In the Old Testament times, people looked forward to Sheol (often translated "the grave" in English--look for a Bible with footnotes like the NIV).
Genesis 37:35
All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. "No," he said, "in mourning will I go down to the grave [ 37:35 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] to my son." So his father wept for him.
Genesis 42:38
But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave [ 42:38 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] in sorrow."
God speaking:
Deuteronomy 32:22
For a fire has been kindled by my wrath, one that burns to the realm of death [ 32:22 Hebrew [ to Sheol ] ] below. It will devour the earth and its harvests and set afire the foundations of the mountains.
Job 14:13
"If only you would hide me in the grave [ 14:13 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set me a time and then remember me!
Job 17
13 If the only home I hope for is the grave, [1]
if I spread out my bed in darkness,
14 if I say to corruption, 'You are my father,'
and to the worm, 'My mother' or 'My sister,'
15 where then is my hope?
Who can see any hope for me?
Interesting how Job expects to go there, but has a hope of not staying there.
It seems to be separate from Hell (Abaddon in Hebrew):
Job 26:6
Death [ 26:6 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] is naked before God; Destruction [ 26:6 Hebrew [ Abaddon ] ] lies uncovered.
Psalm 9:17
The wicked return to the grave, [ 9:17 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] all the nations that forget God.
The wicked "return to the grave"? So, it would seem that they are let out for a time...
David also expects to go to Sheol, but not to be abandoned there. And the Holy One, the Messiah, will go there, but not stay there.
Psalm 16:10
because you will not abandon me to the grave, [ 16:10 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] nor will you let your Holy One [ 16:10 Or [ your faithful one ] ] see decay.
And, again:
Psalm 86:13
For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. [ 86:13 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ]
God is in Sheol, so it CANNOT be Hell:
Psalm 139:8
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, [ 139:8 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] you are there.
Solomon believes everyone is going there:
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, [ 9:10 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
The Messiah will ransom people from there:
Hosea 13:14
"I will ransom them from the power of the grave [ 13:14 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] ; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, [ 13:14 Hebrew [ Sheol ] ] is your destruction?
Sheol is called "Hades" in the New Testament. In the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, the rich man goes there, but he can still see Lazarus:
Luke 16:23
In hell,[ 16:23 Greek Hades] where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
Jesus preaches there (which makes sense, since people can't get to Heaven without Him):
John 5
28"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
1 Peter 4:6
For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
Jesus holds the keys of Hades, presumably to let some people out:
Revelation 1:18
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Death and Hades are emptied at the white throne judgment. Those who are in the Lamb's book are let into Heaven. Those who are not are returned to Hades and Hades is thrown into the Lake of Fire (or Hell).
Revelation 20
11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
I believe that even still those who have not heard (babies, Indian and African tribesmen, etc.) still go to Sheol/Hades to be presented with Christ.
And what do you mean "God, i.e., Abraham?" 
Abraham was a created being. God is the Creator.
