Genesis 12
12
God picked Abram
1This story about Abram started when God said to him, “Abram, I want you to leave your country, your father’s family and all your relatives, and go to the country that I will show you.#Acts 7:2-4; Hebrews 11:8 2And I will give you a big family, and they will become a great nation, and I will do good things for you and your family, and I will make your mob strong. Then everyone will know about you and your family, and everyone will respect you. And you and your family will do good things for other people. 3If anyone does good things for you and your family, I will do good things for them. But, if anyone does bad things to you, and if they make trouble for you and your family, I will curse them and make trouble for them. I will use your family to do good things for all the families in the world.”#Galatians 3:8
Abram and his family went to Canaan country
4-5Abram was 75 years old when he left the town called Haran and went to the country called Canaan. That was the country that God told him to go to. He took his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot with him. He also took all the things and all the workers that they got in Haran, and they all went to the new country called Canaan. 6Abram and everyone with him walked through that new country, and they went to a town called Shekem, and they camped there, near a big tree at a place called Moreh. The people that lived in that country were called the Canaan mob, and they didn’t know God. 7God showed himself to Abram there, and he said to him, “I will give this country to your son, and to all the people that will be born into his family later on.” So Abram piled up stones to make a table with a flat top. It was a special place for him to burn an animal to show right respect to God.#Acts 7:5; Galatians 3:16
8Later on, Abram and his mob left Shekem, and they went south to the hill country that was on the east side of a town called Bethel, and they camped between Bethel and another town called Ayi. Bethel was to the west of his camp and Ayi was to the east. Then Abram piled up stones there to make another special table, and he burned animals on it to show respect to God. He prayed to God, and he called God by his special name Yahweh.
9After that, Abram and his mob kept going south to the dry desert country.
Abram and his family went to Egypt
10At that time, there wasn’t much food in that country. Everyone was short of food, so Abram and everyone with him went south to live in another country, called Egypt. 11Just before they got to Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “You are a really beautiful woman. 12I reckon the men in Egypt will see you, and they will say, ‘That beautiful woman is Abram’s wife. Let’s kill Abram, so that we can have her for ourselves.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13So listen. You have to tell everyone that you are my sister. Then they will be good to me, and they will not kill me.”#Genesis 20:2; 26:7
14And that’s what happened. They got to Egypt, and the people there looked at Sarai, and they saw that she was really beautiful. 15Some of them worked for the big boss of Egypt, and they told him, “Sarai is really beautiful.” So that big boss took her to live in his house. 16That boss was very good to Abram, because he thought that Abram was Sarai’s brother. He gave Abram sheep, and goats, and cows, and bulls, and donkeys, and camels, as well as men and women that had to work for Abram.
17God was not happy, because Sarai was living with the big boss of Egypt, so God made him really sick, and God made everyone that lived in his house really sick too. 18-19Then that big boss found out that Sarai was already Abram’s wife, and he got really wild. He sent somebody to get Abram, and he said to Abram, “You did a really bad thing to me. You tricked me. You didn’t tell me that Sarai is your wife. You said, ‘She is my sister,’ and you let me marry her. Now, here is your wife. Take her back, and then get out of my country.” 20Then the big boss told his soldiers, “Get Abram, and Sarai, and everything they own, and all their workers, and send them out of Egypt. Send them away, and do it right now.” So his soldiers did that. They sent Abram and his mob away from Egypt.
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Genesis 12: PEV
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Genesis 12
12
God Appears to Abram
1Now Yahweh said to Abram, # 12:1 The God of glory appeared to Abram and spoke with him (see Acts 7:2–5). God’s appearance to Abram was sudden and without warning. The same voice of creation now proclaims a message of hope and blessing to all the world. Abram had no burning bush to inspire him, no tablets of stone to guide him, and no ark of the covenant as a centerpiece of worship. Neither did Abram have a temple to worship in, a Bible to read, or a priest to counsel him. Nor did Abram have a pastor to pray for him, or a prophet to prophesy to him. But Abram had a divine encounter.
“Leave it all behind # 12:1 Or “Go yourself,” from lech-lecha, which is a Hebrew play on words. The implication is that although Abram must undergo a traumatic departure from his native land, he was actually traveling to find his more authentic self. Perhaps “Go and find yourself” conveys the meaning. —
your native land, # 12:1 The Hebrew word ’eretz is etymologically linked to the Canaanite word ratzon, which means “firmness of will” or “stubbornness.” God was saying to Abram, with double meaning, leave your country but also leave your own will behind in order to enter God’s plan. We need to leave it all behind, including our ideas of how God will work.
your people,
your father’s household, # 12:1 God was calling Abram out from more than just his relatives. He was calling Abram out from specific deity worship connected to nations, clans, and ancestors.
and go to the land that I will show you. # 12:1 Leaving all that is familiar was an incredible act of faith on Abram’s part (see Heb. 11:8–10). He was told to go into an unknown land, but it would result in the seven-fold blessing of vv. 2–3.
2Follow me,
and I will make you into a great nation. # 12:2 This would take a miracle, for Sarai was barren. This would have greatly stretched Abram’s faith, yet he believed. Because he had left his nation, God would make Abram into a great nation. God gave creative ability to Abram, not only to produce offspring, but also to apply creative ability to form lasting enterprises that would shape a nation. God gave the ability to create community to Abram and his seed.
I will exceedingly bless and prosper you,
and I will make you famous, # 12:2 Or “I will make your name great,” which in the ancient Near East also implied being highly esteemed for his character. The building of the Tower of Babel was so that men could “make a name” for themselves. This was intended to be the gift of God and not something to be seized for oneself.
so that you will be a tremendous source of blessing for others.
3I will bless all who bless you
and curse all who curse you. # 12:3 Or “all who cause you harm I will punish.” See Num. 24:9.
And through you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” # 12:3 Or “And by you all the families of the earth will bless themselves” or “Every nation will long for me to bless them as I have blessed you.” See Isa. 49:6; Gal. 3:8.
4So Abram obeyed Yahweh and left; and Lot went with him.
Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran after his father died. # 12:4 See Acts 7:4. 5He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people # 12:5 Or “souls.” Jewish tradition states that Abram preached the revelation of Yahweh, the true God. Also, Abram was wealthy before Pharaoh gave him gifts (see Gen. 12:16). he had acquired in Haran; and they departed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in the land of Canaan, 6Abram passed through the land and stopped at the sacred site of Shechem, # 12:6 The Hebrew word maqom (a generic place) is never used to describe a city. In this context it is likely linked to the Arabic word maqam, which means “sacred site.” The word Shechem means “between the shoulders.” The shoulder represents all power and authority (see Isa. 9:6; 22:22; Luke 15:4–5). The site of Shechem was the physical center of modern Israel and is mentioned as a sacred place (see Gen. 35:4; Josh. 24:25; Judg. 9:6, 37). famous for the great oak tree of Moreh. # 12:6 Or “the oak [cluster of oaks] of Moreh [oracle giver, instruction].” Undoubtedly, this was a place of mystery, and it was so famous that people used the tree as a landmark. See Deut. 11:30. At the great tree of Moreh, Yahweh taught Abram to walk by faith, not by sight. God will lead us to a place of true strength (Shechem) and instruct our hearts (Moreh) to trust in him alone. At that time, the Canaanites were also in the land.
7Then Yahweh appeared # 12:7 Or “made himself visible.” Scripture records at least nine appearances of God (theophanies) to Abraham (see Acts 7:2). The first was while he was still in Ur (see Gen. 12:1–3). See also Gen. 13:14–16; 15; 17; 18; 21:12–13; 22:1–2, 15–18. before Abram and said, “This is the land I will personally deliver to your seed.” # 12:7 Or “to your future descendants.” God’s divine declaration assigned the land of Israel to Abram and his descendants. See Rom. 4:13; Heb. 11:12. So Abram erected an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared before him. 8From there, he journeyed on toward the hill country east of Bethel # 12:8 Bethel means “House of God.” This is modern Beitin, a city about eleven miles north of Jerusalem. It is clear Abram adored Yahweh and was faithful to his voice. and pitched his tent # 12:8 While Abram lived in a tent without foundations, he was looking and waiting for a city with unshakable foundations (see Heb. 11:10). Likewise, we are living in the “tent” of church life today, waiting for its ultimate consummation—the New Jerusalem, the City of God with foundations. Paul, the Abraham of the New Testament, was a tentmaker. with Bethel on the west and Ai # 12:8 Ai means “the heap of ruins.” It is often identified as et-Tell, which was about a mile from ancient Bethel. See Josh. 7:2–8:28. Bethel is the House of God; Ai (the world) is a heap of ruins. The House of God is drawing us in. We must turn our backs forever on the old creation life, which is nothing more than a heap of ruins! on the east. And there he built another altar to Yahweh where he prayed and worshiped Yahweh. # 12:8 Or “and he called upon the name of Yahweh,” which implies both prayer and offering a sacrifice. 9Then Abram journeyed from there by stages through the southern desert region. # 12:9 That is, the Negev. Abram had traversed the entire length of Israel from north to south.
Abram Detours to Egypt
10At that time, a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, # 12:10 Although the promised land was a land flowing (flourishing) with milk and honey (Ex. 3:17), all three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and Joseph experienced a famine (see Gen. 26:1; 41:54; 42:1; 43:1). Faith will always be tested. This famine tested Abram’s faith. So often when we set out for our promised land, we encounter a famine. You can be right where God wants you to be and still be faced with severe trials. It is better to suffer in God’s path than to be at ease in Satan’s. forcing Abram to travel down to Egypt and live there as a foreigner. 11When he drew near to Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I’m worried because I know that you are a beautiful, gorgeous woman. 12When the Egyptian men take one look at you, they will say, ‘She is his wife.’ Then they will kill me in order to have you. 13Just tell them you are my sister # 12:13 In fact, Sarai was his half sister (see Gen. 20:12). If the Egyptians were to kill Abram, it would leave Sarai vulnerable to the men of Egypt. This was, in fact, a troubling moral dilemma for Abram. By calling her his “sister,” any interaction with her culturally required a negotiation with her “brother.” so that they will treat me well for your sake and spare my life.”
14When Abram entered Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s stunning beauty. # 12:14 Sarai was at least sixty-five at this time, ten years younger than Abram. 15When Pharaoh’s dignitaries spotted her, they went to Pharaoh and raved about her beauty. Then they took Sarai into the palace and made her part of Pharaoh’s harem. 16Because she pleased Pharaoh, Abram got along very well in Egypt and received royal treatment: he was given sheep, cattle, male and female donkeys, camels, and male and female slaves. # 12:16 All of Pharaoh’s gifts were signs of great wealth imparted to Abram by the king. It was the great wealth and many possessions that caused Lot to want to separate from Abram (see Gen. 13:6–7). There were many people who accompanied Abram both into Egypt and back into Canaan. He had the converts he acquired in Haran (see Gen. 12:5), plus 318 trained soldiers who were born under Abram’s care (see Gen. 14:14) who also had wives and children. It is possible that Abram had several thousand people who accompanied him.
17But Yahweh struck Pharaoh and his household with terrible diseases because he had taken Abram’s wife, Sarai. 18So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “How could you do this to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? # 12:18 Somehow, perhaps by a dream, God showed Pharaoh his sin. 19And why did you lie to me by saying, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here’s your wife back; take her and begone!” 20Then Pharaoh gave strict orders to his men to escort them out of Egypt along with everything they had. # 12:20 Besides great possessions, Abram also acquired servants in Egypt, and Hagar was one of them (see Gen. 16:3).
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