The Call, Genesis 12:1—4

Like the course of a river, Abraham’s life had many twists and turns and seemed to deepen and flow faster as it went on. No other character in the Old Testament figures more prominently in the New Testament than Abraham. His was not a perfect life, but it was a life of faith.

1. The circumstance surrounding the call

Abraham was living in ignorance and idolatry when God called him (Romans 4:10). This is important to note because it shows that God does not call people who are necessarily better than anybody else. The grace of God does not seek out the most worthy or even the most promising soul to save. In fact, Christ came, not to call the righteous, but for sinners! Romans 5:8 states plainly: God came for us while we were sinners.

2. How the call came

We don’t know exactly how the Lord called Abraham. Was it an audible voice? Did the Spirit quietly whisper to his heart? The Bible is silent on this. What we do know is that the call was very personal. Only Abraham could answer it. This is true of every person God calls to this day; we are all individually responsible to answer it. God calls us not that we may be better than the person next to us, but better than ourselves. How does God’s saving call come? Through the Word of His Gospel, of course.

3. What the call involves.

1. An entire separation. Abraham was told to “get out.” He had to leave his country, his family and nothing was to get in the way. Every connection and friendship that stood between him and the divine call must be broken and left behind. If a man is not willing to forsake his sins and things in his life that do not honor God, then he is not willing to be saved, Isaiah 55:7.
2. A new life. This new life is a life of faith in God and fellowship with God—we call this a “blessed life.” Anyone who obeys God will live by faith. Galatians 3:11 says the just shall live by faith.

4. What accompanies this call

1. A promise of blessing. God told Abraham about a land that would be his. Many people wait and wait when God calls, thinking about what they might be asked to give up in order to follow Him. Too often, they don’t see what God offers them. The story of the Prodigal Son comes to mind. He gave up his rags when he received the finest robe his father had.
2. The promise of being a blessing. God promised to Abraham that he would be a blessing. All the people of the earth through all time would be blessed through Abraham’s seed: Jesus Christ. We can only be a blessing for God after we have been blessed by God. This is by God’s design. We are saved to serve. According to John 7:37—38, it is out of those who come in Jesus and drink that the living water flows.

5. How the call was received.

When you first read Genesis 11:31, it seems as though Abraham was led by his father instead of by the command of God, but notice under his leadership he only got as far as Haran. It wasn’t until after his father’s death that Abraham obeyed God fully and completely. Worldly wisdom and worldly ways will never help us to live the life of faith. There is no blessing for those who stop short of total obedience to Christ, no matter how far they have gone. “Almost saved” means not saved at all.