King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Friday, January 16, 2026
Chapters: Genesis 12-15
Message: Genesis: God’s Call To Abram
Hello My Friend,
From the time of the flood until the moment God spoke to Abraham, four hundred and thirty years had passed. During that long stretch of history, God certainly had faithful followers—those often referred to as the sons of God—but sadly, He did not yet have a single nation wholly devoted to Him. That was about to change through one man, Abram. As we return to the reading of Genesis, we encounter the moment when God called Abram and began unfolding His plan to form a people set apart for Himself.
[Genesis 12:1-4 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: 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: 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. 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.]
There are two things to consider here, God does not discriminate against ones age, and even though he took Lot with him, they were family so Abram saw no harm in it. At the age of seventy-five Abram left his native land of Chaldea, and the city of Ur and followed God.
[Genesis 12:5-7 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. 6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.]
Abram placed his faith in the promise of the Lord and obeyed His command, willingly leaving behind his homeland, his familiar surroundings, and even his closest relatives. With his wife, his nephew, and likely his nephew’s wife and children, he set out toward the new land of which the Lord had spoken. As Abram passed through Sichem, he had trouble with the Canaanite so pitched a tent near Bethel where God spoke to him.
[Genesis 12:8-10 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. 10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.]
Do you see how those who followed God before the coming of Christ also called upon the name of the LORD? This moment marks when Abram truly believed what God had spoken to him, and he called upon Him in faith. It does not matter from which point in history we come, for Christ is always LORD, even when His people did not yet know that His name is Christ, [Romans 10:12-13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.]
Mere belief is not sufficient; we must call upon Him in order to be counted as His. Now, just because we belong to Him that does not mean that we will always make wise decisions. This is often how we step outside of His will in the first place. When a famine struck the land of Canaan, Abram concluded that the best course of action was to go down into Egypt. The journey itself may not have been the unwise choice; rather, the error lay in what he asked his wife to do once they arrived.
[Genesis 12:12-15 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. 14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.]
Do you see how it was Abram’s fear that led him outside of God’s will? Yet when God must intervene, He will. When the sons of Pharaoh took Sarai and brought her into their father’s house to become part of his harem, the Lord acted. He sent a plague upon the land, halting the situation before any further harm could come to her.
[Genesis 12:17-20 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.]
This is exactly why I say that God intervenes in the lives of His faithful far more than we realize. The decisions we make never affect only the individuals directly involved; they ripple outward to touch everyone connected to us, and at times even entire nations. For this reason, we must always seek God’s guidance when making decisions, especially those that alter the course of our lives, [James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.]
Had Sarai been defiled, Abram’s call from God would have been cut short. Yet it is remarkable how patient God is with us, and how He is able to take even our missteps and turn them toward His purposes. Lot followed Abram everywhere he went, including into Egypt, though he was what we might describe today as a worldly believer. Nevertheless, they all departed from Egypt and made their way back to Canaan.
[Genesis 13:1-6 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai; 4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.]
Think about it. If Lot had chosen to remain with Abram, the course of his life might have unfolded very differently. Nevertheless, he made his choice, and unlike Abram—who walked by faith—Lot lived by sight. That was his greatest downfall. He looked upon the lush, fertile land surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah, saw its outward beauty, and chose it for himself.
[Genesis 13:8-11 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.]
Think about it, being a liar may not seem like something as wicked as murderer, but look at how many false religions send people to hell with their lies. In a sense they are murderers of more than just ones flesh, but destroyers of souls. Jesus said this, [Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.]
A person who embraces lies is, in a sense, committing a kind of soul‑suicide, for ignorance will not save anyone. Lot’s unwise choice would cost him dearly, for in time he would lead his entire family further and further from God. Yet once Abram was separated from Lot, the Lord revealed even more of His plan—both for Abram himself and for the generations that would come from him. As soon as Abram and lot separated, God spoke to him.
[Genesis 13:14-18 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.]
Hebron would later become a well‑known town, for David would spend much of his early reign there. Canaan itself was not a vast land—indeed, the state of Florida is larger—yet God was about to demonstrate something profound to the world through this small territory and through the faithfulness of one man, [Galatians 3:8-9 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.]
While God often does separate His faithful from the worldly believer, that does not mean He withholds opportunities for us to love them, care for them, and stand by them when they are in need. Lot likely believed that God had blessed him with that beautiful land, yet he soon discovered that it was no blessing at all when he and his household were seized by the king of Elam.
[Genesis 14:1-2,4-5 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,]
For years Sodom had been under control to Elam, so after thirteen years, they had enough and rebelled. As a result, several kings came together to make war with Sodom and when Chedorlaomer and kings united with him and invaded Sodom it was discovered that Lot lived in the city and was captured.
[Genesis 14:10-13 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.]
Do you see how Lot moved from dwelling near Sodom to settling within its borders? This is precisely why God separated him from Abram, for He knew that Lot’s faith—and indeed the faith of his household—was unsteady. Yet when Abram learned that Lot had been taken captive, he did not hesitate. He gathered his trained men, formed a small army, and rescued Lot and all who belonged to him.
[Genesis 14:14-16 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.]
The entire spoil of the enemy was taken by Abram’s small band of men, and in love he repaid Lot with good despite the trouble his choices had caused. Such is the fruit of true faith. It produces holy courage and enables a believer to face and overcome every danger, so long as the work in which he is engaged meets with the approval of God, [Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.]
Now, something interesting happened after Abram and his army had rescued the people, the king of Sodom shows up also to thank him and pay him some respect, [Genesis 14:17-20 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.]
Melchizedek, king of Salem—later known as Jerusalem—served as a priest of God long before the priesthood of Israel was ever established. He stands as a type of Christ in both his kingly and priestly offices, for Christ alone is the One who reigns as King and ministers as Priest upon His throne, [Psalms 110:4-5 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.]
Melchizedek approached Abram with the intention of honoring him for rescuing the captives, for it was customary for victors to receive a portion of the spoils. Yet what he asked of Abram in return was quite unusual.
[Genesis 14:21-24 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.]
Abraham, did not want the king going around saying that the riches he was about to receive came from him, as they had already begun saying. When we trust God and His promises, we will receive them, and we dare not trust the world’s riches because they always have an agenda, [Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.]
God knows everything about us. Even before we are born, He already knows every choice we will make, the moment we will be saved, and every detail of our lives today. But imagine being given a glimpse of what is to come—not only for our own lives, but for the generations that will follow us. Abram was about to receive such a revelation.
[Genesis 15:1-4 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.]
When God told him that He would make from him a great nation, Abram had no children at all. Yet once again, God graciously reiterated His promise.
[Genesis 15:5-9 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 7 And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. 8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.]
Of all the things we may possess on this earth, nothing can compare to having the protection and blessing of God upon our soul. There is absolutely nothing here that we can carry with us into heaven, so we ought to enjoy what God has given us in this life while trusting that a far greater reward awaits those who remain faithful. And what was it that saved Abraham? He believed God. While this was a rather strange request, Abram did what God asked and all of a sudden Abram became very sleepy.
[Genesis 15:12-16 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their’s, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.]
Interestingly, although Abram lived in the land of Canaan for many years—and his family with him—they never truly possessed it, except for the small plot he purchased as a burial site for his household. In the midst of this, God gave Abram a sobering glimpse of what would befall his descendants for generations to come. In much the same way, we too have been given a solemn preview of what will take place when God brings judgment upon the entire earth, [2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.]
Today’s Prayer: God, It is amazing how much You bless us just by receiving Your Son as our Saviour, but what You do after we are saved is hard to comprehend sometimes as You tell us to follow You by faith, and yet it is all planned out. The paths You lead us down are often unknown and quite scary sometimes, but with faith and faithfulness, we not only live a blessed life, we live a prosperous life, one that leads to others being blessed as well. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us Your power and strength to walk by faith and remain faithful, even when we are not always in Your will. Let us not walk in fear or by sight, only walk in courage and by faith by fearing only You. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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