Abraham 1

The start of Abraham's record involves a story that depicts so much of how the world he lives in is ripe for the Lord to destroy. He starts by saying, 'man, I need to move out of my dad's place' (v1), and continues to explain the situation of his almost being sacrificed. He is living in a place that practices the worshiping of idolatrous gods and human sacrifices are common among the priests of those gods. It seems that only people who deny the existence of those gods or refuse to worship them are sacrificed and slain at the altar in front of the statues formed in the likeness of those gods. We even get to see a primitive picture of Abraham's story drawn to show the room of the sacrifices and the idols of the gods.
So Abraham's story starts by explaining people are sacrificed and he was probably 'chosen' because he was righteous and followed the true God. The Pharaoh's priest had him on the altar to offer him up when the voice of the Lord answered the prayers that Abraham. An angel stood by Abraham and loosened his bands saying, 'I am Jehovah, and it's time for you to leave this land and inhabit a place you've never been to' (v16). I paraphrase of course, but basically that's what is was plus the reasons which include the destruction of Egypt and it's wickedness (v17-19). The Lord breaks the alter and smites the priest so he dies which upsets Pharaoh and what not.
The history of Egypt in v21-24 reveals that the people who inhabit the land is from the line of Ham which established a patriarchal government. I also read about how there was no right of Priesthood established to the first Pharaoh, even though he started his kingdom wisely and justly. There was an unfortunate leading away to idolatry because the Pharaoh claimed to have the Priesthood and was rejected of God leading to famine and punishment. Lastly, Abraham lets us know that he has in his possession the records of his fathers that tell stories of the world from the beginning, so I assume he had the early records of what we know as the bible!