Genesis 12:10-20

Introduction:

Genesis 12 marks a major turning point in the book of Genesis

Earlier chapters focus on God’s dealings with all humanity

Creation, the fall, the flood, and the scattering of nations reveal mankind’s continued rebellion

God now narrows His redemptive plan to one man

Abram was called by God out of the land of idolatry

Ur of the Chaldees, was a city devoted Nannar, the moon god

2. Abram is commanded to leave:

His country

His family

His father’s house

God calls Abram to step into the unknown, to a land He will show him

To verify our faith and to purify it

1 Peter 1:7 “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”

3. God makes unconditional promises to Abram

Make Abram a great nation

Bless him and make his name great

Make him a blessing to others

God declares that all the families of the earth will be blessed through Abram

These promises are rooted in God’s grace, not Abram’s worthiness

4. Abram responds in obedient faith

He leaves security and familiarity of his country

Abram was not perfect in his obedience to God, but he is refereed to as the Father of Faith

We’re going to see tonight, Abram makes many foolish mistakes, but he is justified by his faith, not by his works

6. Abram didn’t choose God but God choose him

We didn’t choose God, He first choose us

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

1. (V10) Famine in the land

a) A famine was a serious problem

Especially in the ancient world, many people died from hunger, and it was right for Abram to be concerned about famine and feeding his family.

He had a family and a great deal of live stock to feed

We can sympathize with his circumstances

The problems was Abram was focused on circumstances rather than God

But Abram was believed to be young in the faith

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

b) Abram obeys in faith and is immediately hit with a trial

He enters Canaan and immediately hit with a challenge

Often times when we stepped out into faith we are hit with resistance

God teaches faith through trials

James 1:2–4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

God was looking to grow and perfect their faith, but He uses challenges to do so

God wants to keep us humble and dependent upon Him

When we first moved to Sonora we got blasted with problem after problem

Just as we unpacked there was a big fire next to our house and we had to begin packing up to evacuate

I was constantly sick, then I lost vision in my left eye and was diagnose with few different health problems.

I looked at it as a test of faith, I knew the Lord and called me and I would tell myself he will sustain me

b) Abram leaves Canaan for Egypt

Abram was called to Canaan but leaves to Egypt because of the unfavorable circumstances

God made promises to Abram, such as to bless him, to make him a great nation, and through him all the families on earth would be blessed

He had nothing to worry about because of the promises of God

We do face a spiritual battle and the enemy wants to stop the forward progress

1.1 (V11) I know how beautiful your countenance is

a) Sarai was believed to be around 60 years old

1.2 (V12-13) Abram asked Sarai to lie because he was sacred for his life

a) This was in fact a half-truth.

Sarai was Abram’s half-sister (Genesis 20:12). This half-truth was a whole lie.

b) Abram was trying to save his own skin

Abram’s intent here was to deceive, and he trusted in his deception to protect him instead of trusting in the Lord.

Deception is the opposite of faith

He was fearful of man, instead of fearing the Lord

Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

c) Leads his wife into sin

Husbands must love their wives with sacrificial love, presenting her holy and without blemish as it says in Ephesians

d) God’s promises are always true.

God will protect me and my wife Sarai.”

Faith is, yes I see the danger but I trust in Your promises

e) Why would God want to use faulty man for His great plan?

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.””

2. (V14-15) Sarai is taken into Pharaoh’s house.

a) Sarai attracted attention both because she was very beautiful and because she was the companion of an obviously wealthy and influential man (Abram).

He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels

2.1 (V17) The Lord plagued Pharaoh

a) God did not want Sarai’s womb to be defiled

By a gentile king, because the Messiah would come from her line of descendants.

b) Abram was supposed to be a blessing

But because of his disobedience he brought a curse

2.1 (V16-20) Abram leaves Egypt after being rebuked by Pharaoh

a) What is this you have done to me? 

Sadly, a pagan king had to rebuke Abram.

God’s divine protection of Abram and Sarai shows that if he would have trusted in God and told the truth, everything would have been all right.

But God was in the business of growing Abram into a man of great faith, and this required circumstances where Abram must trust God.

Its been said, “Faith is not a mushroom that grows overnight in damp soil; it is an oak tree that grows for a thousand years under the blast of the wind and rain.