PATRIARCHAL HISTORY (3000+ years)

GENESIS 12 PATRIARCHAL HISTORY (3000+ years) The Bible begins with God dealing with the whole human race in seeking to bless them with His presence and fellowship. The first eleven chapters of Genesis cover the time period of about half of human history. Beginning in chapter twelve, attention is directed to one man of faith and his family. It was through that man and his progeny, the blessing of redemption for sin has been made plain to us. That would come through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and would become personal to those who put their personal faith in Him. The foundation was laid, and now the “building” is erected. The first eleven chapters of Genesis tell us how God’s original plan to bless human beings had been turned into a curse. The sin, failure, and moral corruption of humanity had become so universal, that all but Noah and his family were lost in the flood. Sadly, even that family failed because sin is in our human nature. Beginning in Gen.11:27, God begins to act in a different way to bring about His purpose to have lasting fellowship and communion with people.

Innocence in man in the Garden of Eden failed even though he was in the best of circumstances. The judgment of death passing on all men has kept us away from the way of the Tree of Life since then. Conscience as a guide to human conduct and to direct the moral and spiritual life of people failed to keep people from sin. The judgment of the flood took them all away except Noah and his family. Human government as the guiding force to direct human behavior failed when the decision was made to build a tower, to take over leadership from God. That resulted in the judgment of separation of people by segmenting them from each other by language barriers.

Therefore, God acted in another way to bring about His purpose to have mankind as willing participants in life with Him. Not far from where the tower of Babel was built, was Ur, a city of the Chaldeans. In that city lived Abram. His father was Terah, he had two brothers and his beautiful wife was Sarai. It is likely he was a shepherd although he had cattle and other kinds of livestock. He had people serving him and was the actual leader of a considerable number of people. The beginning of Abram’s story took place around four-hundred years after the flood, and idolatry had again permeated the society of Ur, and likely all other parts of the world.

How thankful we can be that in the dark times of ungodliness and worldly lusts, of war and unrest, of materialism and greed, there are people of faith in many parts of the world. The Lord has them there to shine as beacons of light in the darkness and to give hope to those who are afraid to live and afraid to die. The spirit of faith is real and obvious when there is a consciousness of the presence of God with them in the life of a child of God.

Abram was conscious of God, and the Lord told him to leave Ur, that idolatrous place, and go to a specific place. There God would bless him and the whole world through him and those in his family who would follow him. “By faith… he went out, not knowing whither he went… for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” [Heb.11]. He put his trust in God and in faith, obediently stepped into the unknown. God considered him righteous because he did this.

Like Abraham, we first trust the word of God and then believe that God’s intentions toward us are true. Abram believed the amazing and incredible promise of God to him and obeyed God’s command. Blessing has followed his obedience that has reached right to us because of Abram’s faith. God promised he would make him into a great nation. He said He would personally bless Abram. He said He would make Abram’s name great and he would be a blessing to others. God said He would bless the people who blessed him, and curse those who curse him and his seed. So, wise people do not speak evil of the Jews or raise their hand against Israel, because God doesn’t go back on His promises. Finally, God said all the people of the world would be blessed through Abram and his seed. That has happened, is happening, and will happen because of the blessing of salvation that has come to “whosoever believes” in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Out from the darkness of idolatry, came this man of faith, Abram, who is known worldwide as a man who believed God. Abraham (his other name), the “friend of God,” was one of the noblest persons in history. Spiritually, he was God’s chosen man to open our understanding of the plan and purpose of redemption.

THE BEGINNING OF THE HEBREW RACE. Chapters 12-50 Abraham, the father of the faithful. Key verse: Gen.15:6. “And he believed in the Lord, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” (See also: Rom.4:3,9,22; Gal.3:6) Abraham is with God, calls on the name of the Lord, and lives as a pilgrim. Chapters 12-14. Separation from the world to God. Abraham and the world. Chapters 15-21. “After these things”. His inner soul. Abraham and God. Chapters 22-24. “After these things”. God’s blessings through Abraham.

22: Death and resurrection – a lamb.
23: Death of Sarah – Israel set aside.
24: Rebekah – calling out of the Church.

Abraham’s witness before men, Gen.11-14.

The Call given and accepted, chps.12-14 The Covenant made and received, chps.15-16 The Covenant confirmed, chps.17-21 The Crowning event, chp.22 The Closing years, chps.23-25

The Call of God. [Gen.12:1; Heb.11:8] This was God’s third start with humanity. This time it is with a nation, not the whole human race. Gen.12:1-3. What was involved in this act of faith? “God, I trust you completely. I will follow you to the ends of the earth if you want me to.” God promised Abraham land, descendants, and blessings for all.

Called to be a witness for God to the rest of humanity
Called to have and reveal God’s revelation of truth
Called to prepare the way for the Savior of the world and the Messiah of the Jews
Called to bless the world: God promises a land, a seed, a worldwide blessing

Abram’s Response. He immediately acted on what God said. “Abraham believed God…” [Rom.4:3; Gal.3:6; Jas.2:23]

The confidence of faith, v.4. He took God at His word without hesitating or questioning God
The obedience of faith, v.4-6. Partial obedience at first; after the old man died, prompt obedience
The influence of faith, v.5. Abram’s faith led Lot to go to the place of blessing with him
The confession of faith, v.6-7. Abram built an altar for prayer, worship, and a reminder of God’s grace and promise
The endurance of faith, v.8-9. He lived in tents for his lifetime; had to wait a long time for his seed although it was promised

Lessons

A divine call: By faith we must take God at His word, trusting Him in dark times of testing
A separating call: A divine claim. By faith, we separate from sin and those who practice sin. We separate from country, and any worldly tie, and separate unto God, to truth, to obedience, to God’s grace.
An assuring call: A divine consideration. By faith we worship, remember the promises of God, and surrender ourselves at the altar.
An advantageous call: A divine cheer. God promises His presence, His power, His peace, and His promises for the future.
A beneficial call: A divine consolation. I will show thee… I will make thee… I will bless thee
A preserving call: A divine comfort. In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed
An effectual call. “So, Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him. Gen.22. “Offer there thy son…” Heb. 11:17-19. In essence, he said, “Lord, take everything.”

Faith and unbelief: walking by faith. Gen.12:4-20. The blessedness of faith. Contrast and compare with the believer today: Abraham: “I will bless thee.” Canaan: “Cursed be Canaan. Faith has its tests – famine.

1. Obedience of faith: sojourned; died in faith.

2. Path of faith: strangers (tent) and pilgrims (passed through).

3. Portion of faith: a city; a better country.

4. Response of faith: built an altar. He got beyond the land, city, and country to the Person.

5. Resource of faith: called upon the name of the Lord. Note: Gen.4:16,26; Mal.3:16 [godly in dark days]; Acts 9:21 [persecution]; 2Tim.2:22 [in the last days].

6. Faithlessness of Abraham: our weakness; down into Egypt; pitched no tent; raised no altar; no call to God.

7. Faithfulness of God: the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. God does not give up on His people when they break down. The Lord plagued Pharaoh. Abraham was sent away from Egypt (the world) in reproach and shame.

Testing Time New life in Christ doesn’t mean we won’t be tested from time to time. Some tests are not long in duration and other tests last for a lifetime. God gave Paul a “thorn in the flesh” to demonstrate divine strength through human weakness. True faith will be tested. The principle of defining faith in testing times, happened to Abram when there was a famine in the land God had promised him. Rather than stay there through the testing time of famine, Abram went down to Egypt to avoid the testing time of trusting God for survival and found the testing time of personal character.

Special Circumstances, v.10. Anticipating a land rich in all the things he expected on earth, and not finding them, moved Abram to act on his own and go to Egypt. We will find our expectations will get focused on things we see, rather than things we don’t see if we neglect God’s word.
A Long Journey, v.10. It seemed natural to Abram to leave the dry land of Canaan which depended on rain from God, to go to Egypt where irrigation brought water from earth (The Nile River) to make plants grow. When we become occupied with the life around us and the things of the world, we lose sight of God and things which are above and last forever.
A Self-Centered Proposal, v.11-13. A half-truth is a lie when its purpose is deception. With his mind off God and on his own self-preservation, Abram was concerned for only his own safety and self-interests, not for Sarai’s nor for God’s. Great people can become small, and strong people can become weak. Good people can become bad when we leave God out of our lives and plans.
The Result, v.14-16. What Abram feared, happened. His precaution opened the way for Pharaoh to take Sarai into his hareem. Abram’s life was saved, he was showered with material goods – and he was left alone in his tent with a bad conscience and the pain of guilt. He got what he wanted except he didn’t have Sarai, he didn’t have a friendship with God, and he didn’t even have good thoughts about himself. His strongest point was also his weakest.
God’s Displeasure, v.17. Unbelievers felt the wrath of God on account of Abram’s failure. We have the obligation to be truthful, and people of integrity toward those who don’t know the Lord. God could not allow His promises to fail or His will to be left undone. Abram had to be rescued from himself and Sarai had to be rescued from the place of evil.
The Rebuke, v18-20. Pharaoh, with all of his sins, abhorred lying. No wonder he was angry when Abram’s deception was found out. Lying and deception are not characteristics of people of faith. Unbelievers expect better of us than they do of themselves, and so they should.
The Restoration, Gen.13:1-4. Abram left Egypt under duress but it was God who allowed an idolater to rebuke and reject the man of faith. No altar or prayer was in Egypt. True surrender and simple worship are able to be made in the place of God’s choosing, not of our choice.

Repentance for a believer’s falsehood is the first step toward restoration. Backsliding leads to bad experiences. Trust and truth are our safeguards. Trust in God in every situation is the essence of faith - simple, absolute, continual trust. Truth is what we seek, but it is also the means we must use when making decisions.