The Background: Leaving Civilization for a Call

Abraham’s story, found in Genesis 12, begins in a place very few of his contemporaries would have ever left: Ur of the Chaldeans (located in modern-day Iraq). Understanding Ur is key to understanding the magnitude of his obedience.

• The World He Left: Ur was a massive, advanced, metropolitan center of the ancient world, boasting complex canals, trade, impressive libraries, and massive temple towers (ziggurats). It was a stable, comfortable, and sophisticated place—the equivalent of leaving a major modern capital city.

• The Religion He Left: Ur was dominated by the worship of the moon god Nanna (or Sin). Abraham's family was likely involved in, or at least familiar with, the idol worship prevalent in the region (Joshua 24:2).

• His Work and Relatives: While his specific job isn't stated, he was part of a prosperous family (his father was Terah, and his brothers were Nahor and Haran), suggesting he was likely a wealthy trader, merchant, or herdsman with established roots. His wife, Sarai (later Sarah), was his half-sister, and his nephew, Lot, would travel with them.

I. The Radical Nature of the Call

Abraham's transformation into a man of faith began when God called him out of idol-worship and comfort.

• The Command and the Cost: God commanded Abram to “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) This demanded a total break from everything that guaranteed his social and economic security.

• The Birth of Faith: In exchange, God gave him the Abrahamic Covenant (land, descendants, and a universal blessing). Abraham’s first act of faith was obedience—leaving certainty for uncertainty, based only on God's voice. The Bible simply says, “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.” (Genesis 12:4)

II. Encounters and the Character of Trust

Abraham’s character was forged in several key encounters with God where promises were made, confirmed, and tested.

• Righteousness by Belief: Years later, when Abraham was discouraged by his lack of an heir, God appeared to him, promised him descendants as numerous as the stars, and his defining moment occurred: “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) Abraham became a man of faith because he chose to take God at His word—this is the foundation of Christian salvation.

• The Name Change (Identity Shift): When Abraham was 99, God formally established the Covenant, changing his name from Abram (Exalted Father) to Abraham (Father of a Multitude). This name change was a re-naming of his entire identity, tying his future directly to God’s promise and destiny.

• A Full Life: Abraham died at the ripe old age of 175 (Genesis 25:8), having lived a life of total dependence on God, constantly building altars as monuments to God's presence, and setting the precedent for all future believers.

Applying the Truth Today

Abraham's story challenges the new Christian to evaluate their sources of security. The character of Abraham calls us to be spiritual pilgrims, prioritizing God's unpredictable call over our own certain comfort. His life assures the new Christian that faith is not a feeling, but an active decision to obey God's Word, knowing that the One who promised is completely trustworthy.

Like Abraham, we are made righteous not by our works, but by believing in God's promises—a promise ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Reflection Questions for Your Journey:

1. Your "Ur." What is the comfortable, seemingly secure "city" or routine in your life that God might be asking you to leave or rearrange to follow Him more fully?

2. The Name Change. How does the idea of God re-naming Abraham based on a promise encourage you that God sees your potential future in Christ more clearly than your current reality?

3. Faith as Righteousness. Abraham was declared righteous simply for believing. How does this truth help you stop trying to earn God's love and simply rest in the gift of salvation?

Your Reading Guide

To grasp the heart of his faith, read Genesis 15:5–6. Next, read the moment of his identity change in Genesis 17:1–5. Finally, see the summary of his long life in Genesis 25:7–10.