Genesis 12 (The Living Bible)

1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. Through you, all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all their possessions, and the servants they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they arrived there, 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time, the Canaanites were living in the land.

7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there, he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built another altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.

10 Now there was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife,’ and they will kill me but let you live. 13 Say you are my sister so that I will be treated well for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you.”

14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was very beautiful. 15 Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!”

20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Explanation of Genesis 12

Genesis 12 marks a pivotal moment in biblical history as it introduces God’s covenant with Abram (later renamed Abraham). This chapter outlines Abram’s call to leave his home and travel to a land that God promises to give to his descendants, the future nation of Israel. God promises Abram blessings: making him a great nation, giving him a great name, and blessing all the families of the earth through him.

This chapter shows Abram’s obedience to God. Despite not knowing where he was going, Abram trusted God’s direction and moved his entire household, demonstrating his faith. The chapter emphasizes that faith often involves stepping into the unknown based on God’s promises.

When famine strikes Canaan, Abram goes to Egypt. There, he tells a half-truth about Sarai being his sister, fearing for his life because of her beauty. While this deception leads to temporary gain, it results in God intervening by sending plagues upon Pharaoh’s household. This shows how human schemes can cause problems, but God remains protective of His chosen people, even when they make mistakes. Pharaoh confronts Abram, and despite the deception, sends him away with wealth.

Overall, this chapter lays the foundation for God’s unfolding plan of salvation through Abram’s descendants, particularly through the lineage that will lead to Jesus Christ. It emphasizes...