Why Abraham?

So why did God call Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees? More specifically, why Abram? Was he more righteous than all others of his generation? More faithful to God, perhaps? Did he have some innate qualities that made him the ideal object of this great project YHWH God was about to undertake?

I don't think so.

Oh, I know an argument can be made that Abram was called for some reason that lay within himself, but the Bible never states explicitly either way. The Bible just says he was called and leaves it to us to dig for any underlying reasons.

Here's the argument I don't agree with: it starts by saying that Abram comes from a long line of righteous people--the author of Genesis takes great pains to detail how Abram is descended directly from Adam, through Seth, through Enoch, through Noah, through Shem, down to Terah, his father. A righteous heritage, a righteous lineage, a righteous line. These are the faithful ones on the earth and naturally God selects from among them. Abram must have been righteous, a follower of the true God of Seth, Enoch, Noah, and Shem. Right?

But I don't know. Here's what gives me pause. Joshua, at the end of his life, had this to say . . .

And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac. . . .
(Joshua 24:2-3 ESV)(emphasis mine)

Joshua says that Terah and Abraham were in ancient Babylonia serving other gods when God took Abraham from beyond the River and led him to Canaan. More, when Joshua says this to the people, Joshua says that he is quoting God. "Thus says YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, . . ."

So was Abram chosen for his faithfulness? No. His righteousness? No. For what reason, then? We are not explicitly told. But we can be assured that it was not for something inherent in Abram. We read of nothing in Abram, prior to his being called, which would seem to qualify him for being the recipient of anything good God might be doing, much less the blessings God was promising.

And that is the beauty of grace.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ESV)

That is such good news for us! God's calling is not based on anything meritorious we have to offer God. God's calling is based on his grace. Why? "That no human being might boast in the presence of God."

Have you served everything in life but God? God is calling you. Have you lived foolishly? Made foolish decisions? God is calling you. Are you weak? God is calling you. Have you ever done something low or despicable? God is calling you. Do you want forgiveness? A worthy purpose for your life? God is calling you.

"But I'm not righteous!" someone might say. "God calls the righteous, the worthy, the good people!"

Wrong. Witness the words of Jesus himself.

And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32 ESV)

Is God calling you? Then the only proper response is the response of faith. Leave your idols and follow him. And that leads us to the next lesson.