God’s Call and Promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1–9; 17:1–8)
In the Bible, Abraham is one of the most important people we read about.
But before he was known as Abraham, he was simply Abram, living a normal life in a place called Ur.
Then one day, God called him — and everything changed.
Genesis 12 and 17 tell the story of how Abram trusted God and received amazing promises that would change history forever.
Let’s take a closer look.
God Calls Abram
One day, God spoke to Abram.
He told him to leave his country, his family, and his home — and go to a land that God would show him.
God didn’t even tell Abram exactly where he was going!
But along with this big command, God gave Abram incredible promises:
- Abram would become a great nation.
- God would bless him and make his name known.
- Abram would be a blessing to others.
- All the families of the earth would be blessed through him.
God was offering Abram something bigger than he could ever imagine — but it would take faith and courage.
Abram’s Obedience
What did Abram do?
He obeyed — without knowing all the details.
He packed up his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all their belongings, and they set out on a long journey.
They traveled through a new land called Canaan.
At different places along the way, Abram built altars to worship God and thank Him for His guidance.
Even though Abram didn’t have a clear map or a full plan, he trusted that God would lead him.
And God was with him every step of the way.
God’s Covenant with Abraham
Many years later, when Abram was 99 years old, God spoke to him again.
This time, God made a special agreement called a covenant — a lasting promise between God and Abram.
God also changed his name from Abram to Abraham, which means “father of many nations.”
Here’s what God promised Abraham:
- He would have many descendants — so many they couldn’t be counted!
- He would be the father of nations and kings.
- His descendants would inherit the land of Canaan.
- God would be their God forever.
These promises weren’t just for Abraham — they were for all his future children and generations after him.
Conclusion
Abraham’s story is powerful because it shows what happens when someone trusts God completely.
Even when he didn’t know where he was going or how everything would work out, Abraham believed God’s promises — and his faith changed the world.
Today, we can learn from Abraham’s example.
When we trust God, even when it’s hard, He leads us to places and blessings greater than anything we could imagine.
And just like with Abraham, God’s promises never fail.
Genesis 12:1-9; 17:1-8 (WEB)
1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they went to go into the land of Canaan. They entered into the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time, Canaanites were in the land.7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.”He built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 He left from there to go to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the LORD’s name. 9 Abram traveled, still going on toward the South.17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”3 Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying, 4 “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. 7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God.”