Genesis 12: Abram's Call and God's Unwavering Promise
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 shew thee:
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.
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.
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.
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
And 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.
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth–el, and pitched his tent, having Beth–el on the west, and Hai 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
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?
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.
Genesis 12 marks a pivotal moment, not just in Abram's life, but in the unfolding story of God's plan for humanity. After the scattering of nations at Babel in Genesis 11, God initiates a new chapter, focusing on one man through whom He will bless the entire world. This chapter reveals a God who chooses, promises, and remains faithful even when His chosen one falters. It's a story of faith, obedience, and God's unwavering commitment to His kingdom agenda. This chapter offers invaluable lessons for those seeking to understand God's ways and live a life of faith.
The Divine Call and Promise (Genesis 12:1-3)
The chapter opens with a direct command from God to Abram: "Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). This wasn't a gentle suggestion; it was a radical call to leave everything familiar and step into the unknown, trusting solely in God's guidance. Abram, at 75 years old, was asked to uproot himself from a comfortable life and embark on a journey of faith.
Accompanying this command was a cascade of promises, each more astounding than the last. God promised to make Abram a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and make him a blessing to others. But the most profound promise of all was that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). This verse, in particular, is a cornerstone of biblical theology, foreshadowing the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, through Abram's lineage, who would ultimately bring salvation to all nations. God was initiating his plan to fill the earth with his glory and bless all peoples (Genesis 12:3), beginning with one individual.
Abram's Obedience and God's Further Illumination (Genesis 12:4-7)
Abram's response to God's call was immediate and decisive: "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him" (Genesis 12:4). He left Haran, taking with him his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated (Genesis 12:5). This act of obedience demonstrated a remarkable faith in God's promises, even though the destination and the path ahead were unclear. Abram had to act in faith, because he did not know where God was leading him. He only knew that if he would obey, God would respond by making him into a great nation, making his name great, and even using him to bring blessing to others (Genesis 12:2). God was advancing his kingdom agenda through Abram.
Upon arriving in the land of Canaan, Abram traveled to Shechem, where the Lord appeared to him and declared, "To your offspring I will give this land" (Genesis 12:7). This further revelation provided greater clarity and assurance to Abram, solidifying God's commitment to fulfill His promises. Abram's faith in action had led to further illumination. This is God’s pattern: not only does obedience lead to blessing, but it also leads to greater clarity of God’s will, purpose, and direction in our lives. God speaks in concert with our obedience, not with our rebellion.
In response to God's promise, Abram built an altar to the Lord at Shechem (Genesis 12:7) and another in Bethel (Genesis 12:8). These altars represented public declarations of faith in the midst of a pagan environment. We may not build stone altars today, but we too should make public declarations of our faith in God—even when our society wants nothing to do with him.
A Test of Faith: Abram in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20)
The narrative takes an unexpected turn when a famine strikes the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to seek refuge in Egypt. This was a bad move because God had made it clear that he wanted Abram in Canaan, not Egypt. Faced with the prospect of starvation, Abram allowed fear to override his faith.
Knowing Sarai's beauty, Abram feared that the Egyptians would kill him to take her (Genesis 12:11-12). So he hatched a plan to save his skin. Sarai was to say that she was Abram’s sister (Genesis 12:13)—which, according to Genesis 20:12, was half true. Abram may have reasoned that any serious suitor would have to ask him for permission to marry Sarai, which would give them enough time to escape. But not just any suitor showed interest. Pharaoh himself wanted Sarai for a wife, so he bypassed the normal conventions and welcomed her right into the palace (Genesis 12:15).
This decision led to a web of deception and potential disaster. Abram's lack of trust in God's protection nearly jeopardized the very promise God had made to him. The immediate outcome of this little drama was that Abram got fabulously wealthy. But at what cost? No amount of money could make up for the fact that Abram was ready to give up his wife and abandon the promise of God for mere self-preservation.
God's Faithfulness Despite Abram's Failure
Despite Abram's flawed actions, God remained faithful to His covenant. To protect Sarai and uphold His promises, God afflicted Pharaoh's household with severe plagues (Genesis 12:17). This divine intervention revealed the truth about Sarai's identity and prompted Pharaoh to confront Abram, returning Sarai to him and ordering them to leave Egypt (Genesis 12:18-20).
This odd story demonstrates God’s commitment to his kingdom program and promises. He sent severe plagues to Pharaoh’s household (Genesis 12:17), which immediately signaled to the people involved that they had been deceived. Pharaoh, whose position of power would have allowed him to do nearly anything, acted with more integrity than Abram in giving Sarai back without punishing the couple in any way (Genesis 12:18-20).
Lessons for Today
Genesis 12 offers several timeless lessons:
- God's Initiative: God takes the initiative in choosing and calling individuals to fulfill His purposes.
- The Importance of Obedience: Obedience to God's call, even when difficult, unlocks blessings and further revelation.
- Faith in the Face of Fear: Fear can lead to poor decisions and compromise our faith, highlighting the need to trust in God's protection and provision.
- God's Unwavering Faithfulness: God's faithfulness is not contingent on our perfection; He remains committed to His promises even when we stumble.
- Kingdom Agenda: God's primary concern is the advancement of His kingdom, and He works through imperfect people to achieve His ultimate goals.
Genesis 12 is a testament to God's grace, His sovereign plan, and His relentless pursuit of blessing the world through faith. It encourages us to embrace the call to faith, to trust in God's promises, and to rely on His faithfulness, even when our own strength falters.
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 shew thee:
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.
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.
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.
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
And 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.
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth–el, and pitched his tent, having Beth–el on the west, and Hai 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
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?
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.
Genesis 12 marks a pivotal moment, not just in Abram's life, but in the unfolding story of God's plan for humanity. After the scattering of nations at Babel in Genesis 11, God initiates a new chapter, focusing on one man through whom He will bless the entire world. This chapter reveals a God who chooses, promises, and remains faithful even when His chosen one falters. It's a story of faith, obedience, and God's unwavering commitment to His kingdom agenda. This chapter offers invaluable lessons for those seeking to understand God's ways and live a life of faith.
The Divine Call and Promise (Genesis 12:1-3)
The chapter opens with a direct command from God to Abram: "Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). This wasn't a gentle suggestion; it was a radical call to leave everything familiar and step into the unknown, trusting solely in God's guidance. Abram, at 75 years old, was asked to uproot himself from a comfortable life and embark on a journey of faith.
Accompanying this command was a cascade of promises, each more astounding than the last. God promised to make Abram a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and make him a blessing to others. But the most profound promise of all was that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). This verse, in particular, is a cornerstone of biblical theology, foreshadowing the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, through Abram's lineage, who would ultimately bring salvation to all nations. God was initiating his plan to fill the earth with his glory and bless all peoples (Genesis 12:3), beginning with one individual.
Abram's Obedience and God's Further Illumination (Genesis 12:4-7)
Abram's response to God's call was immediate and decisive: "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him" (Genesis 12:4). He left Haran, taking with him his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated (Genesis 12:5). This act of obedience demonstrated a remarkable faith in God's promises, even though the destination and the path ahead were unclear. Abram had to act in faith, because he did not know where God was leading him. He only knew that if he would obey, God would respond by making him into a great nation, making his name great, and even using him to bring blessing to others (Genesis 12:2). God was advancing his kingdom agenda through Abram.
Upon arriving in the land of Canaan, Abram traveled to Shechem, where the Lord appeared to him and declared, "To your offspring I will give this land" (Genesis 12:7). This further revelation provided greater clarity and assurance to Abram, solidifying God's commitment to fulfill His promises. Abram's faith in action had led to further illumination. This is God’s pattern: not only does obedience lead to blessing, but it also leads to greater clarity of God’s will, purpose, and direction in our lives. God speaks in concert with our obedience, not with our rebellion.
In response to God's promise, Abram built an altar to the Lord at Shechem (Genesis 12:7) and another in Bethel (Genesis 12:8). These altars represented public declarations of faith in the midst of a pagan environment. We may not build stone altars today, but we too should make public declarations of our faith in God—even when our society wants nothing to do with him.
A Test of Faith: Abram in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20)
The narrative takes an unexpected turn when a famine strikes the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to seek refuge in Egypt. This was a bad move because God had made it clear that he wanted Abram in Canaan, not Egypt. Faced with the prospect of starvation, Abram allowed fear to override his faith.
Knowing Sarai's beauty, Abram feared that the Egyptians would kill him to take her (Genesis 12:11-12). So he hatched a plan to save his skin. Sarai was to say that she was Abram’s sister (Genesis 12:13)—which, according to Genesis 20:12, was half true. Abram may have reasoned that any serious suitor would have to ask him for permission to marry Sarai, which would give them enough time to escape. But not just any suitor showed interest. Pharaoh himself wanted Sarai for a wife, so he bypassed the normal conventions and welcomed her right into the palace (Genesis 12:15).
This decision led to a web of deception and potential disaster. Abram's lack of trust in God's protection nearly jeopardized the very promise God had made to him. The immediate outcome of this little drama was that Abram got fabulously wealthy. But at what cost? No amount of money could make up for the fact that Abram was ready to give up his wife and abandon the promise of God for mere self-preservation.
God's Faithfulness Despite Abram's Failure
Despite Abram's flawed actions, God remained faithful to His covenant. To protect Sarai and uphold His promises, God afflicted Pharaoh's household with severe plagues (Genesis 12:17). This divine intervention revealed the truth about Sarai's identity and prompted Pharaoh to confront Abram, returning Sarai to him and ordering them to leave Egypt (Genesis 12:18-20).
This odd story demonstrates God’s commitment to his kingdom program and promises. He sent severe plagues to Pharaoh’s household (Genesis 12:17), which immediately signaled to the people involved that they had been deceived. Pharaoh, whose position of power would have allowed him to do nearly anything, acted with more integrity than Abram in giving Sarai back without punishing the couple in any way (Genesis 12:18-20).
Lessons for Today
Genesis 12 offers several timeless lessons:
- God's Initiative: God takes the initiative in choosing and calling individuals to fulfill His purposes.
- The Importance of Obedience: Obedience to God's call, even when difficult, unlocks blessings and further revelation.
- Faith in the Face of Fear: Fear can lead to poor decisions and compromise our faith, highlighting the need to trust in God's protection and provision.
- God's Unwavering Faithfulness: God's faithfulness is not contingent on our perfection; He remains committed to His promises even when we stumble.
- Kingdom Agenda: God's primary concern is the advancement of His kingdom, and He works through imperfect people to achieve His ultimate goals.
Genesis 12 is a testament to God's grace, His sovereign plan, and His relentless pursuit of blessing the world through faith. It encourages us to embrace the call to faith, to trust in God's promises, and to rely on His faithfulness, even when our own strength falters.