October 4, 2026, | Lorain Labor Sheet
NKJV
Genesis 11
The Generations from Man’s Salvation through Water to Jehovah’s Calling
24 Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah.
25 After he begot Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters.
26 Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
27 This is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran begot Lot.
28 And Haran died before his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans.
29 Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah.
30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
31 And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.
32 So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.
Acts 7
2 And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
3 and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.'
Hebrews 11
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
 Life Study of Genesis  Message 37
The Significance of God’s Calling
The New Beginning of God
Now we need to consider the significance, the meaning, of God’s calling. Firstly, God’s calling was a new beginning. When God created man, there was a beginning. But that man was corrupted and spoiled. The man whom God created for Himself fell and forsook Him. So God came in to call man that He might have a new beginning with the fallen man. Even with us, God’s calling was a new beginning. We all have had a new beginning. I thank God that after living over nineteen years in the old creation, I received a new beginning before I was twenty. God’s calling is a new beginning made by God Himself. God would not give up man. Rather, He came in to call man that He might have a new beginning.
The man whom God called was Abraham. When God created Adam, He did not create a single man but a corporate man. When God called Abraham, in a sense He called a corporate man, but, in another sense, He called a single person. Although all of the descendants of Adam were created in Adam, we cannot say that all the descendants of Abraham were called in Abraham. Although it appears so outwardly, actually this is not the case, for Romans 9:7-8 says that not all the seed of Abraham are the children of God. Simply because a person is a Jew by birth does not mean that he has had a new beginning with God. Even those who are Jews by birth need a new beginning. Whether we are Jews or Gentiles, as long as we have had a new beginning by faith in Christ, we are Abraham’s seed (Gal. 3:7). Most of us are not Jewish, but we are all the seed of Abraham through faith in Christ. We are the seed of Abraham because we have had a new beginning. At the time of His calling of Abraham, God began to have a new beginning, and now we all have entered into this new beginning through faith. Whenever you speak about God’s calling, you must realize that His calling means a new beginning. I can never forget that afternoon in 1925 when I was called by God. Immediately I had a new beginning and my whole life, being, and concepts were changed. This is God’s calling.
The Transfer of Race
In His calling, God’s new beginning with man is a transfer of race. God’s calling of Abraham meant that He had given up the race of Adam and had chosen Abraham with his descendants as the new race to be His people for the fulfilling of His eternal purpose. This was a transfer of race, a transfer from the created Adamic race to the called Abrahamic race (12:2-3; Gal. 3:7-9, 14; Rom. 4:16-17). When we say that God’s calling is a new beginning, we must understand that this new beginning is a transfer of race. We all have been transferred from the old created race to the new called race. Although we were born in a particular race, at the time of our calling we were transferred into another race, the new race of the called ones.
The Transfer of Life
The transfer of race in God’s calling is actually the transfer of life. Although you can boldly declare that you have under gone the transfer of race, can you say that you have experienced the transfer of life? Although we have had the transfer of race, we are still in the process of the transfer of life. I dare not say that I have had a full transfer of life. Neither can I say that I have had no transfer of life. I have had some transfer of life, but this process has not yet been completed. We all are in the process of the transfer of life.
We need an inner transfer of life. Even though we have had the transfer of race, the life within us must be transferred. If we do not have this inner transfer of life, we shall remain the same as the fallen race. If we are simply removed from one position to another, we actually remain the same in life. The mere transfer of position cannot fulfill God’s purpose in His calling of us. There must also be a transfer of life.
Since the transfer of life is from the life of Adam to the life of Christ, it is a transfer from the life of the old creation to the life of the new creation. Due to the fall of man, all of God’s original creation became old and is no longer able to fulfill God’s purpose. So God needs a new creation, a creation with a life stronger and much better than the created life of Adam. This stronger life is the uncreated life of God, the life of Christ. The transfer of life in God’s calling is from the fallen life of the old creation to this stronger and better life of the new creation.
As Seen in the Called Ones
The significance of God’s calling is clearly seen in God’s called ones. In Abraham, in Isaac, in Jacob, and in the New Testament believers we can see the new beginning of God, the transfer of race, and the transfer of life. Their lives can be considered as clear pictures of the significance of God’s calling.
In Abraham
The picture that is portrayed in Abraham is very clear. He had the new beginning, the transfer of race, and the transfer of life, which was a great problem to both him and God. Although the new beginning and the transfer of race in him transpired immediately at the time that he was called, the transfer of life in him took many years. It took several decades for him to have the transfer of life, and even then it was not fully completed.
BibleGo.Org Commentators-Genesis 11:24
Nahor had a son named Terah when he was twenty-nine years old, marking the continuation of the lineage from Shem to Terah, who became the father of Abraham. The Scriptures illustrate how the descendants' lifespans shortened yet their progeny increased swiftly after the flood and the dispersion of nations, shaping the history that followed with significant individuals arising in the genealogy. Nahor, at the age of twenty-nine, became the father of Terah, representing early human ambitions and pursuits apart from God seen through the genealogy leading to significant individuals like Abraham.
BibleGo.Org Commentators-Genesis 11:25
Nahor lived for 148 years, a significant decrease compared to his ancestors, and he fathered other sons and daughters. The genealogy from Shem to Terah serves not only to show the lineage leading to Abraham but also to display the rapid growth of the human race after the dispersion. The mention of Nahor's extended life after begetting Terah is notable amidst the family's history. Nahor's extended life post-Terah's birth is a turning point as man's earthly pursuits give way to idolatry, diverging from God's lineage leading to Abraham.
BibleGo.Org Commentators-Genesis 11:26
Terah, the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran, had Abram at the age of seventy. Despite the decreasing lifespan after the flood, these three sons played crucial roles in history. The genealogy of Abram from Shem showcases the lineage leading to Abram, the pivotal figure in God's plan. Terah's seventy years began the lineage to Abram, marking a shift from self-exaltation to divine principles, emphasizing God's grace over human sin.
Terah, the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran, had Abram at the age of seventy. Despite the decreasing lifespan after the flood, these three sons played crucial roles in history. The genealogy of Abram from Shem showcases the lineage leading to Abram, the pivotal figure in God's plan. Terah's seventy years began the lineage to Abram, marking a shift from self-exaltation to divine principles, emphasizing God's grace over human sin.
BibleGo.Org Commentators-Genesis 11:27
The genealogy of Terah introduces Abram as a central figure in God's plan to bless all nations. Sarai's barrenness and Terah's death in Haran set the stage for Abram's journey. This lineage lays the foundation for understanding God's call on Abram's life while highlighting the significance of his family history. The genealogy serves as a pivotal starting point for the narrative of God's promise unfolding through Abram and his descendants. Nimrod's desire for worldly glory contrasts with the divine call on Abram, tracing the transition from human ambition to God's plan to bless the nations through a chosen lineage.
BibleGo.Org Commentators-Genesis 11:29
Abram and Nahor both took wives from their kindred, following the theocratic custom of that time. Abram married Sarai, his half-sister, who was known to be barren. This marriage, along with Nahor's marriage to Milcah, played a crucial role in the formation of the nation as the patriarchs' lives foreshadowed the development of a chosen people through faith and divine promises. Man's self-seeking nature in forming nations mirrors God's call to a pilgrim people in Abram's lineage, highlighting divine intervention amid human rebellion and the establishment of chosen individuals through faith.
BibleGo.Org Commentators-Genesis 11:30
Sarai was barren, causing Abraham great sorrow and a sense of isolation as he saw wickedness flourishing around him while he remained childless. This lack of children highlighted the extraordinary miracle of Isaac's birth, emphasizing God's plan for Abraham to become a father and through him, the Church would eventually arise as a fulfillment of divine promise. Barren Sarai's lack of children underscored the amazing miracle of Isaac's birth, illustrating God's promise to Abraham and contrasting with man's futile efforts, as God's provisions were made known through faith.
BibleGo.Org Commentators-Genesis 11:31
Terah, along with Abram, Lot, and Sarai, journeyed from Ur of the Chaldeans to Canaan, settling temporarily in Haran. This family migration was driven by a religious motive, setting the stage for Abram's obedience to God's call and the foundational role of the patriarchs in Israel's history. Seeking a name and center on earth, man's disobedience in scattering contrasted with God's chosen pilgrim people under Abraham, setting the stage for God's redemptive plan amidst man's rebellion.
BibleGo.Org Commentators-Genesis 11:32
Terah's 205-year lifespan culminated in his death in Haran, a pivotal moment triggering Abram's journey into Canaan and the unfolding of God's divine plan through his lineage. Abram's delay in leaving for Canaan allowed for significant events like Lot's birth and the revelation of Sarah's barrenness as a precursor to future narratives. Man’s desire to establish himself on the earth contrasts with God’s call to Abram in Canaan, showing the need for divine power to elevate man beyond earthly pursuits, symbolized by Abram’s departure.
BibleGo.Org Commentators-Hebrews 11:8
By faith, Abraham obeyed the call to go out to a place he did not know. He relied confidently on the future fulfillment of God's promises, even though he had not received them yet. Abraham's journey was a display of his unwavering trust in God's unseen and unknown plans. His faith was proven through his obedience and willingness to sacrifice, making him a remarkable example of faith. Despite not knowing the exact location, Abraham embarked on his journey, guided by his faith in God's guidance.
Footnotes:
Gen 11:281a Ur  -   Acts 7:2-3
Meaning light. According to Acts 7:2, the God of glory appeared to Abraham first in Ur of the Chaldeans, while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran (cf. v. 31). Before God’s initial appearing to Abraham, he and his family served other gods (Josh. 24:2). It was out of such a dark background of idol worship, the background of Babel (vv. 3-4), that God called Abraham, the father of faith (Rom. 4:16; Gal. 3:7). God’s coming to Abraham and appearing to him brought light to Abraham (cf. Matt. 4:16; Acts 9:1-3; 2 Cor. 4:6) and motivated him to come out of the country of satanic idolatry. See note 22 in Acts 7 and note 22 in Heb. 12.
God came in to call Abraham that He might have a new beginning with fallen man. God’s calling of Abraham was a transfer of race, a transfer from the created Adamic race to the called Abrahamic race (see note 161 in Rom. 4). The transfer of race in God’s calling is actually the transfer of life, from the life of Adam to the life of Christ (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21a), from the fallen life of the old creation to the stronger and better life of the new creation — the uncreated life of God. The process of this transfer of life is portrayed in the succeeding chapters of Genesis and is seen in the collective experiences of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Acts 7:22b glory  -   Psa. 29:3
It might have been visible glory (cf. v. 55), as when the cloud and the fire appeared to Israel (Exo. 16:10; 24:16-17; Lev. 9:23; Num. 14:10; 16:19; 20:6; Deut. 5:24) and filled the tabernacle and the temple (Exo. 40:35; 1 Kings 8:11). It was the God of such glory who appeared to Abraham and called him. His glory was a great attraction to him. It separated (sanctified) him from the world unto God (Exo. 29:43) and was a great encouragement and strength that enabled him to follow God (Gen. 12:1, 4). In the same principle, God calls the New Testament believers by His invisible glory (2 Pet. 1:3).
Heb 12:22 Jesus
The wonderful Jesus, who is enthroned in heaven and crowned with glory and honor (2:9), is the greatest attraction in the universe. He is like an immense magnet, drawing all His seekers to Him. It is by being attracted by His charming beauty that we look away from all things other than Him. Without such a charming object, how could we look away from so many distracting things on this earth?
Gen 11:282 Chaldeans
Chaldea was a demonic place, a land of idolatry, in Mesopotamia, a region bounded by two great rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris. Thus, in order to leave Chaldea, the land of idolatry, and travel to the good land, the land of Canaan, Abraham, the first Hebrew (14:13 and note), had to cross the Euphrates. See note 12, par. 2, in Heb. 1 and note 132 in Heb. 11.
Gen 11:311 Terah
According to Acts 7:2-3, God appeared to Abraham in Ur of the Chaldeans and called him to “come out from your land and from your relatives, and come into the land which I will show you.” This was God’s first appearing and calling to him. God’s appearing to Abraham was a strong attraction to him (see note 22 in Acts 7), motivating and strengthening him to accept God’s calling (12:1-4). It is the same with the New Testament believers (see notes 201 and 221 in Matt. 4, 93 in Matt. 9, 22 in Heb. 12, and 38 in 2 Pet. 1).
At God’s first appearing to him, Abraham did not accept God’s calling immediately but remained in Ur for some time. After the death of Haran, Abraham’s brother (v. 28), God sovereignly caused his father, Terah, to bring the family from Ur to Haran. Thus, it was not Abraham but his father who took the initiative to leave Ur. See Acts 7:4 and note.
2Peter 1:38 Him
Referring to God, who is our Savior and our Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 1-2). He called us to His glory and virtue by His glory and virtue. His disciples saw His glory and virtue (v. 16; John 1:14) and were attracted by them. Then by this glory and virtue He called them to this glory and virtue. It is the same with all believers in Christ.