Genesis 12 is a chapter of transition. It marks the turning point in God’s story of Redemption. So far, God has been dealing with humanity universally and has scattered humans into different languages and nations. The focus now shifts from all people to one person — the founding father of the future nation of Israel. We zoom in on one man – Abram the friend of God.
1. ABRAM’S BELIEVING
In the book of Acts, Stephen says that God called Abram while he was in Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2-4), living as a pagan idolater (Josh 24:2). I want you to note two things:
A. The Statement of Faith
Genesis 12:1-3 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.
God’s instructions to Abram was the “Statement of Faith” that he received and believed. This statement has three promises:
- The Promise of Inheritance “I will make you into a great nation…”
- The Promise of Influence “I will make your name great…”
- The Promise of Insurance “I will bless those who bless you…”
B. The Step of Faith
Genesis 12:4 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.
Abram made a decision to leave his home based on the promises of God. He immediately obeyed and went forth just as God had commanded. The statement of faith was heeded to by the step of faith (Heb. 11:8). When God calls us to Himself, He always supplies the grace we need to obey His call. We must make a personal choice just as Abram did, but God’s grace enables us to take a step of faith based on His Word of Truth and as strengthened by His Spirit.
2. ABRAM’S BELONGING
Believing and affirming the Word of God took Abram from “belonging to idols” to “belonging to God”. We will observe that this “belonging” is manifested in different ways:
A. His Witnessing
Genesis 12:5 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.
Some people criticize Abram by saying that his obedience was partial. Since God commanded him to separate from his family, he shouldn’t have taken Lot along with him, as Lot would not be a blessing to him. Lot was trouble and inconvenience to Abram. However, I see Abram’s action here as witnessing – what we call evangelism. He must have told his family about God’s word to him, but only Lot believed. No wonder, the bible calls Lot a righteous man (2Pet. 2:7-9) for righteousness comes by faith alone! Lot was lugubrious, yet righteous. In spite of all these, God never rebuked Abram for taking Lot along. Learn more on the differences between Abraham’s righteousness and Lot’s righteousness in this sermon titled: “The Attention of the Gospel”
Dear Gogolights, we show that we belong to God as we witness His gospel to our family, friends, and community.
B. His Walking
Genesis 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Abram’s walk of faith took him through ungodly lands, face to face with ungodly people and their ungodly practices. Abraham’s faith was true faith, tested faith, tried faith, timid faith, tenacious faith, and triumphant faith.
Dear Gogolights, we show that we belong to God as we walk according to His instructions.
C. His Worshipping
Genesis 12:7-8 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 Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel 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.
In spite of his interfacing with ungodly people and practices, Abram believed God’s promise and built an altar to God. Altar rearing was important to Abram because it was a place to meet with God, to offer sacrifice for sin, to show submission to God, and to worship God.
Dear Gogolights, we show that we belong to God through our personal spiritual devotion.
3. ABRAM’S BEGUILING
Most people refer to this part of Abram’s life as a “relapse” of his faith. Abram was exactly where God wanted him to be. The land of Canaan – flowing with milk and honey, the land of promise and plenty. But famine arose in the land of plenty. Crisis in the land of promise. He didn’t know what to do. He could have believed in God, waited for God’s word, in deep trust. But he went down to Egypt because there was food in Egypt. He was beguiled, lured away from the placement of God to the placement of food. Let us observe the six levels of his beguiling:
A. The Famine
Genesis 12:10 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.
Famine is always a serious problem. People die from hunger, and Abram was right to be concerned about feeding himself and his family. But he was wrong in forgetting that when God puts you in a location, He sends you His allocation. We can say that this famine was God’s way of testing his faith. But, he failed.
Believers today receive similar tests, and our response can either be faith or doubt. We should always pray to God that the devil will not take advantage of our vulnerable moments in times of testing and trials. We are easily tempted to look for funds through ungodly means, rather than trust the God that provides. When we are tempted in this way, we even believe our actions are right, thinking there’s no harm in Egypt. Although God blessed and protected Abram even in Egypt, he came away with excess baggage – Hagar – who became trouble to him and his generations.
B. The Fear
Genesis 12:11-13 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.
Abram’s journey down to Egypt was a journey from faith to fear. He had the fear of famine, fear of danger, and fear for family. The fallen flesh sees a potential problem and turns inward rather than Godward. Abram had forgotten God would protect him for the fulfilment of His promises. He took his eyes off God, and began to sink. Hmmmmmn… We can’t call for Abram’s head because we sometimes fall into this fleshly pattern of thinking in the face of a trial, affliction or obstacle.
P.S.: I love how Abram affirmed his wife’s beauty! GOG husbands can learn a lot of “husbanding” from Abram. I once attended a wedding ceremony where Pastor Dammy preached, and he preached on the attributes that made Abraham qualified as Sarah’s “Lord”.
C. The Fabrication
Genesis 12:13 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.
This was a half-truth. Sarai was Abram’s half-sister (Gen. 20:12). Yet, this half-truth was a full lie. Abram’s intent here was clearly to deceive, and he trusted in his deception to protect him instead of trusting in God. Man of God didn’t even care about his wife’s emotional and mental experience. Interestingly, he did this deception twice, and his son Isaac also followed the same pattern! (Gen. 20:2; Gen. 26:7)
D. The Flirting
Genesis 12:14-15 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.
Sarai attracted attention because she was “flawless” beauty (Grace has a way of making us beautiful!). She was highly recommended to Pharaoh. She was taken to the king to “wife” but was not violated by the king. The king must have flirted with her on a few occasions, but God would not allow Sarai’s womb to be defiled by a gentile king, because the Redeemer must come through her.
E. The Fortune
Genesis 12:16 Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
In His grace, God didn’t hold Abram’s lie against him. Oh, what grace! David talked about this when he said…
Psalm 32:1-2 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
In His grace, God forgave his lie and answered his wish. Abram told his wife: “that it may be well with me for thy sake…” God did exceedingly abundantly above what he thought. Abram received great wealth. God blessed Abram because he was justified by faith, not by works. God continued to protect Abram, even when Abram acted like a liar. God did not call back His promise to Abram, because the promise depended on God and not on Abram.
F. The Freedom
Genesis 12:17-18 And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
This is another display of God’s grace and His gracious protection. It is God’s grace that delivers us from our foolishness and costly mistakes/decisions. God struck Pharaoh, God struck the princes that recommended Sarai, God struck Pharaoh’s entire household.
G. The Faulting
Genesis 12:18-19 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.
Sadly, a pagan king had to rebuke Abram for telling lies. Oh what a sorry situation of believers being rebuked by unbelievers! That is why we have been warned to avoid sins for, if we do, we are opening ourselves up to suffering and shame (1Pet. 4:15).
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. Yet, in spite of his failure, God’s covenant remained intact.
Dear Gogolights, God intentionally recorded both the faith and failure of Abram, both his high moments and low moments, both when he walked in the spirit and when he walked in the flesh. Let us pick our lessons and run with them.
Grace to you, Church!
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