Genesis 12 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

NOTE: From this chapter on, the ‘studies’ focus mostly on the individual Patriarchs – Abram, Isaac, Jacob and then Joseph, and will not necessarily cover all the verses and all the chapters.

Passage: Genesis 12:1-3

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.

2 ‘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
3 I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.

A. Find Out:    

1. When had the Lord spoken to Abram? see Acts 7:2-4
2. Where did He say Abram should leave? v.1b
3. Where was Abram to go? v.1c
4. Of what did God say He would make Abram? v.2
5. Who did God say He would bless? v.3a
6. Who will be blessed through Abram? v.3b

B. Think:

1. What had Abram to do before God would be able to bless the world?
2. What do you think at that moment was the most important part of God’s words as Abram saw it? (look back to 11:30 )
3. What part of this passage might hint that Jesus, who came from this family, would be the blessing?

C. Comment:

God’s first recorded words to Abram were a call to leave all his security and go to a place of God’s choosing that he did not yet know (v.1). Not only that, the Lord promised him that He would make him into a nation (v.2) that would be famous and which would bless the whole world (v.3). The thought of having children might have been the one thing that helped Abram to respond.

Of course, we now know that Jesus eventually came out of Abram’s family, and it was Jesus who is the blessing to ALL peoples. However, Abram himself is also our example of THE man of faith who responded to God’s word and DID what God said. THAT is faith! (see Hebrews 11:8-10 / Romans 4:3)

In the New Testament this man, again and again, despite his failings, is held up as the classic example of faith, and faith is the all-important ingredient that the Lord looks for as the measure of our response to Him (see Hebrews 11:6). As we follow his story we will see his faith fluctuating but it is always there. He went!

D. Application:

1. One ordinary man was going to affect the whole world. We can similarly affect the world if we will be people of faith who obey God.
2. Ask the Lord for YOUR life to be used by Him to affect and bless other people’s lives.

Passage: Genesis 12:4-9

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

6 Abram travelled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

8 From there he went on towards the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

9 Then Abram set out and continued towards the Negev.

A. Find Out:

1. How old was Abram when he left Haran ? v.4
2. Where did he set off for? v.5
3. Who did he take with him? v.5
4. Where did the Lord meet Abram? v.6
5. What promise did the Lord give Abram there? v.7
6. What did Abram do in response? v.7

B. Think:

1. What indications are there that they had been in Haran a longtime?
2. Why would it have been difficult for Abram to leave?
3. What do you think particularly encouraged Abram in God’s word?

C. Comment:

We easily read the word, “So Abram left as the Lord had told him”, (v.4) but that could not have been easy for him. He has been there a long time and accumulated much wealth and many memories. It is also the place where his father is buried. Yes it is difficult to leave such a place, but this man who becomes THE example of faith, goes at the behest of the unseen God.

Some time after he entered the land, the Lord speaks to him again (v.7a). God decides when He will speak and sometimes He allows us to go on a while before we hear from Him. He simply confirms that this IS the land He had spoken about previously – and then nothing more.

Abram is on his own in the place of the Lord’s appointing. How will he act? He builds an altar (v.7b) in response to his encounter with the Lord, and when he moves on, he builds another (v.8), a sign of worship and submission to God. From the outset this man of faith is also a worshipper, the two go together.

D. Application?

1. Ask the Lord to help your love for Him to grow and grow as you go through these studies, that your faith may flow out of love.
2. As Christians we are called to walk by faith and not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7), but faith comes by hearing (see Romans 10:17) so ask the Lord to help you to hear more through His Word and Spirit.

Passage: Genesis 12:10-16

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. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, “This is his wife.” Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.’

14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

A. Find Out:

1. Why did Abram go down to Egypt ? v.10b
2. What was he afraid would happen to him? v.12
3. So what did he want Sarai to pretend to be? v.13
4. What did he hope would happen as a result? v.13
5. What happened to her in Egypt ? v.15
6. What happened to Abram? v.16

B. Think:

1. Why does he leave the land he has just been promised by the Lord?
2. What sort of man does Abram appear in this passage?
3. What do you think he has yet to learn?

C. Comment:

If we had any romantic ideas about Abram, today’s reading should dispel them! Abram shows us his frailty and humanity. He has just been promised the land by God but circumstances indicate it is not a pleasant place to be in at the moment (v.10). Abram’s response is not to ask the Lord about it, because he doesn’t seem to have that sort of relationship with the Lord yet. Instead, he runs to Egypt where, presumably, the famine doesn’t exist.

Once in Egypt he again shows his insecurity and lack of trust in the Lord. He shows himself to be unbelieving and self-reliant as he schemes with Sarai his wife for their protection (v.11-13). (Imagine what Sarai must have felt about this!) It is clear that his relationship with the Lord is still in its very early days.

We could say “Abram failed” in coping with the two situations that confronted him, but let’s realize that he is called by God and merely because HE fails, God doesn’t give up on him. The same applies to us! Having a relationship with the Lord is a learning and growing process. We have much to learn and it’s going to take time! We may have high times (e.g. Genesis 12:4) but we will also have low points. God loves us at both the high points and low points of our lives!

D. Application?

1. The “L-Plates” are up for Abram. Recognize we are learners also.
2. Thank Him for the wonder of these truths. Ask Him to help them become the basis in you to bring security.

Passage: Genesis 12:16-20

He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. ‘What have you done to me?’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, “She is my sister,” so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!’ 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

A. Find Out:

1. How did Pharaoh treat Abram? v.16
2. How was this seen? v.16
3. What did the Lord do to Pharaoh? v.17
4. Why? v.17
5. What had he done with her? v.19
6. What did he now do with Abram? v.20

B. Think:

1. What does this passage tell us about what God thinks about Sarai?
2. What does this passage tell us about the sort of person Sarai was?
3. What do you think this passage teaches us about God when you consider God’s non-action against Abram?

C. Comment:

In Egypt Sarai allowed herself to be taken into the king’s palace (v.15), there presumably to be prepared to become one of his wives, while Abram stayed out in the country and became prosperous (v.16). God does not allow the situation to carry on however, and brought serious illnesses on those in the palace (v.17). Pharaoh eventually realizes that this all started when Sarai arrived, presumably questions her and finds she is Abram’s wife. He then sends them on their way with all their possessions (v.18-20).

This tells us lots about those involved. Abram we spoke about yesterday. Sarai is remarkable in her obedience to her husband (read 1 Peter 3:5,6). Pharaoh is remarkable in his response once he realizes the true situation. The Lord is even more remarkable in the way He DOESN’T chide Abram.

You and I might have said strong words to him about his lack of faith but the Lord seems to accept that Abram is a very young believer and accepts him LIKE HE IS! Why? Perhaps because He knows Abram’s potential – what he will become.

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that He loves you and accepts you AS YOU ARE, and that He knows your potential.
2. Abram kept quiet when he had a great opportunity to be God’s witness –  because of fear. Let God’s strong love overcome all fear in you.