The Call

O. T. 28  "The Call"    April 18, 2013
Genesis 12-Part 1

LET IT GLOW

What was I doing when the call came? My family was in a worship service, my husband was preaching one Sunday night, when his sister called. Their brother had drown and to come was the news. Another time I was alone at the house when when the call came. My husband and children were at a meeting at our associational camp one Saturday morning. Mom told me that Dad had passed away. That's not the same kind of call that God placed to Abram (later changed to Abraham).

What was Abram doing when he got the call from God? He was living in Haran when this call came(12:1). It was originally given to him in Ur of the Chaldees (15:7). Acts 7:2 tells us he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. Falwell concluded that Abram didn't know where he was going, so his stay in Haran was not disobedience (Heb. 11:8) He was being sent to the land of Canaan, which was God's ultimate purpose for Abram.
My conclusion is that God had already been talking to Abram before the call came, though it's not recorded in the Bible. Otherwise, would he have obeyed? Remember, he grew up in a pagan worshiping family.

Are we quietly listening for God's call? Am I ready to answer the call, no matter where it takes me or what it has me doing?

What were the blessings that God promised to Abram?

1. a land
2. a great nation (many seeds)
3. he would be a blessing.

At this time, Abram's wife Sarai had no children, was barren.
Abram's whole life centered around each of these promises as he was severely tested in all three areas. (Falwell)

God called one man to begin the fulfillment of His promise in Genesis 3:15, to send a Savior to the world.

LET IT GROW

The LORD told Abram to get out of his country and from his kindred (KJV);
to leave his country, people, and his father's household and go to the land God would show him. (NIV)

Did Abram obey? He did not obey fully.
Instead of leaving his father behind, he took him along; and the pilgrimage was delayed at Haran, where Terah died. Often our half-way obedience becomes costly, both in time and treasure. Abraham lost the time he could have spent walking with God, and he lost his father too. Abraham took Lot with him on the next stage of the journey, but Lot also had to be taken away from Abraham (13:5-14)
(Wiersbe)

 However, Abram took Lot, his nephew, when told to leave family. That decision would come back to bite him. Abram is 75 years old and Sarai is 65 when they started on this journey of faith.

It isn't easy to leave the familiar to go to another state to serve the Lord. We did that when I was 43. We rented the biggest U-Haul truck that was available. I cried the two days it took to get there. We had to leave our two children behind. But, it became a blessed time, looking back, because we were in God's will.

Are you willing to go wherever, whenever God says to?
What will you be doing when the call comes?

LET IT GO

Be listening for God's call.

Answer it when the call comes.

Be willing to go and do it.

Trust in God's promises.