Genesis Chapter Twelve

Read Genesis 12:1-5 – God’s Call of Abram

v.1 “NOW THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO ABRAM, GET THEE OUT OF THY

COUNTRY, AND FROM THY KINDRED, AND FROM THY FATHER’S HOUSE, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW THEE:”

As we had note in the latter verses of chapter 11, Terah, Abram, Lot, their wives and families ad moved from the Chaldean city of Ur to the city of Haran, a journey of approximately 1200 — 1300 miles north and west up the Euphrates valley. But this is not the country in which God intended that Abram should settle and that would provide to his descendants. So God calls Abram to continue the journey hat he called him to start when he was at Ur.

This is God‘s second call to Abram as it is recorded in Stephen’s sermon:

Acts 7:2-3 “AND HE SAID, MEN, BRETHREN, AND FATHERS, HEARKEN; THE GOD OF GLORY APPEARED UNTO OUR FATHER ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS IN MESOPOTAMIA, BEFORE HE DWELT IN CHARRAN, AND SAID UNTO HIM, GET THEE OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND FROM THY KINDRED,

AND COME INTO THE LAND WHICH I SHALL SHOW THEE.”

Abram was a rich man. The Iraqi archeologists claim to have located the foundation of Abram’s house in the ruins of Ur and have built a replica, much as we would restore an old fort or some other historic place in this country. The following information was provided by a U.S. Army officer who visited the site.

“The house has 27 rooms, 5 courtyards, and 3 stairs. The rooms had a roof of wood, reeds, and mud. The bricks and foundation were made of mud. It was a one level house with two rooms on the second level. Terah, Abram’s father was the maker and seller of gods. He was very rich. Abram sold sheep and camels. There were no windows in the rooms. They relied on the courtyards for light. They found a drawing of the house on a brick. Part of the brick is in the museum in Baghdad and the other part is in the British Museum. The courtyard floor is sloped for drainage and still works today even with the heavy winter rains. The present walls were built by Saddam on the original foundation. The foundation and floors are all original.”

So Abram, this wealthy businessman had faith in God and was called by God for a higher purpose:

Hebrews 11:8-9 “BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GO OUT INTO A PLACE WHICH HE SHOULD AFTER RECEIVE FOR AN INHERITANCE, OBEYED; AND HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING WHITHER HE WENT. BY FAITH HE SOJOURNED IN THE LAND OF PROMISE, AS in A STRANGE COUNTRY, DWELLING IN TABERNACLES WITH ISAAC AND JACOB, THE HEIRS WITH HIM OF THE SAME PROMISE:”

v.2-3 “AND I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION, AND I WILL BLESS THEE, AND MAKE THY NAME GREAT; AND THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING: AND I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE, AND CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE: AND IN THEE SHALL ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED.”

God’s promise to Abram was twofold. His physical descendants were to become a great nation; that nation that we know as Israel.

Deuteronomy 26:5 “AND THOU SHALT SPEAK AND SAY BEFORE THE LORD THY GOD, A SYRIAN READY TO PERISH was MY FATHER, AND HE WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT, AND SOJOURNED THERE WITH A FEW, AND BECAME THERE A NATION, GREAT, MIGHTY, AND POPULOUS:”

But that wasn’t the greatest blessing that Abram enjoyed. He was also to become that one through whom all nations were to be blessed. He was the one through whom God’s seed promise of Genesis 3:15 was to be carried forward. This blessing is repeated:

Genesis 22:18 “AND IN THY SEED SHALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED; BECAUSE THOU HAST OBEYED MY VOICE.”

Peter in the temple preaching to the Jews that were present reminds them of this promise and assures them that it has been fulfilled:

Acts 3:25-26 “YE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE PROPHETS, AND OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD MADE WITH OUR FATHERS, SAYING UNTO ABRAHAM, AND IN THY SEED SHALL ALL THE KINDREDS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED. UNTO YOU FIRST GOD, HAVING RAISED UP HIS SON JESUS, SENT HIM TO BLESS YOU, IN TURNING AWAY EVERY ONE OF YOU FROM HIS INIQUITIES.”

The Holy Spirit through the pen of the Apostle Paul further confirms the magnitude of this blessing:

Galatians 3:8 “THE SCRIPTURE, FORESEEING THAT GOD WOULD JUSTIFY THE HEATHEN THROUGH FAITH, PREACHED BEFORE THE GOSPEL UNTO ABRAHAM, saying, IN THEE SHALL ALL NATIONS BE BLESSED.”

v.4 “SO ABRAM DEPARTED, AS THE LORD HAD SPOKEN UNTO HIM; AND LOT WENT WITH HIM: AND ABRAM was SEVENTY AND FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN HE DEPARTED OUT OF HARAN.”

So, just as they did when God told them to leave Ur, Abram followed God’s direction. Some commentators also mention here that we also see the long-suffering of God, because Abram stopped at Haran and stayed for some time; long enough that in Deuteronomy Moses calls him a Syrian rather than a Chaldean.

v.5 “AND ABRAM TOOK SARAI HIS WIFE, AND LOT HIS BROTHER’S SON, AND ALL THEIR SUBSTANCE THAT THEY HAD GATHERED, AND THE SOULS THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN IN HARAN; AND THEY WENT FORTH TO GO INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN; AND INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN THEY CAME.”

So Abram now is in the land of Canaan. As we studied in chapter 9; the curse placed upon Canaan because of Ham’s sin is that God will destroy many of them, take their land away and give it to a descendant of Shem. The promise to Abram that, he would possess a land that God would show him is next step in God’s plan to bring that curse to reality.

Read Genesis 12:6-9 — God’s Land Promise

v.6 “AND ABRAM PASSED THROUGH THE LAND UNTO THE PLACE OF SICHEM, UNTO THE PLAIN OF MOREH, AND THE CANAANITE was THEN IN THE LAND.”

The town or village of Sichem is called Shechem in later years. It was located about thirty miles due north of Jerusalem and was the first capital of the Northern Kingdom after the division of Israel. Moreh is called both an “oak” or grove of oaks and a plain. It was in the immediate vicinity of Shechem. It is located in the tribal land of Ephraim by some, in Manasseh by others. In New Testament times it was in Samaria. Abraham:

“BY FAITH HE SOJOURNED IN THE LAND OF PROMISE, AS in A STRANGE COUNTRY, DWELLING IN TABERNACLES WITH ISAAC AND JACOB, THE HEIRS WITH HIM OF THE SAME PROMISE.” Hebrews 11:9

v.7 “THE LORD APPEARED UNTO ABRAM, AND SAID, UNTO THY SEED WILL I GIVE THIS LAND: AND THERE BUILDED HE AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD, WHO APPEARED UNTO HIM.”

God appeared unto Abram; not only at this time but several times that we will study in the chapters of Genesis that pertain to him.

Genesis 17:8 “AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE, AND TO THY SEED AFTER THEE, THE LAND WHEREIN THOU ART A STRANGER, ALL THE LAND OF CANAAN, FOR AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD.”

As did Noah, Abram erected an altar and worshipped the Lord.

v.8-9 “AND HE REMOVED FROM THENCE UNTO A MOUNTAIN ON THE EAST OF BETHEL, AND PITCHED HIS TENT, having BETHEL ON THE WEST, AND HAl ON THE EAST: AND THERE HE BUILDED AN ALTAR UNTO THE LORD, AND CALLED UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD. AND ABRAM

JOURNEYED, GOING ON STILL TOWARD THE SOUTH.”

Abram moved a few miles further south and pitched his tent between Bethel on the west and Ai on the east, in what became the land of the tribe of Benjamin. After he had built an altar and worshipped he moved still further south in the direction of Egypt.

Read Genesis 12:10-13 — Abram’s Deception

v.10 “AND THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND: AND ABRAM WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT TO SOJOURN THERE; FOR THE FAMINE was GRIEVOUS IN THE LAND.”

Famine in the land of Canaan was not an uncommon occurrence. This is what drove Israel and his sons to Egypt in later years. First we have Isaac:

Genesis 26:1 “AND THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE LAND, BESIDE THE FIRST FAMINE THAT WAS IN THE DAYS OF ABRAHAM. AND ISAAC WENT UNTO ABIMELECH KING OF THE PHILISTINES UNTO GERAR.”

Then later still, Israel

Genesis 43:1 “AND THE FAMINE was SORE IN THE LAND.”

Even today part of the problem underlying the enmity between modern day Israel, Jordan and Syria have to do with the use of the water that flows into and through the Jordan River. Without it the land is desert much like parts of southern California and Arizona in our country and would not support the population of that country.

v.11-13 “AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN HE WAS COME NEAR TO ENTER INTO EGYPT, THAT HE SAID UNTO SARAI HIS WIFE, BEHOLD NOW, I KNOW THAT THOU art A FAIR WOMAN TO LOOK UPON: THEREFORE IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN THE EGYPTIANS SHALL SEE THEE, THAT THEY SHALL SAY, THIS is HIS WIFE: AND THEY WILL KILL ME, BUT THEY WILL SAVE THEE ALIVE. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.”

Abram or Abraham, is given to us by God .a example of great faith, he falter here? He took counsel of his fears and allowed them to overcome the knowledge that God was with him. This won’t be the only time that Abram does this as we have the same thing happening chapter 20. Was Sarai indeed Abram’s sister? Yes, half sister.

Genesis 20:12 “AND YET INDEED she is MY SISTER; SHE is THE DAUGHTER OF MY FATHER, BUT NOT THE DAUGHTER OF MY MOTHER; AND SHE BECAME MY WIFE.”

Read Genesis 12:14-20 — Abram is Expelled From Egypt

v.14-15 “AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, WHEN ABRAM WAS COME INTO EGYPT, THE EGYPTIANS BEHELD THE WOMAN THAT SHE was VERY FAIR. THE PRINCES ALSO OF PHARAOH SAW HER, AND COMMENDED HER BEFORE PHARAOH: AND THE WOMAN WAS TAKEN INTO PHARAOH’S HOUSE.”

As is common to man, Abram’s failure to trust in the providence of God and to use deception to protect himself from his fears creates a different kind of situation. Abram’s deception and her great beauty made Sarai vulnerable to the wants and wishes of the king of Egypt. Because Pharoah thought that Sarai was indeed Abram’s sister rather than his wife, Pharoah felt free to exercise a privilege apparently available to him and take her into his house.

v.16 “AND HE ENTREATED ABRAM WELL FOR HER SAKE: AND HE HAD SHEEP, AND OXEN, AND HE ASSES, AND MENSERVANTS, AND MAIDSERVANTS, AND SHE ASSES, AND CAMELS.”

Because of Sarai, Pharoah added to Abram’s material wealth. We might even get the impression that Abram was pleased with this arrangement but God wasn’t.

v.17 “THE LORD PLAGUED PHARAOH AND HIS HOUSE WITH GREAT PLAGUES BECAUSE OF SARAI ABRAM’S WIFE.”

We serve an unchanging God who has not and will never change his attitude toward sin:

“MARRIAGE is HONOURABLE IN ALL, AND THE BED UNDEFILED: BUT WHOREMONGERS AND ADULTERERS GOD WILL JUDGE.” Hebrews 13:4

We’re not told what kind of plagues that God brought upon Pharoah but, later, when Abram uses the same deception again we’re told that:

“FOR THE LORD HAD FAST CLOSED UP ALL THE WOMBS OF THE HOUSE OF ABIMELECH, BECAUSE OF SARAH ABRAHAM’S WIFE.” Genesis 20:18

In the case of Abimelech God caused everyone in the household of this king to cease to be able to bear children.

v.18 “AND PHARAOH CALLED ABRAM, AND SAID, WHAT is THIS that THOU HAST DONE UNTO ME? WHY DIDST THOU NOT TELL ME THAT SHE was THY WIFE?”

By what means we don t know; but Pharoah learns the source of his troubles. He has been deceived, has angered God as a result, and is now being punished by God for a sin that he did not know he was committing. He’s very angry with Abram. Without God’s intervention Abram’s life would probably be in more danger as a result of his deception than it would have been otherwise.

v.19-20 “WHY SAIDST THOU, SHE is MY SISTER? SO I MIGHT HAVE TAKEN HER TO ME TO WIFE: NOW THEREFORE BEHOLD THY WIFE, TAKE her, AND GO THY WAY. AND PHARAOH COMMANDED his MEN CONCERNING HIM: AND THEY SENT HIM AWAY, AND HIS WIFE, AND ALL THAT HE HAD.”

After upbraiding him Pharoah gives Sarai back to Abram and expels him from his country.