Abram Goes to Egypt
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An exposition of Genesis 12:6-13. What happened at Shechem and Bethel that prepared Abram for the trial of severe famine? How does Abram's experience practically help you in times of trial? Why did he go to Egypt? Did he lie about Sarai? Is lying always wrong? Explain. Where did Abram go after Egypt?
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Abram Goes to Egypt
- 1. An inductive, expositional study taught by Harry Morgan
- 2. For those of you online post your comments or questions in the “comment section” on your screen. As time affords they may be read to the class.
- 3. Chapters 1-11 4 Events • Creation (1-2) • Fall (3-5) • Flood (6-9) • Nations (10-11) Chapters 12-50 4 People • Abraham (12-24) • Isaac (25-26) • Jacob (27-36) • Joseph (37-50)
- 6. Genesis 12:6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem… Shechem = "shoulder blade" located between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Where did Abram go after he left Haran?
- 7. What other significant events occurred at Shechem? 1. The blessing and cursing of the covenant (cf. Deut. 11:29-30; Josh. 8:30-35) 2. The Covenant renewal service (cf. Josh. 24) 3. The meeting between Rehoboam (Solomon's son) and Jeroboam (northern labor leader) after Solomon's death, which resulted in a split between Judah and Israel (922 b.c.).
- 8. What does Shechem look like today?
- 9. Genesis 12:6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. • terebinth = “big tree” • Moreh = “teacher” What was unusual about Shechem? Nablus לֹון ֵא the oak; be lasting, strong
- 10. Genesis 12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” What two things happened to Abram at Shechem? This is the first recorded appearance of the LORD to a patriarch (cf. 17:1; 18:1; 26:2, 24; 35:9; 48:3)
- 11. Genesis 12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. What additional promise was given to Abram?
- 12. What was Abram’s response? Why?
- 13. Where did Abram go from there? Genesis 12:8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; Bethel = “house of God” Ai = “heap of stones”
- 14. Where did Abram do there? Why? Genesis 12:8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
- 15. How many altars did Abram build in Genesis 12 and where did he build them? At the Oak at Moreh or Shechem (7) In the hill country east of Bethel (8)
- 16. What did Abram do at these altars? Genesis 12:7–8 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
- 18. Ramallah Ramallah = God’s Mountain Al-Bireh was once a separate village
- 19. Mountain (Jebel et-Tawil) east of el-Bireh (Bethel). What unusual topography do you observe of this mountain?
- 20. What is the meaning of the word Negev? Genesis 12:9 So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the Negev.
- 21. Why did Abram journey to the Negev? Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
- 22. Why did you think God permitted a famine in the land of promise? Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. The word for there was is yehi which can also be rendered and he was becoming. The word for famine is ra’av which is spelled Resh – prideful man, Ayin – greed, Beth – feelings of spiritual superiority
- 23. How are you responding to the famines in your life?
- 25. What were Abram’s options?
- 26. Did Abram ask Sarai to lie? Genesis 12:11-13 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”
- 27. Was Sarai Abram’s sister? Genesis 20:12 But indeed she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. If Sarai was Abram’s sister then did he lie?
- 28. What are possible motivations for lying? John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. to simply defraud to shield one's exposure to further one's supposed interests out of spite or revenge because they're afraid because they're boastfully conceited
- 29. So was Abram wrong to ask Sarai to lie and was Sarai wrong to obey him? Jewish midwives of Exodus lied to Pharaoh to protect Jewish children Rahab lied to conceal the Jewish spies David lied to a priest as he was leaving Israel
- 30. What's more surprising to you, that Sarai was so beautiful at age 65, or that Sarai agreed to her husband's request?
Editor's Notes
- It is the site of several momentous occasions: (1) the blessing and cursing of the covenant (cf. Deut. 11:29-30; Josh. 8:30-35); (2) covenant renewal service (cf. Josh. 24); (3) site of the meeting between Rehoboam (Solomon's son) and Jeroboam (northern labor leader) after Solomon's death, which resulted in a split between Judah and Israel (922 b.c.).
- It is the site of several momentous occasions: (1) the blessing and cursing of the covenant (cf. Deut. 11:29-30; Josh. 8:30-35); (2) covenant renewal service (cf. Josh. 24); (3) site of the meeting between Rehoboam (Solomon's son) and Jeroboam (northern labor leader) after Solomon's death, which resulted in a split between Judah and Israel (922 b.c.).
- Nablus is a city in the northern West Bank, approximately 49 kilometers north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Wikipedia The terebinth (or turpentine-tree) in general appearance resembles the oak (though it grows usually alone, not in clumps or forests); and both trees are still common in Palestine2 2 Tristram, NHB. pp. 367–371, 400 f. (a terebinth is a tall deciduous tree with red berries, ‘moreh’ is a teacher).
- This is the first time in Scripture where we read of an actual appearance of God. God had “walked” and spoken with Adam, Enoch, and Noah, and perhaps He also had been visible in some way to them, but Scripture does not say so. Here, however, there must have been an actual visible manifestation—a theophany—and, therefore, we must understand this as a preincarnate appearance of Christ (John 1:18).
- **A note regarding this photo from C. Houtman’s article entitled, “What Did Jacob See in His Dream at Bethel?” (Houtman 1977). The “ladder” referred to in Genesis 28:10-22 is a translation of sullam. It occurs only once in the Bible. However, it may also refer to a stone staircase. It is suggested (pg. 338) that “Jacob in his dream saw the entrance of the heavenly palace with, in front of it, a huge staircase enabling the angels to reach the palace gate.” Another suggestion is that “the sullam is a massive staircase similar to those which lead to the upper floor of stately houses and palaces.” Without pressing too hard for what we suggest, is the possibility that Jacob was sleeping near the copious spring at the south end of Bethel (at el-Bireh), not far beyond the small, flat-topped building in the middle of the photo on page 26. Before him were the massive natural staircase-like terraces resembling gigantic “steps” like those going up to a building, in this case to “heaven.” An interesting point is that the Mesopotamians considered their ziggurats as the entrance to “heaven.” Thus the parallels between their concepts and this event are striking.
- **A note regarding this photo from C. Houtman’s article entitled, “What Did Jacob See in His Dream at Bethel?” (Houtman 1977). The “ladder” referred to in Genesis 28:10-22 is a translation of sullam. It occurs only once in the Bible. However, it may also refer to a stone staircase. It is suggested (pg. 338) that “Jacob in his dream saw the entrance of the heavenly palace with, in front of it, a huge staircase enabling the angels to reach the palace gate.” Another suggestion is that “the sullam is a massive staircase similar to those which lead to the upper floor of stately houses and palaces.” Without pressing too hard for what we suggest, is the possibility that Jacob was sleeping near the copious spring at the south end of Bethel (at el-Bireh), not far beyond the small, flat-topped building in the middle of the photo on page 26. Before him were the massive natural staircase-like terraces resembling gigantic “steps” like those going up to a building, in this case to “heaven.” An interesting point is that the Mesopotamians considered their ziggurats as the entrance to “heaven.” Thus the parallels between their concepts and this event are striking.
- Jewish literature gives an interesting insight into Genesis 12:10. The word for there was is yehi which can also be rendered and he was becoming. Of course we do not translate it that way because it does not fit the word famine, but then again maybe it does. I often encourage my Hebrew students to be on alert for the many word plays found in the Hebrew. This is one of them. Sure there was a literally famine, a lack of physical food in the land, but suppose we also rendered this and He was becoming a famine in the land. This little play on words gives you a double meaning. The Jewish rabbis did not overlook this play on words and came right out and said that not only were people suffering a famine for physical food but for God as well. Jewish Literature gives the flip side or the spiritual rendering as There was a lack of faith in the land. I, like most Americans, have never really experienced a famine. So the words in the Bible that speak of famine, have little significance for me, unless I give a verse like Genesis 12:10 its secondary rendering, And He (God) was becoming a famine in the land. Sounds strange, that God would become a famine in this land or nation of ours that is filled with churches, Bibles, TV, Radio ministries, books, CD, DVD’s etc. Yet, as I share just the simple Word of God with some Christians I find that even though they have bookshelves filled with Christian Books, CD’s and DVDs they are lapping of every word from Scripture as if they were starved. There is much teaching in our land on how to live successfully, prosperously, etc., but so little deep study in the Word of God. It sort of makes the words of Samuel Taylor Coleridge ring true. The word for famine is ra’av which is spelled Resh – prideful man, Ayin – greed, Beth – feelings of spiritual superiority. As you can see the very word for famine has its own built in commentary. It tells us what brings about a spiritual famine, spiritual pride and greed. This brings not only famine to a nation, but an individual. Maybe not a famine of food but of God. But let me not point a finger at the nation or the church, but at ourselves. As I read the renderings found in Jewish literature of Genesis 12:10 I find that for many of us there is a famine in our lives. You may find yourself wandering through a desert land in your hopes and dreams. Everything seems to be coming unglued. Everywhere there is advice, words of wisdom, knowledge, but little Scriptural advice or there seems to be not a drop to drink. Perhaps that famine in your life is as the rabbis would say a lack of faith. We find that in Habakkuk 2:4 that the just shall live by faith. Actually, in the Hebrew there is a little different rendering: “The just shall live in his faith.” It is so easy to just step out of our faith. We allowed our pride to soar and we begin to trust in our own abilities and reasoning but not God. Twenty four hours could change your whole life. You could lose your job, your relationships could fall apart, and your health could fail. I heard of someone who was doing just fine one day and suddenly he had a stroke and his whole life and world changed in an instant. You are then left with a feeling of hopelessness. I remembered an old hymn I used to sing as a child in church: My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’name. On Christ the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand,