23 JUNE GENESIS 12

The Call of Abram – The Gospel Begins

Genesis 12 begins the Abrahamic narrative, a cornerstone of both Jewish and Christian theology. Here, God calls one man, not for isolation, but for multiplication. Through Abram, God will initiate a covenant that blesses all the families of the earth.

Genesis 12:1–3 (NIV) "The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’" This is not merely a migration, it is a divine commission. God uproots Abram from familiarity and sends him into divine purpose. The promises include land, nationhood, a great name, personal blessing, and most significantly, global blessing through his lineage. This passage is echoed by Paul as the very foundation of the gospel:

Galatians 3:8–9 (NIV) "Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." Abram’s obedience was immediate and without full knowledge:

Genesis 12:4–5 (NIV) "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there." At seventy-five, Abram did not delay or negotiate. He obeyed. His faith was not in the clarity of the plan, but in the reliability of the Caller. Upon arrival, Abram responded in worship:

Genesis 12:7–8 (NIV) "The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord."

Altars marked Abram’s journey—physical expressions of spiritual dependence. Wherever he wandered, he built a place to worship. Altars were not monuments to his journey, but declarations of his trust in God’s promises. Yet despite his faith, Abram was still a man subject to fear. A famine tested his resolve and led him to Egypt, where he wavered in trust.

Genesis 12:10–13 (NIV) "Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, “This is his wife.” Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.’" Here, we see the humanity of Abram. The man who had just obeyed God’s radical call falters in the face of danger. But even in Abram’s weakness, God remained faithful.

Genesis 12:17–20 (NIV) "But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. ‘What have you done to me?’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, “She is my sister,” so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!’ Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had."

This episode does not nullify the covenant. God’s covenant with Abram is based on grace, not merit, on God’s faithfulness, not human perfection. It is this kind of grace that sustains our own journey of faith. Abram’s call becomes the starting point of salvation history, leading ultimately to Christ. Matthew 1:1 (NIV) "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:"