Genesis 12:1-3 "Then the Lord said to Abram, "Leave your country, your kindred, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will raise up a great nation from you, and I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you Whoever curses you, I will curse him. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

The call of Abram in Genesis 12 (see later Abraham Genesis 17:5) opens a new chapter in the Old Testament concerning the beginning of God's purpose for the redemption and salvation of the human race. God wanted a man who would know Him and serve Him in unwavering faith. From this man would come a seed who would know, teach, and keep the ways of the Lord (see Genesis 18:19 and note). He wanted from this race to come forth a chosen nation, who would do God's will and be completely separated from the ungodly ways of other nations. From this nation will be born Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, and the seed of the promised woman (see Genesis 3:15 and its commentary and passages such as Galatians 3:8, 16, 18). Many important lessons can be learned from Abraham's call:

(1) Among these was the separation of Abraham from his country, kindred, and his father's house (Gen. 12:1) and reckoned as a stranger and sojourner in the world (Heb. 11:13). His people are to be separated from everything that hinders God's purpose in life, an important principle God established in Abraham's life See the essay "Spiritual Separation of Believers" on page 1516 and the essay "The Christian's Relation to the World" on page 1674.

(2) God promised Abraham that He would give him a land, a great nation through his descendants, and a blessing from which all the nations of the earth would benefit (Genesis 12:2-3). The New Testament clearly teaches that the last element of this promise is being fulfilled through the proclamation of the gospel of Christ to the nations (Acts 3:25: Gal 3:8).

(3) Further, in Abraham's call, not only was a worldly country promised, but a heavenly one as well. The final abode spoken of in his visions is not of this world, but heavenly. And the builder and creator of the city mentioned is God himself. Abraham longed and strived ever since for a heavenly land, where he would dwell with God in righteousness, joy, and peace forever (Heb. 11:9-10; 14-16 as well as Rev. 21:1-4: 22:1-5 compare places etc). Until that time he will remain a foreigner and a sojourner on earth (Heb. 11:9, 13).

(4) Abraham's call contains not only promise but also responsibility. Abraham had to be obedient and personally committed to the Lord God in order to receive what was promised. Obedience and commitment include (a) faith in God's Word, even when fulfillment of the promise seems humanly impossible (Gen. 15:1-6; 18:10-14). (b) obedience to God's command to forsake one's bowl (Gen 12:4: Heb 11:8) and (c) sincere effort to live a truly righteous life (Gen 17:1-2).

(5) God's promise and blessing to Abraham is not only for his fleshly descendants (i.e. not only for believing Jews), it is for all people who in true faith (Genesis 12:3) receive Jesus Christ as his shall follow, that is, upon those who are the true children of Abraham (Gal. 3:14, 16). In fact those who have faith in Abraham are the true children of Abraham (Gal 3:7) and are blessed with him (Gal 309). They are Abraham's descendants or heirs according to the promise (Gal 3:29). God's promise also includes the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ Jesus (see Galatians 3:14 and note).

(6) Abraham's faith in God is manifested through obedience, so this faith is declared to be the best example of genuine saving faith (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:1-5, 16-24; Gal. 3:6). -9: Hebrews 11:8-09: See places like Zechariah 2:21-23 as well as Genesis 15:6 and its commentary). According to the Bible, if there is no obedience to the Lord Jesus after confessing him as the Creator or knowing the Lord, then that faith is not as fast as the faith of Abraham, and is not a genuine saving faith at all.