Genesis 12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
This begins the story of how God built the nation of Israel, beginning with Abram (later called Abraham). Here the story shifts from God’s relationship with the world in general, to God’s relationship with Abraham and his offspring—the Israelites. Abraham wasn’t chosen by God because he was better than anyone else, but simply because God chose him (Romans 9:15). He became so important to the Bible’s story that his name is mentioned over two hundred times.
Abraham was living in a pagan culture when God broke into his life and told him to move to a Promised Land. For much of his life, after that, Abraham lived in a tent (Hebrews 11:9). For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10), says Hebrews. He’s an example to those who refuse to settle down in this life as they journey to the next.
Genesis 12:2-3 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
God kept this promise to Abraham by making him into a great nation, and by making him famous. In the previous chapter the people wanted to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). But as Abraham followed God, God made a name for Abraham.
God also promised Abraham that . . . all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. This anticipates the gospel of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:7-9) who, two thousand years later, was Abraham’s descendent (Matthew 1:1). Because the gospel of Jesus Christ has spread throughout the world, the world has been blessed through Abraham. The God of Abraham keeps his promises and, therefore, we can trust him.
Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
Abraham probably hoped for great things in the Promised Land but, instead, he encountered a famine. Like many since, Abraham found that God’s ways don’t always make sense to us. The way of faith can be difficult, even when we’re exactly where God wants us to be.
Because of the famine, Abraham went down to Egypt where the food supply was stable, due to the Nile River. But he was afraid that Pharaoh might kill him to take his beautiful wife Sarai (later called Sarah). Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you (Genesis 12:13), he said to her.
Abraham’s wife was, in fact, his half sister (Genesis 20:12). But this was still a deception, and a terrible thing to ask. Pharaoh did, in fact, take Sarah to be his wife. And while the text is not explicit, he seems to have slept with her (Genesis 12:19). This would’ve strained Abraham and Sarah’s relationship, and compromised their walk with God. It’s interesting how early in the story they failed.
Like others who try to follow God, Abraham and Sarah weren’t perfect. Their confidence in God wasn’t always strong and, under pressure, they failed more than once. The story of God and his people is about sin and grace, failure and forgiveness. The only one who never sinned, of course, was Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:22). He lived our life, and died our death, so that we could be saved through faith in him (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Genesis 12:20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
God sent diseases on Pharaoh, and his household, to show his disapproval. They came to understand that this was due to Abraham’s wife, so Pharaoh gave her back to Abraham and sent them on their way. They left Pharaoh’s palace with sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels (Genesis 12:16), far more than what they came with. God prospered Abraham and Sarah, even when they were in sin.
Sin normally has negative consequences, including fatherly discipline (Hebrews 12:6). But on occasion, God may bring us good even when we sin. Then we should praise him for not giving us what we deserve, but for giving us what we don’t deserve. The biblical word for this is grace (Ephesians 2:8). Justice is getting what we deserve; mercy is not getting what we deserve; grace is getting what we don’t deserve—the undeserved favor of God.
*****
Genesis 13:5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
Lot was Abraham’s nephew, and they both became so wealthy that the land could not support their families together. Both groups began to quarrel, so Abraham made peace by offering Lot whatever region he preferred. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left (Genesis 13:9), he said.
This was a generous offer and reflects well on Abraham’s character. As the elder of the clan, Abraham had the right to choose, but he gave the choice to Lot. This allowed Abraham to be blessed by God even more. A generous person will prosper (Proverbs 11:25), says Proverbs. God applauds generosity, and is often pleased to reward it.
Genesis 13:10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt.
Lot chose the best of the land, and left the rest to Abraham. The land he chose was close to Sodom, however, a town known for its wickedness (Genesis 13:13). But the region’s wealth was enough to offset any concerns Lot had. Abraham made him a generous offer, and Lot made the most of it. There was something Lot didn’t know, however. Sodom would soon be destroyed by the judgment of God (Genesis 19:1-29). Lot would escape with his daughters, but everything else would be lost.
Genesis 13:14-15 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.
Lot thought he chose the best, but it soon became the worst. Abraham settled for what was left, but it soon became the best. This is a helpful principle when it comes to making choices. Instead of grasping for what we want, it’s often wise to let others go first. God knows what’s best for us, and he also knows the future (Isaiah 46:10). Letting others choose first is a way of being generous, and trusting God to give us what is best.
Reflection and Review
How does living in a tent illustrate the Christian life?
How has God blessed the world through Abraham?
What can we learn from Lot’s choice to live near Sodom?
This begins the story of how God built the nation of Israel, beginning with Abram (later called Abraham). Here the story shifts from God’s relationship with the world in general, to God’s relationship with Abraham and his offspring—the Israelites. Abraham wasn’t chosen by God because he was better than anyone else, but simply because God chose him (Romans 9:15). He became so important to the Bible’s story that his name is mentioned over two hundred times.
Abraham was living in a pagan culture when God broke into his life and told him to move to a Promised Land. For much of his life, after that, Abraham lived in a tent (Hebrews 11:9). For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10), says Hebrews. He’s an example to those who refuse to settle down in this life as they journey to the next.
Genesis 12:2-3 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
God kept this promise to Abraham by making him into a great nation, and by making him famous. In the previous chapter the people wanted to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). But as Abraham followed God, God made a name for Abraham.
God also promised Abraham that . . . all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. This anticipates the gospel of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:7-9) who, two thousand years later, was Abraham’s descendent (Matthew 1:1). Because the gospel of Jesus Christ has spread throughout the world, the world has been blessed through Abraham. The God of Abraham keeps his promises and, therefore, we can trust him.
Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
Abraham probably hoped for great things in the Promised Land but, instead, he encountered a famine. Like many since, Abraham found that God’s ways don’t always make sense to us. The way of faith can be difficult, even when we’re exactly where God wants us to be.
Because of the famine, Abraham went down to Egypt where the food supply was stable, due to the Nile River. But he was afraid that Pharaoh might kill him to take his beautiful wife Sarai (later called Sarah). Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you (Genesis 12:13), he said to her.
Abraham’s wife was, in fact, his half sister (Genesis 20:12). But this was still a deception, and a terrible thing to ask. Pharaoh did, in fact, take Sarah to be his wife. And while the text is not explicit, he seems to have slept with her (Genesis 12:19). This would’ve strained Abraham and Sarah’s relationship, and compromised their walk with God. It’s interesting how early in the story they failed.
Like others who try to follow God, Abraham and Sarah weren’t perfect. Their confidence in God wasn’t always strong and, under pressure, they failed more than once. The story of God and his people is about sin and grace, failure and forgiveness. The only one who never sinned, of course, was Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:22). He lived our life, and died our death, so that we could be saved through faith in him (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Genesis 12:20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
God sent diseases on Pharaoh, and his household, to show his disapproval. They came to understand that this was due to Abraham’s wife, so Pharaoh gave her back to Abraham and sent them on their way. They left Pharaoh’s palace with sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels (Genesis 12:16), far more than what they came with. God prospered Abraham and Sarah, even when they were in sin.
Sin normally has negative consequences, including fatherly discipline (Hebrews 12:6). But on occasion, God may bring us good even when we sin. Then we should praise him for not giving us what we deserve, but for giving us what we don’t deserve. The biblical word for this is grace (Ephesians 2:8). Justice is getting what we deserve; mercy is not getting what we deserve; grace is getting what we don’t deserve—the undeserved favor of God.
*****
Genesis 13:5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
Lot was Abraham’s nephew, and they both became so wealthy that the land could not support their families together. Both groups began to quarrel, so Abraham made peace by offering Lot whatever region he preferred. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left (Genesis 13:9), he said.
This was a generous offer and reflects well on Abraham’s character. As the elder of the clan, Abraham had the right to choose, but he gave the choice to Lot. This allowed Abraham to be blessed by God even more. A generous person will prosper (Proverbs 11:25), says Proverbs. God applauds generosity, and is often pleased to reward it.
Genesis 13:10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt.
Lot chose the best of the land, and left the rest to Abraham. The land he chose was close to Sodom, however, a town known for its wickedness (Genesis 13:13). But the region’s wealth was enough to offset any concerns Lot had. Abraham made him a generous offer, and Lot made the most of it. There was something Lot didn’t know, however. Sodom would soon be destroyed by the judgment of God (Genesis 19:1-29). Lot would escape with his daughters, but everything else would be lost.
Genesis 13:14-15 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.
Lot thought he chose the best, but it soon became the worst. Abraham settled for what was left, but it soon became the best. This is a helpful principle when it comes to making choices. Instead of grasping for what we want, it’s often wise to let others go first. God knows what’s best for us, and he also knows the future (Isaiah 46:10). Letting others choose first is a way of being generous, and trusting God to give us what is best.
Reflection and Review
How does living in a tent illustrate the Christian life?
How has God blessed the world through Abraham?
What can we learn from Lot’s choice to live near Sodom?