GENESIS 12

GOD CHOOSES ABRAM TO BECOME A GREAT NATION 

At this point in Scripture, the narrative shifts from Noah and his family to Abram and his family. 

God tells Abram to leave his home and go to the land that God has for him. Abram brings Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his nephew.   

In Genesis 12:3, God promises Abram that He will make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great. Instead of the people trying to make a great name for themselves at Babel in Genesis 11:4, God chooses Abram to make a great name.

The great nation that God promises Abram is land that is currently owned by the Canaanites. The journey of Abram’s descendants to the Promised Land is covered throughout the first six books of the Old Testament. 

There is a famine, so Abram and Sarai go to Egypt. Sarai is beautiful and Abram is afraid that the Egyptians would want to kill Abram and take Sarai for their own. Abram tells Sarai to pretend that she is his sister so that they will let him live. Sarai is taken into Pharoah’s home, which is a betrayal of Abram and Sarai’s marriage. God is angered by this and sends a plague on Pharaoh. Pharaoh realizes that Abram had lied and sends Sarai and Abram away.  

Genesis 12:2 - And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.