Hello Master Cohen, today we will look at the calling of Abram. from time to time. But let's finish the backstory. According to Jewish tradition, Abram was the son of an idol maker, Terah.
Abram did not thrive as salesboy in daddy's idol shop, he loved being outdoors and had a successful sidegig with livestock. At this point the entourage that traveled from Ur to Haran was over 50 people including all the family and servants and the sheep, goat and camel count was over a thousand. And he had his trophy wife, Sara. Then, "it" happened.
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1 BSB
< = = = Wait, hold the phone. The LORD spoke to Abram? How? And how did he know it was G-d? What about: "I do whatever the voices in my head tell me to do syndrome?"
John Comfort responded calmly, "This is a different epoch in time. In those days people and God talked and it sounded like conversational speech. And the instructions Abram receives come directly from God, no worries about false prophets in this case. And God has more to tell Abram!"
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2,3 BSB
"Now, to be sure, God blessed Noah and his sons with the be fruitful and multiply blessing, but this is different, it is directly to Abram and is specific about what God is going to do. Here is something to ponder:
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:4 ESV
< = = = G-d will make Abram into a great nation, He will bless him, He will make Abram's name great, He will bless those that bless Abram, He will curse those that curse Abram, all the families of earth will be blessed through Abram.
"So, what's the bottom line? asked Mr. Comfort?
< = = = Jackpot! How Abram won the biggest lottery in the history of the world is way above my pay grade, but he did and it's a win all the way around, we are blessed through him.
4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan. Genesis 12:4,5 BSB
< = = = Lot? Didn't G-d direct Abram to leave his kindred behind?
John nodded, "And we will see consequences in the coming years, in fact, starting with our next lesson. Let's call it for today."
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