Part 1 – The Call
About 4000 years ago there was a man called Abram who lived in the ancient city of Haram in what is now southeast Turkey. Abram was a descendant of Shem, one of Noah’s three sons. Abram lived with his wife Sarai, his father Terah, and his nephew Lot, who was the son of his late brother Haran. Abram and Sarai had no children. But one day, when Abram was 75 years old, everything changed. God spoke to him and said,
Family tree from Noah to Abram
“Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household 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”.
And Abram, obedient to God’s call, set out on a journey that would change the course of his life forever. With his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his possessions, including his beloved cattle, Abram journeyed towards the land of Canaan, following God’s voice wherever it led him.
As they traveled, God continued to speak to Abram, promising him that he would become the father of many nations and that his descendants would inherit the land he was traveling through. And even though Abram and Sarai were childless and well past the age of bearing children, they believed in God’s promises with all their hearts.
Finally, they arrived at a place called Shechem in the land of Canaan. And there, the Lord appeared to Abram and told him that he would give that land to his offspring. Overwhelmed with gratitude and awe, Abram built an altar to the Lord and worshipped him with all his heart.
Abram pitched his tent in that very spot, with Bethel to the west and the city of Ai to the east. For Abram knew that he was walking in the footsteps of destiny, following the voice of God to a land that would one day become the home of his people and the birthplace of a nation.
