The Call Of Abraham

Genesis 12 The Call of Abraham

This morning we are going to continue our study of the book of Genesis, and begin our study of Abraham. Abraham is a pretty important person. From his children come 3 of the world’s major religions; Christianity, which is the largest religion in the world: Islam, which is the second largest religion in the world: and Judaism.

Genesis 3-11 is the story of man’s downward slide into deep dark depravity. The human race is growing more corrupt, evil, and violent. However, God has preserved a ray of hope, and that one ray of hope is a single family tree, a single line. The line of Seth. In the midst of this downward spiral we are given this verse of hope.

> Genesis 4:26 A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.

So hopeful. People began to call on the name of the Lord. They began to consider Him in their thinking, in their planning, and in their worship.

But then the world turns evil and God sends the Flood. He starts over with 8. Eight people come off the ark, and have the opportunity to start again. But from there, most of mankind heads down hill again, until they refuse to obey the Lord, and build the tower of Babel. So God confuses their languages and scatters them across the earth.

This morning, we see how man continues his downward spiral, while God begins to do a work to set things right.

So open your Bibles and turn with me please to the book of Genesis. Genesis chapter 11. Genesis chapter 11 and beginning in verse 27.

- Read Genesis 11:27-30.

In this passage we are reminded of the importance of guarding our hearts.

I. THE CARELESS MISTAKE OF MAN

These are the records of Seth’s line, of Shem and his descendants. These verses show us that something disastrous has happened.

What has happened? Mankind has lost all respect for God. The Bible is following the godly line, the god-fearing line of people, and here we find those people in the land of Ur. Ur of the Chaldeans was a center for worshipping the moon. So, the god-fearing line had wandered so far from the Lord that they have begun thinking and worshipping like everyone else.

I wonder how long that took? I wonder how many compromises there were along the way that caused mankind to lose their knowledge of God and to wander so far away from Him that they have reached the point that they are worshipping the moon?

What happened I wonder to cause man to get so sideways that within just generations they could get so twisted and confused? What does it take?

You have Noah, who did right. God worked in his life to save mankind. In the next generation, 2 out of 3 of his boys turned out ok. But then within a few generations, mankind has turned its back on God and God divided the land and confused their languages. Instead of repenting then, they continue to turn away from God to where they are worshipping the moon for crying out loud.

Save your places and turn with me please to the book of Joshua. Joshua chapter 24. Joshua chapter 24 and verse 1.

- Read Joshua 24:1-2.

They were worshipping other Gods.

My friends, it doesn’t take any effort at all to fall away from the Lord. It doesn’t take any effort at all to allow your love of the Lord to grow cold, and to become lukewarm, and what you allow in your life will often be magnified in the next generation.

> Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

The Bible tells us to gather together regularly, and to encourage one another, and even more as we see the end approaching, as we see the return of the Lord approaching.

But, we get busy, and we start missing worship from time-to-time, after all we have that new boat and this was a busy week, and we didn’t get to take it out Saturday because work had gone long.

It’s been a busy week, and we had chores to catch up on Saturday, so the Lord will understand if we just rest and relax on Sunday.

So we get complacent. Our children see that, and they begin to fall away a bit more. Well, we didn’t go to church all the time growing up. As long as we put in an appearance every once in a while it will be ok. The Lord knows we love Him.