By Derek Westmoreland
Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah
Focal Passage: Genesis 12:1-9
As chapter 12 begins, we find Abram who was introduced in chapter 11 (v. 26) pushed to the forefront of the story. In verses 1-9 Abram is called to leave his place of comfort for the land God promises to give to him and his descendants. It is the spiritual picture of one leaving their old way of life and beginning a new life by faith.
I. God calls. In verse 1, the Lord (Yahweh) commands Abram to leave behind his familiar surroundings. First, he is to leave his land. Second, Abram is called to leave behind his relatives. Third, the Lord calls Abram to leave behind his father’s house which is to leave behind his reputation (social clout). Specifically, Abram was leaving behind his well-known and well-respected name to go to a land where he would be unknown. His reputation would not go with him. The obedient act of faith would demonstrate that Abram desired to find his community, security, and identity, not in the things of the world; but in the Lord.
In verse 2, the Lord reveals what He will do. God did not give Abram reasons and explanations. God gave Abram promises. First, the Lord promised to make Abram a great nation. This would provide Abram with divine security. Furthermore, the Lord would change Abram’s name to Abraham (Genesis 17:5). Abraham means “father of a multitude,” father of a nation. His name would restate God’s promise. Second, the Lord would bless Abram. Third, the Lord would make his name great. Abram would leave behind his reputation and in return God would make his name greater. Abram would have a reputation far beyond what he could have obtained on his own.
Verse 3 reveals how the Lord will bless him. The biblical concept of blessing means empowering. The Lord promised to empower Abram and empower those who would bless Abram. The Lord also promised to curse those who opposed Abram. Ultimately, the Lord was assuring Abram that he would be safe and secure. The Lord concluded verse 3 with a paramount statement, “And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
II. Abram obeys. Abram, by faith, left the comforts of home. He left the people he knew and trusted, in obedience to the Lord God. Sometimes what God calls us to do does not make sense. Imagine Abram trying to explain to family that he had to leave and that he knew not where he was going. Many people like to grow up, and live, and die in the same place. Many in rural Tennessee have this desire but Abram at the age of 75 was told that his story would not end that way. He was called to uproot and relocate. He responded in obedience thus proving that God’s will was more important to him than his own. Along the journey, Abram, his wife, his nephew, and his servants traveled through Shechem to Canaan where the land was already inhabited.
In verses 1-3 the Lord spoke to Abram. In verse 7 the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” These words of assurance brought comfort to Abram. God had not only called him to leave the comforts of home but the Lord had also accompanied him to Canaan and would indeed give the land to Abram’s descendants. There is, however, a problem. Abram had no children. He had no descendants! We will have to come back to that at a later time.
What did Abram do in response to the Lord’s appearing and the Lord’s promise? He built an altar for worship (v. 7). The altar was a tangible way to demonstrate his faith in God.
In verse 8, it appears that Abram and his crew relocated from Shechem to the mountain east of Bethel. Upon arrival Abram did three things. (1) He pitched his tent, reminding us that Abram was living in temporary housing. The New Testament refers to our bodies as earthly tents (II Corinthians 5:1-5). It is important for us to remember that we are foreigners and aliens in this land. We don’t need to have deep roots here on earth for our home is in heaven.
(2) Abram built an altar to the Lord. The building of the altar lets us know that Abram recognized the need to worship the Lord regularly.
(3) He called upon the name of the Lord. Abram did not simply go through the motions building something to honor God; Abram sought the Lord. He worshiped! At this point in the story, God has revealed the lineage of blessing through which He will send the Savior!
