In such a time and out of such a civilization God called Abraham, who should found a new nation that would serve him and form the basis of a new civilization.  He also selected Canaan as the home of this new people.  It was the geographical center of all the ancient world and a revelation of God made there would soon be know among all nations.

The Confirmations of the Biblical Record.  Each new excavation made in the ruins of the ancient, long-buried, cities throws new light upon the scriptures and always confirms its statements.  There are on the tablets of clay found in the old libraries statements concerning the social, commercial, religious and political conditions of the time of Abraham and before and all of them agree with the statements of Genesis.  There has been found a record of the years of famine and the Pharaohs of the time have been determined.

The kings who captured Lot are now known.  The Bible has suffered nothing at all from the knowledge gained from the ancient records.

The Experiences of Abraham.  The call of Abraham as recorded In this section is probably from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran where his father died (11:31-32).  His call is the most important event in the history of God’s kingdom since the fall of man.  It was indeed a new starting point for that kingdom.  The call was accompanied by a promise or covenant in which God bound himself not to withdraw from Abraham (15:17-21).  The call and work, together with the promises, may be put down somewhat as follows: 

1. It was a call to separation from his home and native land. He was a large shepherd-farmer with large flocks and herds and a number of slaves.  The family was perhaps of high rank in his country and there was a warm family affection in his family.  Many others had gone from his country to the regions of the Mediterranean but always for gain or selfish betterment, Abraham went in obedience to the divine call.  There was no selfishness in his move.  He went for conscience’ sake, somewhat as the Pilgrims, forsaking all the ties of nature that bound them to England, sailed to America in the Mayflower.

2. It was a call to service.  The people of his time were falling into idolatry.  Even Terah, his father, was an idolater and reputed to have been a maker of idol images.  He was to serve the one true God and to stand for principle where everyone was against him.  He was to enter into covenant relations with God and stand alone with him where all social and national customs were hostile.

3. It was a call to found a nation.  The promise was to make of him a great nation that should have as its main purpose the service of the one God.  God foresaw the ruin that was to come to all the nations of Abraham’s time and prepared him and in him a new and spiritual nation which would produce a new and godly civilization.  He died when Jacob was but a lad and did not see the fulfillment of the promise of the nation that should outlast Egypt or Babylon.