Based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w2d1
Read: Genesis 12:1-9; SOAP: verses 1 & 2
The Call of Abram
12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites.
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. 9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.
Genesis 12:1-9
Oh, how I love this passage of our journey. It’s easy to gloss over if you’re familiar with the Scriptures, but I encourage you to take the time to really read it and take in the beauty and specific details of God’s first-ever conversation with Abram (later named Abraham).
God’s first word to Abram was “go”. Yes, God called this man, whose father and his people worshiped false gods (Joshua 24:2) and whose former homes had been located in “the center of moon worship.” Some commentaries suggest that “Abram was pagan in every sense of the word”, and admittedly it seems logical given their surroundings and no mention of faith before this. However, as gotquestions.org points out, when God called to Abram, “Abram knew and recognized the call of Yahweh, the LORD.” God called him to leave everything and everyone he knew – to go to an undisclosed place that He would show him. Keep in mind that God was not simply moving Abram; He was sending him out of a pagan culture and away from his family. In doing this, God was saving Abram from influences that would have been at the very least a deterrent to the life God was calling him to – a life that called him to commit himself, his time, and his ways to God.
Along with the call to “go,” came a promise from God to make Abram into a great nation, to bless him and make his name great, and to make Abram, himself, a blessing. Not only would God bless Abram, but He also promises to bless those who bless Abram and to curse those who dishonor him. It is worth noting that the only notable condition to the call/promise is that Abram “goes”. “God’s promises here are not dependent on Abram’s actions, obedience, goodness, or worthiness. God simply says He will do these things to and through Abram. Period. Abram’s character is irrelevant to the purposes of God in this instance.1“
What would you have done? Would you stay put with your ‘people’ and their/your gods? Or, at seventy-five years of age, would you have packed up and left it all behind for the unknown destination, trusting a God that you neither know nor worship to lead you who knows where? If you know the story, then you know Abram trusted God and left it all behind. His response is a beautiful picture of walking by faith and not by sight – for he had no idea if anything God said would come to pass.
For we walk by faith not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Prayer of Response
Father, You know the whole store, from the beginning to forever, and as you promised Abram, when we choose to follow You, You will show us the way to go. Your Word will be a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path. The blood of Your Son has saved us, and Your Spirit empowers us to live as You have called us to live. Help us to listen for Your still small voice and to follow where You lead – even if You call us to something new, help us to faithfully and obediently follow You. – To Your Glory – Amen 💜
The More We Know
Abram may have been the first called to “go”, but many others came to mind as I was wrapping up today’s notes. While we will likely encounter many of these on our journey, I believe they are worth noting now. As they reveal how God’s plan is from beginning to end, a beautiful picture of His sovereignty, and how He always intended to use Abram and his family to carry out His will. Seeing and understanding God’s sovereignty and intentional involvement in our lives is another game-changer, as the reality of it strengthens and builds our faith.
- Isaac … called to stay where he was and was blessed to have God reaffirm the covenant with him. (Genesis 26)
- Jacob … sent out and called to go back (Genesis 27:43;28:13-15; and 31:3)
- Moses … protected at birth, positioned, and called to “save his people”. (Ex 2-4)
- Even Jesus … sent to be the Savior of the world (John 3:16)
- The Disciples … called to leave all for the sake of Christ (Luke 9:23-24; 14:26-33; Acts 1:8; and Matthew 28:18-30)
- All followers of Christ … called to go and spread the news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to make disciples, and baptize (Acts 1 8 and Matthew 28:18-30). We are also called to live and love like Jesus (John 13:34; Eph 4:32)
“Even when we can not see what is ahead, we know that God does, and He will direct us along the way.”
Love God Greatly/From Beginning to Forever/journal p69
The More We Know
For more insight in today’s journey, read today’s Love God Greatly blog
- Bibleref.com ↩︎
Do you know the God of Abram, Issac, and Jacob? I would love to introduce Him to you –
Me From the Inside Out 