THE CALL OF ABRAM

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Genesis 12: 1-19

1. Now the Lord said to Abram, Go forth from your country and your kindred and your sundry assortment of animals to the land that I will show you.

2. And Abram said unto the Lord, Why? I like it here.

3. But the Lord persisted, and Abram said, Where is this land then?

4. And the Lord remained silent.

5. Then up-spake the Lord, saying unto Abram,

6. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you.

7. And Abram was puzzled, for he knew not what the Almighty was on about, as he continued,

8. Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.

9. Not knowing into which group his wife Sarai fell, Abram went unto her, and told her the word that the Lord had given him.

10. And behold, she was grievously vexed, not knowing where they were going, or what the shopping would be like, or even the hairdressers.

11. But she remained obedient to her husband even in perplexity.

12. So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, in a vaguely westerly direction, without a map.

13. Lot his brother’s son came along also, and all rest of the family, with all their belongings.

14. So much for travelling light, Said Abram, who was seventy-five years old that year, and a little old for this sort of thing.

15. Many persons from Haran came with them, and Sarai inquired of Abram who they were.

16. We have acquired them, he replied, winking at the younger members of the party.

17. And they came to the land of Canaan, and passing through that land to the blasted oak at Moreh.

18. From there they traveled about a bit until they reached the hilly bit to the east of Bethel. And Abram liked it there.

19. He built an altar to the Lord, for it was time for mass, and said to the people, Let’s stay here for a bit.