Overview for v.1-3
(NET) The LORD called Abram while he was in Ur (see Gen 15:7; Acts 7:2); but the sequence here makes it look like it was after the family left to migrate to Canaan (11:31–32). Genesis records the call of Abram at this place in the narrative because it is the formal beginning of the account of Abram. The record of Terah was brought to its end before this beginning.
Repeated phrase:
(1) When Abram followed the command of God and "go out" v.1, then God would gave him 3 blessings: "I will make you..." " I will bless you," and " I will make your name great..." to the point that he "will exemplify divine blessing" v.2.
The details are given in v.3
12:3 I will bless those who bless you,
but the one who treats you lightly I must curse,
and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name.”
(NET) Gen 12:2 predicts that Abram will be held up as a paradigm of divine blessing and that people will use his name in their blessing formulae. For examples of blessing formulae utilizing an individual as an example of blessing see Gen 48:20 and Ruth 4:11.
It would be hard to overestimate the value of this call and this divine plan for the theology of the Bible. Here begins God’s plan to bring redemption to the world. The promises to Abram will be turned into a covenant in Gen 15 and 22 (here it is a call with conditional promises) and will then lead through the Bible to the work of the Messiah.
Reflection: Interesting, there is not much we know about Abram before 12:1. Abram has done nothing to deserve these blessings. He even become the symbol of blessings without doing anything. This is unconditional love by God.
(2) Go out "from your country" "your relatives," and "your father's household"
(NET) The call of Abram illustrates the leading of the LORD. The command is to leave. The LORD’s word is very specific about what Abram is to leave (the three prepositional phrases narrow to his father’s household), but is not specific at all about where he is to go. God required faith, a point that Heb 11:8 notes.
Reflection: Obedience was the only reason we can find for Abram's blessings. The only command is to go out from his family and country. Why? The Bible does not explain. Maybe those are his comfort zone and to leave them require faith. What is your comfort zone? Can you leave them if God calls you to do so? Will that be your health? financial security?
(3) Abram's life was threatened by the famine v.10, and the Egyptians v.12, 13.
What kind of place was Egypt? Abram worried that the Egyptians would took a person wife and killed that person just because she was pretty?! v.12. Abram did not worry about that when he was in Canaan. Egyptians must be famous for their wickedness. He had no choice but moved there for a while because of the famine v.10. Even though Abram was blessed by God v.1-3, but at this time his life was pretty tough.
(4) v.13 So tell them you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you and my life will be spared on account of you.”
v. 16 and he did treat Abram well on account of her
(NET) the irony of the story. Abram wanted Sarai to lie “so that it would go well” with him. Though he lost Sarai to Pharaoh, it did go well for him—he received a lavish bride price
God did treated him well. Not by Abram's own scheme. God struck Pharaoh and Abram got his wife back together with more possession.
Reflection: Do you feel like your life is pretty tough and seems like the blessings of God seems so far off? That will time like that, but our God is faithful to His promise. I assume if Abram stayed in Canaan and God would provided him even in the famine. Or he could went to Egypt but not lied about his wife and he would still be alive because God had blessed him v.1-3.
Abram made himself a fool in v.10-20, but everyone's faith has a process of growing. Our God is a merciful and patient to us.
Audrey
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