The God of Abram
– God rescued Abram in Egypt –
Genesis 12:6-20
Good morning. Last week, we learned about God who had called Abram. Abram lived in Ur of Chaldeans in Mesopotamia (Babylon) and worshipped idols. But God had mercy on him and called him out of unbelieving environments to start a new life with God. God promised him in verse 2 and 3. Shall we recite verse 2 and 3 again? I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
By faith, Abram obeyed God and went to Canaan. From today’s passage until in chapter 25 Abram died, we will learn how God fulfilled his promises to Abram one by one. Especially, in today’s passage, Abram went down to Egypt to avoid famine. But there, he was in big trouble. Then, God rescued him and his wife. How did God save him? What does God’s rescuing mean to him and to us?

1. Abram built an altar to the LORD.
Before hearing this message, let us see the map first: [below] The distance from Ur to Haran is about 400 miles (600 km). The distance from Haran to Shechem is around 500 miles (700km – from Delaware to Ohio). How did Aram and his family travel such a long distance? There was no a car or a flight, mostly by walking or camels. It took many months. He had never been there; it was his first time travelling. Yet, on the way, what would he be on his mind? I think he was mixed with all kinds of emotions; one side, so excited and happy for a new life in God, but on the other side, scared and worried about his uncertain future.
In verse 6. He traveled through the land as far as the site at Shechem. When he arrived there, what did he see? Verse 6 says at that time the Canaanites were in the land. The natives already settled in the land. Abram might hope that the green pastures and quiet waters were prepared in front of him since he moved there not because he wanted, but because God told him to go. However, the reality he faced was difficult. At that time, the Canaanites were doing agriculture business; the same business Abram did. Apparently, they did not welcome a group of foreigners who came to their territories. They did not want to share their good lands with him.
We can guess how frustrated and disappointed he was. He might be confused. But how God did help him? Let’s see verse 7. It says “The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring[c] I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.”. The LORD, God appeared to Abram. We do not know how exactly God appeared to him. But God promised him to give the land to his offspring. Here, Abram still did not have a son yet. But God assured him that he would have his own descendants and they would occupy the land in the future. This promise was fulfilled 430 years later when Israel conquered the Promised land. God’s word neve fails on the ground in vain.
After hearing God’s promise, what did Abram do? He built an altar there to the LORD. He was very thankful to God. He was comforted and encouraged. He found hope in God. So, he built the altar and sacrificed burnt offerings on it. This meant he decided to commit his life to God. He became slowly a God-fearing man. He also began to develop his personal relationship with God. Like him, I pray we may be thankful to God that we can offer our materials and time to God.
In verse 8, his journey continued. From Shechem, he went down on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent. According to verse 9, he set out and continued toward the Negev. Where is the Negev? It is located at the farthest south of Canaan. Also, it is right above the desert. Why did he keep moving down? Once again, we can guess that the Canaanites were hostile to Abram. They did not allow him to settle in their good lands. He had to keep moving to find a place for him and his family.
In such a difficult time, what did he do? Verse 8b says “There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.” He built an altar to the LORD again. He lived a life of being thankful. He gave thanks to God when things were not going well as he expected. Also, in verse 8b, he called on the name of God. According to Genesis 4:26, Seth’s descendants gathered and began to call on the name of God. They gathered in group and worshipped God together. Now here in verse 8b, Abram began to call on the name of God. I do not think Abram only himself called God’s name. He gathered all his household and worshipped God. He sought God earnestly. Actually, if he wished, he could go back to Haran, his old life. Yet, though things are not going well, by faith he endured and stayed in the land God promised.
When we start our Christians journey, we expect things are going smooth. But like Abram, sometimes we face troubles in our own life. People might not be cooperative. Then, we are confused. Did I make the right decision? Should I go back to my old life? But in such a time, like Abram, let us live a life of being thankful to God and calling on the name of God together. It will strengthen us to stay in our faith.

2. God inflicted serious diseases on Pharoah and his household.
Look at verse 10. There was a famine in the land. The famine was severe. For a long time, no rain, all grass wither and die, and no water. Abram also lived near the desert. So, the damage could be more severe to him. He never faced this kind of famine. In the past, he had lived in Haran near the Tigris River and Ur near the Euphrates River: enough water all year round and no famine ever. Abram was in big trouble.
What did Abram decide to do? In verse 10, he went down to Egypt to live there for a while. Egypt has the Nile River. It is the longest river in the world: enough water for people and animals. As a head of the family, he made a reasonable decision for his household.
In verse 11, as he was about to enter Egypt, he was very anxious. He was worried about his life. Probably in Canaan he heard how evil the Egyptians were: when they see a beautiful woman, they just kill her husband and take her. Abram got a brilliant idea. He told his wife Sarai, ‘if the Egyptians ask you who are you, tell them you are my sister that my life will be spared”.
Look at verse 14. It happened to what Abram was worried. When he went to Egypt, the Egyptians saw a beauty of Sarai. They spread how beautiful she was. Soon, Pharoah’s officials praised her to Pharoah. Then, they came to Abram by asking who is she? Abram said she is my sister, then, they took her to be Pharoah’s wife.
Like Aram, we are often fearful of people, uncertain future, and so on. Where does such fear come from? How can we overcome such fear? In the book of Joshua, Joshua was very fearful about people, his leadership after Moses died, and conquering the Canaanites. God appeared and told him, in Joshua 1:9, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Based on this verse, the fear Joshua got was from his lack of faith: He was not sure if God was with him. But when he heard of God’s words: ‘be strong and courageous, do not be afraid because I will be with you’, he was able to overcome fears. Like him, when we have the words of God in our heart, we will be sure that God is with us in any situations, and we can overcome fears.
In verse 14, because of Sarai, Pharoah treated Abram very well. Pharoah gave him sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, and male and female servants and camels. Some bible scholars said Hagar, later in Genesis 20, bore Ishmael to Abram, could be one of the female servants here.
Abram became rich. Was he happy? No, this is not what Abram planned. He planned to just stay for a while in Egypt to escape from famine. But now, his wife was taken from him. Probably in his tent, he must have been very depressed. He regretted what he had done. ‘Why did I tell people Sarai is my sister?’ But it was too late. There was nothing he could do at this point. But at the same time, even though I do not see any record in the Bible, I guess, (I may be wrong), he must have prayed to God earnestly. ‘God, please help me.’
Look at verse 17. Shall we read it together? But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. God did not ignore Abram’s situation. Suddenly, Pharoah and his household became very ill. He was #1 powerful man in Egypt. His primary doctor must have checked his health every day. Yet, when God hit his body, just in a day, he was so sick that he could not sleep with Sarai.
Look at verse 18-20. Somehow, Pharoah found out all serious diseases were caused by Sarai. He summoned and rebuked Abram: ‘why did you lie to me? Why did you tell me she is your sister? Here is your wife. Take her and go back to your place’. Pharoah could punish Abram since Abram lied to him. But he was so scared of God behind Abram. So, he ordered Abram to leave his country immediately. In chapter 13:1, Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev.
Through this event, what did God teach Abram? He is the one who keeps his promise and then fulfills the promise. In Genesis 12:3, he said, I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; From his views, whatever reasons are, even if Abram messed up, Pharoah took Abram’s wife. In his eyes, Pharoah cursed Abram. So, as he promised Abram, as a curse, he inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh. He was faithful in keeping his promise. He was on Abram’s side.
On the way back to Canaan, how happy Abram was. Not because he was rescued from Pharoah, but because his understanding of God was improving. He saw one of God’s promises was fulfilled. ‘If God fulfills a part of his whole promises, then, God will fulfill other parts of his whole promises as well.’ Abram’s spiritual eyes were open to God. His faith was growing. His hope in God was getting strong. His personal relationship with God was getting deeper.
In Genesis 26, there was a famine in Canaan again. At that time, Abram’s son Isaac planned to go down to Egypt for a while to avoid the famine. But God appeared to him and said, “do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land then I will be with you and will bless you”. Surprisingly, he stayed in Canaan. Then, the same year, he reaped a hundredfold because the LORD kept his promise.
What can we learn from the God of Abram in this story? The same thing; God is the one who promises and fulfills his promises in our life. God is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. As God promised Abram and fulfilled the promises in his life, like Abram, when we obey God and do our part, sometimes even if we may mess up, he will helps us and save us from our trouble. Thus, our knowledge of God will grow.
In the Bible, what was God’s ultimate promise? It was to send the Messiah to the sinful world. Genesis 12:3 says, all peoples on earth will be through you. As God promised, 2,000 years ago, our Messiah Jesus came into this world. God fulfilled his promise. Through Jesus, all peoples on earth began to be saved from their sins. If God kept the promise, will he not fulfill his other promises in the Bible as well? For example, Matthew 6:33, do not worry but seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these things will be given to you,
Philippian 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Most of all, Jesus promised he will come back. He will keep his promise.
In conclusion, God rescued Abram. He showed Abram how he fulfilled his promise in Abram’s life one at a time. God is the one who promises and keeps his promise. We do our part, then he will do his part. I pray we may really enjoy watching how he keeps his promise in our life. I also pray when things are not going well, live a life of thanksgiving to God and worship him so that we can overcome difficult situations. Also, when we are messed up, just humbly admit our fault, and ask for God’s help sincerely.