Monday: Abraham’s Call
Daily Lesson for Monday 21st of April 2025
In the tenth chapter of Genesis, we see the birth of various nations. The word usually translated “nations” is goyim, which also can refer to Gentiles. Genesis 10:1-32 tells us that the human race divided up into lands, languages, families, and “nations” (Genesis 10:5; see also Revelation 14:6).
Almost immediately after the introduction of this concept, God calls Abraham out of one of those nations to be different from them and from what they represent.
Read Genesis 12:1-9. Why did God call Abram (later Abraham) out from his country of origin?
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God intended to use Abraham to establish a nation that would stand in contrast to human kingdoms. They were not to have a king other than God Himself. The people were to show what would happen if the human race returned to their Creator. Israel was established to be a blessing to “ ‘all the families of the earth’ ” (Genesis 12:3, NKJV). God had poured out upon the Israelites light and privileges that had not been seen in the world since, perhaps, before the Flood.
Read Deuteronomy 4:5-9. What was the Lord telling the children of Abraham, the nation that had become a fulfillment of the promise God had made to Abraham?
This was not a single individual bearing witness in a single community; this was an entire nation that, by working together and in cooperation with God, could exhibit the glory of His character. Notice, too, in the words spoken to them that it wasn’t just “statutes and judgments” that God had given them that made them so special, but their adherence to them that would cause the other nations to say, “ ‘ “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people” ’ ” (Deuteronomy 4:6, NKJV). However wonderful the truths given to the people, their failure to live up to them, to obey them, would bring curses instead of blessing and death instead of life.
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How does the same principle, that of not just knowing these truths but obeying them, apply to us as Adventists today? |
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What did Abraham (Abram) do to deserve God’s calling? Without any speculation or putting on some spin, Abram did not earn his calling. He did not do any good work or righteous deed before his calling. The Bible says that he lived among pagans and idolatrous people, including his father (Terah), who was worshiping false gods (Joshua 24:2). Abram did nothing good before he was called by God. “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” ( Exodus 33:19). The calling of Abraham was a mystery that is deeply hidden in the sovereign grace of God.
Many of us find our reflection in the calling of Abraham. We were not brought up in Adventist homes or Christian homes, but by the mysterious grace of God, we were called from darkness into marvellous light. Nothing good or act of righteousness that we did before we were called. Like Abraham, who considered himself as nothing but “dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27), we too should hold our calling with an absolute sense of humility and gratitude. Abraham did not allow God’s great promises and blessings to go into his head! This is a great example for all of us.
“By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” – (Hebrews 11:9-10, NIV)
Throughout history, God’s people have experienced cycles of faithfulness and apostasy. Both ancient Israel and the Seventh-day Adventist Church were divinely chosen, entrusted with sacred truth, and called to reflect God's character to the world. Yet both have struggled to remain faithful to that calling.
The Israelites witnessed miracles, received God’s law at Sinai, and were entrusted with the sanctuary and the promise of the Messiah. Similarly, the Adventist Church arose from the Great Awakening, guided by prophecy and a distinctive message for the end times, including the three angels’ messages and the prophetic writings of Ellen G. White.
However, spiritual privilege does not shield from spiritual decline. Israel repeatedly fell into idolatry, conformed to pagan practices, and rejected God’s prophets. Likewise, the Adventist Church has faced compromise—adopting worldly standards in areas such as worship, dress, and education. In many places, the prophetic counsel of Ellen White is neglected or dismissed.
Despite this, God has not abandoned His people. Just as Israel experienced revivals through leaders like Josiah and Nehemiah, the Adventist Church has also seen moments of spiritual renewal. Most importantly, God always preserves a faithful remnant—those who remain true to His Word and mission.
The history of Israel serves as both a warning and a call to the Adventist Church today. We must guard against spiritual drift and seek true revival, so that we may be counted among the faithful in these last days.
It was not Abraham’s plan to leave Ur and later Haran, for the land of Canaan. This was purely God's plan, in fact, when he left Ur he had no idea where he was going he went because God had said so and thus only God knew what was in store for him. In other words, as soon as he understood what God was saying, he started packing-instant obedience. It might have taken many days, or even weeks or months, to make final preparation for the journey, but in his mind, he was already on the way to God's direction. Abraham didn't even think of an equivalent of "a return ticket" just in case this mysterious journey flopped!
A big question will be why would God chose Abraham and not his brother, Neighbor, friend, or even somebody different? The Bible says in Genesis 18:19 "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him." Ironically it was many years before Abraham could have children!... interestingly, God knew that Abraham was the kind of father who would do an incredible job in training his children to understand the ways of the Lord and His idea of justice and righteousness-God who knows and understands our motives for he knew that Abraham was to become a skilled father in commanding worship in his household and by extension the spiritual household.
God knew that Abraham's ability to be a father who could command his children and family to worship, then through him God could create an entire family, a massive multigenerational family line of people after him, and ultimately, this caused God to choose Abraham, to initiate his rescue plan, to rescue humanity from the york of sin.
"What was the Lord telling the children of Abraham — the nation that had become the fulfillment of God's promise to him?" - ‘That they were to live according to the statutes and judgments the LORD God had given Abraham once they settled in the land they were to possess' - Deut. 4:5.
From the beginning, God’s relationship with man was to teach him ‘righteous living’, and this required to know the right God. All nations worshiped multitudes of gods and deities which governed their civic and religious lives. One could conclude that a central reason for God's calling was to reveal and establish again who the true God of all creation and mankind is.
Mankind did not recognize their Creator God any longer. God needed to give His people the blueprint to establish a just and righteous government based on who He IS, teaching them how to worship Him - Yahweh -, the one and only true God. It was time for God to reveal Himself once more - teaching mankind how to honor Him with their lives, follow His divine guidance and counsel to worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
The Bible talks about a people who are separated by God Himself to be witnesses of His power.
We all know we have the same origin, but to be separated by God, one needs to have faith, and faith demands acceptance.
Abraham's call should wake us up from how we view others in other denominations. He was living among a people who practiced idol worship, and it was as well practiced right in their house. God looked and saw one who was ready to accept Him. There are many who subscribe to other faiths, including witchcrafts, but are ready to accept God in their lives, it's just that voice they need to hear but they haven't heard it. We are the instruments for the voice. Now how to sound and when to make the sound is what we need to learn as well.
I have seen and read the reply of Abraham's call,they are good I'm happy for today's Sabbath mine is to thanks you for good work my God bless you guy's Amen.