BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 9

First Steps into the Promised Land

Genesis 12

Me

My whole life has been about first steps.  Each new stage in life has brought about the need to step out in faith into the unknown.  There is one event that has stuck in my mind all of these years.  Although it is about my son it pleased me that he had accomplished something new. When he was learning to walk each phase was an adventure for him and for us.  For a number of weeks we would hold on the straps of his clothing to give him the confidence to walk.  One day we returned home from an errand and put him down.  Rather than holding on to him that time I just released my grip on the straps and he took off walking on his own.  He walked around and around the house evidently enjoying his new found freedom.  The key for him and for me in all of the different situations in which I have found myself is the confidence/faith to make the first move to take the initial step.  Without doing it I would never have accomplished anything in my life. 

We-

Sometimes we in the church become too timid to strike out on a new adventure.  There is a word and phrase that describes this mindset.  The word is tradition and the phrase is “We have always done it this way.”  That for any person or organization is the most paralyzing attitude that one can have.  To strike out on a new path where we have never travelled is called determining God’s vision. This is followed up by then putting into place the pieces that will allow us to accomplish what He has called us to be.  It can be an exciting and challenging adventure for any church but the rewards will be great because we know we are carrying out God’s purpose where he has allowed us to serve.

Over the next several lessons we will walk with someone who was willing to take that first faltering step of faith.  We will learn that life is a process and we do not arrive at the doorstep of the future as the complete package.  Abraham was just like us.  He had to learn by travelling the road of life and finding out what worked and what did not as he tried to please God.

God-

Genesis 12:1-3

As was seen at the end of chapter 11 Abram had begun to respond to the call of God on his life.  He and his family had made it as far as Haran in present day Syria called Aram in the Bible. After his father, Terah, died, God began to deal specifically with Abram. There is no way of knowing how he began to hear the voice of God.  It is obvious that it made such a strong impact that he was willing to step out on faith and begin the journey to which he was being called to take.

Whether referencing Ur of the Chaldeans or Haran the message was the same.  Abram was to obey God’s command in four ways. He was to:

• Go forth from his country
• Leave his relatives behind
• Leave his father’s house
• Go to a land that God was going to point out to him.

God was calling Abram to break all ties with the past.  Those commands were a great deal to ask of anyone especially when at that point in the conversation there seemed to be no purpose other than arriving in a place that God wants him to be.

God was sending him to a place that in truth was no better than the one who he had been told to leave.  Remember, that Canaan was inhabited by the ungodly descendants of Ham. The thing not mentioned at that point was that both Ur and Haran were both pagan societies.

1. What one event freed Abram to hear God’s command?
2. Why did God command Abram to leave home and family and go to a country totally foreign to him?
3. What kind of faith would it take to get you to do the same?

Genesis 12:2-3

God was not finished with the things he had to share with Abram.  First, He gave the command and the conditions under which he was to make the journey. Secondly, God laid out for him the benefits to following His instructions.  The results of Abram’s obedience were two fold, each of them having three individual characteristics.  The first was:

• Abram would be the father of a great nation.
• He would receive God’s blessing.
• He would become a man of great renown. This was completely opposite of what took place at Babel.  There the men attempted to exalt themselves.  Here God was the One bestowing the honor and prestige that would come to Abram.

Following those God said:

• Those who blessed Abram would also be blessed.
• Just the opposite would happen to those who cursed him.
• In him all of the families from that point on would be blessed.

 

1. How would Abram benefit from being obedient to God?
2. In what ways did Abram desire what God was going to do in his life?
3. In what ways would these things appear to out of reach for him at that point in his life?
4. What was the difference between the hearts of the men at the tower of Babel and that of Abram?
5. What did the men at the tower fail to understand that was opposite of what was going to happen to Abram?
6. How does Matthew 23:12 relate to the two incidences mentioned above?

Genesis 12:4-6

Abram partially obeyed God.  He took his nephew, Lot, along when he left Haran and made his way into Canaan.  He began his journey at the age of seventy-five.  Along with Sarai, Lot is mentioned again. Evidently the stay in Haran had been good for Abram because he had acquired not only physical possessions but also a number of people to serve him and his needs.

His initial travels took him into the heart of Canaan.  He set up camp at Shechem which would later play role in the life of his grandson, Jacob.  The Bible emphasized that the Canaanites were in living in that area at the time of Abram’s arrival.

1. How did Abram only partially obey God?
2. In what way can it be said that obeying God in part is not truly obeying him?
3. What blessings could he expect to receive because of his actions?
4. Why did Abram insist on taking Lot with him?
5. In what ways would that trip not present much of a challenge to Abram?
6. How might we compare his actions to that of the “Rich Young Ruler, found in Luke 18:18-28?
7. How do our possessions and relationships sometimes hinder us?

Genesis 12:7

God only made one promise to Abram at the point in which he arrived at Shechem.  He promised that the land where he was would be given to him as a possession. Evidently this was enough for a man who was a nomad.  He would have a place where he could settle down and raise a family and take care of his business.  Because of the words of God he built an altar there out of gratitude for God’s promise.

1. Why did God not repeat all of the things promised at the beginning of this chapter?
2. Why could God only promise him a place to call his own at that point?
3. What was holding him back from receiving the whole blessing of God?
4. In what ways did Abram hinder himself from receiving all that God promised?
5. How is the altar a picture of the short sightedness of Abram?
6. What are some of the ways we limit ourselves in our relationship with God?

Genesis 12:8-9

For whatever reason, Abram decided not to stay in Shechem to move on to Bethel which was close to Ai.  These two cities would also play an important role in the life of Jacob and the Israelites later on.  Bethel means the house of God and Ai means a heap of ruins.  How prophetic are the names of these two cities. At Bethel Abram built another altar to worship God.  It is not known how long he stayed there but once again he found himself on the move going further south into the part of the land known as the Negev. 

1. What would be a reason Abram would keep moving?
2. What was he trying to find?
3. What does it show about him with the repeated actions of building an altar?
4. In what ways do we show a restless spirit in our walk with the Lord?
5. How much did Abram’s past play in his constant need to move?

Genesis 12:10

Difficulty came into the life of Abram in the form of a famine where he was living in the Negev. Notice he had moved closer and closer to Egypt.  He now left the land of Canaan and went into Egypt because of the severity of the famine. In may seem strange, but God may have allowed the famine to test Abram.  He had already promised him the land but Abram did not seem to find any satisfaction in that fact, but kept moving from place to place.  One of the resources I used said that the enticement of Egypt was strong on Abram.  The famine only provided the excuse to actually go there.  His action showed a lack of obedience.  God had told him to go to the land that He would show him and no further.

1. What was the difficulty that came into Abram’s life?
2. How would a famine be especially devastating for someone like Abram?
3. How did his desire to go to Egypt show that he was a man of small faith at that time?
4. What could he expect to find in Egypt?
5. What are our Egypt’s that hold a special allure in our own lives?

Genesis 12:11-13

If it was bad enough that Abram decided to go into Egypt he compounded his error by asking Sarai to state that she was his sister. In actuality she was his half sister so she was not being asked to tell a lie.  He, however, was using his wife for his own self preservation. The reason for this request was because Abram feared that the Egyptians would kill him in order to take his wife from him. How quickly he had forgotten that God had promised to make him the father of a great nation.  God would not have made that statement to him if He intended for Abram to die.  Abram should never have gone into Egypt in the first place.

1. What were the errors that Abram committed as he planned to go into Egypt?
2. What does it show about the character of Abram at that point?
3. Why did his actions show that his faith was not strong?
4. What good could come out of such deception?
5. What are some of the ways that we use people for our own benefit?

Genesis 12:14-16

Sure enough when Abram and his family went into Egypt those who saw Sarai were very impressed with the beauty of a woman who was over sixty-five years old.  They passed the information on to the Pharaoh.  He took her into his house. 

Because of his wife, Abram was treated very well because of the way the Egyptians regarded her.  His wealth increased as the Egyptians gave him sheep, oxen, donkeys, servants and camels. Everything seemed to be going better than Abram could have dreamed.

1. What happened to Sarai?
2. Why was she willing to do what Abram asked?
3. What do you think of Abram’s treatment of her?
4. How did he fair while in Egypt?
5. How long do you think that Abram would have stayed there under the conditions that existed for him?

Genesis 12:17-20

God had other plans for Abram and Sarai. He brought plagues to bear on Pharaoh’s house. Even though Abram seemed to hold his wife in low esteem, God protected her from having relations with the Egyptians. 

When the plagues came upon the Pharaoh and his house he somehow discovered the truth about Sarai and called for Abram to explain.  Pharaoh put all the blame on Abram asking him:

• What have you done to me?
• Why did he hide the fact that she was his wife from him?
• Why did he tell him that she was his sister?

There is no record of whether Abram was allowed to make a defense.  In this case discretion was definitely called for because he had none other than self-preservation.

Fortunately for Abram, Pharaoh gave Sarai back to him.  He then commanded him to leave.  To make sure that he was gone from the land, Pharaoh had his men escort him away.  He was allowed to keep all that Pharaoh and the people had given him even though he had acquired by deception.

1. Why did God bring the plagues on Pharaoh and his house?
2. Why was Abram not punished?
3. How did Pharaoh discern what was going on?
4. Why did Pharaoh want Abram and his family out of Egypt?

You-

• Think back to the time when you first became a Christian.  How have you changed in the years since that event?
• Consider the things in your life that may hold you back from taking risks for Christ.
• Pray that as God gives you guidance you will be obedient and not stray away like Abram did.
• Ask yourself, “Are the things that you have acquired in this life keeping you from trusting God for all of my needs?”

We-

We need to remember that we are a work in progress.  As Paul said in Romans, “The good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” (Romans 7:19)  We are all going to walk through this life stumbling at times.  The more we put our trust in the Father the fewer times that we will fall. 

Our lives are to be such that we take God at His word. Abram forgot the promises of God and caused problems for his family and himself.  Surely if God has promised something to us He will never go back on what He has said.  We pray that we will continually open our hearts to hear and be obedient to what He desires for us.  When we go off the path He has established we know that He will not allow us to remain there but will discipline us for our own good.

Additional Notes:

UE-God selected one man out all the people in the world to bless and through whom blessing would ultimately to every generation.  He did that when he chose Abraham and sent him on an adventure of a lifetime with only a promise of what was to come.           (Gen. 12:1-4)

WM-Abram heard only part of God’s explicit instructions to him.  He was told to leave.         

1. Country
2. Relatives
3. Father’s house

So what did Abram do after hearing the command of God?  He took his nephew Lot with him.  In essence he negated the opportunity for receiving the blessing God wanted to give him because of his disobedience. (Gen. 12:1-5)

M-It is difficult enough to proceed with our lives when we know what to expect and everything is clearly mapped out for us.  Consider what God asked Abraham to do. “Go forth from your country and from your relatives.”  Then came what made it more difficult.  He made specific promises to be fulfilled at some future time and place.  This meant that Abraham had to put his entire future in the hands of God.  Whether the promises He made were to actually occur depended on his obedience to the initial command he received.  God told him, “Go forth to the land which I show you;” The promises that He made to Abraham, which were repeated multiple times, were:

1. I will bless you
2. Make your name great
3. You will be a blessing

God would go even further in His relationship by telling Abraham that He would:

1. Bless those who bless you
2. Curse those who curse you
3. In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

(Gen. 12:2-3)

 DM-There were certain events in Abraham’s life which were important in his relation- ship with the Father and the future plans God had for him.  One of these was the stepping out in faith to leave all with which he was familiar.  Although critical this action was the one which truly defined him as a man of God.  A part of this calling was the natural curiosity of man for what lies ahead and his adventurous nature.                                      (Gen. 12:1-4; Acts 7:3-4; Heb. 11)

E-The calling out of Abraham was one of only a few instances in the first part of Genesis that was a positive encounter that man had with God.  Many of the previous incidents resulted in judgment, Adam and Eve’s sin and subsequent exile; Cain’s punishment; the destruction of all mankind except Noah and his family in the flood and the dispersion of the people from the tower of Babel.  Here we see God speaking to Abram and commanding him to leave his home and people and travel to a land in which he will be blessed.  This seemed to be the pattern that God used when he approached man and man then experiences God.  He then calls man to a task, to serve him and to be totally committed to Him.  In this case Abram would not receive the blessing if he remained where he was. God was very specific.  Leave homeland and family then the blessing would come. (Gen. 12:1-4)

Abraham

Was 75 years old when he left Ur.  Although God made the promise that the land of Canaan would be given to him, he never received the inheritance.  In his lifetime he was tested and faithful:

1. In leaving Ur of Chaldees to follow God’s direction
2. In maturing to the point in his life when he could trust for protection and not lie to protect himself.
3. In his walk with the Father, when he would no longer take the situation in his own hands as he did to ensure that he would have a male heir by fathering Ishmael.
4. In growing until to serve God was the most important thing in his life even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac.
5. Confident in his relationship with the Father. 
6. In his sense of justice
7. In being a compassionate man                                                                                                  (Gen. 12:1-25:7)

DM-Starts and stumbles characterized Abram’s progress towards truly becoming the man of God through whom the covenant would be realized.

1. God had said to leave all on his journey, but he took lot with him. (Gen. 12:5)
2. Abram’s deception in Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20)
3. Tentative faith (Gen. 15:6)
4. Birth of Ishmael (Hagar was an Egyptian) (Gen. 16)
5. Deception in Gerar (Gen 20:2-13)

C-The first move that Abram made was with his father from Ur to Haran.  Along with Abram and Sarai, Terah took Lot.  Terah died in Haran. (Gen. 11:4-6)

GC-A Christian is willing to follow God’s leading even if it mean leaving the comfortable and familiar. (Gen. 12:1)

GC-For a man to take the step that Abram did he must believe the promises of God.  (Gen. 12:1-4)

C-It was in Haran that Abram was given the command to leave his country and relatives.  He accomplished part of it.  He did leave Haran but he also took Lot with him.  At this point in his life he was unable to put his past completely behind him.  To have obeyed God at this time would have brought the blessings He had for him earlier than he actually experienced them. (Gen. 12:1-4)

RT-Although he would never see it, Abraham was given a tremendous responsibility when God called him to be the father of a great nation.  One could say what’s the big deal?  Abraham’s life story is very important.  We must remember that he was called to be faithful to God’s purpose for 110 years.  He was first heard the voice of God at the age of 75 and did not have even have the son of promise until he was 100.  For many the wait of 25 years or even a month is too much to ask.  (Gen. 12:1-4)

GC-Sometimes God directs us to leave those people and things we hold dear.  It may be the ones who love us the most may be the very ones who stifle, muffle or block the blessings that God has for us.  When that situation exists we must do as God commands and go to a spiritual country where He is able to fulfill His promises to us.                     (Gen. 12:3)

RT-Family provided for Abram the security that hindered him from having total dependence on God. (Gen. 12:3)

C-We each carry too much baggage with us to say that we are actually able to move forward with our lives unencumbered.  Just look at what Abram took with him as he made the journey into Canaan:

1. Lot
2. Sarai
3. Possessions accumulated in Haran
4. Also persons acquired there

Abram had not really left anything behind.  He brought all of his worldly possessions with him.  How can God truly bless one who holds on to that which is less than God wants to do for him. (Gen. 12:4-5)

RT-In the early years of his journey the vision God gave to Abram did not result in a consuming passion to serve God.  He had chosen Abram and set him on a course that would eventually establish him as the father of a new nation.  There were a number of instances where Abram failed because he did not fully understand what God was sharing with him.  Sometimes the words did not fit into what was happening to him at the time.

C-During his first years in Canaan Abram was moving constantly from one location to another.  This was precipitated by the need for pasture land for the animals he had brought with him.  There was even an ill fated side trip down into Egypt during a famine in the land of Canaan. The additional livestock he acquired there in Egypt set up the conflict with Lot. (Gen. 12:6-10; 13:1-3, 18)

GC-Worship and thanksgiving are due God. (Gen. 12:7; 26:24)

RT-The Canaanites and Perizzites were in the land and probably saw the conflict between Abram and Lot’s servants. (Gen. 12:7)

M-What was Abram’s response to the promises that were at this point in his life just that promises?  Was his faith strong enough?  Was he motivated enough to follow God’s leading?  The answer comes in verse 4.  There it says, “So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him.” Did he have an illusion that the trip would be easy?  The answer of course is no.  For Abram the one thing that would cause him to proceed was his faith in God.  Later events would show that this faith was not complete, but there would come a time when he would believe that He would not fail him. Part of this process included words of assurance from God.  He told Abram, “To your descendents I will give this land. (Gen. 12:7)

M-Abram responded by building an altar to the Lord. (Gen. 12:7, 8; 13:18)

M-Abraham understood from whom his blessing had come and “called upon the name of the Lord.” (Gen. 12:8)

M-It was as a result of God’s promises and leading that Abram came into the land God was to give him.  Out of the thankfulness of his heart, he built the altar.  This act would never have occurred without God’s word and Abram’s understanding that the message was for him.  When we spend time doing all of the other activities that take up so much time on Sunday morning is there truly time to hear the words that may be just for us.  These may be the sounding call to move into unknown lands and there to build the altar out of the gratitude of our hearts to the One who has given us His word. (Gen. 12:8)

M-More than once Abraham showed self-preservation is a strong drive.                      (Gen. 12:10-12; 20: 2, 11)

GC-Early in his travels Abram began to call on the name of the Lord.  This set a pattern that he would follow his whole life. (Gen. 12:8; 13:4; Ps. 140:6; Lam. 3:55)

UE-God intervened in Abram’s first misadventure into Egypt.  He protected Sarah form being used by the Egyptians.  While Abram only seemed to be concerned about his own well being, God had a greater purpose in preserving all mankind. (Gen. 12:11-20)

GC-Even though the command not to bear false witness had not been given at the time of Abram he certainly would have guilty of breaking it as he traveled to Egypt and later to Gerar.                                                                                                                             (Gen. 12:13; Prov. 10:18; 12:17, 22; 13:15; 14:5; 17:7; 19:5, 9; 21:6, 28; 24:28: 25:18)

GC-How do we view what Abram did to Sarai? In what way do you think that he was using her for his own benefit?  What does this show about Abram? One of the things that we are admonished to do is to never use other people. (Gen. 12:12, 16)

RT-Other than one terse statement in 12:7 God was silent because Abram had been disobedient to God’s command to leave everything behind that tied him to the place of his origin.  Abram did not hear from God while in Egypt for he was not suppose to go there.  After returning from Egypt, God only began to speak with him when Lot finally departed from him. (Gen. 12 and 13)