God called Abraham to start a new nation, Israel, through which He would reveal Himself to a world steeped in idolatry.
After the Tower of Babel, the whole human race became saturated in paganism and idolatry. In His grace, God chose one man, Abraham, who had potential for faith, to be the father of a special nation. This marked a shift from dealing with all humanity to focusing on the nation of Israel.
Genesis 12:1 — This verse records God's direct call to Abraham to leave his idolatrous home and go to a land God would show him.
Genesis 12:2 — This verse reveals God's promise to make Abraham a great nation, which is central to why God called him.
The Bible records that after the Tower of Babel, humanity was scattered and languages were confused (Genesis 11). By the time of Abraham, the world was steeped in idolatry, and even Abraham's family served other gods (Joshua 24:2). In Genesis 12:1-2, God commanded Abraham to leave his country, his family, and his father's house, and promised to make him a great nation. This call was a pivotal moment as God began to deal specifically with one man and his descendants, the people of Israel.
Les Feldick emphasizes that after the Tower of Babel and the scattering of peoples, the entire human race became saturated in idolatry and paganism. God, in His grace, reached down to one man, Abraham, who had a spark of faith or potential to believe, and called him out of Ur of the Chaldees. This was a totally different act by God, shifting from dealing with humanity as a whole to dealing with a specific nation, Israel, through which He would eventually reach the world. God pulled Abraham out of the mainstream of humanity, and from him came the nation of Israel, the Jews.
According to Les Feldick, the whole world was steeped in idolatry and paganism, including Abraham's own family. Every pagan or idolatrous religion had its beginnings at the Tower of Babel, so by the time of Abraham, the human race was saturated in mythology and idolatry. There was no knowledge of the one true God.
Les Feldick teaches that before Abraham, God dealt with all humanity as one race, but after the call of Abraham, God began to deal specifically with the nation of Israel, letting the rest of the nations go on their pagan way. This marked a new dispensation where God focused on the Jews, with rare exceptions like Nineveh. The nation of Israel was meant to be a channel to bring knowledge of God back to the nations.
Les Feldick explains that out of a race saturated in idolatry, God found one man, Abraham, who still had a spark of faith or the ability to believe. God saw potential for faith in Abraham and revealed Himself to him, telling him to leave Ur and his family. This was an act of God's grace, similar to His calling of Saul on the road to Damascus.
Timeline from Adam to Abraham
Les outlines the timeline from Adam to Abraham, placing the Tower of Babel and the call of Abraham in the context of biblical history.
God Calls One Man Out of Humanity
Les explains that after 2000 years of human failure, God did something totally different by calling out one man, Abraham, to start the nation of Israel.
Abraham Called Out of Idolatry
Les emphasizes that the whole world, including Abraham's family, was steeped in idolatry, so God's call to leave was a direct response to that environment.
God Begins to Deal with One Nation
After Babel, God calls Abraham to start a chosen nation, Israel, while letting other nations go their own pagan way.
Abraham Pulled from the Mainstream
God pulled Abraham out of the mainstream of humanity to start the nation of Israel, while the rest of humanity drifted toward eternal doom.
World Steeped in Idolatry
Les describes the world at Abraham's time as steeped in idolatry and mythology, with Abraham being one man with a spark of faith.
Israel Chosen to Bless the Nations
God pulled Israel out of the river of humanity to be a channel to bring knowledge of God back to the nations.
Abraham's Potential for Faith
Les stresses that God saw in Abraham a potential for faith and revealed Himself to him, telling him to leave Ur.
Genesis 12:1: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
God's direct command to Abraham to leave his idolatrous surroundings.
Genesis 12:2: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
God's promise to make Abraham a great nation, which is the purpose of the call.
Joshua 24:2: And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
This confirms that Abraham's own family served other gods, highlighting the idolatrous environment.
According to Les Feldick, the entire human race was steeped in idolatry and paganism, including Abraham's own family. Every pagan religion had its roots at the Tower of Babel, and by 2000 BC, the world was saturated in mythology and idolatry.
Yes, God saw in Abraham a potential for faith or the ability to believe. Out of an idolatrous world, God chose Abraham to be the father of a new nation, Israel, through which He would work to bring blessing to all nations.
Before Abraham, God dealt with all humanity as one race. After the call, God began to focus on the nation of Israel, letting the rest of the world go on its pagan way, with rare exceptions.
Watch the Teaching: From Adam to the Rapture: God's Plan for the Ages