Introduction to Abram

Welcome Prayer Song Silence

Genesis 12:6 – end 13:1-9
August 7th 2022

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness So, we were introduced to Abram last week where we read

Genesis 12:1
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

And now we read for today

Abram's Journey

Genesis 12:6
Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.
7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
9 So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
10 ¶ Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.

11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
12 "Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13 "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you."
14 ¶ So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house.
16 He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

17 But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
19 "Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way."
20 So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.

Analysis of Abram's Actions

Alright back to verse 6 where Moses writes

6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

Where it reads, the plain of Moreh in the King James it should say, Oak of Moreh therefore the Septuagint translation reads, “the lofty oak of Moreh” in all probability because it was a place with a remarkable grove of oak trees. It is believed by some that because Moses was writing in retrospect that where it says “the Canaanite was then in the land” they were already expelled by the future Israelites which were yet to be formed from the loins of Isaac and Jacob who were yet to be born. However, all that Moses is saying is Abram passed through Sichem and we have no idea of the condition of the land at that time and whether the Canaanites were there or not. What’s far more important is what we read in verse 7

7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Old Testament Appearances

The way this appearance was made we do not know; however, Christian tradition often states that this appearance was the preincarnate person of the second person of the Trinity, otherwise known as Jesus. I will have you know that while an entire cottage industry was created to say that appearances of LORD (YHWH) in the Old Testament by the early church fathers was their means to insert Jesus into the Old Testament text (which lends support to John 1:1 telling us that in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the Word was God – and of course, the word was made flesh and dwelled among us), there is little support for this in the internal manuscript evidence.

(cite Bible Society article here)

Interpretation of Appearances

This gets especially pushed relative to four verses where angels appear in the “Name of God,” and even more especially when they are described as being like “the son of Man or the son of God.” I think this view is eisegetically driven, meaning people read it into the text. I am not saying that it isn’t true – it could be – but it is NOT proven by any means and was a later development relative to biblical history – again a product of the patristic fathers who had a tendency to postulate big time. Additionally, Jesus plainly said no man has seen God at any time, so biblical literalists need to put this statement, “and the Lord appeared to Abraham,” in context of this and realize that this visitation had to have been through some means but it was not YHWH himself.

That being said, the commentaries I consulted often say things like, “this was probably by the great angel of the covenant, Jesus the Christ,” which gives direct support for Him being a person separate and distinct from YHWH the Father and thereby validates at least two persons of the Trinity as being present in the Old Testament. However and whomever this was, whether an apparition of God in light, or through an angel or if it was the preincarnate Word of God, the appearance satisfied Abram and caused him to believe it was of Divine origin. It is worthy of remark that Abram is the first man to whom God is said to have shown himself or appeared – even though some assume that He was appearing to Adam and Noah.

Appearances to Abram

In the Abraham story, God appears to him 1. In Ur of the Chaldees, (according to Acts 7:2) and 2. At the oak of Moreh, according to this verse. As the word Moreh signifies, “a teacher,” it probably was called the oak of Moreh or the oak teacher, because God manifested himself here, and instructed Abram concerning the future possession of that land by his posterity.

8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

This place was called Luz, and here it is referred to by Moses as the place which would afterward be called Beth-el by Jacob (in Genesis 28:19), which literally means, “the house of God.” So there in what Jacob would later call the “house of God,” Abram pitched his tent and built an altar unto the Lord. The message here for Abram – and I believe for all followers of God – is wherever there is a tent, a follower will have an ALTAR which illustrates that there is little safety in a home where God is not included. Of course, this is not literal but figurative, meaning where a believer dwells, the place ought to be consecrated to the service, and therefore the sacrifice of God.

The older I get, the more I see the import of having a heart to serve him wherever we are – and not just in a house of worship – and most especially from the home. So, whether a tent, a shanty, a hotel room, or a palace, to follow in Abram's example, there can be an altar – with altars indicating a heart for sacrificing life to the living God. In the Old Testament, the life of animals was splayed out on these altars, then post the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the final blood offering for the world, our own bodies are now offered as living sacrifices . . . , as Paul

Abram's Journey and Spiritual Significance

Verse 8

8 And Abram removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he built an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. Some scholars suggest that this line better means not to call ON the name of the Lord, but to invoke IN the name.

The Invocation of YHWH

In other words, Abram invoked YHWH (Jehovah) in his altar prayer – and this suggests that Abram learned the Name of YHWH in the appearance to Him. Some wonder if Abram might have even used the Name of the incarnated Lord, Yeshua, which he learned it directly from God and called on the name of the Lord Yeshua. One support given for this is that in His life Jesus said to the Jews in John 8:56:

John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

It appears to some that Abram was informed that the Messiah who was mentioned even to Eve and that he would be born of his seed, that the nations of the world should be blessed through him; and so it is possible that Abram invoked God in the name of this great Mediator? Can’t say, but even if this is true, remember his name would have been to Abram, the Messhiac, (the Messiah) or perhaps Yeshua (Joshua), but not Jesus Christ.

(verse 9)

9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

Abram's Journey to Egypt

10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. This is the first famine on record, and it prevailed in the most fertile land then under the sun – Canaan. Why? Perhaps God made it desolate due to the wickedness of those who dwelt in it (the offspring of Ham through Canaan). Can’t truly say.

So, due to the famine, Abram went down into Egypt – a story which will be repeated in the life of Jacob and His Sons. Remember, Abram was promised a land for his offspring – and it was even identified as that land when he was first there. But scripture says that he himself sought for something else, and therefore became or saw himself as a “stranger and a pilgrim,” and in this unsettled state had a city in mind that had foundations supporting it (as Revelation describes the Heavenly city) and whose builder is the living God.

Therefore, the Promised Land Abram sought was never going to be Canaan. It was heaven and Abram, the father of the father of the faith, would be described as a tent-dweller. How symbolic for all who are adopted into the Kingdom by faith, who too, are merely sojourners on this planet, dwelling in tents, meaning in these bodies covered in flesh and framed with bone. Spiritually, all of us find ourselves tethered to the heavens, and longing for our entrance therein, dwelling in these corruptible bodies until we are taken. This was pictured perfectly in father Abram and the life he was led to live. So, because of the famine, for in the lands of this world there is always an abiding hunger present, Abram went to Egypt.

(Verse 11)

11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai, his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: When it says fair woman here we tend to read it as attractive but many scholars see this as Abram saying, You are very different in complexion from the swarthy Egyptians (fair) and you will consequently be highly coveted by them.

(verse 12)

12 Therefore, (he says) it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see you, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

13 Say, I pray thee, “thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.” Sarai’s age is not entirely agreed upon at this point but the range exists between 65 on up.

Abram and Sarai in Egypt

Genesis 17:17 tells us that she was ten years younger than Abram, and from verse 4 in this chapter, we see that Abram was seventy-five when he was called to leave Haran and go to Canaan. At that time, or within that time period, Sarai could have been only about sixty-five – from my estimation – which is entirely suspect.

Now, relative to Abram telling Sarai to say that she is his sister, this was not a lie, but it was a ruse to obscure the truth. We have read and will read in Genesis 20:12 that she was, in fact, his sister through Terah but through another mother. As mentioned two weeks ago, some suppose Sarai was the daughter of Haran, and consequently the granddaughter of Terah – an opinion that appears to be founded on Genesis 11:29. But again and as we said, this seems unlikely.

Encounter with Pharaoh

14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

These Kings or Pharaohs were known as “Cuthite shepherd kings of Egypt,” and all of the kings of Egypt bore this name until the beginning of the Greek monarchy, after which they were called Ptolemies. When a woman was brought into the “seraglio” (or harem) of these eastern princes, she underwent for a considerable time of purifications before she was brought into the king's presence for consummation. It is believed that it was in this interim period that God plagued both Pharaoh and his house with plagues, so that Sarai was restored before she could have been taken to the bedroom of the Egyptian king. In any case, Abram was well rewarded for giving Sarai over.

16 And he (the Shepherd King) entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

Understanding the Terms

These various terms get mixed up in the Pentateuch, so let’s address them quickly:

SHEEP appears to refer to a certain species that have a tendency to bring forth twins and sometimes three and even four babies at a birth. As a result, their prolific fruitfulness is often alluded to in the Scripture (Psalm 65:13; 144:13). What gets confusing is that under this same term, which almost invariably means a flock, both sheep and goats are included. So, the Romans include sheep, goats, and small cattle in general, under the single term PECUS.

The term OXEN is taken from the root word that means, “to examine, look out,” and describes something that is spread out and unmoving to the horizon. The word to describe this is BOKER and represents something that spreads out and looks like it doesn’t move. That would be what a herd of cattle would look like in my estimation.

HE-ASSES speak to animals that appear dumb or depressed. The word is applied to asses in general but usually males. The term translated SHE-ASSES means “strength” when compared to other animals of its size, but it can refer to either males or females.

CAMELS comes from a term meaning “to recompense, return, repay,” and are called this because they seem to resent being injured and bear a revengeful temper toward those who have harmed them later. From all of this, it seems that Abram led a pastoral life of ranching, living in tents, and these gifts contributed greatly to his personal wealth. And all of this growth was the result of Abram surrendering his wife over in a half-truth to shepherd kings.

17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. We are not told what these plagues were, but later in chapter 20 we will read, in a similar case, that when all the females in the family of Abimelech, who had taken Sarah in nearly the same way, were made barren, that maybe the same thing happened here. Whatever these plagues were, it is apparent that they were understood by Pharaoh as proof that God was displeased, and from this, it is believed that even at this time in Egypt, there was some knowledge of God’s true identity – well before He revealed himself to Moses.

So in the face of these plagues, we read at verse 18 18 And Pharaoh

Abram and the Shepherd Kings

Abram was for a second time called to leave his country, kindred, and father's house, and go to a place he knew not. The big question arises here regarding Abram, the father of the faith: was he lying by not telling the Shepherd Kings the true identity of Sarai (his wife) and, as a means to save his own skin, allowing her to be taken into his harem? This action risked that she would have been intimate with an Egyptian.

Most commentators suggest that this was a weakness or failing of Abram, born from fear for his own life. However, it's worth considering if perhaps Abram was not faithless in this but faithful, trusting that God would deliver them from the situation, and that he was actually inspired to instruct Sarai in the manner that he did. On the other hand, we could view Abram as fearful and weak, telling partial truths to save his own skin, and being willing to allow Sarai to be taken and lost forever.

The Question of Punishment

Why did God punish the Shepherd King for taking Sarai and not Abram? Many commentators argue that Abram was wrong to lie (or tell a partial truth by hiding the fact that Sarai was his wife), which demonstrates his humanity. Yet, one could also argue that Abram was being wise, trusting that God would resolve the situation, much like he trusted God regarding the sacrifice of Isaac. The plagues placed on the Shepherd Kings highlighted the error of taking Sarai, leading to their release along with even more flocks. This act almost seemed like a way of saying, "please just take everything and go."

Abram and Lot's Separation

Genesis 13 continues with Abram's departure from Egypt:

1 Abram went up out of Egypt, he, his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 He journeyed from the south to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4 to the place of the altar he had made there initially, and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

5 Lot, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 The land could not support them living together because their possessions were great, so they could not dwell together. 7 There was strife between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen, and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8 Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

Journey to the South

Going back to verse 1, "And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south." Abram's journey took him and his family from Egypt to the southern part of the promised land.

What unfolds is a narrative that intertwines faith, fear, and the complexities of human decisions, exemplified by Abram's actions and the consequences that followed.

Abram's Journey and Wealth

Land lay to the north-east of Egypt and this appears to reference that.

2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. Interestingly, the property of these patriarchal times did not consist in flocks only, but also in silver and gold; and in all these respects Abram was exceeding rich. Josephus adds in his history that a part of the property Abram acquired was from teaching the Egyptians arts and sciences which perhaps Abram gained knowledge of when he resided in Ur where astronomy was popular. In this we see God fulfilling His promises to Abram both in protecting him and then in supplying him with great temporal blessings, which could have all been signs or tokens of all the spiritual things God had promised him.

Abram's Return to Bethel

3 And Abram went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; so, he returned to Luz which we said earlier was later renamed Bethel by Jacob. And what did He do there?

4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. A straight up indication of the man of faith – calling on the name of the Lord. To do such is to implicitly trust in Him as those who do not believe that He is would never call on Him. From this, we see that all who are His – Jesus too – took time to communicate with the Lord, to call on Him in faith, look to Him in faith and trust in Him for the welfare of their lives and the promises He gives.

5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. Again, Lot was Abram’s nephew.

6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. As their families increased (meaning Lot as Abram and Saria had no children yet), it was necessary their flocks would increase too because it was in and through the flocks that they would get their food, clothes and milk.

Strife Between Abram and Lot's Herdmen

7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. Naturally, where there is space needed for grazing and housing of flocks and people conflict arise. Verse 7 informs us that not only was there strife between the herdsmen of Abram cattle and of Lot’s but also because the Canaanites and the Perizzites had already occupied a considerable part of the land it appears that the tensions grew and the need for more space became apparent. Verse 8 is so meaningful and the wisdom and heart of Abram is made known in it as we read

8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. In other words, Abram takes the lead and seems to be saying to his nephew Lot: “We are of the same family, we worship the same God in the same way, we have the same promises we look forward to and we look for the same ends. Why then would we allow strife to exist between us?” It appears that our situation is defining or causing the conflict so let’s change the circumstances. And Abram says (verse 9)

9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Abram's Peacemaking Spirit

And yet we have another insight into Abram because being the uncle not the nephew he could have chosen his own portion first, and appointed Lot his; but intent upon making and keeping peace he permitted him to make his choice first. And we discover some things about Abram here – yet again. He was not controlling. He erred on the side of love, and was willing to allow his nephew to make decisions first, and to take the land he wanted as a means to make peace. In Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus plainly says:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

The Path to Peace

through the offspring of Abram, is the Prince of Peace. Paul wrote to the saints in Rome and said

Exhortation to the Romans

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulationA real historical event fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a future apocalyptic crisis. More; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Conclusion

Peace – with all people – if possible. Such will be called the Children of God.

Questions/Comments/Prayer