Old Testament · Genesis 12:1–9Genesis 15:1–6
Abraham's Journey — Bible Story for Kids
God told Abram to leave his home and go to a new land. Abram trusted God, and God promised him a family as many as the stars.
This is a retelling for children, written by BibleKenya from the Bible passages shown on each picture. It is not a Bible translation.
God said to , "Leave your home and go to a land I will show you. I will you."
God said to , "Leave your country, your relatives and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation. I will you, and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you."
Bible explorer Abram's name is changed to Abraham later, in Genesis 17:5.
obeyed. He packed up and went, with his wife and his nephew .
So went, as the LORD had told him. He was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife , his nephew , all their possessions and the people who worked for them, and they set out for the land of Canaan.
Bible explorer Hebrews 11:8 says Abraham "went out, not knowing where he went".
When they came to Canaan, God said, "I will give this land to your children." built an to thank God.
travelled through the land as far as the oak of Moreh at Shechem. The LORD appeared to him and said, "I will give this land to your offspring." Abram built an there to the LORD, and he kept moving on toward the south.
God took outside and said, "Count the stars, if you can. Your family will be like that!" Abram believed God.
had no children. God brought him outside and said, "Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So will your offspring be." Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted it to him as righteousness.
Bible explorer Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4:3 to explain faith.
The end of the story
Read it in the Bible
This is the Bible text itself, from the version shown. Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition
Genesis 12:1–9 WEB
1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” 4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they went to go into the land of Canaan. They entered into the land of Canaan. 6Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time, Canaanites were in the land. 7The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” He built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8He left from there to go to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the LORD’s name. 9Abram traveled, still going on toward the South.
Genesis 15:1–6 WEB
1After these things the LORD’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4Behold, the LORD’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” 5The LORD brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.” 6He believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness.
Who is in the story?
- Abram (Abraham) God called him to leave his home. He believed God's promise (Genesis 12:1-4, 15:6).
- Sarai (Sarah) Abram's wife, who travelled with him (Genesis 12:5).
- Lot Abram's nephew, who went with him (Genesis 12:4).
Words to learn
- Altar
- An altar was like a table of stones where people gave offerings to God. Noah built an altar after the flood.
- Blessing
- A blessing is a good gift from God, or kind words asking God to do good to someone. Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them.
- Faith
- Faith means trusting God. Abraham trusted God and left his home to go where God would show him.
- Promise
- A promise is when someone says they will do something and then does it. God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, and Isaac was born.
What can we learn from this passage?
Abram left his home with only God's promise to guide him. Genesis says he believed God, and God counted his faith as righteousness. Genesis 12:4Genesis 15:6