Genesis 11:31-32- And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
We don't know why Terah moved his family away from Ur of the Chaldees. All we do know is that God took notice of this. God was watching one man in this family, and his name was Abram.
Genesis 12:1-3- Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
How would you feel if someone told you to move away from your friends and family, but didn't tell you where to move? God told him to go to a land that I will show thee- he hadn't shown him yet. What would you have done? Do you know what Abram did?
Genesis 12:45-- So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Abram was 75 years old when God asked him to move. He must have had a lot of friends and family. But, Abram obeyed God! Perhaps his grandfather told stories of a man named Noah who obeyed God and his family was saved when the rest of the world was destroyed.
Genesis 12:7- And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
God spoke to Abram. Not only did He speak to him, but He gave Abram a promise. He promised to give the land to Abram's children. This might not seem like a big deal to you, but Abram was 75 years old and he had no children!
Do you know any 75 year olds who have little children? Not many do!
Do you think Abram was a perfect man? Do you think it was because he was so good that God promised him something? He wasn't.
Genesis 12:10-13- And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
He asked his wife to lie. He thought that because she was pretty, the people of the land would kill him so that they could marry her. Abram didn't have much faith that God would protect him. Do you think maybe it was because God didn't want him in Egypt?
There are many times that we worry that bad things are going to happen. Some times it's because we're doing wrong and we know there are going to be consequences for our actions. Maybe that's why Abram was afraid.
Genesis 12:14-16- And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
Well, Abram was right about these people thinking his wife was beautiful. She was so pretty that Pharoah wanted to marry her. Pharoah even gave Abram gifts so that he could take her and marry her. I wonder what Abram was thinking. Was he worried?
Even when we do wrong, God is watching. And sometimes, God will step in and take care of the mess we've made.
Genesis 12:17- And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
Gos protected Sarai. I believe it was because she obeyed her husband. The Lord tells wives in Ephesians 5:22- Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
God wasn't going to let anything happen to Sarai because she didn't do anything wrong! When you do what the Lord tells you to, He will protect you.
Genesis 12:18-20- And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
Abram realized that God was going to take care of them. So, he went back to where God wanted him to be- the Land of Caanan.
Genesis 13:1- And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
Now, Abram was back where God wanted him to be. But there were a few things that God needed to get out of Abram's life before He could use him.
Note: For the story of Job, please follow this link.
