Genesis 12:1-20

We’re picking up where we left off in Genesis. The first section we looked at detailed the creation of the universe, the creation of mankind, the Fall of mankind, and the spiral of mankind into sin and depravity.

The second section told the story of Noah, and how God started over with humanity by punishing sin and destroying the whole world except for all that was contained in the ark. Even after the flood, though, mankind fell back into sin and idol worship. We were introduced to Abram in chapter 11.

Gen. 12:1-5

Quick recap of Abram’s history:

Gen. 11:26-32

LIFE OF TERAH

Abram’s father Terah had traveled from Ur all the way to Haran, and settled there. His intention was to go into the land of Canaan. He had taken Abram, Sarai, and Lot with him. He never made it, and died in Haran.

Terah served other gods (Josh. 24:2-3), and so did his family (Gen. 31:19). Abram may have had some knowledge of God, but his family did not serve him.

In Acts 7:2-4, we see that God had visited Abram before his father took him to leave Ur. He was to go forth into a land that God would show him and leave behind his relatives. Abram partially did this, but settled with his father in Haran.

God spoke to Abram again, and told him again to leave his father’s household, but this time God made a promise to Abram.

This promise was three-fold:

Abram would be made into a “great nation.” This is a direct reference to his descendants, the Israelites, which we will get more information about as his journey goes on.

The irony of this promise was that Abram, who’s name means “high father,” was married to a woman who was barren (Gen. 11:30).

Abram would be blessed. God would be a benefit to Abram, both in material possessions and protection. This was a promise of abundance.

Abram’s name would be made great. His reputation would be made large amongst others around him, and his fame would spread.

A similar concept to this kind of reputation was seen with Nimrod.

This promise goes further, beyond Abram himself. Abram would be blessed to be a blessing to others.

This means that the “great nation” to come from him would also be a blessing to others.

Look at the scope of Abram’s blessing: Gal. 3:6-14.

God blesses His people so that they might be a blessing to those around them.

God would bless those who bless Abram, and curse those who curse him.

And so Abram went forth with his wife and his nephew and all their material and human resources; he was 75 years old when he began his journey into the land of Canaan (Heb. 11:8).

Gen. 12:6-9

Abram made it as far as Shechem before the Lord appeared to him again, and told him that those who come from him would possess the land he was standing on.

They wandered as strangers in the land he was promised: Psa. 105:6-15; Heb. 11:13.

Abram’s response was worship: he built and altar to the Lord. We saw Noah do this as well in chapter 8.

Abram continued south from Shechem to the area around Bethel, and built another altar and called upon the name of the Lord (Gen. 4:26).

Rom. 10:12-14

They continued south to the Negev, which is mostly wilderness.

Gen. 12:10-20

Being in an area that wasn’t well suited for settling, Abram opted to continue west into Egypt, where they might have a more readily supply of food.

Abram determined that several things in his heart: Egypt was lawless, his wife Sarai was beautiful (65), and this combination would end poorly for him.

Abram forgot God’s promise of blessing: his fear of men led to a felt need for deceit (Gen. 20:11).

God will always remain faithful, in spite of any circumstances that might arise before us.

As Abram predicted, the Egyptians saw Sarai, and she was so beautiful, they told Pharaoh and she was brought into his house to become his wife.

Abram was blessed and gifted much wealth on account of Sarai, presumably as a dowry.

God would not allow for His promises to be thwarted by man’s scheming, and protected Sarai by striking the whole household with plagues (vs. 14-15 of Psa).

Sarai was Abram’s wife, and Abram was promised that his “seed” would become a great nation, that would be a blessing to the world. Abram was getting in the way of that promise.

The whole truth came to light, and Pharaoh angrily confronted Abram on his deceit (Gen. 20:12).

Abram’s giving of partial/incomplete truth was sin; this was an embarrassing display of fear for a man of faith.

Abram and all that was his was escorted safely out of Egypt.

In spite of this, God had a plan for this interaction, and caused Abram to emerge from this better off than before.

God showed Himself to be faithful to Abram, even in the face of Abram’s failure.

APPLICATION

God blesses His people so that they might be a blessing to those around them.

God will always remain faithful, in spite of any circumstances that might arise before us.