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Genesis Chapter
Twelve
I.
Content of the Chapter
Abram Entered into the
A. The calling of God (v.1);
B. The blessing of God (v.2-3);
C. The guidance of God (v.4-6);
D. The manifestation and promise of God (v.7);
E. The life in the presence of God (v.8);
Abram Went down to
A. Journeyed, going on still toward the South
(v.9);
B. Went down to
C. Planned to keep his life (v.11-13);
D. Obtain many presents for the sake of his wife
(v.14-16);
E. The protection of God (v.17);
F. Be rebuked by the Pharaoh (v.18-19);
G. Went out of
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Gen. 12:1 “Now the LORD had said to
Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's
house, To a land that I will show you.”
YLT:
“Now
the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And
from your father's house, To a land that I will show you.”
Literal
Meaning: here God repeated
the word again to Abram that had been spoken to him in
“Country” refers to the nation or homeland; “family” refers to the
kindred; “father’s house” refers to his parents and brothers;
“To a
land that I will show you”, it seemed that God did not tell what land it was,
which required that he had to followed the step-by-step guidance of God by
faith.
Spiritual
Meaning: “country” typifies
the world; “family” typifies the race of Adam ---- the flesh; “father’s house”,
those who have fleshly association with him, which typifies the evil passions
and lusts of the flesh;
All
those who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the world and the flesh with the
passions and the lusts (Gal. 6:14; 5:24);
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We have been Christians, for God has seized us,
tightly, and always inspires and calls us.
2) God
is the beginning of all things. If He does not take the initiative, we can do
nothing by ourselves.
3)
Since God has begun in us a good work, He will perform it (Phil. 3:6).
4)
Spiritual growth is due to the manifestation of God. The more believers obtain
the manifestation and words of God, the further progress will he make in the
way of faith.
5)
True faith must be based on the word God has spoken. If God has not spoken,
man’s faith becomes “self-confidence”, not the biblical divine faith.
6) The
foundation of faith is not “sight” or “knowledge”, but “the word of God”.
7) If
God has really spoken to you, He will definitely take all responsibilities for
you.
8) If
believers desire to enter into the good spiritual realm, they have to be
separated from the world and the flesh and the passions and lusts of the flesh.
9)
Believers may be defiled by the evil living environment, so let us try to “get
out of it”. If we cannot get out of it physically, let us be get out of it in
spirit.
10)
May the Lord often speak to us: “do you love me more than these” (John 21:15)?
“These” are the country, and the family and the father’s house.
11)
Habits of life (“country”) and interpersonal relationship (“family and father’s
house”) are often the worst obstacles to believers’ spiritual pursuit.
12)
The calling and guidance of God appear in the first step. Will there be the
second step only when we follow Him. Therefore, we shall wait and follow step by
step.
Gen. 12:2 “I will make you a great
nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a
blessing.”
YLT: “And
I make thee become a great nation, and bless thee, and make thy name great; and
be thou a blessing.”
Literal
Meaning: this verse means
that God will look after him and prepare the best portion for him.
“I will make you a great nation”, it means that God will give Abraham many
children, namely, the people of
“I
will bless you”, it shows that
Abraham will be given the earthly blessings such as material wealth, physical
healthy, long lifetime, etc.
“And
make your name great”, it refers to the
widespread reputation of Abraham;
“And
you shall be a blessing”, it indicates many
people are blessed and kept because of him.
In fact, “bless” in this verse is abstract and
impractical to Abram; “make you a great nation”, it will not be accomplished in
his lifetime on the earth; “make your name great”, it is not detailed; “you
shall be a blessing”, the blessings be distributed to others; all of these just
reveal that only “faith” can make the blessings of God into realization.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We walk by faith, not by sight (2Cor. 5:7).
2) The
principle of God’s work is to gain “one man” first. And then many people will
be begotten by him and become a great nation.
3) The
rise and decline of a nation are fully depended on God. The greatest
contribution of Christians to the nation is not dying for it, but praying for
it to God
4) Men
want to “make themselves a name” (Gen. 11:4), but get nothing at last. However,
God makes the name of the one who never seeks his own name “great”. Therefore,
the dignity of name is reserved for the humble one.
5) The
name of the one, who cares for others and seeks spiritual blessings for others,
will not only be proclaimed by men but also more be remembered in the heavens.
6)
When we Christians live on the earth, let us have the noble expectation of
hoping to be a blessing to others.
Gen. 12:3 “I will bless those who bless
you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the
earth shall be blessed."”
YLT:
“And
I bless those blessing thee, and him who is disesteeming thee I curse, and
blessed in thee have been all families of the ground.'”
Literal
Meaning: “and in you all the families
of the earth shall be blessed”, obviously this
blessing does not refer to the earthly blessing only, but the blessing to the
world on account of “that seed” ---- Christ (Gal. 3:16).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The secret of being blessed by God is to bless
others previously.
2) God
protects us to such a perfect degree that all those who are hostile to us will
become His enemies.
3) If
believers have realized that both their blessings and troubles are related to
God, what fear or envy shall there be then?
Gen. 12:4 “So Abram departed as the
LORD had spoken to him, and
YLT: “And
Abram goeth on, as Jehovah hath spoken unto him, and
Literal
Meaning: “so”, it indicated
that Abram obeyed by faith at once ---- this was his characteristic of his
whole life (Gen. 17:23; 21:14; 22:3).
“As the LORD had spoken”, he did not ask God why he had to go nor
where to go. As God commanded, he did it.
“And Lot went with him”, later, not only did Lot himself become a
burden to Abram but also the Moabites and Ammonites begotten by
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Faith means “doing as Jehovah has spoken to us”.
Faith begins from keeping the word of God. The faith without works is dead
(James 2:17).
2) “Seventy-five years old”, whenever God calls, let us obey. The old
age should not be the reason for disobedience.
3)
Each step of obedience will bring true blessing to others, for obedience is the
fruit of faith. Faith places man into the living fellowship with God.
4)
However, our obedience to God should be absolute and complete, not partial
obedience (bring
Gen. 12:5 “Then Abram took Sarai his
wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had
gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in
YLT:
“And
Abram taketh Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance
that they have gained, and the persons that they have obtained in Charan; and
they go out to go towards the
Meaning
of Words: “
Literal Meaning:
we can see from this verse that Abram was
rich and he did not go the
Spiritual
Meaning: “the
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is far better that the husband and the wife
run the heavenly way with one mind.
2)
Abram answered the calling of God, and did not forsake his wife and possession.
When the Israelites went out of
3) If
believers have the right attitude towards the worldly things, it will be
helpful to our service of God. Therefore, even those who have wives should be
as though they had none, and those who use this world as not misusing it.
Anyway, take the primary consideration for serving God in everything (1Cor.
7:29, 31, 35).
4) The purpose of believers’ life does not lie in
seeking physical or mental satisfaction, but lies in keeping the word of God
and fulfilling His good pleasure.
Gen. 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.”
YLT: “And
Abram passeth over into the land, unto the place Shechem, unto the oak of
Moreh; and the Canaanite then in the land.”
Meaning
of Words: “Shechem”: shoulder, a
person’s back; “Moreh”: teacher, doctrine, fortress;
Literal
Meaning: “the Canaanites were then in
the land”, this word the
Scriptures recorded had a profound meaning ---- in the promised land to Abram,
there were even Canaanites that dwelt there, which would definitely make things
difficult for Abram. And God would try his faith and endurance and hope through
such difficulties.
Spiritual
Meaning: “Shechem”: it symbolizes being capable of bearing
the burden, and also typifies the almighty God will take full responsibility
for us.
“Moreh” symbolizes knowledge; “Terebinth”: it is tall and big and thus provides shade for
the sojourners to have a rest;
“As far as the terebinth tree
of Moreh”, the true
knowledge of God provides the strength of life to renew the strength of the
heavenly pilgrims so that they shall sun and not be weary and walk and not
faint (Is. 40:29-31).
“Canaanites”, it typifies Satan’s power of darkness;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The devil is hostile to our obtaining possession
smoothly. However since we have God to be our stronghold, it is unnecessary to
worry about the power of Satan.
2) No
matter how much doctrinal knowledge a believer has, the real important thing
for him is how much true knowledge of God he has got and how much power it has
exerted on him.
3) It
is the narrow gate and the straitened way that lead to eternal life (Matt.
7:14). Even though believers walk in the will of God, it does not mean
everything must be smooth. Tribulations in the world will help us to draw near
to God and rely on God.
Gen. 12:7 “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.”
YLT:
“And
Jehovah appeareth unto Abram, and saith, `To thy seed I give this land;' and he
buildeth there an altar to Jehovah, who hath appeared unto him.”
Meaning
of Words: “altar”: the place where the animal is
slaughtered;
Literal
Meaning: this is the second
time of God’s manifestation to Abram, and the third of speaking to him.
Probably, though Abram had arrived at the
Spiritual
Meaning: “altar”, it typifies
that it is acceptable to God as we present our bodies a living sacrifice (Gen.
8:20;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is the first step of living for God of
devoting oneself. If believers are unwilling to devote themselves, they cannot
be acceptable to God nor run the race before them well.
2) The
world builds the
3) If
we are not always living in the manifestation of God, we may easily lose the
vision of the calling.
4) It
is not enough to see the vision only, for it is one thing of seeing the vision
from the heaven and it is another of not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.
5) By
sight, Abram saw “the
Canaanites were then in the land”
(see v.6). However, by faith, he got the assurance of the manifestation and
word of God. Do we choose by sight or by faith?
6)
Believers cannot dwell in safety among the world, but will obtain peace through
the fellowship with God (John 16:33).
Gen. 12:8 “And he moved from there
to the mountain east of
YLT:
“And
he removeth from thence towards a mountain at the east of Beth-El, and
stretcheth out the tent (Beth-El at the west, and Hai at the east), and he
buildeth there an altar to Jehovah, and preacheth in the name of Jehovah.”
Meaning
of Words: “
Spiritual
Meaning: “
“Ai” typifies the natural life and the assembly of
the natural life, namely, the world;
“Tent”, there are three meanings in the Scriptures:
1) it is moveable at any moment (Heb. 11:9); 2) it is the place where God meets
men (Gen. 18:1), which represents the life of fellowship with God and union
with God; 3) it is easy to be torn down, which represents the physical body
that will perish (2Cor. 5:1-4).
Abram pitched the tent and built the altar between
“Called
on the name of the LORD”: it means leading
his life through prayer to God and reliance on God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Tent and altar represent the two great
characteristics of Christians ---- who are sojourners on the earth and live for
God by constant reliance on Him.
2) The
tent is for “what we have”, and the altar is for “our self-life”. The life of
faith does not rely on what we have or our self-life, but relies on God solely.
3)
Abram built the altar firstly (v.7) and then pitched the tent. Believers shall
firstly establish the right relationship with God and then will have right
attitude toward life.
4)
Abram built the second altar after pitching the tent. Our right attitude toward
life will lead us to more devotion unto God.
5) We
will not enjoy the riches of the house of God (“
6) It
is the best testimony before the vacant world (“Ai”) that believers lead the
life of faith (“pitch the tent”) in the church (“
7) The
faith of believers is closely bound to their daily life. No matter where we
live, we shall always keep the fellowship with God and rely on Him.
Gen. 12:9 “So Abram journeyed, going
on still toward the South.”
YLT:
“And
Abram journeyeth, going on and journeying towards the south.”
Meaning
of Words: “journey”: pull up the tent; “the South”:
south, dry, drought;
Literal
Meaning: “the South”: the
stretch of dry land to the south of Beer-sheba;
Spiritual
Meaning: “the South”, it is
neither the
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Today, many Christians live in “the South”, who
can be called “boundary Christians”.
2)
Believers do not fall into the world immediately, but “go on still” toward the South.
3)
Abram failed severely in
Gen. 12:10 “Now there was a famine in
the land, and Abram went down to
YLT:
“And
there is a famine in the land, and Abram goeth down towards
The Background: on account of the reliable water source in
Literal
Meaning: “the land” refers to
“the South” in verse nine.
Being
faced with the famine, Abram was supposed to go through it by faith. Therefore,
“going down to
“To
dwell there”, it indicates that he did not purpose to dwell there permanently.
Spiritual
Meaning: “famine” symbolized
physical need and difficulties in daily life.
“
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God often tries our heart by environmental
conditions.
2)
When the Lord Jesus began to preach, he also went through the trial of “hunger”
(Matt. 4:1-4).
3)
Believers may overcome the religious world (
4)
Once believer’s heart is toward the world, he will immediately feel the thirst,
which cannot be satisfied by the objective doctrine or knowledge.
5)
When Christians who are “on the way” cannot be satisfied by doctrines or knowledge,
they will surely fall into the world.
6) It
is better to suffer hunger in the
7)
When trials come, let us not turn to
8)
Being faced with crisis, if we do not seek the guidance of God but find a
“temporary” solution, even though the present problems are solved, we may fall
into a worse crisis with ignorance.
Gen. 12:11 “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.”
YLT: “and
it cometh to pass as he hath drawn near to enter
Literal
Meaning: at that time, Sarai
was sixty-five years old. However, according to the age of the ancient people,
she was in a bloomy age, and besides the Hebrews were gifted a fair complexion.
Therefore, she still appealed to the Egyptians.
Gen. 12:12 “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.”
YLT: “and
it hath come to pass that the Egyptians see thee, and they have said, `This his
wife,' and they have slain me, and thee they keep alive:”
Literal
Meaning: if the Pharaoh
wanted to take Sarai as a concubine and yet he knew she was Abram’s wife,
probably he would firstly kill Abram.
Enlightenment
in the Word: if one chooses a
spouse on the basis of the “beautiful
countenance”, there must be
full of crises in his marriage life.
Gen. 12:13 “Please say you are my
sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because
of you."”
YLT:
“say,
I pray thee, thou my sister, so that it is well with me because of thee, and my
soul hath lived for thy sake.'”
Literal
Meaning: it was saving his
own life by sacrificing his wife. Abram only cared for himself, not Sarai. Wife
was the weaker vessel (1Pet. 3:7). However, once the father of faith left the
appointed land by God, he became weak even to a point that he needed the
protection of his wife.
“You
are my sister”, Sarai the daughter of Abram’s
father, but not the daughter of his
mother (Gen. 20:12). Such
sort of marriage was allowed in the ancient times. This word was half true and
half false. Abram’s intended to cover his conjugal relation with Sarai with his
brother-sister relation with her. It is a lie of covering one half of the fact
with the other half.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is the commonest mistake of believers of
fearing men instead of God.
2)
Abram seemed to care for his own life, but not the virginity of Sarai. However,
let each of us look out not only for his own interests but also for the
interests of others (Phil. 2:4).
3)
Whoever is enveloped in the material world, he will inevitably make the mistake
of dishonesty and taking advantages of others.
4) Let
the one who thinks of himself strong take heed, lest he should fall down.
5) Let
Christians keep in mind closely that sin is the “effect” and the departure from
the Lord’s presence is the “cause”.
6)
Some people think it is right to utter a “white lie” if necessary to solve the
present crisis. However, it is just the chance of being caught by the devil to
make us not a good Christian.
Gen. 12:14 “So it was, when Abram
came into
YLT: “And
it cometh to pass, at the entering of Abram into
Literal
Meaning: note that the name
of Sarai was not mentioned from verse fourteen to sixteen, and it only mentions
“the woman”, which indicates that she was a married woman and also showed
respect for Sarai.
Gen. 12:15 “The princes of Pharaoh
also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's
house.”
YLT: “and
princes of Pharaoh see her, and praise her unto Pharaoh, and the woman is taken
Pharaoh's house;”
The Background:
“Pharaoh”, it was a dignitary title of the
ancient king of
Enlightenment
in the Word: the
pursuit of the passions and lusts of the flesh is the depravity of the world,
from the nobles of the upper classes to the lower classes of society.
Gen. 12:16 “He treated Abram well for
her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female
donkeys, and camels.”
YLT: “and
to Abram he hath done good because of her, and he hath sheep and oxen, and
he-asses, and men-servants, and handmaids, and she-asses, and camels.”
The Background:
in the ancient times, the domestic animals
and servants are important measurement of wealth.
Literal
Meaning: probably there was a
problematic servant among the female servants of Abram got from Pharaoh,
namely, Hagar, the handmaid of Sarai (Gen. 16:1). She delayed the promised son
Isaac by God and caused many troubles to the offspring of Isaac.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Earthly blessings tend to hinder spiritual
blessings.
2) By
worldly sight, it is probably right of going down to
3)
There was no altar, nor is there fellowship in
4) Let
believers learn “to rejoice in Jehovah and joy in the God of our salvation”,
even though “the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no
herd in the stalls” (Haba. 3:17-18).
Gen. 12:17 “But the LORD plagued
Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.”
YLT:
“And
Jehovah plagueth Pharaoh and his house -- great plagues -- for the matter of
Sarai, Abram's wife.”
Literal
Meaning: “plague”, it means
“smiting through various strange disasters”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The natural and man-made disasters in the world
may relate to the people of God. Therefore, let believers know the change of
the environment and know the works and will of God.
2) The
world is not worked by man’s stratagems and means. Everything is in the hand of
God.
3)
“The LORD” is much greater than “Pharaoh”. God Himself is the best stronghold
of believers.
Gen. 12:18 “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?”
YLT: “And
Pharaoh calleth for Abram, and saith, `What this thou hast done to me? why hast
thou not declared to me that she thy wife?”
Literal
Meaning: note that Abram did
not answer the three questions of Pharaoh, for he knew he was in the wrong and
answered nothing.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who lies to someone is just hurting the man.
2) It
is the very thing that most dishonors God that believers are reproached by the
world because of their faults in deeds.
Gen. 12:19 “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."”
YLT: “Why
hast thou said, She my sister, and I take her to myself for a wife? and now,
lo, thy wife, take and go.'”
Literal
Meaning: “as my wife”, it
showed that the Pharaoh had not drawn near to her.
“Take
her and go your way”, Abram was afraid of being killed for the sake of his wife
(see v.12). Here it was revealed that his fear was unnecessary.
Enlightenment
in the Word: man’s fear is often
redundant. It is better to trust in God wholeheartedly and commit oneself to
Him than being troubled and bound by fear.
Gen. 12:20 “So Pharaoh commanded his
men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.”
YLT:
“And
Pharaoh chargeth men concerning him, and they send him away, and his wife, an
all that he hath.”
Literal
Meaning: God did not make
void of His faithfulness because of the faults of Abram.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Not only should the governor himself not hurt
others but also those who are under him should not hurt others.
2) The
leaders of the church may dare not to do evil or speak evil words, but they ask
others to do or to speak, thinking that they can escape the judgment of God in
this way. They are even worse than the Pharaoh!
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Purposes of God’s Electing Abram
A. To a land that God will show him (v.1) ----
get the possession;
B. To make him a great nation (v.2) ---- be the
people of God;
C. All the families of the earth shall be
blessed in him (v.3) ---- achieve the counsel of God;
Seven Aspects of Promises of God to Abram
A. Make you a great nation (v.2);
B. Bless you (v.2);
C. Make your name great (v.2);
D. You shall be a blessing (v.2);
E. I will bless those who bless you (v.3);
F. I will curse him who curses you (v.3);
G. In you all the families of the earth shall
be blessed (v.3);
Examples of the Life by Faith
A. Keep the word of God by faith (v.4);
B. Follow the guidance of God step by step
(v.5);
C. Know God more and know that God will take
all the responsibilities (v.6);
D. Obtain manifestation and word of God more
and have closer fellowship with God (v.7);
E. Devote oneself as a living sacrifice and be
a sojourner on the earth (v.7-8);
F. Forsake the natural self-life and bear the
witness of glory in the life of Christ (v.8);
Four Aspects of Trials of Abram
A. The Canaanites were
then in the land (v.6);
B. He had no son yet (v.7);
C. There was a famine in the land
(v.10);
D. The land was not able to support
Abram and
Lessons of the Life by Faith
A. A power makes man on the downward path
unconsciously (v.9);
B. Temptations may appear suddenly when the
need of the flesh can not be satisfied (v.10);
C. If man cannot overcome the first temptation,
he may lie to protect himself (v.11-13);
D. Since one has experienced by failure that
God is the stronghold of those who are of him, he will learn that everything is
in the hands of God (v.14-20);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou