Transcript:
Genesis 12:1—“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”
God calls Abram not just to move to a new place, but to embrace a life of faith in His promise. The command is both clear and demanding. Abram is instructed to leave behind all that was familiar to him, his homeland, his relatives, and even his father’s household, without being provided with a detailed route or specific destination. The focus is not on where Abram is headed, but on the trust he places in God.
This call occurs in a world characterised by dispersion and rebellion following the Tower of Babel. God's redemptive purpose now unfolds not through human effort, but through divine election and promise. Abram is chosen not because of any merit, but solely by God's grace. We also note that faith begins with God's Word. "The LORD had said"—Abram's response follows because God has spoken.
This call confronts our desire for certainty and control over life. Abram is not asked to understand fully before acting, but to entrust himself to the God who speaks. The phrase “unto a land that I will show thee” emphasises that guidance comes after obedience, not before. God reveals the path step by step, teaching His servant to walk by faith rather than by sight.
Genesis 12:1 reminds us that following God often requires difficult separations, but it never leads to meaningless loss. What Abram leaves behind is far outweighed by the promises that God has for him. True faith in obedience does not rely on visible certainty; instead, it rests in the faithfulness of the Lord who calls us.
