Abraham was chosen, or elected, on the basis of the sovereignty of God. He had no Bible, so he was not able to receive his call through God’s written Word. God sought a man, and on the basis of His sovereign will and purpose, He chose Abraham.

As to calling or electing, we are reminded of Peter’s words: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Pet. 1:2). Abraham was not chosen because of any merits in his life. His was a supernatural call based on God’s own purpose and will. When God calls according to His own purpose and will, it is always a call for the good. Abraham had no choice in the matter. God did not ask, “Abraham, would you like to be the man that I can use?” Instead, God said, in effect, “Abraham, I want you to come out of your country.”

Abraham was called to begin a special, chosen nation through which salvation would eventually come to all mankind. There was much involved in this great call. God staked His whole plan of redemption on the possibility of a man’s being willing, by his faith and obedience, to become the bridgehead for delivering an erring world.

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9).

Theodore Epp
www.backtothebible.in