Intermediate Level, Block 2—Babel and Good Land
Week 14
Abraham—Responding to God’s Call
Point to Emphasize: We can be those that respond and obey when we are called, even when the task seems impossible.
Reference Reading: Genesis 12:1-8
Memory Verse: By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)
Story Sample
Last week we learned how God was having a new beginning. And for this purpose, He called Abraham. Out of all the men on earth, God chose this man. God chose and called Abraham. Today we will see how Abraham responded.
Abraham was living in a place called Chaldea which was in the land of Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia means “between rivers”. Who likes Geography in this room? According to geography, the region of Mesopotamia was bound by two great rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris. Now, since there was no modern transportation, the people back then had to walk where they wanted to go. How was Abraham able to get out of Chaldea? How was he going to cross any of those rivers? God called Abraham, but Abraham needed to get himself out.
Now, I want you to imagine with me that you are Abraham and you live in a great plain bounded by two rivers, and God comes to you and He says you need to come out of that country. It might be hard for you to picture that, but maybe something similar has happened to you. Has your teacher called you and given you a task that you might think is too difficult for you? What is your first reaction? Do you say, “What?!? That is too hard!! I can’t do that!” Or, are you willing to respond and obey?
I will tell you a story of something that happened to me. One day my dad told our family that God had called him and our family to move to another country. First I thought, “Oh, WOW it sounds exciting.” But then, my dad began to tell us that he didn’t know where we were going to live. He told us he didn’t know what school we were going to go to. He told us he didn’t know if there were children our age for us to play with. Oh, I tell you I thought it was just impossible for me to go with him! But, I am SO glad I did! God showed my dad step by step and placed us in the best street, in the best house, in the best school and I even met the best friends! [Storyteller, insert a story about obeying something God or a grown up called you to do.]
I am happy to tell you that Abraham obeyed God’s calling. Abraham went out even not knowing where he was going. Abraham responded to God’s call! I hope that the next time you are asked to do something you might think is impossible you remember Abraham. We can be encouraged to obey just like Abraham did. Abraham went as God had told him. Abraham took his wife and his nephew called Lot. He got all his possessions and the people that he had gathered and went out to the land that God had given to him. The fact that Abraham responded positively to God’s calling afforded God a way to have a new beginning!