God's Sovereign Call to Abraham (Genesis 12:1–9)

Introduction

• Martin Luther has been credited with the Latin phrase simul iustus et peccator.
  • R.C. Sproul said this Latin phrase captures the essence of the Reformation.
  • Simul means "at the same time." It's where we get the English word simultaneous.
  • Iustus means "just or righteous."
  • Et means "and"
  • Peccator means "sinner"
  • At once righteous and a sinner
  • The sinner is righteous in God's sight because of Christ and simultaneously a sinner as measured by his own merits.
• We will see this Latin formula portrayed in Genesis 12–22 as we look at the life of Abraham and Sarah.
• My hope is that God will teach us how to live the Christian life as we see Abraham as both righteous and sinner.
• In this passage, we see five attributes of God’s call to all believers that logically precedes saving faith.

1. God's call was unconditional. (11:28)

• Abram's family were pagan idolaters.
• Abram's family came from Ur (Gen 11:31), an important city on the Euphrates River in southern Babylonia.

And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. (Josh 24:2–3)

• Abram was an idol worshipper from a pagan city.
• He had no inherent qualities that merited God’s favor and mercy.
• And yet God called Abram.

2. God's call was persistent (11:31)

• God first appeared to Abram (Theophany) in Mesopotamia years before Genesis 12.

And he said, “Hear me, brothers and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ “Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. (Acts 7:2–4)

• It appears Abram's family initially obeyed.
• But instead of continuing to Canaan, Abram's family settled in Haran (Gen 11:31; Acts 7:4).
• Years later, after Abram's father Terah dies in Haran, God calls Abram again.
• For many of us, it will take numerous external calls from God before we finally respond.
• Each time you share the gospel (children, prisoners, family members), you are proclaiming God’s external call to the lost.

3. God’s call was all-encompassing (12:1)

And Yahweh said to Abram, "Go forth from your land, and from your kin and your father's house..." (v.1a)

• God commanded Abram to leave behind everything.
  • His hometown, his country, his family, his father's household, and his inheritance.
• There would be no turning back.

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:23–25)

• Following Christ costs you nothing, but it will also cost you everything.

4. God's call promises blessing. (12:2–3)

And they said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name..." (Gen 11:4a)

• The men at Babel wanted to make a name for themselves (Gen 11:4).

And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great... (Gen 12:2a)

• Now, God freely gives Abram a great name.
• All true blessedness comes from God alone.

5. God’s call was effectual (12:4–9)

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, He doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. (WSC 31)

Let’s look at four evidences of God’s effectual call. These are evidences and not grounds for salvation.

1. Obedience (v.4)

"So Abram went forth as Yahweh had spoken to him." (v.4a)

• Abram's saving faith was accompanied by obedience.

Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18b)

2. Worship (v.7)

"Then Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, 'To your seed I will give this land.' So he built an altar there to Yahweh who had appeared to him." (v.7)

• When God appears and speaks to Abram, Abram responds in worship.
• Altars were built for worship.
• Noah built an altar in Genesis 8:20.
• Genesis records Abram building four altars: Shechem (12:7), Bethel and Ai (12:8), Hebron (13:18), and Mount Moriah (22:19) with the sacrifice of Isaac.

3. Profession (v.8)

"And there he built an altar to Yahweh and called upon the name of Yahweh." (v.8b)

• "called upon the name of Yahweh" is the same phrase used in Genesis 4:26.

And to Seth, to him also, a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of Yahweh. (Gen 4:26)

• Abraham’s conversion did not occur in Genesis 22.
• Abraham was already born again here in Genesis 12.
• Genesis 12:8 affirms that God had called Abram and given him saving faith.

The Hebrew "called upon the name of Yahweh" (Gen 12:8) is the exact Hebrew phrase in Joel 2:32.

• And...everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be delivered. (Joel 2:32)

The Greek translation (LXX) of Gen 12:8 is identical to Romans 10:13

• "For WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED" (Rom 10:13)
• Abram professes faith in God, and God saves Abram here in Genesis 12.

4. Perseverance (v.9)

And Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev. (v.9)

• The Negev was a desert region in the southern part of Canaan.
• Because the native Canaanites prevented Abram from settling in a more desirable location, Abram had to continue south all the way to the southern semidesert region called the Negev.
• God did not provide Abram with convenience, ease, or comfort.

Conclusion

• God’s call is unconditional, persistent, and all-encompassing.
• It promises blessing, and God's call is always effectual.
• Our response to God’s irresistible call involves obedience, worship, public profession, and perseverance.

Application

1. Be humble. The only difference between a believer and an unbeliever is the grace of God.
2. Be ready. Following God costs us nothing, but God now asks for everything. He wants our obedience, worship, profession, and perseverance.
3. Be encouraged. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." (Jim Elliot)

For our momentary, light affliction is working out for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. (2 Cor 4:17)