“Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot.” (Genesis 11:27, ESV)
The descendents of Noah's son Shem conclude with Abram.“When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.” (Genesis 11:26, ESV). Abram becomes the next major character in the ongoing story in Genesis. These first verses give us a summary of what is to come. It explains why Lot is fatherless and why the family is re-located. It also introduces us to the idea that Abram's wife will be without children.
“Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there.” (Genesis 11:31, ESV) It would appear that God spoke to Abram in Haran as a second instance. Stephen makes it clear in Acts 7:2 that God first spoke to Abram in Ur.
The Bible records for us this record: “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”” (Genesis 12:1–3, ESV)
These verses mark a pivotal point in Genesis and in the history of redemption as God begins to establish a covenant people for Himself. The progress of God’s redemptive plan is evident in His setting Abraham apart (v. 1)." [1]
God's work of redemption starts with a call. God's work starts by setting His hand upon a person. Setting them apart. Sanctifying them for His purposes. "Note: If God loves us, and has mercy in store for us, he will not suffer us to take up our rest any where short of Canaan, but will graciously repeat his calls, till the good work begun be performed, and our souls repose in God only. In the call itself we have a precept and a promise." [2]
"The call which came to Abram comes to each one of his believing children—the call for absolute confidence in God; the call to take Him at His word and step out in simple and unquestioning faith; the call to separate ourselves from the world to a life of pilgrimage in dependency upon Jehovah." [3]
Dr. R.C. Sproul writes, "The call of God is not always to a glamorous vocation, and its fruit in this world is often bittersweet. Yet God calls us according to our gifts and talents, and directs us to paths of the most useful service to His kingdom. How impoverished we would be if Jonah had made it to Tarshish, if Paul had refused to preach, if Jeremiah really had turned in his prophet’s card, or if Jesus had politely declined the cup." [4]
Father, it is nothing but astounding grace that you would even call any human. We are sinners by birth and violent offenders of Your holiness. Yet, in love you chose us and called us through the Gospel. Without any hesitation You further called us to be ambassadors of Christ. You dignify us Your creation, through the glorification of Christ in our lives. The fact that You called us into service is a non-issue. The issue is whether I and my brothers and sisters will respond in obedient faith. So grant, holy Father, not only the call, but grant the grace that enables us to obey.
"The call which came to Abram comes to each one of his believing children—the call for absolute confidence in God; the call to take Him at His word and step out in simple and unquestioning faith; the call to separate ourselves from the world to a life of pilgrimage in dependency upon Jehovah." [3]
Dr. R.C. Sproul writes, "The call of God is not always to a glamorous vocation, and its fruit in this world is often bittersweet. Yet God calls us according to our gifts and talents, and directs us to paths of the most useful service to His kingdom. How impoverished we would be if Jonah had made it to Tarshish, if Paul had refused to preach, if Jeremiah really had turned in his prophet’s card, or if Jesus had politely declined the cup." [4]
Father, it is nothing but astounding grace that you would even call any human. We are sinners by birth and violent offenders of Your holiness. Yet, in love you chose us and called us through the Gospel. Without any hesitation You further called us to be ambassadors of Christ. You dignify us Your creation, through the glorification of Christ in our lives. The fact that You called us into service is a non-issue. The issue is whether I and my brothers and sisters will respond in obedient faith. So grant, holy Father, not only the call, but grant the grace that enables us to obey.
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1. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Ge 12:1–3). Nashville: T. Nelson.
2. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (34). Peabody: Hendrickson.
3. Pink, A. W. (2000). Gleanings in Genesis (electronic ed.) (146). Escondido, CA: The Ephesians Four Group.
4. http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/responding-gods-call/
2. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (34). Peabody: Hendrickson.
3. Pink, A. W. (2000). Gleanings in Genesis (electronic ed.) (146). Escondido, CA: The Ephesians Four Group.
4. http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/responding-gods-call/
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