Today's Reading:

Genesis 12
Genesis 13

 

God Blesses us so that we can bless others. Abram was treated well during his time in Egypt due to his telling Pharaoh that Sarai was his sister. Through Sarai, Abram gathered much wealth and livestock. While it appeared to be a mess of a situation on the surface as Abram lied out of fear, he was suddenly much richer than when he and his family arrived in Egypt. Pharaoh giving Abram the “bride-price” (paying a brother/father of a woman as permission to marry), led to the foundation of his wealth. God overruled and used Pharah (an unbeliever) to start delivering the promised blessing. God blesses us despite our actions, not because it is deserved. Abram went to Egypt spiritually poor and came out with tangible wealth that set the stage for future generations.

 

 

Fast forward 300 years after the flood for Genesis 12, and the Bible introduced Abram. God would eventually change his name to Abraham. Abram heard the call from God to pack all his belongings and move from Haran (modern southeastern Turkey, near the Syrian border today.) Abram’s call was at the age of 75, and this was a long walk, approximately 400-450 miles. The Lord promised to make him a great nation, blessing him, and all the families of the earth through him. Abram listened to God’s command and took his wife Sarai (eventually also renamed, to Sarah), and his nephew Lot. Abram built 2 altars to the Lord, the first one in Shechem (the tree of Moreh was the location that has been found by archaeologist, although the tree is no longer standing today) and a second altar between Bethel and Ai.

During this time there was a famine, so Abram took his family and moved farther south to Egypt. Abram had warned Sarai to claim she was his sister, so the men would not kill Abram. In the ancient world, powerful men, like Pharaoh often took women as their own and if there was a husband to contend with, he was often killed as to not fight for her. Abram knew of this common practice and told a bit of a lie. In actuality, Sarai was his half-sister. This was a faithless, fear driven plan that put them both in danger. Yet, God rescued them by sending plagues on Pharaoh.

In Genesis 13:7, the note that “the Canaanites and the Perizzites were then living in the land” amid the strife between Abram’s and Lot’s herdsmen is actually a warning signal. Abram was just promised by God that this exact land would belong to him and his children forever- yet it is already inhabited by wicked people. Gods promise is real- but He does not promise the journey would be easy. Just like today, we must wait on His timing as He still steps in to protect His people, fulfill His promises, and get glory even when our faith falters.

Today's discussion questions: 
Abraham’s story feels real; big faith mixed with human fears. Instead of claiming the best land for himself, Abram let Lot choose first—even though he was the one who’d just received the promise. That kind of quiet trust and generosity is rare. Where have you seen someone (in Scripture or real life) give up their “rights” because they trusted God to take care of them?

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