After the dispersion from Babel idolatry again became well-nigh universal, and the Lord finally left the hardened transgressors to follow their evil ways, while He chose Abraham, of the line of Shem, and made him the keeper of His law for future generations. Abraham had grown up in the midst of superstition and heathenism. Even his father's household, by whom the knowledge of God had been preserved, were yielding to the seductive influences surrounding them, and they "served other gods" than Jehovah. But the true faith was not to become extinct. God has ever preserved a remnant to serve Him. Adam, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem, in unbroken line, had preserved from age to age the precious revealings of His will. The son of Terah became the inheritor of this holy trust. Idolatry invited him on every side, but in vain. Faithful among the faithless, uncorrupted by the prevailing apostasy, he steadfastly adhered to the worship of the one true God. "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth." Psalm 145:18. He communicated His will to Abraham, and gave him a distinct knowledge of the requirements of His law and of the salvation that would be accomplished through Christ.

Dette kapitel er bygget op over 1. mos 12

Efter adspredelsen fra Babel blev afgudsdyrkelsen igen næsten verdensomspændende, og Herren overlod til sidst de forhærdede overtrædere til at følge deres egne onde veje, mens han udvalgte Abraham af Sems slægt til at være lovens bevarer før fremtidige slægter. Abraham var vokset op midt i overtro og hedenskab. Selv hans faders husstand, som havde bevaret kundskaben om Gud, gav efter for den forførende påvirkning, som omgav dem, og "dyrkede andre guder" end Herren.