Abram - The Call of the Lying Leader

• The Call To Faith:
• Abram is introduced to the reader simply through his father; , his nephew; , and his wife; . Genesis 11:27-32
  • Abram’s first action is one of .
  • God told him to his country, his people, and his father’s house.
  • The structure literally is: “Go by yourself…”
  • God made it clear that He wanted Abram to leave everything – He works in from his country to his people to finally his very family…he was to leave everything that he knew.
  • God told him to set out for an destination.
  • Abram’s reaction: He .
  • This action and reaction by Abram is the crucial point of Abram’s life. (Ref. Hebrews 11:8-10)
  • This action joins the previous lineage with the upcoming story – suddenly, the reader realizes all of what Abram is asked to leave behind.
  • Question: How old was Abram when he took his first recorded step of faith? .

  • What does this tell us about Abram?

  • What does this tell us about God?

  • What does this tell us about ourselves?

• The Covenant of Blessing:
  • God’s promise for a coming :
  • Not the word for “people” meaning
  • It is the word for “nations” meaning
  • God’s promise for a :

2Only God can make a name great (David, Abram, His own Name)

• To rob God of this power is the folly of (They wanted to make a name for themselves)
• God promise of and :
• Abram and his descendants are promised blessing
• All those who Abram and his descendants will be blessed (notice the progression):
• “You will be a blessing”
• Abram’s “name will be a blessing”
• “I will bless those who bless you”
• “All Peoples will be blessed through you”
• “What modern secular man calls ‘luck’ or
• ‘success’ the OT calls ‘blessing,’ for it insists that God alone is the source of all good fortune.”
• - G. Wenham
• All those who Abram or his descendants will be
• God proves He is faithful to this Covenant throughout the rest of the book of Genesis.
• Those who are well-disposed to Israel
• Those who oppose Israel do not
• The Covenant’s First Test:
  • Abram is prepared for the testing by a visit from God Himself.
  • God’s first appearance to a patriarch – Genesis 12:4-9
  • Abram reacted with building an
  • Abram traversed the land – from the northern to the southern boarder
  • Abram ends up in the southern Negeb, right next to – ready for his next episode.
  • Abram’s first choice for a living place was not the land of , it was
  • Abram’s fears of a new country’s traditions regarding
  • Abram was not protected by family law – he was a (a nomad to boot) – he would be susceptible to exploitation
  • Abram was afraid because his wife was very . Note: How old was Sarah?
  • Adultery was not an option in this culture, therefore, the husband was the natural option
  • By calling Sarah his sister, perhaps Abram believed that he could prevent her betrothal and his
  • The unexpected happens: The Pharaoh hears of Sarah’s arrival
  • The Covenant plays out upon the Pharaoh
  • The language seems to imply a upon all Egyptians
  • Pharaoh’s response of shock: “What…Why…Why?” And His following words only express his anger – four words: “Here…wife…take…go.”
• The Conclusion:
• Possible Explanations:
  • 1. This story celebrates the of Sarah, and celebrates the of Abram; enriching himself at the Pharaoh’s expense
  • 2. This story is an illustration of the of God’s promise despite Abram’s
  • 3. This story is meant to prove God can always
  • 4. This story is meant as an example of the of God’s elect
• Irony in the narrative:
  • Where the Patriarch showed little faith in God, the Pharaoh did.
  • Abram was supposed to be a blessing to nations; in this case he was not.
  • The point of the narrative: Abram could not attain through his own intelligence; only God can save in tight circumstances.
• Ultimate Question:

  • Does Abram’s experience apply to the Believer’s life today?