The Call Of Abraham (Gen 12:1-9)
God called Abraham when the time came to perform the duties assigned to him on earth. Abraham responded to God’s call in faith, trust, Obedience and courage.
Abraham’s father was Terah. He was the descendant of those people who were scattered in small languages or groups after the fall of the Tower of Babel. He grew up in Ur in Mesopotamia, to Haran In northern Mesopotamia
When Terah died in Haran young man took over the responsibility of his family after the age of seventy-five. The time came for God to appear to him and call him to leave his country and his relations. He was to go to a new Land that God said.
“Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the Land that I will make you a great nation and I will bless you and him who curses I will curse and by you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Abraham’s task was to be a blessing to all the families on earth. The blessing consists in the fact that the knowledge of salvation, which will bring mankind into a new relationship with God, so that a good relationship will exist between God and as and with each other, will be given to Abraham and his descendants.
Therefore, the tasks of Abraham and his descendants, the Jews, were to make known to us the way of salvation.
Abraham responded faithfully to God’s call. Immediately, God called him, he handed over the responsibilities as head family and left for the strange and new land that God would show him. He went with his wife, Sarah and his nephew lot and his wife.
They left Haran with all their Servants and as much of their property as they could carry from Haran,
Abraham and his group travelled southwards for meets and months, they entered the Land of Canaan and came to the city of Shechem. In the time of Abraham, Canaan was called a Land flowing with milk and honey because it was very beautiful and fertile.
Shechem was an Important Canaanite town it was noted for its religious activities. In the centre of the town was a scared three called the promise land. To show his gratitude to God for his special favour. Abraham built an altar in honour of God.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ABRAHAM’S RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL
When Abraham left Haran, he did not know where he was going. Yet he was sure that God would guide him and protect him on the way.
This showed that Abraham was a man of faith, trust, Obedience and Courage.
These are the qualities expected of Christians to have these good qualities so that they may succeed in their various tasks on earth.
Religious and Moral Lesson
- God expects you to respond to His call to perform special duties.
- Abraham responded to God’s call with faith, trust, obedience and courage.
- Abraham built an altar in honour of God, your parents, teacher and elders for all the benefit you have received and will continue to receive from them.
GOD’S PROMISES TO ABRAHAM
- To make him a great nation.
- To bless him and make his name great.
- To bless them that bless him and curse them that curse him.
- In his family shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Assignment :
Explain in brief Abraham’s response to God’s call to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.