I came to understand, Abraham is presented in the religions as the ideal believer, in Judaism, they make modifications to better present him, example, they make him kosher. In Islam, Abraham is a Muslim, and carries the values out very well, while in Christianity, the story is just used as an example to show how Abraham did not kill his son Isaac, therefore did not love enough, but on the other hand, God allowed Jesus crucifixion, meaning he favored him.  But then the Jewish faith change it's story and said that in actuality, he did die. But this doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe if one takes the saying if you love set them free, but I don’t really think it applies to this either way. I also don’t understand how in the story of Abraham, when he has to take Isaac and sacrifice him, an angel comes down and tells him not to because he has now shown that he fears god. Why would it be necessary for him to prove that he fears god? Why does he need to fear god? Couldn’t it be out of respect and not fear? In pod cast, it's mentioned how Abraham achieved in death what he did not achieve in life. In his death funeral, Isaac and Ishmael stand side by side to morn his death. They are rivals, opposing leaders, and have a dislike for one another, but at that moment, they are not any of the above but are brothers. They have Abraham in common. Maybe this is the significance of Abraham and his sons; they represent hope and unity, and existence in harmony, because although Ishmael and Isaac were different from one another, in the end, they came together.