Genesis 12: 8

1. Genesis 12:8 8 Then [Abram] proceeded from there [Shechem] to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord (Jehovah).

3. Genesis 12:8 • The Lord confirmed His promise to Abram, adding the specific promise that his seed would inherit this land, though at the time he owned none of it (nor had any actual descendants) • Abram continued traveling, then stopping for a time at Bethel (a mountain east of Bethel) about 35 miles further south of Shechem. • Here he built another altar and again called on Jehovah for guidance and help • He continued going toward the Negev, having traveled the length of Palestine.

4. Genesis 12:8 • The Bible doesn’t say that Abram was a nomad, but we receive that impression • He had flocks and herds with him, and was dependent upon finding water and pasture for them • Abram was living by faith • But God led him day-by-day, so that neither he nor those with him lacked daily bread, guidance, or protection

5. Genesis 12:8 Such experiences are not unique to Abram/Sarai • Following the promises of God may involve waiting • We simply continue following day-by-day • We trust God, knowing that His timing is always right • Until God ‘opens another door’ and He has accomplished his specific and ultimate will in our lives, there are daily opportunities for service and witness wherever we are, and in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in • God will teach patience, and submission...long/slow

7. Genesis 12:9 9 Abram journeyed on, continuing toward theNegev (the South country).

9. Genesis 12:4-9 Summary of Genesis 12:1-9 • The Call of God is not always easy to follow • God cautioned Abraham about the difficulties he would face • He would leave his home, family, country • He would face people notorious for wickedness • He would face people who would curse him

10. Genesis 12:4-9 Summary of Genesis 12:1-9 • But at the same time, God made wonderful promises to Abraham • He told him He would establish a great nation through him • He told him He would be a blessing to all the earth • He told him the nation which came from him would also be a blessing to all the earth • This promise would include Jesus Christ = salvation

11. Genesis 12:4-9 Hebrews 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God”

13. Genesis 12:10-20 • The journey from Haran to Canaan would be approximately 400 miles to the southwest of Haran. • Abraham knew in general where he was going, but he didn’t know a specific location. • Trade routes went from Haran into Damascus and to the Canaanite countries further south.

14. Genesis 12:10-20 Abraham’s First Moral Failure: Lying

15. Genesis 12:10-20 10 Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 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.  13Please 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.” 

16. Genesis 12:10-20 Q: If Abraham is 75 and Sarah is 65, how could he be so worried about Sarah and her beauty? A: The aging process at this time was slower than it is in our own day, and she was beautiful, both outwardly and inwardly

17. Genesis 12:10-20 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

18. Genesis 12:10-20 Abram had scarcely passed through the land promised to him, when a famine compelled him to leave • The famine was a test of his faith, and a way Jehovah let him know that even food and clothes and all provisions come from the Lord and His blessing • Abram was to learn also that earthly craft is soon put to shame when dealing with the possessor of the power of this world, and that help and deliverance are to be found with Jehovah alone.

19. Genesis 12:10-20 Psalm 105:11-15 “...saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance. When they were only a few men in number, very few, and strangers in it. And they wandered about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people. 14 He permitted no man to oppress them, and He reproved kings for their sakes: “Do not touch My anointed ones. And do My prophets no harm.”

20. Genesis 12:10-20 “When trembling for his life in Egypt on account of the beauty of Sarai his wife, he arranged with her, as he approached that land, that she should give herself out as his sister, since she really was his half-sister (11:29). He had already made an arrangement with her, that she should do this in certain possible contingencies, when they first moved to Canaan (20:13). The conduct of the Sodomites (19) was a proof that he had reason for his anxiety; and it was not without cause even so far as Egypt was concerned” (K & D, p. 197)

21. Genesis 12:10-20 “But his precaution did not spring from faith. He might possibly hope, that by means of the plan concerted, he should escape the danger of being put to death on account of his wife, if any one should wish to take her; but how he expected to save his honor and retain possession of his wife, we cannot understand, though we must assume, that he thought he should be able to protect and keep her as his sister more easily than if he acknowledged her as his wife. But the very thing he feared and hoped to avoid actually occurred” (K & D, p. 197)

22. Genesis 12:10-20 “It often seems at first that a compromise between the methods of the world and God’s will and promises works out very well. Following the criteria of the practical world system will often prove profitable because of the pragmatic nature of that system. Christians who follow this path may easily misinterpret the prosperity that follows such a compromise as a confirmation that this was, after all, God’s leading; and they may become quite satisfied with the situation. Until, that is, God finally has to deal with them in chastisement, forcing them out of the compromising position back into the walk of true faith” (Morris, p. 298)

23. Genesis 12:10-20 Chastisement came in several ways: • Dishonor • Compromised testimony of faith in Jehovah God • People were repelled from faith, instead of drawn toward faith in Jehovah • God used worldly people to rebuke His people, even the pagan Pharaoh

24. Genesis 12:10-20 The Egyptians: • Descendants of Ham through Mizraim, not Canaan • They were polytheistic, cruel and immoral • Polygamy and sexual promiscuity are common • Abram may have noted admiring glances being directed toward Sarai, and realized his very life may have been in danger

25. Genesis 12:10-20 “Abram was suddenly confronted with a decision he had not anticipated and for which he was not prepared. How often this happens to a believer when he falls in with an ungodly company! If Abram openly acknowledged Sarai to be his wife, he reasoned, he would probably be killed and she would be taken by the Egyptians into who-knows-what circumstances of moral degradation. If he said she was one of his servants, his own life might be spared; but she herself would probably be taken and defiled in perhaps even greater ways.

26. Genesis 12:10-20 “...The best solution would be to call her his sister. Actually, he reasoned, this was really true, because she was his half-sister (Gen. 20:12). This was still in the early centuries after the Flood, and close marriages were still common and often necessary” If Sarai were recognized as his sister, both she and Abram would be treated with respect and his life would not be endangered. It is true that this might mean she would be approached by the Egyptians for sexual purposes, but that would be true also if Abram were killed for her sake; so this seemed the best of a bad bargain. (Morris, p. 298)

27. Genesis 12:10-20 Q: What about Sarah? What did she have to say about this arrangement? I Peter 3:4-6 “...but let (your adornment) be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children, if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear”

28. Genesis 12:10-20 14 It came about when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.  15 Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.  16 Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels.

29. Genesis 12:10-20 Instead of Sarai being attracted to ordinary Egyptians, she came to Pharaoh’s attention, probably through his princes. • They ‘commended her’ to Pharaoh • The word ‘commended’ (hallal), means ‘to praise’ • This is the first use of the word in the Bible • Nearly always, it is used in reference to praising God • Here, it is used to praise a godly woman

30. Genesis 12:10-20 • One of the purposes of mankind’s creation was so that he might offer praise to God---which will be a dominant purpose for all of us in heaven • An unsaved person, however, is alienated from God, and is not able to praise Him • He cannot even see or know Him until he comes to Him in repentance and believing faith • Those who have been redeemed become His witnesses, and unsaved mankind can only learn of God through their testimony

31. Genesis 12:10-20 • Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16) • This first use of ‘hallal’ seems to be reminding us that unsaved mankind will only come to praise God if they have first been constrained to praise those who manifest God to them. • They saw something unique in Sarai, if only her physical beauty. • But adorning that was a ‘meek and quiet spirit’ of inner beauty

32. Genesis 12:10-20 • Rather than Abram’s fears happening, quite the opposite happens: he is blessed by Pharaoh • He is given stuff: flocks, herds, and servants to attend them • The accumulation of stuff may seem to signify God’s blessings, but in Abraham’s case, the opposite was true; God protected Sarai, and judged Pharoah and his house, and even blessed Abram, but the sin of lying took root in future generations of Abram’s family

33. Genesis 12:10-20 Q: Can we expect to be blessed by God, if we do not walk in faith?

34. Genesis 12:17-20 17 But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.” 20 Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.

35. Genesis 12:17-20 Q: How can Abram lie and not feel guilty? • Abram is safe • Sarai is ‘safe’ • Pharaoh hasn’t taken Sarai as a ‘wife’ yet • They are prospering

36. Genesis 12:17-20 Q: What was going on spiritually in Abram and Sarai’s lives? • They were anxious • They were feeling guilty • They were doubting God and His promises for them? • They were sorry they ever left Canaan, and famine or no famine, and even in prosperity in Egypt, they probably wished they had never gone to Egypt • They were probably at wit’s end to know what to do about their (Abram’s) sin and deception

37. Genesis 12:17-20 Q: Will God always work things out so we come out smelling like a rose, prosperous, and untainted by the world? No, but He graciously delivers Sarai, and Abram, from this situation, by his providential intervention. “All things work together for good for those who are called for His purpose” (Rom. 8:28)

38. Genesis 12:17-20 Q: What was going on in Pharaoh’s mind? • Trouble • Plagues, although what that means is undefined; probably illness, or miscarriages, or infertility • Perhaps wars, or plots on his life, or rebellious servants, or nagging wives or concubines (haha)

39. Genesis 12:17-20 Q: How could Sarai be in Pharaoh’s house and not be defiled? Esther 2:12 “…and when the turn of each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women---for the day’s of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women…”

40. Genesis 12:17-20 Q: How did Jehovah God speak to Pharaoh? • Audible voice? • Quiet, inner voice? • Dreams? Visions? • Princes speaking to Lot, Abram’s nephew? • Lot speaking to Pharaoh’s servants and they told Pharaoh? In whatever way, Pharaoh realized Abram/Sarai were special, and he was in danger for messing with them