In my previous study, I submitted for consideration that Abram’s call was by grace, not by merit, as Jewish tradition tells us. Jewish tradition declares that Abram was not an idolator, when he lived in Ur of the Chaldees! In fact, it is said that he was persecuted there for his obedience to the Lord. If this were true, it could be deduced that the Lord called Abram, because he was righteous, prior to his call to go to the Land of Canaan. Therefore, the Lord’s call would have come to Abram, due to his righteousness, vis-à-vis his merits. However, the scriptures tell us that Abram was an idolator (Joshua 24:2-3), while he was in Ur of Mesopotamia.[1] Thus, according to the scriptures, the call of Abram (see Acts 7:2-4 and Genesis 12:1-4) was by the grace of God, not the merits of man (Abram).
It is in this context, therefore, that the Lord interrupted Abram’s pagan life to promise him, what he couldn’t attain by himself. The Lord promised him the seven things mentioned above. Moreover, in so doing, Abram would become a blessing (verse-2). Think about that for a moment. What would it be like to be a blessing to everyone around you? Imagine having that effect upon other folks, that your mere presence would make their lives better! Think of the effect Moses’ call had upon the entire nation of Israel, who lived in bondage. Think of the effect David had on Israel. The nation was better off, while he was king. Think of the folks who were blessed, as the shadow of Peter fell upon them (Acts 5:14-15). Think of the effect a member of a family has upon his household, after he’s been called by God, or the effect he has upon his neighbors and friends! So, in Abram, “all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:2-3). Such is the effect of one life that changes in obedience to God.
We are told in the text that Abram left Haran, as the Lord had commanded him, taking his wife, and his nephew, Lot, with him, together with all the wealth they had accumulated, while they dwelt in Haran. When he finally left Haran to go to Canaan, Abram was 75 years old (Genesis 12:4-5).
However, as I mentioned in an earlier study, first impressions don’t always tell us the whole truth about a matter. First of all, the text reveals that Abram’s father, Terah took Abram to Haran, intending to go to Canaan (Genesis 11:31). It isn’t until we get to the New Covenant text that we discover the call of God originated in Ur, but Abram, didn’t leave his family, as he was commanded to do. Rather, it was Terah, who actually took Abram, when they left Ur (Acts 7:2-4). Finally, although they left Ur to ultimately go to Canaan (Genesis 11:31), neither Abram nor his father knew, where they were going (Hebrews 11:8). The fact that they stopped and dwelt in Haran, implies that Terah, who never received the call from God, thought, or simply declared, that Haran was the appointed destination. Therefore, it appears Terah was making Abram’s decisions for him. In other words, the call Abram received at Haran was, by the grace of God, vis-à-vis his second opportunity to obey.
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[1] While the text doesn’t specifically say Abram was an idolator, how was he not, if the world was idolatrous? From where did he receive his information prior to the Lord’s call? The Lord spoke with Noah, but scripture doesn’t record God speaking with any other man, until we come to Abram. To say the Lord was teaching Abram, before he called him to leave for Canaan is presumptuous.
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