The Call to Leave

The Transformative Journey of Genesis 12

Mar 07, 2025

What's up, WALK THRU Crew!

At WALK THRU, we excavate scripture like treasure hunters, uncovering revelations that transform how we see God's Word. Whether you've memorized the entire Pentateuch or just picked up your first Bible, I'm delighted you're joining us as we discover the extraordinary hidden within these ancient texts.

I still remember the day I got that acceptance letter from Boston University. The excitement quickly gave way to a knot in my stomach as I realized what it meant – leaving behind the familiarity of South Carolina, my support system, everything comfortable and known. My whole life had been rooted in SC, with its swaying palmetto trees, familiar accents, and the rhythms of home. Taking that leap meant trading sweet tea for snow boots, southern hospitality for New England directness. As I packed up, questioning if I was making the right choice to pursue my masters, I felt a strange mixture of terror and anticipation. That's exactly how I feel every time I read Genesis 12.

When God calls Abram to leave everything familiar—his country, his people, his father's household—I recognize that pivotal moment of decision. It's not just the beginning of Israel's origin story – it's a profound revelation about faith's first step, God's faithfulness to His promises, and how divine blessings often begin with letting go.

The Sequence of Surrender

Genesis 12 moves with the cadence of bold commandments and lavish promises. "The LORD said to Abram, 'Go from your country...'" This simple yet life-altering directive sets the stage for everything that follows. The pattern is illuminating:

God calls → Abram responds → Obstacles emerge → God protects → Faith deepens

This isn't just narrative progression – it's revealing something profound about God's character. He doesn't just command; He also covenants. He doesn't just direct; He also defends. Each verse builds upon the previous one, creating an intricate portrait of faith in motion.

Breaking Down the Chapter

Verses 1-3: The divine call and sevenfold blessing

Verses 4-6: Abram's obedient departure and journey

Verses 7-9: God appears and Abram worships

Verses 10-13: Famine and fear in Egypt

Verses 14-20: Divine intervention and deliverance

But here's what's fascinating – notice the journey? The chapter begins with a call to separate and ends with a forced departure from Egypt. It moves from voluntary obedience to struggling faith, from perfect promise to imperfect performance.

Christ as our Covenant

Genesis 12 contains the seedbed of the gospel. The promises God makes to Abram—particularly that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3)—find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Paul explicitly makes this connection in Galatians 3:16, identifying Christ as the singular "seed" through whom Abram's blessing flows to the nations.

Like Abram, Jesus left His heavenly home to journey into enemy territory. Where Abram's faith occasionally faltered (as with his deception in Egypt), Christ demonstrated perfect faithfulness. While Abram received promises of blessing, Jesus became the blessing itself. The altar Abram built foreshadowed the cross where Jesus would make the ultimate sacrifice.

Even Abram's rescue from Egypt prefigures how God would later deliver Israel through the Exodus, which itself points to Christ's greater liberation of humanity from sin. Most profoundly, the command to "Go" that initiated Abram's journey finds its echo in Christ's Great Commission, extending God's blessing to all nations just as promised to Abram millennia earlier.

The Human Element: Abram's Response

When we reach Abram's departure, the text becomes remarkably understated. In response to God's extraordinary call, we simply read, "So Abram went, as the LORD had told him" (Genesis 12:4).

This is revolutionary. In a world of complex religious rituals and elaborate spiritual prescriptions, Genesis presents faith as straightforward obedience. Abram isn't portrayed as hesitating, bargaining, or seeking confirmation—he simply goes. He's not just a traveler – he's a trailblazer for all who would later walk by faith.

Why This Matters Today

Genesis 12 isn't just ancient history – it's a foundation for understanding:

Divine Initiative: God reaches out first

Faithful Response: Our obedience activates promises

Imperfect Progress: Even failures occur within God's plan

Purpose: We're blessed to become channels of blessing to others

HUHHHH!!!

Genesis 12 begins with five divine commands to Abram: "GO from your country, your people, your father's household, TO the land I will show you." FIVE COMMANDS before a single promise! And what follows? SEVEN DISTINCT BLESSINGS that God pours out in response to obedience!

Count them with me: "I will make you into a great nation... I will bless you... I will make your name great... you will be a blessing... I will bless those who bless you... whoever curses you I will curse... all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

THIS IS THE DIVINE EXCHANGE! Five commands leading to seven blessings—God always outgives what He asks for! The math of heaven always works in your favor!

Notice that God doesn't say "IF you go, THEN I will bless." He simply says "GO" and "I WILL." Your obedience isn't the cause of His blessing—it's simply the pathway to position you where the blessing can find you! God's promises weren't dependent on Abram's perfection (just look at his Egypt debacle later in the chapter).

And here's the revelation that brings me to my knees: This sevenfold blessing to Abram comes in Genesis 12—right after Genesis 11's Tower of Babel where humanity tried to make "a name for themselves." They strived, but failed. Now God tells Abram, "I will make your name great." What humanity couldn't achieve through self-effort, God freely gives through relationship!

The very blessing humanity was striving for, God GIVES to someone who simply trusted and followed!

This isn't just ancient history—it's YOUR story too. The areas where you've been striving and struggling might be exactly where God wants to freely give what you could never earn. Your "GO" moment could be the doorway to your sevenfold blessing!

Your Turn to Walk Through

As you read Genesis 12 again (and I encourage you to do so), consider:

Where is God calling you to step out in faith today?

How do your actions align with what you say you believe?

In what areas have you experienced God's protection despite your imperfect faith?

Remember, this isn't just an ancient patriarch's travelogue – it's an invitation to discover that faithful movement toward God's promises, even with imperfect steps, can transform not just your life but generations to come.

Join the Conversation

I'd love to hear about your own "Genesis 12 moments" – times when God called you to leave something behind in order to move toward His promises. Share your journeys, questions, or reflections below—this is a space where we can walk through scripture together. Let's GO!