The Lord Calls Abram
Comments for Study 8
Pick to read this Bible passage in a separate window.
From: The Book of Genesis, by Charles R. Erdman. "The most important and colossal character to appear on the stage of history, before the birth of our Lord, was Abraham of Ur of the Chaldees, son of Terah. To the men of his day, and judged by common standard of greatness, this would not be true. Abraham conquered no country, he ruled no nation, he composed no books, he enacted no laws, he created no monuments of art. His sphere of influence was solely that of religion. To him Christians, Mohammedans, and Jews look back in reverence as to the founder of their faiths. It is to Abraham that the world owes its belief in the one living and true God. His character and his career are summed up in two familiar phrases: Abraham was "the Friend of God," and "the Father of the Faithful."
With Abraham began a new chapter in the divine plan of redemption. A man was chosen to be the head of a family from which issued a favored race. Shut off from their idolatrous neighbors in a land of their own, this people developed their religious beliefs and customs; they maintained their primitive faith, and became the medium of divine revelation. They were narrow in their sympathies, often apostate, and unfaithful; but through them was preserved for the world the knowledge of God which finally reached its climax in the person and work of Christ. This knowledge is the supreme concern of each individual and of the human race, for, as the Savior declared, 'This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.'"
* At this point in Genesis the author begins the account of an important point in history. Here God begins something new in history. He begins working with one family that becomes a nation.
By calling Abram, the son of Terah, to a mission of blessing, God revealed his intent to be the gracious Savior. The gracious redemptive purpose of God begins to emerge with this passage. In his grace, God chooses to save his sinful creatures through this man, Abram's line. The climax of the redemptive purpose of God came through Abram's "son"; Jesus Christ, God's own Son.
I. This is the Account of Terah (11:27-32)
A wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) titled "Abraham Journeying into the Promise Land" that is in a Bible was titled: "The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the authorized version. With illustrations by Gustave Doré.
Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.
>1. What can you learn about Terah's family through verses 27-29? What problem did Abram's family have? (30) Where did Terah and his family settle? (31) Why there? Was Terah's family worshipping of the LORD? (Joshua 24:2; Gen. 31:19; 35:1-4)
Genesis 11:27 "This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot."
* "This is the account of" -See lesson 1 which is the first it appears (2:4). This is the fifth appearance of this phrase.
These events are around 2000 B.C. by some theologian's accounts.
* "Terah" -In Hebrew "Terah." It is of unknown meaning and origin of location. However, somewhere I read that it may mean "lingering."
Terah is in Seth's line, meaning he is a man of God's chosen line. However, Terah and his family worshipped idols. Joshua 24:2 says, "Joshua said to all the people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods.''" This is again brought up when the author of Genesis points out that Rachel, Haran's and Nahor's descendant, also worshiped idols. Genesis 31:19 says, "When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household gods." However, Jacob did not worship idols. Genesis 31:32 says, "But if you find anyone who has your gods, he shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it." Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods." Finally Jacob put his foot down and told his family to get rid of the idols they had. Genesis 35:1-4 "Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau." So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone." So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem."
From all of this it can be seen clearly that Terah's family was steeped in idol worship. From this family the LORD God was going to build a great Godly nation.
I would like to point out that if Terah's family is an example of Seth's descendants, the men of God, then mankind was truly far from God.
* "This is the account of Terah" -Today everyone sees Abraham as the important one, not Terah. But here the author says, "This is the account of Terah." Why? Later, in my notes on Genesis 11:31-32 ("Terah took...Abram...") and 12:1 ("The LORD had said"), I will bring up that Terah was called before Abraham, but Terah did not finish the call that God had given to him. So the call of God was first to Terah; thus "this is the account of Terah", not the account of Abram.
* "Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran" -Most likely these are the only sons of Terah. The text seems very specific.
* "Abram" -In Hebrew "Abram". It means "high father."
* "Nahor and Haran" -Abram's two brothers. It is not clear which was the oldest and youngest. But the events that follow seem to suggest that Haran was older than Nahor because the descendent of both, which was the same, became the city/nation Haran. (See below notes for more on this.)
Abram being older than Nahor it is not clear, except that Lot went with Abram instead of staying with Nahor. (Although this could not mean anything as far as age is concerned.)
* "Nahor" -In Hebrew "Nachowr." It means "snorer." It is also the name of the grandfather of Abraham (11:24).
* "Haran" -Personal and place name meaning, mountaineer or caravan route.
His mentioned children are: Lot (son), Milcah (daughter), and Iscah (daughter).
Haran died while in Ur. But his descendants would become a small city nation (Gen. 29:4).
Haran's daughter, Milcah, became Nahor's wife. In Chapter 24:15-16 it will be revealed that they had a son named Bethuel. In turn Bethuel had a daughter named Rebekah and a son named Laban (He could of had more children). Rebekah would be the wife of Isaac.
In chapter 29:16 it will be revealed that Laban had at least two children; daughters Leah and Rachel. Jacob, Abram's grandson would marry both of them.
* "And Haran became the father of Lot" -Lot would play an important role in the life of Abraham. He is also an important figure for us to learn spiritual truths.
Genesis 11:28-30 "While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Harah, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. Now Sarai was barren; she had no children."
* "While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth."-It appears from this phrase and the next sentence that Haran was the oldest of all three.
* "Abram and Nahor both married" -See note above.
* "Ur" -in Hebrew"Uwr." Meaning not known.
* "of Chaldeans" -In Hebrew"Kasdiy." (occasionally with enclitic Kasdiymah; towards the Kasdites:-into Chaldea). It means; "patron; a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by impl. a Chaldoean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people).
* "Ur of Chaldeans" -The city of Ur was located on the Euphrates River 100 miles from the mouth of the river (The Euphrates river flows into the Persian Gulf). It's founding is not clear to me. Ur was a great city for quit some time including Terah's time. Today they have found and excavated the sight which is in modern day Iraq/Iran. It was quit an advanced walled city with canals, two harbors, a huge palace, and several temples. Education was well developed at Ur, for a school was found there with its array of clay tablets. Further studies have revealed the fact that commerce was well developed and that ships came into Ur from the Persian Gulf bringing diorite (crystalline rocks) and alabaster used in stature making, copper ore, ivory, gold and hard woods. Ur was the center of the worship of the moon god. (Those in Haran also worshiped this god. Haran was in the land of Asshur's and Aram's descendants who were also sons of Seth.)
The "country" Chaldeans was in an area originally a part of Elam (10:22, 30; 11:10-11). Most likely this area became part of, or at least next door to, Nimrod's Empire (10:10 "Calneh"?) which center was the city Babylon, less than two hundred miles from Ur. All this took place no more than 300 years before Abram, but no less than 150 years before Abram if the genealogies in chapters 10 and 11 are interpreted correctly by me. (See lesson 6 for facts on all of this.) All this being true, it is easy to see how Terah's family became idolatrous; they were influenced by Nimrod's evil empire.
After the break up of Nimrod's Empire because of the Tower of Babel the nations divided (11:8-9). Thus, most likely the "country" Chaldea was formed shortly after this.
In Abram's time Chaldeans most likely was a part of, or in partnership with the Kassites Empire which was to the north west of Chaleans. After Abram, around 1350 B.C. (shortly before the exodus) the Babylonia Empire rose again in power and brought Chaldeans, with others, into its empire. Around 640 B.C. (shortly after Israel's exile) Assyria conquered the Chaldeans again along with the rest of the Babylonian Empire. Later, Assyria became The New Babylonia empire around 560 B.C. (just after Judea's exile). Babylon was conquered by Cyrus of Persia in 539 B.C. (just before Israel and Judea returned from exile) thus becoming Assyria). All dates are approximate.
* "Nahor's wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Harah" -In those days people had strong family ties. They lived and married among themselves. Sarah and Abram had the same relationship (See notes below.)
* "Sarai" -In Hebrew "Saray." Meaning "dominative."
Sarai was the daughter of Terah by a wife other than Abram's mother (Gen. 20:11-13,16)
* "was barren" -In Hebrew"aqar." Meaning " sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs):-(X male or female) barren (woman)."
* "she had no children" -In Abram's day this was a major problem for a man was defined by the number of descendants that he had and a woman was considered a good wife if she had a lot of children.
>2. Where was Terah and Abram when God first call them? (31, Acts 7:2) Who was called first? With this fact and the facts learned in question one, what can we learn to do when God calls us? (Luke 9:62)
Genesis 11:31-32 "Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran."
* "Terah took...Abram...and together they set out...to go to Canaan" -Terah lead. This seems to indicate that most likely God called Terah first, before Abram. (See notes below "The LORD had said...". and "But", and above "This is the account of Terah".)
However, later Stephen said in Acts 7:2-4, "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.' So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.'" So the point can be made that Abram was called by not Terah. I believe that Abram was called, first through Terah, and then by himself. It could also be noted that Stephen had made a mistake.
* "took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of son Abram, and together they set out" -Nahor is not mentioned but it is clear that he went as well for later Isaac and Jacob married Nahor's daughter and grand-daughters.
* "But" -showing the fact that Terah was to go on.
* "Haran" -A city in Abram's time in the Mitanni Empire. Paddanaram was the name of the region of land.
Haran worshiped the moon God just as Ur did. Perhaps this is why Terah did not finish the pilgrimage to the promised land.
* "when they came to Haran" -By looking at a map one would say the quickest way to Canaan would be the straight line route directly west. However, this is not true because this was all desert. It would be almost impossible to take a family accost this terrain. The best and only route was to go north-west following the Euphrates and then just south of Haran turn to go south-west into Canaan. I believe that in his trip, Terah did not have to go as far north as to enter Haran, but he did. (See note above "Haran" for a possible reason why.)
* "they settled there" -Terah's mistake. Perhaps he stopped because he was tired of traveling on to the promised land.
* "he died in Haran" -It is a dreadful thing to be called by God to be a great part of his history on the way to the Promised land, and then die in Haran, not finishing God's calling and journey.
It is important to note that because Terah did not finish his trip, his descendants, Isaac and Jacob, had to take long solo trips to Haran to their wives. If Terah would have completed his journey he would have spared them this.
* "Terah lived 205 years" -Men where still living a long time.
II. I Will Make You into a Great Nation (12:1-2)
The chart to the right concerns covenants found in the Old Testament established between the Lord and people.
>3. What was God's command to Abram when he called him? (1) Why do you think it was necessary for Abram to leave his country, his people and his household to be used by God?
Genesis 12:1 "The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.'"
* "The LORD" -See lesson 1 notes on the meaning of "LORD".
Abram did not choose God. Instead God chose Abram to fulfill his purposes.
* "had said to Abram" -This phrase is in the past tense, perhaps referring to what Stephen had said, "God had called Abram while still living in Ur" (Acts 7:2).
But this would not explain the fact that God said, "Leave...your father's household." If the LORD had said this in Ur, why didn't Abram leave his father's household? Terah did, after all, go with him half way until Haran; and 11:31 says, "Terah took his son Abram...to go to Canaan." Of course Abram could have told his father that he was leaving for a land God would show him (he did not know yet that it was Canaan) while in Ur. Then as Abram started to obey God's call and leave, Terah decided to go with him, not wanting to be parted of Abram his son. Then in Haran, Terah died when his son, Abram, was only half finished with his journey to the promised land.
Another view point on this, which is one that I believe more acceptable is that Terah was call first, but did not finish the trip that God had called him too.
God revealed to Abram plans for humans and for God for the immediate present and the far future. Human beings are regularly invited to participate in God's great plans. The first step of faith brings us to discover our own promised land. The God who reveals is always beckoning His people into the next great horizon of his purposes.
* "Leave" -Abram had to leave the bad influence of his family who worshiped idols. Compared to other parents, Abram's parents weren't that bad. After all Terah was called by God and did accept it to a point. Also Terah was a descendant of Seth, a man of God. Still Abram had to leave the rest of his family, which by now was probably quit big.
Abram had to finish the journey that his father should have. Just because Terah died without finishing God's call in his life, did not mean that God's plan was finished. Nor did it mean that Abram was free of God's plan for him.
Abram would leave and start a new personal walk before God.
Abram made a new start; a new decision of faith.
* "a land I will show you" -The Land of Canaan was God's designated spot before history.
* "a land I will show you" -God did not say where it was thus it took faith for Abram to go. The first sign of faith is a decision. The second is to go.
>4. What are the seven blessings of God to Abram involved in his promise? (2-3) What is the meaning of each of these? How would God's original blessing upon mankind given in Genesis 1:28 be restored through his promise to Abram and his offspring? How would this promise foretell the same blessings to all of Abram's descendants? (Galatians 3:7-9)
Genesis 12:2-3 "l will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'"
* "I will" -Along with God's call to Abram to make a decision of faith to go to the promised land, God gave Abram some unconditional and absolute promises. This is the same that God does to us today, when he calls us to take a walk of life to the kingdom of God.
* "I will make you into a great nation" -God will increase his descendants until they will be many. This is both the nation of Israel and the people of the promise (the people of God).
* "and I will bless you" -God will turn what he does into good things. Bless both physically and spiritually. God's favor. Blessing means what ultimately makes men happy, well being, or prosperity.
* "I will make your name great" -He will be known by many and they will hold him in high regard. Known by godly men. Man of obedience and therefore influence others in good ways.
* "and you will be a blessing" -Many people will receive good things because of him. Abram will because of blessing by God to him. Only when he had a right relationship with God. Directly.
* "I will bless those who bless you" -Those who do good to Abram, the Lord will do good to them in return.
* "and whoever curses you I will curse" -Those who do wrong to Abram, the Lord will do the same to them. God will protect Abram. God will help him to overcome fear.
* "and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" -Indirectly everyone will receive good because of Abram through Jesus, Abram offspring.
Abram most likely didn't know what this would all mean. Most likely he did not know the great extent of this calling.
* This was not an easy decision to make because:
1) Abram was settled in Haran,
2) He had no present sons,
3) His wife was barren,
4) He was old,
5) The area that he was headed for was hostile land,
6) He couldn't speak the language spoken in that area,
7) The people was a different race than him,
8) He would have an insecure life there,
9) He would be by himself there,
10) He would be the leader of the household now,
11) When a person lives with sinful people it is hard to change to a godly life. Men are social beings so we are influenced by others.
* Gentiles (aka, non-Israelites and Christians) inherit Abraham blessing by faith. Galatians 3:7-9 says, "Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.' So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."
>5. What was Abram's response to God's call? What was the nature of his faith that characterized his pilgrimages? (Hebrews 11:8) How old was he when he departed? Who went with him?
Genesis 12:4 "So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran."
* "So Abram left" -In spit of his situation Abram obeyed by faith. He was old (and old like to settle in).
Hebrews 11:8 says, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
Romans 4:18-25 says, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."
Abram had to trust God; his lifestyle changed; He would grow to hope in heaven not worldly things.
He did not test God or challenge God.
* Abraham made his decision based on God's word.
* "Lot went with him" -If indeed Terah was called first, than Lot would have had equal calling and blessings as Abram.
If not than Lot would be blessed through Abram, or would be blessed by Abram, God's chosen man, and thus receive the same calling and blessings.
Genesis 12:5 "He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there."
* "He took his wife Sarai" -Abram was the leader of the family.
* "his nephew Lot" -earlier it said, "and Lot went with him." Although these do not imply that Lot was a religious man of God, but later the written accounts of him prove he was, but not as much as Abram was.
* "all the possessions they had accumulated" -no doubt a lot.
* "the people they had acquired in Haran" -perhaps slaves and hired hands.
* "Canaan" -Gen. 9:25-27 says of this land, "(Noah) said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.' He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his slave.'"
Gen 10:15-19 says, "Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans scattered and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha."
When Abram saw the land this is what he said, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, 'He is my brother.'"
To understand the extent of their evil just look at the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.
* "and they arrived there" -Abram finished the trip.
Hebrews 11:9 says, "By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise."
* Did Abram ever receive his promise then? Hebrews 11:10, "For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." Hebrews 11:13 say, "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth."
>6. What did Abram find when he arrived in the promised land? (6) What specific promise of assurance did God give Abram when he appeared to him?
Genesis 12:6 "Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land."
* The fulfillment of God's promises didn't come right away.
* "great tree of Moreh at Shechem"-Used as a shrine in old times. In the old times this was a great act of defiance to idols for Abram for he did not worship there until after God appeared to him.
* "Canaanites" -Canaanites (Semitic people) were warlike people who sacrificed infants. They were the object of Noah's curse in Genesis 9.
>7. How did Abram show his faith in God's promise for his new life in the promised land? (7-8) What can you say about Abram's early life of faith?
Genesis 12:7 "The LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him."
* "The LORD appeared to Abram" -This shows the good state of relationship that Abram had with God.
* "offspring" -singular.
* "So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him." -First altar of Abram. Verse 9 has the second. Genesis 13:3-4 has the third altar. It says, "From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD."
Abram showed faith in the LORD through building an altar. In this he thanked God even though he was in a hard situation. This was also a defiance to the peoples dominate in the land.
Worshiping means lowering down or submitting to God's commands with a joyful and thankful heart.
Genesis 12:8-9 "From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev."
* "Bethal" -heavy fortified city.
* "Ai" -heavy fortified city.
* The land was very good.
* "There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD" -Abram's faith was strong at this time.
* "Negev" -The dry wasteland stretching southward from Geersheba. The same Hebrew word is translated "south" in 13:14.
III. Abram in Egypt (12:10-20)
>8. What unexpected problem arose? How was Abram's motivation for going to Egypt different from that of his moving to Canaan?
Genesis 12:10 "Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe."
* "Now there was a famine in the land" -When this happened it appears as if Abram wasn't blessed by God and God wasn't keeping his promise. It is true that God let this happen. Why? So Abram would grow in faith. But Abram didn't see this, so he left the land that God said was his and his descendants. He forgot God's promise. He gave up on God. He failed. He probably rationalized it away; like saying, "I have no other choice." The unexpected always challenges faith.
When Abram left for the Canaan land it was in belief of God's words and to obey God. But when he left for Egypt it was to feed his family and himself. He was trying to solve his bread problem (material problem/security problem).
* "Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while" -Abram wasn't accusation to living by faith in this situation, so he failed, even though he had lived by faith in the past. So it was a learning process; easy events of faith to harder ones.
Genesis 12:11-13 "As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.'"
* "he said to his wife" -Fear entered his heart. When men follow their own idea fear enters our hearts.
Genesis 12:14-16 "When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, men servants and maidservants, and camels."
* "Abram acquired sheep and cattle...camels" -Materially Abram grew there, but at a great price. Spiritually he fell. He was in a pit that he could not get out of.
While there he became selfish and lonely. He didn't pray for it does not mention that Abram built any altars in Egypt. He was fearful, even more in Egypt than the famine in Canaan. He didn't see God, only Pharaoh. His wife was taken so he had no human support or comfort.
* God did not rescue Abram right away. Like the prodigal son he let things grow worse before he helped him.
>9. Contrast Abram's life in Egypt with his life in the promised land of Canaan in regard to his material life, his family life, and his spiritual life. How did the LORD rescue Abram from his trap in Egypt? How did he protect Abram and his family?
Genesis 12:17 "But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai."
* God protected Abram and his family as he had promised, even though Abram didn't do as God said.
Genesis 12:18-20 "So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!" Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had."
* Before this Abram had choices, now he had no choice.
* Now Abram protected Sarai.
* To Egyptians lying was a very evil thing to do. Abram was not a good influence. His name was good in Egypt for they knew God was with him and he was a man of God, but also it was bad for he didn't live like a man of God was suppose to.
* Through this Abram must have learned to not to into Egypt to solve his problems, but to go to God. Also, God is faithful, even though he turned his back on God.
* God didn't need to rebuke Abram here because Abram knew he was wrong and was humiliated by Pharaoh.
* Abram's repentance was practical, he went back to the promised land.
|
