Almost 'out of the blue', YHVH appeared to Abraham and commanded him to travel to the 'promised land'.  He blessed him and promised him that he will become a great nation. However, the Torah never tells us WHY Abraham was chosen,
We would expect the Torah to provide us with the answer to such a fundamental question, however, the book of Genesis seems to skirt the issue entirely. In contrast to the story of Noah, which informs us right at the outset of the reason for Noah's distinction - "for he was a righteous man..." (Gen 6:9) the Bible never reveals the reason why Abraham was singled out.

In this teaching, we'll discuss the Torah's presentation of YHVH's choice of Abraham, in an attempt to understand what this "election" process and being a "chosen one" is all about.

The first ten chapters of Genesis follow a clear, logical and chronological sequence, as it discusses creation, man's sin, his punishment and the history of humanity after the flood. Then the focus changes from what is called a general "universalistic" perspective to what we might call a personal or "particularistic" outlook. Whereas all of Noah's offspring were addressed in chapter 10, Shem's geneology (Gen 11:10) begins a NEW section, dealing SPECIFICALLY with the family of Abraham.
The reason for that 'change in direction' was the TOWER OF BABEL incident, as described in Gen 11:1-9.
Let's take a look at the story of the TOWER of BABEL and find it's connection to the story of Abraham and to our topic of 'ELECTION'.

THE SIN OF OF BABEL

How do we know that the generation of the Tower of Babel sinned?  In contrast to the Torah's introduction of the generation of the Flood, which explicitly branded the population as wicked and corrupt (Gen 6:5,10-13), the opening verses of the Tower of Babel leave hardly a clue to any specific sin:
"Everyone on earth had the same language and the same words. And as they traveled from the east, they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another: Come, LET US make bricks and burn them hard. Brick became their stone, and bitumen their mortar. And they said, Come LET US build US a city and a tower with its top in the sky, AND WE WILL MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES, lest WE shall be scattered all over the world." (Gen 11:1-4)

Not only does no sin seem to be committed in these verses, but one may even be tempted to pay tribute to such an accomplished group of people.

* Is not achieving unity a positive goal? (Gen 11:1)
* Is there anything wrong with living in a valley? (Gen 11:2)
* Does not the use of human ingenuity to develop man-made building materials, such as bricks to replace stone, indicate the positive advancement of society? (Gen 11:3) An industrial revolution!
* What could possibly be wrong with building a city or tower? Is urbanization a crime? (Gen 11:4)

Nevertheless, they were punished. YHVH mixed up their languages, causing them to call off the project (Gen 11:5-7). What did they do wrong?

"WE SHALL MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES."

The use of the first person plural - not only in this verse, but also in ALL of the first four verses (Gen 11:1-4) - reflected the selfish nature and attitude of this generation, including the repeated use of the phrase "LET US".
Rather than devoting themselves to the glorification of the NAME OF YHVH, this generation excluded Him from their goals and aspirations, emphasizing instead their own dominion and prowess.
Although this generation was undoubtedly more refined and cultured than the corrupt, depraved generation of the flood, they united for the unholy purpose of venerating the name of man, rather than that of the Almighty. YHVH had higher expectations for mankind, hoping they would harness their God-given talents and potential towards loftier pursuits.
They instituted a social structure rather than a spiritual one, and devoted their energies towards MAKING A NAME for THEMSELVES.
YHVH could not allow this project to continue.  But rather than
annihilating the culprits, as He did in the time of Noah, YHVH decided to REDIRECT mankind, to have them take those very same qualities of unity and creativity and channel them towards Him.

It is in this context where YHVH singles out Abraham and
promises to produce from him a special nation:
"And I will make you a GREAT NATION.... and through you ALL the families of the earth will be blessed." (Gen 12:1-3)

Abraham was CHOSEN FOR A PURPOSE: to direct mankind back in the proper direction. He was given a special land NOT AS A REWARD, but rather as a means to fulfill that purpose.  YHVH sought a special nation to represent Him, to educate all other nations and spark their spiritual development. Abraham was at this point but a single individual, but he was destined to become the forefather of that nation, which will take some four hundred years. (Gen 15:13-20)
To become this nation, Abraham's offsprings must multiply and then establish their nation in a special land.  These two
prerequisites not only appeared in YHVH's opening statement to Abraham upon his arrival in Canaan, (Gen 12:7) but they were repeated each time YHVH spoke to the Patriarchs about their future. (Gen 13:14-15, 15:18, 17:8, 26:3, 28:13, 35:12, etc.).

BETH - EL & THE NAME OF ELOHIM

Although this goal could be fully attained only when this special
nation was established, it is significant that Abraham exerted himself towards this end.
If we trace Abraham's first sojourn through Canaan, as described in the Torah, we find that the town of Beth-El earned a unique place within Abraham's itinerary.
After he arriveed in Canaan and built an altar in Shechem, Abraham continued to Beth-El, the climax of his "sojournings".
"From there he moved up the mountain range to BETH-EL... and he built an ALTAR there and called out (Prayed) in YHVH's NAME!" (Gen 12:8).
Later, Abraham returned to Canaan, after his stay in Egypt and came specifically to this very same ALTAR in Beth-El and once again called out (prayed) in the NAME OF YHVH (Gen 13:1-4)!
What was the significance of Abraham's altar in Beth-El and his calling out in YHVH's Name?
Abraham's calling out in YHVH's NAME in Beth-El signified a contrasting parallel to the Tower of Babel fiasco. There, mankind focused on their own prominence - 'Let us make us a name'.  Abraham corrected that glaring mistake; he called out in YHVH'S NAME - It was for that very purpose that Abraham was chosen; to call out there in front of the altar and make known YHVH's existence to all mankind!

A 'STRATEGIC' LOCATION
Why did YHVH choose specfically the land of Israel to become the 'homeland' of this nation?
Recall that in the time of Abraham there existed two great centers of ancient civilization - Egypt and Mesopotamia. The land of Israel, located in between these two centers of civilization (and along the main highway that connected them) provided a 'strategic' location for the accomplishment of their national goal.
This is reflected in events that transpired in chapter 12.
Note how Abraham was first commanded to leave his own homeland in Mesopotamia and travel to Bethel to 'call' out YHVH's Name' over this Canaanite land. (Gen 12:7-8). Then he travelled to Egypt and encountered corruption (Gen 12:10-20). Upon his return from that center of civilization, once again Abraham went to Bethel and built an altar and called out in YHVH's Name. (Gen 13:1-4)  Abraham called out once again in YHVH's Name, after he established a covenant of mutual trust with Abimelech. (Gen 21:33)

A BIBLICAL THEME
The concept that the Nation of Israel was chosen to bring YHVH's Name to mankind, emerged as a central theme not only in the book of Genesis but throughout the Torah as well.
In the book of Deuteronomy, Israel was commanded to establish a national religious center in the place which YHVH will choose for His NAME to dwell therein. (Deut 12:5,11)  This phrase, repeated numerous times, describes the TEMPLE - which was to become the institution through which YHVH's prominence would be recognized by all mankind.
Years later, when the Temple was finally built, the same theme is reflected in Solomon's prayer at its dedication ceremony:
"If a foreigner comes from a distant land for the SAKE OF YOUR NAME, for they shall hear about YOUR GREAT NAME... when he comes to pray at this House... grant him what he asks. Thus ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH will KNOW YOUR NAME and revere You, as do the children of Israel, and they will recognize that YOUR NAME is attached to this House... " (I Kings 8:43 and II Samuel 7:22-27)
Queen Sheeba reached this very conclusion upon her visit to the Temple, as described in I Kings 10:1-9!

IN MESSIANIC TIMES
The famous messianic prophecy of Isaiah chapter 2 not only
reflects this same theme, but also creates an intriguing parallel to the Tower of Babel narrative:
"In the days to come, the MOUNTAIN of the HOUSE OF YHVH (the Temple Mount) will stand high above the mountains... and ALL THE NATIONS shall gaze on it with joy. Then MANY PEOPLES shall go and say: Come let us go up to the House of YHVH, that He may instruct us in His ways and we may walk in His paths - for TORAH shall come forth from Zion, and the word of YHVH from Jerusalem... "        (Isa 2:1-4)

Note the contrasting parallel between this prophecy and the events at the Tower of Babel.  In both events all mankind unites for a joint purpose.
However, in Isaiah they gather to a MOUNTAIN top (man looking up) rather than in a VALLEY (man looking down); and to the CITY OF PEACE, Jerusalem, and its TOWER - the Temple, rather than their own city of CONFUSION, Babel, and tower. Now mankind is united to hear the Word of YHVH, as taught by His people.

Another parallel to the Tower of Babel narrative appears in the
prophecies of Zephaniah, in his depiction of the messianic era.
"For then I will make the peoples pure of speech (language) - so that they will all call out IN THE NAME OF YHVH, and worship Him with one accord." (Zeph 3:9)

Again we see the unity of mankind for the purpose of calling out IN YHVH's NAME, using of the word 'speech' or 'language' as the means of bringing it about.

REWARD OR PURPOSE
Back to our original question. "Why Abraham?"

Abraham was chosen to fulfill a SPECIFIC MISSION - to become the forefather of the nation that will lead all others to the knowledge of YHVH's existence and refocus mankind's energies in the proper direction.
Thus, Abraham's distinction came not as a REWARD for any
specific deed, but rather for a SPECIFIC PURPOSE. Undoubtedly, Abraham was a man of extraordinary character and stature who possessed the necessary potential to fulfill this goal.  However, the Torah prefers to omit any explicit reference to these qualities, focusing not on his accomplishments but rather on the mission that lies ahead, thus stressing the supreme importance of Abraham's designated task.
This same principle applies in all generations. YHVH's choice of  Israel was not a REWARD, but the means by which they can and must fulfill the mission with which He has entrusted them. As this mission is eternal, so too is YHVH's choice of the Jewish Nation.

This lesson stresses our need to focus not on the exclusive
PRIVILEGES of being YHVH's 'special people', but rather on the unique RESPONSIBILITIES.

Be Responsible!