Call to Obedience Abraham’S Obedience to God’s Call – JSS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

God called Abraham to leave his country, his relations and his father’s house and go to a new land that God would show him. Abraham obeyed at once, with faith, trust, obedience and courage. God promised to make him a great nation and to bless all the families of the earth through him.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• describe how God called Abraham;
• explain how Abraham responded to the call;
• state the promises God made to Abraham;
• list the lessons we learn from Abraham’s obedience.

The call of Abraham (Gen 12:1-9)

God called Abraham when the time came to perform the duties assigned to him on earth. Abraham responded to God’s call with faith, trust, obedience and courage.

Who was Abraham?

Abraham’s father was Terah. Terah was a descendant of the people who were scattered into small language groups after the fall of the Tower of Babel. Abraham grew up in Ur in Mesopotamia. His family later moved to Haran, in northern Mesopotamia.

When Terah died in Haran, Abraham took over the responsibility of his family. He was seventy-five years old when God appeared to him and called him to leave his country and his relations. He was to go to a new land that God would show him.

What did God tell Abraham?

“Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and him who curses you I will curse, and by you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Abraham’s task was to be a blessing to all the families on earth. The blessing is the knowledge of salvation, which brings mankind into a new relationship with God and gives people a good relationship with one another. This knowledge was to be given to Abraham and his descendants.

Therefore the task of Abraham and his descendants, the Jews, was to make known to us the way of salvation.

How did Abraham respond to the call?

Abraham responded faithfully as soon as God called him. He handed over his responsibilities as head of the family and left for the strange, new land that God would show him. He went with his wife Sarah, his nephew Lot and Lot’s wife. They left Haran with all their servants and as much of their property as they could carry.

Abraham and his group travelled southwards for months. They entered the land of Canaan and came to the city of Shechem. In the time of Abraham, Canaan was called a land flowing with milk and honey because it was very beautiful and fertile.

Shechem was an important Canaanite town that was noted for its religious activities. In the centre of the town was a sacred tree called the promised land. To show his gratitude to God for his special favour, Abraham built an altar in honour of God.

Why is Abraham’s response to God’s call important?

When Abraham left Haran he did not know where he was going. Yet he was sure that God would guide him and protect him on the way. This showed that Abraham was a man of faith, trust, obedience and courage. Christians are expected to have these qualities so that they may succeed in their various tasks on earth.

Religious and moral lessons

1. God expects you to respond to His call to perform special duties.
2. Abraham responded to God’s call with faith, trust, obedience and courage.
3. Abraham built an altar in honour of God. In the same way, you should show gratitude to God, your parents, teachers and elders for all the benefits you have received and will continue to receive from them.

What did God promise Abraham?

1. To make him a great nation.
2. To bless him and make his name great.
3. To bless them that bless him and curse them that curse him.
4. In his family shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

Evaluation

1. Who was Abraham’s father?
2. Where did Abraham grow up, and where was he living when God called him?
3. Name the people who left Haran with Abraham.
4. State the qualities Abraham showed in answering God’s call.
5. List the promises God made to Abraham.

Assignment

Explain in brief Abraham’s response to God’s call to sacrifice his only son Isaac.