How did God choose and speak to Abram out of a pagan world?
Out of a world saturated with pagan idolatry, God singled out Abram, whose family were idolaters with no knowledge of the one true God. He appeared to him, spoke as if face to face, and commanded him to leave his country, kindred, and father's house for a land God would show him.
Les explains that Genesis 12 begins with what the Lord had said back in chapter 11. Abram’s family were idolaters, idol worshipers, and pagans who had no knowledge of the one true God. Out of the whole then-known world saturated with pagan worship, God put His finger on one man, appeared to him, and spoke to him, as the Old and New Testaments make plain, face to face. He told Abram to leave his idolatrous family, break from paganism, and go to a land God would show him. Les also notes Abram was not totally obedient, and he places the blame on Abram’s father, who chose to go along; God stopped him halfway between Ur and Canaan until Oterah died.