#44 2022 Dev. Gen. 12:3. God’s Blessing! Read Chapter twelve first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse and all people on earth will be blessed through you.
Gen 12 is the beginning of a long story, the story of salvation and the beginning of the fulfilment of Gen 3:15. From the point of the fall, God calls out: Where are you? God continues to call today!
Vs.1-7 “God had said to Abram, ‘go from your country, your people and your father’s house to a land I will show you.” It does not appear as if Abram knew where he was to go. Further, God gave Abram a seven fold promise. I will make you a great nation, will bless you, make your name great, you will be a blessing, I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you, and all people will be blessed through you. So Abram went and Lot went with Abram, along with Sari his wife and all their possessions. Abram was 75 years Old.
Vs.8-9 Abram traveled through the land and God said: “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there, and also near Bethel. Abram called on the name of the Lord who had appeared to him. Abram had lived in a pagan culture but his ancestors had maintained a knowledge of of the Lord God, the altar was the contact point, like Scripture is today.
Vs.10-13 Abraham shows a lack of trust, he and Sari collude together to deceive the Egyptians. Like today, beautiful women are in high demand.
Vs.14-16 As a result of the deception, Sari was taken to Pharaoh into his palace, she was not married by their way of thinking. God used it to enrich Abram, he acquired much livestock.
Vs.17-20 But God is in control even if we don’t trust Him and we make major mistakes, It seems Abram was happy to receive all the possessions from this arrangement, while his wife was at the palace. Pharaoh intended to make Sari his wife but God was not going to allow it, even if Abram was not willing to admit their lie. God afflicted Pharaoh and his household with disease until Sari was returned to Abram and God caused Pharaoh, who had the power to send Abram away empty handed, or do worse, he sent them away with everything they had acquired in Egypt. Along with Abram and Sari we learn that God is faithful even when we are not. God’s faithfulness is a blessing to the people of God, Amen. Praise the Lord!
Heavenhigh 