Genesis Chapter 12 – Father of Isreal (Abraham)

Chapter 12 starts the beginning of Abraham’s Journey to the land of Canaan as well as shows another side of Abraham that I have not seen or heard preached before.  We have to start off with the verses that explain why I believe Israel is so important even to this day.

Genesis 12:1-3

“Now the Lord said to Abram, Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you;2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Dr. Stanley had a sermon recently that spoke of our nation’s relationship with Israel and how our country “cannot recover” from what will happen if we turn our back on Israel.  Israel is surrounded by enemies and many people (including myself) believes that one of the reasons that God has blessed our nation so much is because we are being blessed for our support for Israel.

Abraham was 75 when he left Haran for the land of Canaan.  During the journey, there was a famine so Abraham took his family and spent some time in Egypt.  (Because of the Nile River, the food supply was usually plentiful).  Now Abraham’s wife Sari was beautiful and Abraham knew that the custom in Egypt was that the Pharoh would take Abraham’s wife (presumably because of her beauty) but would have to kill Abraham first in order to do this.  Abraham told Sari the following:

Genesis 12:11-13

11 It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now I know that you are a beautiful woman;12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, “This is his wife”; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.”

Needless to say, when Pharaoh heard word of her she was taken to his house and made his wife.  Later verse 17 reads that the Lord “struck Pharaoh with great plagues because of Sarai”.  Pharaoh had given Abraham sheep, oxen, donkeys, male and female servants, ect because of Sarai.  Because of God’s work, the Pharaoh sent Sarai, Abraham, with all his new wealth away.

This passage shows that God’s people are not perfect.  So far we have seen Noah’s drunkenness/nakedness, Adam of Eve, Cain and Able, and a few other examples.  I cannot imagine how hard it would have been to give up my wife to the Pharaoh.  I think I understand the fears and motivations behind his decision and I thank God for his grace and mercy in our lives in spite of our mistakes and shortcomings.