We now turn our attention to Abram (later to be named Abraham by God). Abram is called by God to leave his father and go to the land of Caanan. There Abram is told that He would bless Abram and make of him a great nation. Additionally, God promised that Abram’s name would be a blessing, and He would bless those that bless Abram and curse those that dishonor him. Furthermore, all families would be blessed through Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). We see this come to fruition through Paul who wrote “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:8-9).
Abram took Sarai (his wife to be name Sarah by God), and Lot (his brother’s son) and entered the land of Canaan that was inhabited by the Canaanites. Scripture tells us that with him he took all his possessions and all the people they had acquired in Haran (Genesis 12:5). Abram at this time would appear to be a powerful man indeed. There the Lord promises to give the land of Canaan to his offspring (Genesis 12:7). Abram traveled on to Bethel where he pitched a tent and built an altar to the Lord, after which he traveled toward the Negeb (Genesis 12:10).
After this a famine led Abram to travel into Egypt (Genesis 12:10). Once there he directed Sarai to say she was his sister because he feared for his life due to her beauty (Genesis 12:12-13). This is concerning based on the promises God gave Abram when they departed for and entered Canaan. Abram did not trust God to protect him. But God intervened and demonstrated that His promises could be trusted. As Abram thought, Pharoah took Sarai with the intention to make her his wife. And he treated Abram well giving him sheep oxen, donkeys, camels, and servants (Genesis 12:17). Then God caused great plagues to come upon Pharoah and his house when Pharoah took Sarai. Because of the plagues, Pharoah returned Sarai to Abram and sent them away with all that they had (Genesis 12:19-20). It should be noted that this will not be the last time we see weakness in the faith of Abram and God intervening.
Genesis 13, we find Abram a very rich man journeying from the Negeb back to Bethel, and the altar he had built, where Abram called upon the Lord on his return to Bethel. Lot had also developed a large number of livestock and servants where the land was not able to support both, causing strive amongst their herdsman (Genesis 13:7). Abram tells Lot to choose which way he will go with his men and possessions, and Abram would go in the opposite direction. Lot looks and sees a well-watered land, “like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). It also says the land was like Egypt. We must remember that they had just left Egypt where they went because of a famine. The land in the valley of Jordan looks incredible, harkening images of the Garden of Eden and Egypt where they had fled the famine. Naturally, that is the direction Lot chose and settled near Sodom. Scripture tells us that already, the men in Sodom were wicked, and committing great sins against the Lord (Genesis 13:13). Remember this as it will come back in the not too far future.
Chapter 13 ends with God reminding Abram that all the land around him will belong to him and his offspring. God adds to this promise and says, “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.” (Genesis 13:16) Despite the lack of faith in God’s promises in Egypt, God again promises great things for Abram.
My Bible Journey In A Year (Chronological) 