The Great and Glorious Call of God

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.’”

Genesis 12:1 (NIV)

Genesis 12 captures a majestic moment, a moment when heaven collided with earth. In an instant, the greatness of the immortal God was revealed to a mortal man. The Lord spoke to Abram through a straightforward and short message, charging Abram to leave his homeland, along with his extended family, and journey to an undisclosed location. Abram was beseeched to relinquish all the personal plans he had for commerce and prosperity in Haran, the land his father, Terah, had brought him to many years prior. God’s call demanded much of Abram: sacrifice, trust, and obedience. It required Abram to physically and spiritually step outside his realm of personal comfort and become an earthly wanderer, dependent solely upon God for direction and provision. In essence, Abram’s move necessitated letting go of the reigns of his life and consigning them to God.

Abram did everything God told him to do, thus confirming his confidence in God’s ability to guide, protect, and help care for his family’s needs. Based upon a non-descriptive promise of God Abram abandoned land and loved ones in Haran. Clearly, he was a man of giant-like faith. His temperament, fully accepting of God’s decree, was postured to allow God’s influence and inspiration to overwhelm him. Abram understood that if the Maker of heaven and earth had pledged to honor his legacy then the seemingly unusual command to evacuate Haran would be sanctified through submission. Because Abram cherished the great and glorious call of God he gathered his belongings and set out into the vast unknown.   

This passage identifies two critical conditions of receiving God’s call: an attentive spirit and an accepting heart. Abram not only heard God’s call but he appropriately responded to it. He did more than just mentally absorb information from God; he acknowledged God’s communication and allowed it to propel him into action. Abram recognized the tremendous blessing it was to be given a mission by God. Sadly, there are some who choose to apply closed ears and calloused spirits. Such people refuse to marvel at God’s message or follow His leadership. They allow stubbornness to justify a stationary state. When people are spiritually insensitive to God’s word they are immobile to His will. The spiritually calloused live stagnate, unproductive lives (by God’s standards) and stay in a perpetual cycle of self-serving pursuits and ambitions.  But this was not the case with Abram. He yielded himself to God, even though it meant leaving behind that which was familiar.

God’s calls are often unannounced and unexpected, but this should not negate the fact that believers should always be ready to do whatever the Lord asks. God’s directive may seem strange and unorthodox, as it was with Abram in Genesis 12, but it is noble because it comes directly from the holy, righteous God. Abram’s example validates that serving the Lord and surrendering to Him is not easy. But Abram’s example also validates that it is extremely edifying to be in the center of God’s purpose and spiritually rewarding to let Him steer us through this world.