12:1 out of thy country. The call of Abram marks a critical turning point in history. Heretofore God’s covenant with mankind (Genesis 9:8-17) applied to all men alike. With the confusion of tongues at Babel, distinct nations necessarily began to develop. Though the Noahic covenant is everlasting, it was now necessary for this to be supplemented (not replaced) by a special relation with a particular nation through which the promised Seed of the Woman (Genesis 3:15) would eventually enter the human race to redeem lost mankind.