Week 1: The Divine Call of Abraham
Title: The Call That Changes Everything
Key Scripture: Genesis 12:1–4 (ESV)
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.’”
1. The Call of God is Sourced by the Divine
• God’s Sovereign Choice:
God Himself initiated the call to Abram. This wasn’t man-made; it was divinely orchestrated. Abram’s call was specific and unique to him.
Genesis 12:1 (ESV): “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.’”
• A Task Only Abraham Could Fulfill:
• God chose Abraham because of His divine foresight. He saw the connections through history and generations that would lead to Jesus Christ.
• Matthew 1:1 (ESV): “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
• Abraham’s DNA, both physical and spiritual, was integral to God’s plan to bless the nations.
• Application:
God has a unique call for each of us. Just as Abraham was divinely chosen, so are we called to specific purposes.
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
2. The Call of God Changes the Physical Aspects of Life
• A Change of Venue:
Abraham had to leave the familiar (his country, kindred, and father’s house) and step into the unknown.
Genesis 12:4 (ESV): “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”
• A Change of Location:
The call required Abraham to trust God to direct him to a land he had never seen.
Hebrews 11:8 (ESV): “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
• A Change of Purpose:
Abraham’s life shifted from personal ambition to being a conduit of God’s blessing to the nations.
Genesis 12:2 (ESV): “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”
• Application:
The call of God is a priority that realigns our goals and redirects our paths. It opens doors that we cannot open on our own.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
3. The Call of God is Eternal
• Legacy Through Generations:
God’s promise to Abraham wasn’t limited to his lifetime. It extended to his descendants and beyond, creating a legacy that would glorify God.
Genesis 17:7 (ESV): “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”
• The Eternal Nature of God’s Call:
• Abraham’s faith impacted future generations, culminating in the coming of Christ and the blessing of all nations.
• Galatians 3:8 (ESV): “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’”
• Stories That Endure:
Abraham’s obedience became a testimony of faith for generations.
Hebrews 11:9–10 (ESV): “By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”
• Application:
God’s call on our lives echoes beyond our time. Our obedience today lays the foundation for others to glorify God in the future.
Psalm 145:4 (ESV): “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”
Conclusion:
• God’s call is personal, purposeful, and eternal.
• Abraham’s life illustrates the transformative power of answering God’s call.
• Are you willing to leave the familiar and trust God with your future?
Challenge:
• Reflect on the unique call God has placed on your life.
• Consider the ways it might require change, redirection, or trust in God’s promises.
• Commit to leaving a legacy that glorifies God.
Closing Scripture:
2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV): “[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”