God called Abraham because the human race had fallen into idolatry and false religion, and He chose one man to begin the nation of Israel through whom He would bring redemption to the world.
After 2,000 years of human failure and the mass idolatry that began at the Tower of Babel, God did something totally different—He called one man, Abram, out of the mainstream of humanity. He promised to make him a great nation, give that nation a land, and eventually provide its King. Through that nation, Israel, God intended to take salvation back to the whole human race.
Genesis 12:1-3 — This is the foundational passage where God calls Abram and makes the promises that explain His purpose.
In Genesis 12:1-3, the LORD 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: 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: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." The Bible also records the spiritual condition of Abraham's own family. Joshua 24:2 says, "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." So the call of Abraham was a call out of an idolatrous household. Scripture thus presents God's purpose clearly: He called Abraham to start a nation, and through that nation all the families of the earth would be blessed.
Les teaches that God's call of Abraham came only after 2,000 years of human failure. At the Tower of Babel, mankind deliberately sought an alternative way to approach God, and every false religion has its roots there. In the 200 years that followed, the human race went deeper and deeper into idolatry, so that by the time of Abraham, no one had a knowledge of the one true God.
At the Tower of Babel, mankind was determined to find an alternative way to approach God, and that place became the root of every false religion. In the next 200 years the human race went deeper into paganism. When God called Abram, the whole human race was steeped in idolatry—even Abram's own father's household, so God told him to leave his country, his kindred, and his father's house to separate himself from false religion.
In Genesis 12, God gave Abraham the covenant: "I will make of thee a great nation," put that nation in a geographical area of land, and one day come to be their King and their government. Through that nation, Israel, God planned to funnel the knowledge of Himself back into the nations of the world and bring salvation to the whole human race.
God told Abraham to separate himself from his country, his kinfolks, and his father's house. Les explains that Abraham could not serve God while he was under the roof with idolaters. God saw in Abram a potential for faith, so He revealed Himself to him and called him out of the midst of idolatry to go to the land of Canaan.
Babel's False Religion
Les shows that every false religion has its roots at the Tower of Babel, where mankind sought an alternative way to God—and in the next 200 years went deeper into paganism. This sets the stage for why God called Abraham.
God's New Beginning
Les explains that after 2,000 years of a hopeless race, God said He would do something totally different: call one man and make a little nation through whom salvation would go back to the whole mainstream of humanity.
Called Out of the Mainstream
Les teaches that God pulled Abram out of the mainstream of humanity to begin the nation of Israel, while letting the rest of humanity drift along in their godless state.
Israel's Purpose
Les emphasizes that God made Israel a special race of people and intended to use them to funnel back into the nations a knowledge of their God—an opportunity Israel rejected.
Separation From Idolaters
Les points out that God told Abraham to leave his country, kinfolk, and father's house because he could not serve God under the roof with idolaters—then God made him the covenant promise of a great nation.
A Totally Different Work
Les reviews that after Babel, God again did something totally different by calling Abraham and beginning to deal with one chosen nation, Israel, while letting the rest go their pagan way.
The Abrahamic Covenant
Les teaches that out of Abraham God brought a nation totally different from any other race, and through Israel He would bring the whole plan of redemption to the human race. The Abrahamic covenant promised a nation, a land, and a King.
Potential for Faith
Les explains that God called Abram out of the midst of idolatry, saw in him a potential for faith, revealed Himself to him, and told him to leave Ur and his family for the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:1-3: 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: 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: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This is the direct call and covenant promise that explains why God called Abraham.
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 reveals that Abraham's own family were idolaters, showing the spiritual condition from which God called him.
According to Les Feldick, the whole human race, including Abraham's own household, was steeped in paganism and idolatry. God told Abraham to leave his father's house because he could not serve Him under the roof with idolaters. Joshua 24:2 confirms that Abraham's family served other gods.
After 2,000 years of human failure and the idolatry that began at Babel, God said He would do something totally different. He called one man, Abraham, to build the nation of Israel, and planned to use that nation to bring salvation back to the whole human race.
Les Feldick teaches that in the Abrahamic covenant God promised Abraham a great nation, a geographical area of land, and one day He would come to be their King and government. Through Israel, God intended to evangelize the nations.
Watch the Teaching: Biblical Timeline: Creation to Christ's Kingdom!