Never even heard of those myths surrounding Abraham. Why would anyone even bother to learn such obscure stuff like that? Why would the church bother to consider it or teach it? What practical use is it to anyone?
Who would even care and why?
Thank you for answering. I didn’t think ALL rabbinic teaching would permeate the church (though it surely does in the NT— from the dating of Passover/Easter to the teaching of Hillel the Elder (That which is hateful to you don’t do to others, 1st century BC...))
So the story of smashing the idols is young Abram (pre-AbraHam) in Terah’s literal idol shop, left in charge, smashed all idols but one large one in whose hands he placed a hammer. Terah angrily questioned Abram what happened and he said that the idols fought and the big one smashed them all. To which Terah answered that they are just dump pieces of metal and pottery.... to which Abram quipped, “Why then, do you worship them?”
So it’s a story of Abram’s realization that one G-d created the world and all other forces, such that they are— including the “gifts” aforementioned... are subservient to G-d alone. “G-d of gods” as the Torah says.
The other trials are testing Abram’s faith in his belief...
...leading up to the trial of the binding of Isaac, explicit in Genesis.