Genesis 11:27-12:9: The Call

Introduction

Picture from engagement - Comments - Staci hasn’t aged, but I have… Thanks for the encouragement…

Thirteen years of marriage… Lots has changed, but what hasn’t changed is the call of God on our lives.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’ve experienced lots of changes, but the call God has never changed.

What does it mean to be called by God? Grew up in church with pastors talking about “The call...” People were “called” to be missionaries. People were “called” to be pastors. Often, a supernatural calling story.

I had a specific call to pastoral ministry, but it’s not just pastors or missionaries who are called. We are all called.

What does it mean to be called by God? Called to faith, called to serve, called to go. Abraham’s story illustrates what it means to be called by God. Three truths about the calling of God on your life.

God’s call is graciously powerful.

The promise of Gen. 3:15. How will it happen? Genesis 1-11: Society spiraling downward, but in the midst of society spiraling downward a coming Messiah from the lineage of Seth - Noah, Shem, Peleg...

The hope of humanity found in one family line, but this family doesn’t live that distinctly from the rest of the world. End of Genesis 11 seems hopeless. This family line lays on the shoulders of Seth’s descendants, but at the end of Genesis 11 it seems as if all hope is gone.

The one family that is supposed to bring hope lives in Ur of the Chaldeans. In Ur the people worshipped Nannar - the moon god. Abram’s father – Terah – the meaning of his name related to“moon.” Abram’s father NOT a worshipper of Yahweh. He is like the people around him – an idolater. Joshua knew the history of his people:

And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Joshua 24:2

How could a pagan family turn the hearts of people to Yahweh? How could Gen. 3:15 be fulfilled? Shem - the one chosen to bear the name of God - but his family blows it. Family supposed to bear the name of God, but they bear the name of Nannar.

God is faithful. His promise to save and deliver His people not contingent upon their faithfulness to Him. His promise to save is bound to His faithfulness.

God calls Abraham - a 75 year old moon worshipping man with a barren wife and promises to make him a great nation from whom all nations would be blessed. An unlikely candidate because Abraham is uniquely unqualified to be used by God

You are uniquely unqualified for salvation, and you are uniquely unqualified for God’s work. But, by His grace, God qualifies you by doing in you the work He wants to do.

You are unqualified for salvation. You’ve done nothing to earn favor in the eyes of God, but He has chosen to extend you grace.

God has graciously and powerfully called you to faith. You were in the same condition as Abraham – hopeless.

You weren’t qualified for salvation even if you came from the best Christian family. (Ephesians 2) – You were dead in your sins and God called you to salvation. He made you alive – it was His work, not yours.

Since God’s work is graciously powerful you cannot be overinflated with self-importance.

Abraham would be a great nation, but he could not for a minute take any credit for himself. He could only give glory to God for His work.

Temptation: “I’m God’s gift to the church. God needs me because of my wealth, my talents, etc.” You think you are uniquely qualified for God’s work. Nope. God has graciously and powerfully changed you. You need Him.

Whenever you are tempted to think too highly of yourself – look back to who you once were.

Tomb of unknown - didn’t understand sacrifice. Garden tomb - don’t know if I completely understand sacrifice of Jesus, but I am thankful.

God’s call is radically uncomfortable.

Acts 7:3-4 - Stephen said God called Abe while he was in Ur.... (See also Gen. 15:7.) Genesis 11:27-31 is the setting for the call.

Maybe: God calls Abram, and he’s able to convince his father to leave Ur with him, but they don’t get very far. (Gen. 31:53: Abe’s father became a follower of Yahweh as well?)

Abe’s family settled in Haran. BUT, Abe’s call NOT a call to settle. Instead, a call to follow. Terah dies in Haran. Once Terah dies, Abe moves forward (Acts 7:4).

Settled – Isn’t that what we’re all looking for – a settled life? Settled is a comforting word.

God didn’t want Abe to settle. God wanted Abraham to forsake everything that was comfortable and follow Him.

The call was to leave his land, his relatives, and his father’s house and go where God showed him (12:1).

There was no road map, but how could Abe say no to God when God promised Abe so much.

Consistent pattern. God said to Abraham, “Go.” Abraham said “Where?” God said, “I’ll show you later.” God said to Abraham, “I’ll give you a son.” Abraham said, “How?” God said, “I’ll show you later.” God said to Abraham, “Kill your son.” Abraham said, “Why?” God said, “I’ll show you later.” Nothing about Abraham’s life was comfortable, and nothing about it made sense.

Greatness – (Remember Babel) Greatness would come in losing everything and completely trusting the plan of God.

A radically uncomfortable life? Giving up everything to follow God wherever He leads? This isn’t only Abe’s call. It’s your call! The Christian life has always been about trusting and obeying even when God doesn’t give you all the answers that you’re looking for.

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

Essence of faith: More than I want what is comfortable, secure, and logical, I want to be in the center of God’s will. How do you know if you are embracing God’s call to live a radically uncomfortable life for His glory? Ask three questions:

Are you holding on to anything other than God for security? When do you feel most secure? Whatever you’re holding on to is what has your heart.

Are you abusing God’s call in order to remain comfortable? “I don’t feel called.” We assume God isn’t calling us to a specific mission or place of service instead of assuming He is. Maybe it’s not that God doesn’t want you to serve in a specific way, maybe it’s that you don’t want to because you want to stay comfortable.

Are you making decisions based on how you will be blessed or how you might bless others? God called Abe to be a blessing - to live his life ultimately for the benefit of others. That’s the call on your life as well!

DMV - Guessing what to do… God doesn’t ask you to guess His will. He asks you to obey daily and He will show you the way.

God’s call is unmistakably missional.

Abram goes. At 75 years old he takes his barren wife and starts a new adventure. Not the time of life you start anew! All he had was the promise of God.

Travels about 800 miles with people he acquired in Haran. Who did he acquire? Slaves? Or, souls? Converts? Abraham is on mission.

God leads Abraham to Canaan. God could make Abraham a great nation in an uninhabited land, but God sends Abraham in the middle of enemy territory.

Shechem – geographical center of Canaan. He built an altar. “Your descendants will dwell here” (vs. 7). Bethel – built an altar.

Abe built altars in cities that were known for the worship of the supreme Canaanite god El. Why? Reclaiming the land for Yahweh. This enemy land where God has been rejected belongs to God. Abe bearing the image of God in Shechem and Bethel (Gen. 1:28, Gen. 9)

North Charleston - a center of idolatry. People worshipping pleasure, wealth, careers, etc. Ultimately, N. Charleston belongs to God. Claim it for the Gospel. Let’s take responsibility for our city.

We are on the same mission as Abram, called to claim the land for God by proclaiming the Gospel - the announcement of a better Kingdom. This is the call, and the call will never change.

Claim North Charleston for Jesus by faithfully sharing the Gospel.

If we know the call, why don’t we live it out? Why do we live as if this is not the calling?

If the only right response to God’s call is to walk in faith and obedience, why don’t we do it? A verse helps us understand why Abraham walked in obedience. He KNEW God.

and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. James 2:23

Lack of intimacy with God – You aren’t going to walk by faith if you don’t know the God who calls you to faith.

Commitment for this morning:

Exchange complacency for communion. More than programs, mission trips, small groups, etc. this is what we need. Intimacy in our walk with the Lord. We will not be missional until we are intimately walking with God.

Why should you live this kind of life – a friend of God who desires to live a radically uncomfortable life focused on others? This is what Jesus has done for you.

Jesus lived out the call of the Father on His life. The call of the Father was to go… to leave all that was comfortable and to come to which was uncomfortable - the perfect Son of God living in a fallen world among fallen people. Radically uncomfortable! He left everything that was secure and comfortable and ultimately became the object of God’s wrath and judgment so you could find ultimate security. On the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In that moment Jesus felt abandoned by everyone - the people He came for - and His father… But, if you trust Jesus, you will never have to feel that way. Jesus left His home so you could find your way home.

Believe that He died for you and rose again three days later.

Ultimate security is found only in a relationship with Jesus Christ – not the things of this world – because only Christ and His Kingdom is permanent. Jesus died in your place, taking your sin upon Himself so you could be settled in the Kingdom of God. He rose again to give you real, abundant, and eternal life. Will you repent and believe in Him and find security? Will you let go of false securities to find true security?

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