Arnold Famini
Bible Study

The Divine Call

God calls each of us to step out in faith, leaving behind what's familiar and comfortable to follow His plan for our lives. Just as He called Abram with specific promises of blessing, protection, and purpose, God calls us today with the promise of eternal life and the opportunity to be part of His great plan of salvation.

September 2, 2025
12 min read
The Story of the Bible

Genesis 12:1-20 (NKJV)

[1] Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. [2] I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. [3] I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

[4] So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. [5] Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. [6] Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. [7] Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

[8] And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. [9] So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.

[10] Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. [11] And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. [12] Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. [13] Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”

[14] So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. [15] The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house. [16] He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

[17] But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. [18] And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? [19] Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.” [20] So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.

🎯 Warm-Up Question: 

Have you ever had to make a major life change—like moving to a new city, changing jobs, or starting something completely new—without knowing exactly how it would turn out? How did that feel?

🔍 Exploring the Passage:

  1. What specific things did God ask Abram to leave behind, and what did God promise him in return? (verses 1-3)
  2. How old was Abram when he left, and who went with him on this journey? (verses 4-5)
  3. What happened when Abram encountered the famine, and how did God respond to the situation in Egypt? (verses 10-20)

💬 Discussion Questions:

  1. God calls Abram to “go…to a land that I will show you” (verse 1). What would “taking the next step without the full map” look like in your life right now?
  2. Abram builds altars before he sees everything fulfilled (verses 7–8). How could establishing rhythms of worship (prayer, Scripture, church) strengthen trust when circumstances feel like famine?
  3. Abram’s fear leads to compromise in Egypt (verses 11–13). Where might fear be shaping your decisions more than faith—and what would it look like to bring that to Jesus today?

🗝 Main Takeaway: 

God calls each of us to step out in faith, leaving behind what’s familiar and comfortable to follow His plan for our lives. Just as He called Abram with specific promises of blessing, protection, and purpose, God calls us today with the promise of eternal life and the opportunity to be part of His great plan of salvation. Even when we stumble and make mistakes along the way, God’s faithfulness remains constant, and His purposes will be fulfilled. The question is not whether God has a plan for your life, but whether you will trust Him enough to say “yes” to His call.

📘 Commentary:

  • “Get out of your country”: God’s call often requires leaving our comfort zones and familiar surroundings. True faith means being willing to step into the unknown when God leads, trusting His promises over our natural security.
  • “I will bless you and make your name great”: God’s promises are not just about material blessing, but about making our lives count for eternal purposes. When we follow God, He gives meaning and significance to our existence that we could never achieve on our own.
  • “You shall be a blessing”: God blesses us not just for our own benefit, but so we can be channels of blessing to others. Every believer is called to be part of God’s plan to reach and bless the world with His love.
  • “Abram departed as the Lord had spoken”: Immediate obedience to God’s call demonstrates true faith. Abram didn’t wait for perfect conditions or complete understanding—he simply trusted God’s word and acted on it.
  • “There he built an altar to the Lord”: Worship and communion with God should be our first priority in every new season of life. Abram’s altars show that staying connected to God through prayer and worship is essential for successfully following His call.
  • “There was a famine in the land”: Following God doesn’t mean life will be easy or without challenges. Even in God’s will, we may face difficulties, but these are opportunities to trust Him more deeply and see His faithfulness in action.
  • “The Lord struck Pharaoh…because of Sarai”: God protects His people even when they make poor choices. His grace covers our failures, and His plans succeed despite our weaknesses, showing that salvation depends on His faithfulness, not our perfection.

Tagalog

Ang Tawag ng Diyos

Genesis 12:1–20 (Tag-lish, mula sa NKJV)

[1] Sinabi ng Panginoon kay Abram, “Lumabas ka sa bansa mo, sa pamilya mo, at sa bahay ng iyong ama, papunta sa lupang ituturo Ko sa’yo. [2] Gagawin kitang malaking bansa; pagpapalain kita at gagawin kong dakila ang pangalan mo; at magiging daluyan ka ng pagpapala. [3] Pagpapalain Ko ang mga magpapala sa’yo, at susumpain Ko ang manunumpa sa’yo; at dahil sa’yo, mapagpapala ang lahat ng pamilya sa mundo.”

[4] Kaya umalis si Abram ayon sa sinabi ng Panginoon, at sumama sa kanya si Lot. Pitumpu’t limang (75) taong gulang si Abram nang lumisan siya mula sa Haran. [5] Isinama niya si Sarai na asawa niya, si Lot na pamangkin niya, lahat ng ari-arian na kanilang naipon, at ang mga taong naging bahagi ng kanilang sambahayan sa Haran. Umalis sila patungong Canaan, at nakarating nga sila roon. [6] Dumaan si Abram sa lupain hanggang Shechem, sa may punong terebinto ng Moreh. Noon, naninirahan pa roon ang mga Cananeo. [7] Nagpakita ang Panginoon kay Abram at sinabi, “Ibibigay Ko sa mga lahi mo ang lupang ito.” Kaya nagtayo siya roon ng altar para sa Panginoon na nagpakita sa kanya.

[8] Mula roon, lumipat siya sa bundok sa silangan ng Bethel at naglatag ng tolda—Bethel sa kanluran at Ai sa silangan. Doon nagtayo siya ng isa pang altar sa Panginoon at tumawag sa Kanyang pangalan. [9] Pagkatapos, nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakbay patimog.

[10] Nagkaroon ng matinding taggutom sa lupain, kaya bumaba si Abram sa Egypt para doon muna manirahan. [11] Nang malapit na silang pumasok sa Egypt, sinabi niya kay Sarai na asawa niya, “Alam kong napakaganda mo. [12] Kapag nakita ka ng mga Egyptian, sasabihin nila, ‘Asawa niya iyan,’ papatayin nila ako at hahayaan kang mabuhay. [13] Pakiusap, sabihin mong kapatid kita para maging maayos ang trato nila sa akin dahil sa’yo, at para makaligtas ako.”

[14] Pagdating nila sa Egypt, nakita nga ng mga Egyptian na napakaganda ni Sarai. [15] Napansin din siya ng mga prinsipe ni Paraon at pinuri sa harap niya; kaya dinala si Sarai sa bahay ni Paraon. [16] Dahil kay Sarai, naging mabuti ang trato ni Paraon kay Abram: binigyan siya ng mga tupa, baka, mga asno, mga aliping lalaki’t babae, mga babaeng asno, at mga kamelyo.

[17] Ngunit pinarusahan ng Panginoon si Paraon at ang sambahayan niya ng malulubhang salot dahil kay Sarai, na asawa ni Abram. [18] Kaya ipinatawag ni Paraon si Abram at sinabi, “Ano itong ginawa mo sa akin? Bakit hindi mo sinabing asawa mo siya? [19] Bakit mo pa sinabing, ‘Kapatid ko siya’? Pwede ko pa sana siyang maging asawa! Ngayon, heto ang asawa mo—kunin mo at umalis ka.” [20] Kaya iniutos ni Paraon sa kanyang mga tauhan na palayasin si Abram; pinaalis nila siya kasama ang kanyang asawa at lahat ng ari-arian niya.

🎯 Warm-Up Question: 

May na-experience ka na bang major na life change—tulad ng paglipat sa bagong lugar, pagpapalit ng trabaho, o pagsisimula ng bagong bagay—na hindi mo alam kung ano exactly ang mangyayari? Paano yung feeling?

🔍 Exploring the Passage:

  1. Ano-ano ang specific na bagay na hiniling ng Diyos kay Abram na iwanan, at ano naman ang ipinangako Niya kapalit? (verses 1-3)
  2. Ilang taon na si Abram nung umalis siya, at sino-sino ang kasama niya sa journey na ito? (verses 4-5)
  3. Ano ang nangyari nung na-encounter ni Abram ang famine, at paano naman tumugon ang Diyos sa situation sa Egypt? (verses 10-20)

💬 Discussion Questions:

  1. Tinawag ng Diyos si Abram na “pumunta sa lupang ipapakita ko sa iyo” (verse 1). Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin ng “taking the next step without the full map” sa inyong buhay ngayon?
  2. Nagtayo si Abram ng altar bago pa niya makita ang lahat ng pangako (verses 7–8). Paano kaya makakatulong ang pag-establish ng worship rhythms (prayer, Scripture, simbahan) para mas maging matatag ang trust natin kapag parang famine ang circumstances?
  3. Yung takot ni Abram ay naging dahilan ng compromise niya sa Egypt (verses 11–13). Saan kaya sa buhay natin ang fear ang mas naging basis ng decisions natin kaysa sa faith—at ano kaya ang dating nito kay Jesus ngayon?

🗝 Main Takeaway: 

Tinatawag tayo ng Diyos na sumampa sa pananampalataya, na iwan ang familiar at comfortable para sundin ang plano Niya sa aming buhay. Tulad ng pagtawag Niya kay Abram na may kasamang specific na pangako ng blessing, protection, at purpose, tinatawag din tayo ng Diyos ngayon na may pangako ng eternal life at opportunity na maging part ng malaking plano Niya ng salvation. Kahit nagkakamali pa tayo sa daan, ang faithfulness ng Diyos ay hindi nagbabago, at ang purposes Niya ay matutupad. Hindi ang tanong ay kung may plano ba ang Diyos sa aming buhay, kundi kung magtitiwala ba tayo sa Kanya na sabihing “oo” sa Kanyang tawag.

📘 Commentary:

• “Umalis ka sa inyong bansa”: Ang tawag ng Diyos ay madalas nangangailangan na iwanan natin ang comfort zones at familiar surroundings. Ang tunay na pananampalataya ay pagiging willing na sumampa sa hindi tiyak kapag ginagabayan tayo ng Diyos, nagtitiwala sa Kanyang mga pangako kaysa sa natural security natin.

• “Pagpapalain kita at gagawin mong dakila ang pangalan mo”: Ang mga pangako ng Diyos ay hindi lang tungkol sa material blessing, kundi sa paggawa sa aming buhay na may eternal purposes. Kapag sinusunod natin ang Diyos, binibigyan Niya ng meaning at significance ang aming existence na hindi natin makakamit mag-isa.

• “At ikaw ay magiging blessing”: Pinagpapala tayo ng Diyos hindi lang para sa sarili nating kapakanan, kundi para maging channels ng blessing sa iba. Lahat ng believer ay tinatawag na maging part ng plano ng Diyos na maabot at pagpalain ang mundo ng Kanyang pagmamahal.

• “Umalis si Abram ayon sa sinabi ng Panginoon”: Ang immediate obedience sa tawag ng Diyos ay nagpapakita ng tunay na pananampalataya. Hindi naghintay si Abram ng perfect conditions o complete understanding—nagtiwala lang siya sa salita ng Diyos at gumawa.

• “Doon ay nagtayo siya ng altar sa Panginoon”: Ang worship at communion sa Diyos ay dapat ang unang priority natin sa bawat bagong season ng buhay. Ang mga altar ni Abram ay nagpapakita na ang pananatiling connected sa Diyos through prayer at worship ay essential para sa successful na pagsunod sa Kanyang tawag.

• “May taggutom sa lupain”: Ang pagsunod sa Diyos ay hindi ibig sabihin na magiging madali o walang challenges ang buhay. Kahit nasa will ng Diyos tayo, maaaring may mga difficulties pa rin, pero ito ay opportunities para mas maging malalim ang trust natin at makita ang Kanyang faithfulness in action.

• “Sinaktan ng Panginoon si Pharaoh…dahil kay Sarai”: Pinoprotektahan ng Diyos ang Kanyang mga tao kahit nagkakamali pa sila. Ang grace Niya ay sumasaklaw sa aming mga failures, at ang plans Niya ay nagtatagumpay kahit may weaknesses tayo, nagpapakita na ang salvation ay nakadepende sa Kanyang faithfulness, hindi sa aming perfection.