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Genesis 12
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country (Ur), and from thy kindred (leaving Nahor and his family [except Lot]), and from thy father's house, unto a land (Canaan) that I will shew thee:
Those who listen and obey GOD, receive HIS blessings. Just as GOD is telling Abram to get out of the land of Babylon (confusion), so does HE expect us to get out of the Babylon (confusion) of these end times, with the traditions of men, and instead put on the full armour of HIM (Ephesians 6:11), having the SEAL of GOD in our foreheads, whereby we aren't deceived into worshiping satan at 666, when he comes disguised as Jesus. In order to put on the full armour, we must be familiar with our FATHER's WORD (the BIBLE) by taking time to study it daily. See also "A Warning Against The Rapture".
2 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:
3 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.
Why is it that all families of the earth would be blessed? Because it is through Abram and Sarai that CHRIST our SAVIOR would come through, and all blessings come from HIM. See also Galatians 3:16, Galatians 3:26-29.
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.
Keep in mind that this is speaking of the Haran (Chârân [the frontier town of the Babylonian empire, devoted to the worship of the moon-god]) mentioned of in Genesis 11:31, not the Haran mentioned of in Genesis 11:26. See also Acts 7:2-4.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son (i.e. his nephew), 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.
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.
Sichem (Shechem) is the place of Abram's first altar, Jacob's altar (Genesis 33:18-20), and CHRIST's first mission (John 4). Note that the Canaanites were already there.
7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land (Canaan): and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
8 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.
Bethel (Bêyth-ʼÊl) = house of GOD. Hai (ʻAy) = heap of ruins.
9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
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.
Compare to Amos 8. Notice there was a famine; here we see satan's attempt (thus early) to destroy Abram's seed, through Sarai. These times of famine is what tests and strengthens our faith and patience as CHRISTians; just remember that GOD will never test us beyond what we can bear without always providing a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). Notice how obedient Abram is, compared to the others in the last chapter, who remained in Babylon (confusion). Thirteen famines recorded: Genesis 12:10, Genesis 26:1, Genesis 41:54, Ruth 1:1, 2 Samuel 21:1, 1 Kings 18:2, 2 Kings 4:38, 2 Kings 7:4, 2 Kings 25:3, Nehemiah 5:3, Jeremiah 14:1, Luke 15:14, Acts 11:28.
11 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:
Fair (yâpheh) = beautiful.
12 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 knew that once he entered into the land of Egypt that they would try to murder him so they could have Sarai his wife. Below, we'll see how GOD intervenes. Remember, GOD always takes care of HIS own. As we will see in Genesis 20:11, the reason Abram was concerned was because he knew the people in Egypt didn't fear GOD.
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.
Abram isn't lying here because as we will see in Genesis 20:12, Sarai is his half-sister.
14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
As we can see, the Egyptians liked Sarai.
15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
Here we see the Pharaoh treating Abram very well because he thinks Abram will be his future brother-in-law. Again, those who obey GOD and do things HIS way, receive HIS blessings. GOD always takes care of HIS own.
17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
Remember it would be through Abram and Sarai that CHRIST would eventually come through. So we can see why GOD intervened. All of this was apart of HIS devine plan.
18 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?
19 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.
We can see how the Pharaoh was effected. After this took place, the Pharaoh knew there was power in Abram's GOD and he knew he didn't want to go up against that power.
20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
Never doubt what GOD can do. Just as GOD used Abram and Sarai and blessed them [notice Abram got to keep what he had received from the Pharaoh], so can HE use and bless us today if we allow HIM to. Always let your faith be bigger than your fear. satan thought he could destroy GOD's plan, but because of Abram's obedience, and faith, by allowing GOD to use him, satan's plan failed. GOD always wins.
Those who listen and obey GOD, receive HIS blessings. Just as GOD is telling Abram to get out of the land of Babylon (confusion), so does HE expect us to get out of the Babylon (confusion) of these end times, with the traditions of men, and instead put on the full armour of HIM (Ephesians 6:11), having the SEAL of GOD in our foreheads, whereby we aren't deceived into worshiping satan at 666, when he comes disguised as Jesus. In order to put on the full armour, we must be familiar with our FATHER's WORD (the BIBLE) by taking time to study it daily. See also "A Warning Against The Rapture".
2 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:
3 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.
Why is it that all families of the earth would be blessed? Because it is through Abram and Sarai that CHRIST our SAVIOR would come through, and all blessings come from HIM. See also Galatians 3:16, Galatians 3:26-29.
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.
Keep in mind that this is speaking of the Haran (Chârân [the frontier town of the Babylonian empire, devoted to the worship of the moon-god]) mentioned of in Genesis 11:31, not the Haran mentioned of in Genesis 11:26. See also Acts 7:2-4.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son (i.e. his nephew), 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.
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.
Sichem (Shechem) is the place of Abram's first altar, Jacob's altar (Genesis 33:18-20), and CHRIST's first mission (John 4). Note that the Canaanites were already there.
7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land (Canaan): and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
8 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.
Bethel (Bêyth-ʼÊl) = house of GOD. Hai (ʻAy) = heap of ruins.
9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
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.
Compare to Amos 8. Notice there was a famine; here we see satan's attempt (thus early) to destroy Abram's seed, through Sarai. These times of famine is what tests and strengthens our faith and patience as CHRISTians; just remember that GOD will never test us beyond what we can bear without always providing a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). Notice how obedient Abram is, compared to the others in the last chapter, who remained in Babylon (confusion). Thirteen famines recorded: Genesis 12:10, Genesis 26:1, Genesis 41:54, Ruth 1:1, 2 Samuel 21:1, 1 Kings 18:2, 2 Kings 4:38, 2 Kings 7:4, 2 Kings 25:3, Nehemiah 5:3, Jeremiah 14:1, Luke 15:14, Acts 11:28.
11 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:
Fair (yâpheh) = beautiful.
12 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 knew that once he entered into the land of Egypt that they would try to murder him so they could have Sarai his wife. Below, we'll see how GOD intervenes. Remember, GOD always takes care of HIS own. As we will see in Genesis 20:11, the reason Abram was concerned was because he knew the people in Egypt didn't fear GOD.
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.
Abram isn't lying here because as we will see in Genesis 20:12, Sarai is his half-sister.
14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
As we can see, the Egyptians liked Sarai.
15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
Here we see the Pharaoh treating Abram very well because he thinks Abram will be his future brother-in-law. Again, those who obey GOD and do things HIS way, receive HIS blessings. GOD always takes care of HIS own.
17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
Remember it would be through Abram and Sarai that CHRIST would eventually come through. So we can see why GOD intervened. All of this was apart of HIS devine plan.
18 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?
19 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.
We can see how the Pharaoh was effected. After this took place, the Pharaoh knew there was power in Abram's GOD and he knew he didn't want to go up against that power.
20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
Never doubt what GOD can do. Just as GOD used Abram and Sarai and blessed them [notice Abram got to keep what he had received from the Pharaoh], so can HE use and bless us today if we allow HIM to. Always let your faith be bigger than your fear. satan thought he could destroy GOD's plan, but because of Abram's obedience, and faith, by allowing GOD to use him, satan's plan failed. GOD always wins.