What do you do when the future feels uncertain?
Do you ever wish God would part the clouds and tell you exactly what He wants you to do with your life? Sounds like it’d make things easier, right? Most of us want a map before we take the first step.
Yes, Abraham’s story is about moving to a new land. But it’s about learning to trust God before you have all the answers. Whether you’re making a difficult decision, starting over, or wondering what’s next, Abraham’s journey is here to remind you and me that faith often begins before the path becomes clear.
Let’s take a closer look at God’s promise to Abraham to learn more about how we can trust God, even when we can’t make sense of His plan.
The Main Point of God’s Call to Abraham
The story of God’s call to Abraham reminds us that God doesn’t always show us the whole picture before asking us to take the first step. Sometimes faith looks less like certainty and more like trusting that God knows where He’s leading.
Where's the Story of God’s Promise to Abraham in the Bible?
You can find God’s promise to Abraham in the Old Testament, in Genesis 12:1-9. Certain Bible translations title this section “The Call of Abram.”
This promise is made after the creation story and the fall, and marks the beginning of Abraham’s story, back when he was called “Abram”. We’ll also talk about when God gave Abram a new name, and how the name “Abraham” relates to the larger Bible story.
A Summary of the Abraham Story
- God speaks to Abram. God calls Abram to leave his homeland, friends, and father’s household and to settle in a new land.
- God’s promises. God promises to make Abram into a great nation, to bless him, and to make his name great so that all peoples on earth will be blessed through him.
- Abram’s obedience. Abram sets out for Canaan with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all their possessions.
- God’s ongoing blessing. Despite being a foreigner in the land, Abram prospers, and God continues to affirm His promises.
- God gives Abram a new name. Later in the story, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of many nations.”
What Did God Promise Abraham?
God made five remarkable promises to Abraham:
- A new land. God would lead Abraham to a land He'd one day give to his descendants.
- A great nation. Even though Abraham and Sarah had no children, God promised they would somehow become a great nation.
- A great name. Abraham would become known for generations to come.
- God’s blessing. God promised to bless Abraham and protect him.
- A blessing for the whole world. Through Abraham’s family, every nation on earth would be blessed.
The rest of Abraham’s story is really the story of God beginning to fulfill these promises, often in ways Abraham couldn’t yet see.
What Did Abraham Leave Behind?
In the ancient world, leaving your family wasn’t like moving to another city today. Your family was your safety net, your livelihood, and your future. So walking away wasn’t like going off to college.
God called Abraham to leave:
- His country. The land where he had spent his entire life.
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His people. His extended family, friends, and community.
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His father’s household. His inheritance, identity, and the security that came with it.
This story reminds me that following God's call usually costs something. When God calls us into something new, He often calls us to leave something behind. Maybe it’s an old relationship, habit, or mindset. Or maybe, like Abraham, he’s calling you to a new location.
A Deeper Dive Into the Abraham Story
We first read about Abram in a lineage record found at the end of Genesis 11. Following this introduction, we learn that his family had moved from Ur and settled in Harran. He lived in this area with his wife, father, and nephew before later following God’s call to Canaan.
The Call of Abram
Genesis 12 opens with a conversation that would make most of us incredibly uncomfortable.
God tells Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household.” In other words, leave your home, your community, and everything you’ve ever known.
But there’s just one problem. God doesn’t tell Abram where he’s going.
Instead, He says, “Go to the land I will show you.”
Imagine receiving that call today. Leave your home, family, job, favorite coffee shop, and start packing. But you don’t know where you’re going.
That’s what makes Abram’s response so strange. He isn’t following a carefully mapped-out plan. Instead, he’s trusting the God he barely knows.
And what a promise it was! God told Abram that He would give him a new land, make him into a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and, through him, bless every nation on earth.
Abram’s Obedience and Journey
After receiving this call from the Lord, Abram and his family set out toward Canaan. The Canaanites had different values and beliefs from Abram’s family, which was a source of tension and fear.
The Lord appeared to Abram in Canaan and promised that the land would one day belong to his offspring. In response, Abram built an altar, in remembrance of when God appeared to him. Then he and his family continued on their journey.
God’s Covenant and Long-Term Promise
In the chapters that follow, we see God’s faithfulness to Abram, even during times when Abram tried to take control. While Abram and Sarai waited for a child, the Lord met Abram and confirmed His blessing. In Genesis 15, we read:
… “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” … He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:1-6 NIV
Abram’s trust in the Lord’s plan required faith and obedience.
Abram’s trust in the Lord’s plan required faith and obedience. He was called to travel from the land he was familiar with, face enemies, and believe that God would one day give him a child. In the middle of his encounter with God in Genesis 15, we read that Abram’s belief in God’s promises made him righteous.
In Genesis 17, God reminds Abram of His promise and renames him “Abraham.” This new name reflected God’s promise to make Abraham the father of many nations—and that God would remain the God of the generations to come.
Why Is the Story of God’s Promise to Abraham in the Bible?
The story of God’s promise to Abraham marks a turning point in the Bible’s larger story. In Genesis, after humanity’s repeated cycles of sin and brokenness, God chose Abraham as the starting point of a new plan to bless the world.
Through Abraham, God began building a people who would carry His promises forward. The covenant with Abraham was repeated and expanded throughout Genesis, showing that God’s plan is both intentional and enduring.
This promise reached beyond Abraham’s lifetime. His family grew into the nation of Israel, and generations later, Jesus was born from Abraham’s line. Through Jesus, the blessing God promised to Abraham extends to every nation and every person.
What Does the Story of God’s Promise to Abraham Teach Us?
1. Faith means moving before you see. God made a bold promise to Abraham—that he would be the father of many nations. But there was nothing about his present reality that guaranteed that future hope—Abraham and Sarah were growing older, and she remained childless. Still, Abraham was obedient to God’s calling.
2. Our situations don’t dictate our hope. Imagine how Abraham must have felt when he heard God. While he was likely filled with anticipation, waiting for the fulfilment of the promise would have taken immense trust and courage.
3. Sometimes obedience requires leaving comfort. Growth rarely happens when we’re comfortable. Abraham knew this truth and chose to be obedient to God, even when it didn’t make sense. He left the comfort of what he knew to boldly follow God’s call.
Why Is the Story of God’s Promise to Abraham Important Today?
When life feels uncertain or God’s promises feel like they fall flat, we can remember Abraham’s faith and trust in God. God had made a bold promise to Abraham—that he would be the father of many nations and that all people would be blessed through him. But his family remained small—just him and his wife—for many years.
Eventually, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, one of the next major biblical characters. And in the New Testament, both Matthew and Luke note how Jesus’ lineage goes all the way back to Abraham.
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12.
And through this story, we can be reminded that we can trust God’s plans, even when we don’t understand how He’s working and moving in our lives. Abraham didn’t get to see the full completion of God’s promise during his lifetime. However, God used Abraham’s faith, trust, and obedience during his life to fulfill His plan generations later.
Common Questions About Abraham
What was the call of Abram in Genesis 12?
The call of Abram happened when God promised Abram that he would be a father of many nations and receive many blessings. The promise required Abram to obediently follow God away from the comfort and familiarity of his home and go to a land of God’s choosing. Following God’s call was Abram’s first step of obedience, and we can read more examples in the chapters that follow.
What does “father Abraham” mean?
This term is often attributed to Romans 4:16-17, where Abraham is called the “father” of our faith. One of the many reasons this is attributed to Abraham is that he was the first person mentioned in the Bible to have righteousness credited to him by his faith in God.
How does this story point to Jesus?
From the very beginning of the Bible, God has been on a mission to bring full and complete redemption to His children. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, and his family line eventually brought about Jesus, who would be our ultimate source of salvation and reconciliation with God.
Why Did God Choose Abraham?
The Bible never explains why God chose Abraham instead of someone else. It doesn’t point to Abraham’s wealth, influence, or moral perfection. Instead, Genesis simply tells us that God chose him and made a promise that'd eventually bless the whole world through his family.
Why Did God Tell Abraham to Leave His Home?
God called Abraham to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household for a land He would show him. Leaving meant walking away from everything familiar without knowing exactly where he was going. Abraham’s journey begins with trust long before he reaches his destination.
How Old Was Abraham When God Called Him?
Abraham was 75 years old when God called him to leave Harran and travel to Canaan (Genesis 12:4). His story begins long after the stage of life when many people expect to settle down.
What Is the Abrahamic Covenant?
The Abrahamic Covenant is God’s promise to Abraham that He would give him descendants, a land, and a lasting blessing. God also promised that through Abraham’s family, every nation on earth would be blessed. Christians understand Jesus to be the ultimate fulfillment of that promise.
Why Did God Change Abram’s Name to Abraham?
In Genesis 17, God changes Abram’s name, often understood to mean “exalted father,” to Abraham, often understood to mean “father of many.” The new name reflected God’s promise that Abraham would become the father of many nations, even though he and Sarah still had no children together.
Reflect or Discuss
- Is there an area of your life where it feels difficult to trust God’s plan? What step of faith can you take today?
- What comforts are you being asked to leave behind in order to grow?
- How can you be a blessing to others this week?