The Call of Abram [Genesis 12:1-20]

Date of Events & Date of Writing & Primary Audience

• Date of Events: The events of Genesis 12:1-20, describing the Call of Abram, are traditionally placed around 2000-1900 BC.
• Date of Writing: The Book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses and is believed to have been written around 1446-1406 BC during the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.
• Primary Audience: The primary audience was the Israelites, providing them with a foundational understanding of their patriarchal heritage and God’s covenant promises.

Story Summary

• Summary: Genesis 12:1-20 recounts God’s call to Abram to leave his homeland and go to a land that God would show him, promising to make him a great nation. Abram obeys, travels to Canaan, faces a famine, and goes to Egypt where he deceives Pharaoh about Sarai, his wife.

Story Background

• Background: This narrative marks a significant transition in the Genesis narrative, focusing on God’s specific plan for Abram and his descendants, setting the stage for the unfolding story of Israel.

Story Highlights

• Highlights:
  • God’s Call and Promise: God calls Abram to leave his country and promises to make him a great nation (“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”).
  • Journey to Canaan: Abram obeys and travels to Canaan (“So Abram went, as the LORD had told him”).
  • Famine and Egypt: Due to famine, Abram goes to Egypt and instructs Sarai to say she is his sister (“Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you”).
  • Pharaoh’s Plague: God afflicts Pharaoh’s household with plagues because of Sarai (“But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai”).

Story Purpose

• Purpose: To illustrate Abram’s faith and obedience, the initial establishment of God’s covenant with him, and to highlight the divine protection and blessings that accompany obedience to God’s call.

Story Theme

• Theme: The themes include faith, obedience, divine promise, blessing, and protection.

Jesus Connection

• Jesus Connection: Abram’s journey of faith prefigures the journey of faith required of Christ’s followers. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to bless all nations through Abram’s seed (Galatians 3:16).

Kingdom Connection

• Kingdom Connection: The call of Abram sets the foundation for the Kingdom of God, where God’s sovereign plan unfolds through Abram’s descendants, culminating in the establishment of God’s Kingdom through Jesus Christ.

Archaeology or Scientific Discovery

• Archaeology/Scientific Discovery: While direct archaeological evidence for Abram’s journey is not available, discoveries related to ancient Near Eastern cultures and migrations provide contextual support for the historical setting of the narrative.

Hebrew Meanings of the Keywords

• Keywords:
  • “Lech-Lecha” (לֶךְ-לְךָ) – “Go forth” or “Go for yourself,” emphasizing the personal call and command to Abram.
  • “Berit” (בְּרִית) – “Covenant,” referring to the binding agreement between God and Abram.
  • “Shevet” (שֵׁבֶט) – “Tribe” or “nation,” indicating the promise of a great nation coming from Abram.
  • “Eretz” (אֶרֶץ) – “Land,” referring to the land of Canaan that God promises to show Abram.
  • “Barak” (בָּרַךְ) – “Bless,” highlighting the blessings God promises to Abram and through him to all nations.

Kingdom Teaching(s)

• Kingdom Teaching(s):
  • Faith and Obedience: Abram’s response to God’s call demonstrates the Kingdom principle of faith and obedience to God’s directives.
  • Divine Promise and Blessing: The narrative highlights the importance of divine promises and blessings in the Kingdom, showcasing God’s faithfulness to His covenant.
  • Protection and Provision: God’s protection over Abram in Egypt underscores the Kingdom theme of God’s provision and care for those who follow His call.

By examining the story of the Call of Abram through these various lenses, we gain a comprehensive understanding of the foundational elements of faith, obedience, and divine promise that are integral to the unfolding of God’s Kingdom.