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1Now Yahweh said to Abram,[#12:1 The God of glory appeared to Abram and spoke with him (see Acts 7:2–5). God’s appearance to Abram was sudden and without warning. The same voice of creation now proclaims a message of hope and blessing to all the world. Abram had no burning bush to inspire him, no tablets of stone to guide him, and no ark of the covenant as a centerpiece of worship. Neither did Abram have a temple to worship in, a Bible to read, or a priest to counsel him. Nor did Abram have a pastor to pray for him, or a prophet to prophesy to him. But Abram had a divine encounter.]
“Leave it all behind —
your native land,
your people,
your father’s household,
and go to the land that I will show you.
2Follow me ,
and I will make you into a great nation.
I will exceedingly bless and prosper you,
and I will make you famous,
so that you will be a tremendous source of blessing for others.
3I will bless all who bless you
and curse all who curse you.
And through you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
4So Abram obeyed Yahweh and left; and Lot went with him.
Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran after his father died .
5He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people he had acquired in Haran; and they departed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in the land of Canaan,[#12:5 Or “souls.” Jewish tradition states that Abram preached the revelation of , the true God. Also, Abram was wealthy before Pharaoh gave him gifts (see Gen. 12:16).]
6Abram passed through the land and stopped at the sacred site of Shechem, famous for the great oak tree of Moreh. At that time, the Canaanites were also in the land.[#12:6 The Hebrew word maqom (a generic place) is never used to describe a city. In this context it is likely linked to the Arabic word maqam , which means “sacred site.” The word Shechem means “between the shoulders.” The shoulder represents all power and authority (see Isa. 9:6; 22:22; Luke 15:4–5). The site of Shechem was the physical center of modern Israel and is mentioned as a sacred place (see Gen. 35:4; Josh. 24:25; Judg. 9:6, 37).; #12:6 Or “the oak [cluster of oaks] of Moreh [oracle giver, instruction].” Undoubtedly, this was a place of mystery, and it was so famous that people used the tree as a landmark. See Deut. 11:30. At the great tree of Moreh, taught Abram to walk by faith, not by sight. God will lead us to a place of true strength (Shechem) and instruct our hearts (Moreh) to trust in him alone.]
7Then Yahweh appeared before Abram and said, “This is the land I will personally deliver to your seed.” So Abram erected an altar there to Yahweh , who had appeared before him.[#12:7 Or “made himself visible.” Scripture records at least nine appearances of God (theophanies) to Abraham (see Acts 7:2). The first was while he was still in Ur (see Gen. 12:1–3). See also Gen. 13:14–16; 15; 17; 18; 21:12–13; 22:1–2, 15–18.; #12:7 Or “to your future descendants.” God’s divine declaration assigned the land of Israel to Abram and his descendants. See Rom. 4:13; Heb. 11:12.]
8From there, he journeyed on toward the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built another altar to Yahweh where he prayed and worshiped Yahweh .[#12:8 Bethel means “House of God.” This is modern Beitin, a city about eleven miles north of Jerusalem. It is clear Abram adored and was faithful to his voice.; #12:8 While Abram lived in a tent without foundations, he was looking and waiting for a city with unshakable foundations (see Heb. 11:10). Likewise, we are living in the “tent” of church life today, waiting for its ultimate consummation—the New Jerusalem, the City of God with foundations. Paul, the Abraham of the New Testament, was a tentmaker.; #12:8 Ai means “the heap of ruins.” It is often identified as et-Tell, which was about a mile from ancient Bethel. See Josh. 7:2–8:28. Bethel is the House of God; Ai (the world) is a heap of ruins. The House of God is drawing us in. We must turn our backs forever on the old creation life, which is nothing more than a heap of ruins!; #12:8 Or “and he called upon the name of ,” which implies both prayer and offering a sacrifice.]
9Then Abram journeyed from there by stages through the southern desert region.[#12:9 That is, the Negev. Abram had traversed the entire length of Israel from north to south.]
10At that time, a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to travel down to Egypt and live there as a foreigner .[#12:10 Although the promised land was a land flowing (flourishing) with milk and honey ( Ex. 3:17), all three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and Joseph experienced a famine (see Gen. 26:1; 41:54; 42:1; 43:1). Faith will always be tested. This famine tested Abram’s faith. So often when we set out for our promised land, we encounter a famine. You can be right where God wants you to be and still be faced with severe trials. It is better to suffer in God’s path than to be at ease in Satan’s.]
11When he drew near to Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I’m worried because I know that you are a beautiful, gorgeous woman.
12When the Egyptian men take one look at you, they will say, ‘She is his wife.’ Then they will kill me in order to have you.
13Just tell them you are my sister so that they will treat me well for your sake and spare my life.”[#12:13 In fact, Sarai was his half sister (see Gen. 20:12). If the Egyptians were to kill Abram, it would leave Sarai vulnerable to the men of Egypt. This was, in fact, a troubling moral dilemma for Abram. By calling her his “sister,” any interaction with her culturally required a negotiation with her “brother.”]
14When Abram entered Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s stunning beauty.[#12:14 Sarai was at least sixty-five at this time, ten years younger than Abram.]
15When Pharaoh’s dignitaries spotted her, they went to Pharaoh and raved about her beauty. Then they took Sarai into the palace and made her part of Pharaoh’s harem .
16Because she pleased Pharaoh, Abram got along very well in Egypt and received royal treatment: he was given sheep, cattle, male and female donkeys, camels, and male and female slaves.[#12:16 All of Pharaoh’s gifts were signs of great wealth imparted to Abram by the king. It was the great wealth and many possessions that caused Lot to want to separate from Abram (see Gen. 13:6–7). There were many people who accompanied Abram both into Egypt and back into Canaan. He had the converts he acquired in Haran (see Gen. 12:5), plus 318 trained soldiers who were born under Abram’s care (see Gen. 14:14) who also had wives and children. It is possible that Abram had several thousand people who accompanied him.]
17But Yahweh struck Pharaoh and his household with terrible diseases because he had taken Abram’s wife, Sarai.
18So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “How could you do this to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?[#12:18 Somehow, perhaps by a dream, God showed Pharaoh his sin.]
19And why did you lie to me by saying, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here’s your wife back; take her and begone!”
20Then Pharaoh gave strict orders to his men to escort them out of Egypt along with everything they had.[#12:20 Besides great possessions, Abram also acquired servants in Egypt, and Hagar was one of them (see Gen. 16:3).]