11:27-12:9
1. The account of Terah
Observations: The family lived in Ur of the Chaldeans and started to move out from there to Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there.
Why did the Scriptures give the account of Abram's father?
(BKC) Terah was an idolater, worshiping other gods (Josh. 24:2 約書亞對眾民說：“耶和華以色列的神如此說：‘古時你們的列祖，就是亞伯拉罕和拿鶴的父親他拉，住在大河那邊事奉別神)
(EDB) Haran...A location on the major east-west caravan route at the top of the Fertile Crescent explains both its name and its pivotal strategic, political, and economic role in the ancient Near East.
(BEB) Haran...There were relatives who remained in Haran, however, to whom Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, fled in fear of Esau (27:42, 43; cf. 29:1–14). Jacob stayed in Haran many years while serving his uncle Laban
2. The account of Abraham
Overview (NET) 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.
Repeated word: I will bless/I will make/I will give
v.1-2 Go out...to the land...I will bless you (NET [It] is not specific at all about where he is to go. God required faith, a point that Heb 11:8 notes.)
v.2-7 Three blessings:
a. Then I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you v.2a
b. I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing v.2b-3
I will bless those who bless you, (NET-Since the LORD binds himself to Abram by covenant, those who enrich Abram in any way share in the blessings).
but the one who treats you lightly I must curse,
so that all the families of the earth may receive blessing through you.”
c. To your descendants I will give this land v.7- this blessings was given after Abram left and entered the land of Canaan then the LORD appeared to Abram and gave him this 3rd blessings. The Bible gave a note that "Abram traveled through the land...at Shechem". (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.) v.6b
3. Summary: Blessings came after faith. God has given Abram blessings but after His commands. After Abram obeyed " So Abram left, just as the LORD had told him to do" v.4 he got another blessings or a more concert form of the previous 2 blessings (without the land, there will not be a nation).
Reflection: Abram became a pivotal person in the history of mankind because of his respond to God's command to go out from a hometown/household which/who worshipped idols to another place. Am I willing to leave behind what I clinched onto/felt very comfortable with and follow the command of God? God did not call the whole city of Ur to leave, but just Abram. Would Abram have a doubt of "why-just-me?" Why everyone could stay and ok, but only our family had to leave? In general, why other Christians did not need to cut the tie with this person/place/thing, only to me, God wants me to say good-bye to these? Perhaps, this is what a being chosen need to get through.
Will I just want the blessings of God, but did not welcome a command? Faith means obedience response in action. What actions do I have because of my faith?
God did not give Abram a vast land for his nation. Small land country perhaps is the best kind of country. I shall be satisfied with our small ministry, and our small church.
4. Questions:
1) Blessings with binding Himself or His blessings to Abram. God also blesses me with His presence and saved me from sins, but the blessings are different than those He gave to Abram
2) God gave Abram a nation, a land, and a Messiah although they did not received Him yet.
3) ?
4) He went from a familiar place, an important city through many days or weeks of travel to another idol worshipping place, Canaan.
5) God's command.
12:10-20
1. What are important and what was not so important to to Abraham
R.W. Famine, severe famine made Abram moved to Egypt v.10
They will kill me v.12...tell them you are my sister so that it may go well for me...my life will be spared v.13 (and Pharaoh did treat Abram well v.16). (NET) His method of dealing with it is deception with a half truth
Summary: Things that threatened his life was important enough for him to lie and give away his wife. He knew the possibility of Sarai being taken away, but he let it happen. Even after she was taken, the Scripture is silent whether Abram regretted about it or not v.16.
2. Why God intervened?
The LORD did not struck Abram when he put the wrong emphasis on his life, but He struck Pharaoh. As a result Pharaoh got the message and gave Abram back his wife v.18-19. In other words, God's intervention helped Abram to get his wife back. Again, Scripture is silent whether Abram confessed his lying or not.
Summary: When a person was blessed by God because of his faith he still had sins in his life. His priority of life was wrong and he still lied. However, God did not leave that person alone. He intervened and helped that person. (Perhaps to make sure His promises will be fulfilled in Abram's life.
(BKC) In spite of the trouble Abram caused for himself, God was faithful to His word and did not let the foolishness of this man throw His plan into jeopardy. Abram probably felt that the easiest way out of danger was to manipulate deceptively. But such scheming put him in danger and jeopardized the promise. God’s servants should trust Him completely and not resort to self-directed schemes.)
3. Reflection: Abraham, who saw his life too important, and lied, did not deserved God's help when he did not trust God in his time of need. However, I am no better than Abraham. I am no better than Abraham in lacking trust in God. When I have any concern over my physical health, I see a message from the doctor as more assuring than the Scripture my sister had just sent me. I pray that God will not let me alone and continued to intervene in my life for He promised He will be with me and He is a merciful God. Whether Abram confessed or not, I do not know, but I will confess my sin to God.
4. Questions
6) He affected Sarai, Pharaoh and his household
7) When I found out negative thing in my health report, I felt nervous. Dont know who will be affected??
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