The Call of Abraham

(Gen. 11:27-32; 12:1-8; 13:7-12; 18:1-8, 16-33)        

Many, many years after the human race had been scattered from Babel there lived in Ur, a city of Chaldea, a man named Thare. Thare had three sons, Abram, Aran and Nechor. Aran had a son named Lot, who was left in Thare's care when his father died. Abram's wife was named Sarai.

Thare moved with his family from Ur to Haran.

After Thare's life expire, God told Abram to leave his native land, and go into the land which He would point out.

        He promised to make Abram the father of a great nation, and told him that in him all the nations of the earth should be blessed. In obedience to God's com­mand, Abram took his wife, Lot, and all their servants and flocks, and journeyed toward the land of Chanaan. God appeared again to Abram and said: "I will give this land to your people."

Abram built there an altar to the Lord God. Then, he went on to a mountain where he pitched his tent. On it he also built an altar to the Lord God and prayed to Him.

It happened that the flocks of Abram and Lot in­creased, and quarrels arose between their herdsmen. But Abram loved peace. He therefore suggested to Lot that they separate. Lot went to live in Sodom, while Abram remained in Hebron.

One day, three strangers came to Abram's house He understood at once that one represented the Lore God, and that the other two were angels. Abram set forth to meet them.  Bowing low, he greeted them, saying: "Lord, rest here under the trees, and I shall bring water to wash your feet, and food to strengthen you on your way."

The strangers accepted the invitation, and Abram hurried to have food prepared for them.  Sarai baked cakes for meal, and Abram selected the best calf of his flock and gave it to a herdsman to prepare for cooking. When the meal was ready, it was set before the guests and Abram stayed with them while they ate.

When the strangers were ready to leave, Abram walked a part of the way with them. They went toward the city of Sodom.

As they walked along, God told Abram that Sodom and Gomorrah would be destroyed because of the sins of their inhabitants. Abram thought of Lot and prayed to God saying: "Will you spare the good pea pie with the bad ones? If there be fifty good men there will you pardon the two bad cities? "

God answered: "Yes, I will."

        Abram went on interceding for the wicked city of Sodom and Gomorrah. Finally, God promised that He was going to spare the two cities even for ten goal people. Then the Lord departed, and Abram returned home.

But there was not even ten just men in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.