In his letter to the Romans, Paul described Abraham as “the father of all who believe” (4:11). The patriarch deserved this honor, for trust in God characterized his life. He believed the amazing promise that postmenopausal Sarah would bear him a son (v. 19). He even trusted God when commanded to present this precious son as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains in the land of Moriah (Gen. 22:1-12).
The biblical record of Abraham’s remarkable faith begins with his call. The Lord says to him, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). Ur of the Chaldeans (11:31), Abraham’s home, was the capital of ancient Sumer. In his time the city was a commercial center with high cultural standards. Its inhabitants encouraged science, art, literature, and education.
For Abraham, though, the call to leave home was more than a command to walk away from cultured civilization. The Lord also challenged him to turn away from paganism. The citizens of Ur worshiped Sin, a moon-god. Archaeological excavation has revealed that the buildings of the temple dedicated to this false deity were magnificent.
When the Lord called Abraham to sever all worldly attachments, the man responded immediately. God said, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). And the patriarch “went, as the LORD had told him” (v. 4). The father of all believers is an excellent example for dads in 2018. If we want our children to be faithful, then we must obey God’s call to sever our own attachments to worldly values and material things.