The Call of Abram

September 4, 2022 Background Scripture: Genesis 12:1 7; 15:1 - 7 Lesson Passage: Genesis 12:1 - 5, 7; 15:1 - 7 The Book of Genesis provides the foundation for everything in the Bible. The creation of mankind and his eventual need for saving grace quickly become the focus of Genesis. Man's sin and his eternal separation from God as a result, disrupted the harmony of God's creation. As a result of sin, mankind needs to be rescued from eternal damnation. Salvation is God's response to man's need; it is based on faith in God. Essential to this saving faith is the call of Abram to become a servant of God. It is Abram's calling that is the subject of this lesson. It is worth noting that the first scriptures of our lesson record what God had previously said to Abram ("the Lord had said to Abram"). There is no information provided as to how much time elapsed between God's statement to Abram and Abram's departure from Haran. However, our second scripture notes that God told Abram that He had brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans. Within Abram's movement from Ur to Canaan, we can observe a very human response to a Divine calling. Abram's calling required four things of him: 1. to leave his native land, Ur, 2. to leave his extended family, or clan, 3. to leave his immediate family, his father's house, and 4. to follow God to a new Land. Abram exhibited partial obedience in his movements. Abram left Ur of the Chaldeans, but his immediate family went with him. They stopped in Haran where Abram's father died. Abram left Haran with his nephew, Lot, and they arrived in Canaan. Abram built an altar to God and publicly called on His name in Canaan, After a brief stay in Egypt, God blessed Abam and his nephew with large flocks. The overflow of blessings caused Abram and Lot to separate. After their separation, Abram was drawn into a battle when Lot was captured during a raid by a group of kings. Abram prevailed in battle and took the spoils of war. Negotiating with another person over those spoils of war was one of many temptations Abram faced. Abram refused to be put in a position where another person could claim to be the reason for his prosperity. Again, God required four things of Abram, and Abram eventually complied with all four. The second part of the calling of Abram listed the things God would do for him. The list staffed with the promise that God would make a great nation from Abram. Abram questioned that part of the promise because of the barrenness of his wife, Sarai. If Abram's wife could not have one child, it seemed unlikely that he would be the progenitor of a nation, as promised. Abram reminded God that he was still childless. Based on his situation, what assurance could Abram have that he would inherit Canaan with no family to occupy it? Then God expanded on that aspect of His promise to Abram. God was going to give Abram an heir. And from that one heir, Abram would have more descendants than he would be able to count. Abram' s response to that is the most basic tenant of our faith today. "Abram believed in the Lord." Abram's belief in God was accepted as righteousness by God. By simply believing what God said, Abram was brought into the right relationship with God. Many of Abram's actions were not in total compliance with God's instructions. Abram's actions were insufficient to give him a perfect relationship with God. Despite Abram's actions, his belief in what God said was sufficient to give him the right relationship with God. It is for this reason that Abram is known as the father of all who come into the right relationship with God through faith. Righteousness before God is not achieved by actions or inactions. It is only through faith in God that we are accounted as having righteousness by God. Eternal salvation only comes through faith in God. Abram's calling and response demonstrate this saving faith. Robert C Hudson August 18, 2022