In chapter 12 [[God]] calls [[Abraham]]. This chapter begins one of the great adventures of the [[Bible]], [[Abraham]]'s walk of [[faith]]. [[God]] called [[Abraham]] to begin the fulfillment of His promise in Genesis 3:15 to sent a [[Saviour]] to the world. [[Abraham]] was of the line of Shem, and was the father of the Jewish nation. From this one man [[God]] was to bless the whole world!
[[God]] had called [[Abraham]] in Ur of the Chaldees, but he had lingered at Haran until the [[death]] of his father. [[God]] promised to give [[Abraham]] a land, a great name, a great nation, and a blessing that would spread to the whole world. It took a great deal of [[faith]] for [[Abraham]] to respond to these promises, for he had no children and he and his wife were getting old.
Chapter 12:10 tells us that "Abram went down into [[Egypt]] to sojourn there...." [[Egypt]] is a picture of the world, the life of self-confidence, while Canaan is a picture of the life of [[faith]] and [[victory]]. [[Abraham]] encountered much trouble while in the land of [[Egypt]], and in chapter 13 he returns to a life of [[faith]] and [[God]]'s leadership. His sojourn in [[Egypt]] can be compared to a [[ Christian]] living in the world today. Because [[Abraham]] had [[faith]] in [[God]], he could not be happy living in worldly [[Egypt]]. A person who is genuinely born-again must be separated from the world to be happy. In II Corinthians 6:17 [[Paul]] tells us, "Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate...." [[Christians]] must live a separated and dedicated life. They cannot participate in the things of the world and continue to be strong [[Christians]]. When a [[ Christian]] becomes spotted and blighted by the [[sin]] and corruption of the world, he loses his testimony for the [[Lord]].