Before we begin, you should know that, at first, Abraham’s name was not Abraham, but Abram. Two lessons from now we will see why God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. Today, however, let us keep in mind that Abraham was first called Abram. In chapter eleven of the book of Genesis, we learn that Abram belonged to the descendants of Shem. Do you remember Shem, Ham and Japheth? They were the three sons of Noah. Between Shem and Abram, there were ten generations, just as there were ten generations between Adam and Noah. Abram’s father’s name was Terah. The Scripture says: “Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot.” (Gen. 11:27) Lot was the son of Abram’s older brother. Lot’s Father had died {Note: in Wolof culture that would make Abram Lot’s functional father}. Abram’s wife’s name was Sarai. “Now Sarai was barren; she had no children.” (Gen. 11:30) Abram and Sarai had the same father, but not the same mother.
Abram lived in a city named Ur, which was located in the country of Chaldea, known today as Iraq. This city was not far from where Nimrod tried to build the city of Babel with its tall tower. The people of the land worshiped idols. Like all of Adam’s offspring, Abram was born in the darkness of sin. Abram’s father did not know the true God and neither did Abram.
However the Scriptures tell us that one day the Lord God revealed Himself to Abram and spoke with him. You need to know that in early times, God occasionally spoke directly with people, because they did not yet have the Writings of the Prophets. Today God speaks to people through the Holy Scriptures. That is why we no longer need words which resound from the sky, or visions, or angels in order to know God’s way of righteousness. When we meditate upon the Holy Scriptures, we are listening to the voice of God.
Let us listen now to what God said to Abram. In chapter twelve, verse one, we read: “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.'” (Gen. 12:1) Did you hear what God commanded Abram? He told Abram to leave his father’s house, bid farewell to his relatives, leave his country, and move to a country to which God would lead him. To man’s way of thinking, what God asked Abram to do was extremely difficult, but God had plans to greatly bless him.
Let us now reread this verse and the two verses which follow, to know why God called Abram to leave his home and go to another country.
“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. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen. 12:1-3)