The Calling of Abram
JASON MARTIN
From the Beginning... / Genesis 12:1–15:6
The problems
Genesis 1-11 show us multiple falls including the fall of man in Genesis 3, the fall of angels in Genesis 6:1-4, and the rebellion at Babel in Genesis 11.
Voddie Baucham says “All of the major Christian doctrines are represented and defended in Genesis 1-11, as well as all of the major apologetics issues of our day. So, if we give up the literal view of Genesis 1-11, we risk every doctrine of the Christian faith.”
Maybe the most important doctrinal question is this:
There is one God that created everything. What is His Name?
The Solution
After God disinherited the nations and scattered them because of what happened at the tower of Babel, He chose a man to make a people for Himself - and to carry on the seed promise.
Read Genesis 12:1-9
1. Abram was not chosen because of his own righteousness.
a. Lies multiple times about Sarai
b. Hagar
c. pagan god worshiper - Read Joshua 24:1–15.
d. God chose Abram because He wanted to
2. Abram’s life overlapped with Noah’s for about 58 years, and Shem’s around 150 years.
Threads
1. Genesis 12:8 - calling on the Name of YHWH
a. Genesis 4:26 “26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.”
b. Read Joel 2:28-32 - another already / not yet prophecy
c. Romans 10:9-13 - the Name of Who?
2. Genesis 12:10-20 - a cycle
a. Was it a sin to go into Egypt?
b. Sarai must have been extraordinary (mid sixties at this point)
c. Was Abram given a wedding dowry?
d. The LORD afflicted - how did Pharaoh know?
e. Why didn’t Pharaoh just kill Abram anyway?
f. Abram in Egypt due to a famine > Pharaoh takes advantage > God sends plagues > Pharaoh sends Abram away with many possessions (cycle repeats with Moses)
3. Read Genesis 13:1-10 - The Promised Land
a. Who is in the land?
b. Abram has been promised this land to his offspring, but he himself is a sojourner.
c. He wants a peaceful life and even defers to his nephew for who goes where. (a prime example of meekness)
d. Watered like what?
4. Genesis 13:11-13 - Setting up Genesis 19 and contrasting Abram’s character with Lot’s.
5. Genesis 13:14-18 - God’s Covenant with Abraham includes the land, the descendants, and the blessings.
a. Are these physical, spiritual, or both?
Don’t mess with my family
Read Genesis 14:1-16
1. Kingdoms 100-1000 people?
2. Did Abram feel invincible because of the Promise?
3. Cycle of God giving victory
Melchizedek
Read Genesis 14:17-24
1. Did Abram think he was the only one serving YHWH?
2. The rest of this topic deserves its own studies
Fulfilled in Jesus
Justification by faith and the Promised Seed, fulfilled in Jesus
1. Read Genesis 15:1-6
a. Romans 4:1-5
Exported from Logos Bible Study, 12:23 PM September 25, 2026.