God calls Abraham

Abram lived with his family in Harran. One day the Lord spoke to Abram. He said, “I want you to leave your family and your people and go to another country. I will show you where to go.” The Lord also gave a promise to Abram. He said, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing to others. All the nations on earth will be blessed because of you.” Abram decided to obey the Lord. He took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot as well as his servants and possessions and left Harran. They travelled to the west until they arrived in the land of Canaan. Then they continued through Canaan, looking for a place to stay. When they reached the large tree of Moreh at Shechem, they stopped to rest. The Lord appeared to Abram at Shechem and told him, “I will give this land to your family who comes after you.” Then Abram built an altar there to honour the Lord. After a while, they packed up and travelled some more. Eventually Abram went to live near the large trees of Mamre at Hebron.

He pitched his tents and built an altar to honour the Lord. Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram again. He said, “Abram, don’t be afraid. I am like a shield to you. I will protect you and bless you.” But Abram said, “Lord, how can this land belong to my family who comes after me? I don’t have children!”

The Lord told Abram, “You will have a son of your own. He will get everything you have.” Then the Lord took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky. Count the stars, if you can.” As Abram was looking at the countless stars in the sky, the Lord said to him, “That’s how many children will be born into your family.” The Lord also said, “I am the Lord. I brought you out of the land of Babylon. I will give you this land to have as your very own.” Abram didn’t know how the Lord was going to do these things. But he remembered how the Lord had brought him safely from Harran to Hebron, and he believed the Lord. The Lord was pleased with Abram because he believed. Abram’s faith made him right with the Lord. Genesis 12 and 15