When God Says Move, Do You?

Good afternoon from the Panhandle. As we continue our mid-week study in Genesis we begin the second main division of the book of Genesis here in chapter 12. Now the book of Genesis turns from major events to outstanding individuals. The purposes of God are now confined to persons through whom God reaches the rest of mankind. The tempo of the book changes to the slow pace of considering the development of lives of men rather than the fast pace brush stokes of world shaking events.

AN OUTLINE FOR THE REMAINDER OF GENESIS:

Preparation for the coming of the Redeemer for All Mankind: Chaps. 12-50

• Abraham (Faith): 12-23
• Isaac (the Beloved Son): 24-26
• Jacob (“For whom the Lord loveth He chastens”): 27-36

The chosen nation – 1. Chosen

2. Scattered

3. Re-gathered

4. Blessed

• Joseph (Suffering and Glory): 37-50

1. Hated and Sold by his brothers: 37-38
2. Humiliation in Egypt: 39-40
3. Exaltation in Egypt: 41-48
4. Death and burial of Jacob and Joseph: 49-50

Genesis Chapter 12 At A Glance

God calls Abram to leave Haran and go into Cannan, v. 1.

God promises to bless Abram, and through Abram, all the families of the earth, v. 2-3.

Abram, Sarai, Lot, and their entire household depart from Canaan, v. 4-5.

They pass through Sichem, v. 6.

God appears to Abram and renews the promise, v. 7.

Abram's journey described, v. 8-9.

On account of a famine in the land Abram is obliged to go into Egypt, v. 10.

Fearing lest, on account of the beauty of his wife, the Egyptians would kill him, Abram desires that she not acknowledge that she is his wife, but only that she is his sister, v. 11-13.

Sarai, because of her beauty, is taken into the palace of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who is very generous to Abram because of her, v. 14-16.

God afflicts Pharaoh and his household with grievous plagues on account of Sarai, v. 17.

Pharaoh, upon finding that Sarai was Abram's wife, restores her honorably, and dismisses the patriarch with his family and their property, v. 18-20.

(From Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft)

Theme: God’s promise to Abraham and his acceptance by entering the Land of Canaan by faith; also his departure from land and lapse of faith

Abraham

In Chapter 12 Abram emerges from the line of Shem as Jehovah's chosen representative. On him Jehovah would place the full responsibility of receiving and passing on His revelation for all. From the pagan background of Ur and Haran came forth God's man for the strategic hour of early OT revelation. - (From The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press)

Abram is not only one of the great Old Testament figures but also one whose shadow is cast over the whole of the New Testament. Many aspects of his character and his relationship to God warrant our study, but Scripture places special emphasis on his faith life.

The life of Abraham, from his call to his death, consists of four stages, the commencement of each of which is marked by a divine revelation of sufficient importance to constitute a distinct period. The first stage (ch. 12-14) commences with his call and removal to Canaan; the second (ch. 15-16), with the promise of a lineal heir and the conclusion of a covenant; the third (ch. 17-21), with the establishment of the covenant, accompanied by a change in his name, and the appointment of the covenant sign of circumcision; the fourth (ch. 22-25:11), with the temptation of Abraham to attest and perfect his life of faith. All the revelations made to him proceed from Jehovah; and the name Jehovah is employed throughout the whole life of the father of the faithful. - (From Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

We start with God's call to move from what is known to the unknown. From what has been his home for 75 years to a land as of yet not stated. From a life with family and friends, a home and I'm sure all the amenities of that day and age. Abram leaves the land of his birth for a land of promise. This change would try his faith and obedience and also to separate him and set him apart for God.

The repeated “I wills” of this passage introduce promises of eternal consequence, worldwide scope, and monumental importance. The man who was to become a great nation could not at that time be the father of one child. But God had promised! In marked contrast to a world that had come to ruin because it insisted on making a name for itself independently of God, this obscure man’s name was to become “great” because God was promising to bring it to pass.

God made basically a three-fold promise to Abraham, which is definitely very important. This 3-in-1 promise becomes the hub of the Bible.

1. God promised Abraham a land (Canaan) (vs.1)

2. God promised to make a great nation from Abraham (vs. 2a)

3. God promised to make a blessing to all families through Abraham’s seed. (vs. 2b & 3)

Abram's perilous journey would involved famine and threats on his life, but God promised to be with him and encourage him even to the extent of accepting full responsibility for Abram’s well-being. Now, God who had promised to bruise the serpent through the seed of Eve, sharpened the focus of His revelation and showed that it would be through Abram that blessing would come to the whole world. This revelation on God’s part necessitated “recognition” on Abram’s part. In some way that is not described to us in the Scripture Abram arrived at the necessary conclusion. On that basis he moved in faith.

“So Abram departed … and [he] was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran” (Gen. 12:4). In the highly mobile society in which we live today, it is easy to over look all that was involved with this move. He did not movers he could call to pack his stuff and haul it to, well he wasn't sure where yet. They did not have cattle movers to load the sheep, and other livestock in. Everything they owned was packed on the back of camels and donkeys, or maybe in ox cart or all of these. The live stock was driven by hand or lead by hand in some cases. This was not going to be an easy journey.