God chose Abram out of a society of idolaters by His grace, calling him to be the father of a new nation — Israel.
Les teaches that the whole known world was saturated with pagan worship and that even Abram's own family served other gods. Yet God in His grace reached down to one man, commanded him to leave idolatry, and promised to make him a great nation. The Bible records God's sovereign initiative rather than pointing to something in Abram's character as the reason.
Genesis 12:1 — Records God's direct command to Abram to leave his country, kindred, and father's house, showing the call happened in an idolatrous setting.
Joshua 24:2 — Explicitly states that Terah, the father of Abraham, and his ancestors served other gods, confirming Abram's idolatrous family background.
The Bible places Abram's call in a world that had turned away from the true God. Joshua 24:2 tells 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." So Abram came from an idolatrous family and culture. In Genesis 12:1–3, God speaks directly to Abram: "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." The biblical account does not explain the choice by describing something unique in Abram's heart or moral record. It simply presents God as taking the initiative to call a man out of an idolatrous environment and promising to make a nation from him.
Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that God did not choose Abram out of a morally neutral or half-believing society. He says the whole known world was "saturated with pagan worship" and "steeped in idolatry, including Abraham's family." He points to Joshua 24:2 and names Terah, Nahor, and Haran — and even Abram — as those who served other gods. In Les's words, "Abram was raised in idolatry." Against that backdrop, Les emphasizes that "God in His grace reaches down to one man" and "puts the finger on that one man, Abram." God's grace, not anything in Abram, is the cause. God appeared to Abram, commanded him to leave his country, kindred, and father's house, and the purpose was separation from false religion: "You cannot serve Me when you're under the roof with idolaters." Les also places the call in redemptive history. After 2,000 years of human history, man would not simply obey and believe what God said, so God did something new — He called one man out of the mainstream of humanity and promised to make of him a great nation, Israel. Abram went by faith, though not perfectly; his father Terah came with him, and God stopped the journey until Terah died. This call was the beginning of God's dealing with the man out of whom the nation of Israel would come.
Yes. Les points to Joshua 24:2 where the Bible says Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor served other gods. Les also names Abraham, Terah, Nahor, and Haran as those who all served other gods and concludes that Abram was raised in idolatry. This means Abram was not chosen out of a neutral environment; he came from an idolatrous home and culture.
Les teaches that the command in Genesis 12:1 was more than a geographical move. God told Abram to get away from his country, his relatives, and his father's house in order to separate himself from these false religions. Les puts it bluntly: "You cannot serve Me when you're under the roof with idolaters." The departure was necessary for a complete break from pagan worship.
The Bible records God's covenant promises in Genesis 12:2–3: He would make Abram a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and make him a blessing. God also promised to bless those who blessed Abram and to curse the one who cursed him. Les references this as the Abrahamic covenant and emphasizes the promise "I will make of thee a great nation" — the beginning of the nation of Israel.
Les says Abram went by faith — "By faith Abraham went." However, his obedience was not perfect from the start because his father Terah came along with him. God stopped the journey halfway between Ur and Canaan until Terah died, so that the break from the idolatrous family was fully made. In Les's view, the blame for the delay falls on Terah rather than on Abram.
Idolatry in Abram's Own Family
Les sets the backdrop for Abram's call by noting that Abraham's father Terah served other gods, and even generations later Laban's family still had household gods.
God's Sovereign Call Out of a Pagan World
Les teaches that out of a whole known world saturated with pagan worship, God deliberately singled out one man and commanded him to leave his idolatrous family — and that Abram's obedience was incomplete at first because Terah came with him.
Abram Raised in Idolatry
Les uses Joshua 24:2 to show that Terah, Nahor, and Haran all served other gods, concluding that Abram himself was raised in idolatry when God spoke to him.
God Put His Finger on One Man
Les says God reached down and put His finger on one man — Abram — and gave him the simple command to leave his country and kindred and follow God by faith.
The Purpose Behind the Call
Les explains that after 2,000 years of human history, man had not obeyed and believed God, so God did something new: He called Abram out of the mainstream of humanity to start a nation, Israel.
Grace Toward One Man in an Idolatrous World
Les stresses that the whole world was steeped in idolatry, including Abraham's family, and that God in His grace reached down to one man — Abraham — in the idolatrous pagan city of Ur.
The Beginning of God's Dealing With Israel
Les identifies God's first word to Abram in Ur of the Chaldees as the beginning of God's dealing with the man from whom the nation of Israel would come, and notes Abram went by faith.
Separation From False Religion
Les explains why the command in Genesis 12:1 was given: Abram had to get away from country, kindred, and father's house because he could not serve God while under the roof with idolaters.
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 verse is the key biblical evidence that Abram's own family, including his father Terah, were idolaters before God's call.
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:
This is the command God gave to Abram, calling him to make a clean break from his idolatrous homeland and family.
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:
This verse shows the purpose of the call: God would make Abram into a great nation.
Genesis 12:3: 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 verse reveals the covenantal promises attached to God's choice of Abram.
Yes. Les points to Joshua 24:2 and says Abram, along with Terah, Nahor, and Haran, served other gods. He concludes that Abram was raised in idolatry.
The command to leave his country, kindred, and father's house was so Abram would be separated from false religion. Les says Abram could not serve God while under the roof with idolaters.
Les teaches that Abram went by faith, but his obedience was not perfect from the outset. His father Terah came with him, and God stopped the journey until Terah died.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Promise to Abraham: Understanding Genesis 12 & 15