Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes on the book of Genesis. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses you through this material.
Stacey
Take a few minutes to savor Genesis Chapter 12. Then return here and ponder the thoughts, answer the questions, and be sure to leave comments about your own revelations…
12:1-3 – God preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand. See Galatians 3:8. (A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place – Moore)
12:1 – “your father’s household” – they had become rich. Abram was leaving his affluence. Not sure if Abram was firstborn and entitled to double-portion of inheritance. He did have one living brother (11:26-28).
12:2-3 – the 7 promises of God to Abram.
bless – barakh – to bend the knee.
“There was a close association felt between kneeling and receiving a blessing.” (The Complete Word Study OT: KJV, p. 2298 - A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place – Moore) See Philippians 2:8-11.
12:4 – so Abram left – prompt obedience to God is a wonderful trait for which Abram was known. But Lot went with him. According to verse 1, Abram was supposed to leave his relatives behind.
75 at that time was the equivalent of about 40, today. (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs)
12:5 – When Abram moved from Haran to Canaan, “It might be compared to a resident of Manhattan, New York, moving to Montana.” (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs – Vos) The land was in a rural state with very few urban centers.
12:6 – Canaan was a land of extremes. In weather, torrential downpours followed by bright blue skies. In landscape, hills and valleys, fertile plains and wilderness. (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs)
12:10 – Abram’s story foreshadows Israel’s (when he comes to Egypt to be with Joseph). (See NIVSB) This was disobedience because Abram didn’t consult God.
12:12 – “Abram’s attempt to secure his own safety matches Sarai’s attempt to overcome her own barrenness. (See Ch. 16)” (NIVSB)
12:13 – say you are my sister – see Gen 20:12
Sarai and Pharaoh probably didn’t sleep together since there was a time of preening observed before he would come to her.
“For those who love God, there are no white lies.” See Ephesians 4:25. (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs)
12:15 – Pharaoh’s officials – “Pharaoh’s princes (his pimps rather).” (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs – Matthew Henry’s Commentary, 71.)
Pharaoh means “great house”. (NIVSB)
12:16 – Did Pharaoh intend these gifts to be a dowry for Sarai? (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs)
12:17 – How did Pharaoh know the disease was caused by Sarai’s presence in his house? She and Abram were the only people not afflicted. (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs)
12:18 – Pharaoh confronts Abram, not Sarai. (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs)
12:19 – Abram asked Sarai to lie about being his wife, but apparently he lied, not her. (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs)
“…took her to be my wife.” – this implies that Sarai had sex with Pharaoh. Other translations (KJV, NLT) suggest that this union was contemplated, but not consummated. (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs)
“Pharaoh, as a gesture of respect, did not use Sarai’s name when he sent them packing.” (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs)
12:20 – “everything” included servants, specifically Hagar, who was thought to be Pharaoh’s “own daughter…born to one of his concubines.” (Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible – Higgs – Anne Roiphe “Water From the Well: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah,” p. 45)
What attributes of God have you observed in your study today? How will this change your relationship with Him?
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