Genesis
12 is one of the most important chapters in the entire Bible. We see
God working His plan through His covenant with one man- Abram. It
begins, “The
Lord had said to Abram, leave your country, your people and your
father’s household and go to the land I will show you“.
In addition, God gives Abram a promise that as we will see extends
to us today. “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 that
bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on
earth will be blessed through you“.
Because Abram trusts God, he is remembered for his great faith. At
75 years of age, he and Sarai are childless, yet he believes he will
become the father of a nation. The name Abraham is honored by Jews,
Christians and Muslims alike. Throughout history ever nation that
has opposed Israel has been destroyed, and I believe our unwavering
support for Israel is the one reason the United States has been so
richly blessed. And finally, from the seed of Abraham, our Savior
was born and all peoples that call on His name are blessed. What a
promise to Abram and what a promise to us!
Next,
we are told “So
Abram left, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him“.
Again we see partial obedience, and as always there will be
consequences. We read, “they
set out for Canaan, and they arrived there“.
Then, “the
Lord appeared to Abram and said, TO YOUR OFFSPRING I WILL GIVE THIS
LAND. So he built an alter there to the Lord“.
Thus far, Abe has been a man of great faith, but as the chapter
continues, when famine hits, Abe runs to Egypt. Not only that, but
we read Abram tells Sarai, “when
the Egyptians see you…they will kill me and let you live…Say you
are my sister so that I will be treated well for your sake“.
This great man of faith is willing for his wife to be taken as
Pharaoh’s wife so that he will live. We read Pharaoh gives Abram
flocks and servants in exchange for Sarai, but “the
Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because
of Abram’s wife Sarai“.
And Pharaoh rebukes Abram, “What
have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your
wife?…Take her and go!“.
Abram left with “everything
he had“,
including the maidservant Hagar, who will become the biggest
antagonist the nation of Israel will have.
Abram
was not perfect, and throughout Genesis we read of his failures. But
one of the most encouraging things to me is, when we read of Abram
(later Abraham) in the great listing of men of faith in Hebrews
chapter eleven, we are only reminded of his faith. Under the new
covenant, Christ has taken our sin upon Himself. All that is
required for us is to believe, and our sins are covered as well.
Even though we are faulty and flawed, God receives us as perfect when
we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us,
“Without
faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must
believe that He is, and He is a rewarded of those that seek Him“.
Even though we still have the consequences of our sin to deal with,
the arms of God’s love are open wide ready to receive you in.