Home |
|
Genesis 12:1 - 12:20
In
Genesis 11, we left off with Abram, his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and Teraha, Abram's
father, leaving Ur of the Chaldees (Babylon), and stopping at Haran. There Abram's father
Terah died. God had evidently told Abram to get out of Babel, obviously because of the
abominations and mixing which was happening there. The word 'Babel' means 'confusion'
(Strong's 894). We will also learn in this Chapter another reason why Abram was to get out
of that land, as his seed was to inherit the land of Canaan. We now continue in our
Father's Word, as we ask a Word of Wisdom in Christ Yeshua's Name, Amen.
Gen
12:1 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:
2 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:
3 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."
God
had already told Abram to get out of 'confusion' (Babel), and to a land which God
would point out to him. We know from Genesis 11:31 that land would be Canaan, but God
would shew him exactly which parts.
This is the first mention of the Covenant Promise God made
with Abram, that his seed would inherit the land in Canaan, and that through him a
blessing would come. That Blessing would be the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
through Abram and Sarai's seedline. The Blessing in Christ, we'll soon discover, is to all
nations and peoples who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. By Him, "shall all
the families of the earth be blessed", meaning those who believe on Christ Jesus
as Savior.
Gen
12:4 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.
5 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 and Sarai had no children yet, but they believed The Lord, obeyed, and came to the
land of Canaan, with a remnant of "souls" from Haran, and with Lot.
Gen
12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto
the plain of Moreh. (And the Canaanite was then in the land.)
This "Sichem" is also called 'Shechem' in Gen.33:18 where
Jacob bought a parcel of land and pitched his tent. This "Sichem" is
also the place called "Sychar" where our Lord Jesus met the Samaritan
woman at Jacob's well (John 4). "Sichem" is the Hebrew word 'Shekem',
meaning 'shoulder or back', so named because it was situated as a shoulder
between two rivers and mountain ranges. It was very fertile soil. Shechem would be made
one of the cities of refuge by Joshua, called "Shechem in Mount Ephraim"
(Josh.20:7). So this Sichem was located in the northern land of Israel, in what
was to become known as Samaria. There's much meaning to this place, and its importance
will come up many times throughout God's Word.
Why this statement, "And the Canaanite was then
in the land"? Since we already know our Father told Abram to get out of Babel
and head to the land of Canaan, certainly we know that land might have Canaanites living
in it. So what's the Message, for this is a type of 'marker'. If you've studied with me
for long, you've run into other markers similar to this one in God's Word. The Message is
that since we'll later discover other peoples mixed among the Canaanites, it means
Lucifer's host were already there and waiting on the Seed of the Woman to appear, that
being Abram and Sarai, the genealogy of our Lord Christ Jesus. The wicked one well knows
The Plan, and even had made three major attempts thus far to stop Christ's birth. The
first being the murder of Abel by Cain, and then the fallen angels mating with daughters
of 'the man Adam', and finally by the Babel tower event mixing of peoples to build one
empire.
All this is a Message to recognize God's enemies, and thus
our enemies. We recognize God's enemies by their 'fruit', as our Lord said. Those of God
seek to do His Will (see Matthew 7:15-27). And if one doesn't know what God's Will is from
His Word, then how can they produce good fruit, or even recognize the evil fruit of God's
enemies? God's Word is the Measuring Stick by which all works may be known.
Gen
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.
Here God actually appears to Abram, and reaffirms a promise of inheritance to his seed,
and he builds an altar to The LORD. Abraham didn't reap this inheritance, as it was to his
seed (Acts 7). That promise of inheritance is still in effect today, though its final
fulfillment we still wait for when our Lord Jesus Christ returns, for the children of
Abraham (all believers in Christ) will inherit the land. This means 'all' who have been
concluded under sin, which become overcomers in Christ, so that The Promise by 'faith' in
Jesus Christ might be to those who believe (Galatians 3,
especially verses 22-29). Accordingly, the final 'inheritance' is to those who believe on
Jesus Christ, and not to any specific 'flesh' seed. That means if you are an 'overcomer'
in Christ Jesus, then the land of Promise God gave to Abraham is 'yours', and 'our'
inheritance, regardless of race.
Gen
12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el,
and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there
he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
Abram knew what to do in times of blessing also, that is, he called upon the name of the
LORD. He didn't forget The LORD when everything was going real well. That's a lesson of
true faith by not waiting until our lives become a mess, and then asking for God's help.
This Beth-el was just a bit farther south,
approximately twelve miles north of Jerusalem. 'Beth-el' being translated, means 'House
of God' (Strong's 1008). So Abram was declaring that 'This is The House of GOD', then
built an altar to The LORD, and called upon Him. This is also near the same area where
Jacob would later be given the vision of the heavenly ladder of angels ascending and
descending, sleeping on a pillar stone. Jacob would also build an altar, and anoint the
pillar with oil (Gen.28). And Beth-el would become of major religious importance to all
tribes of Israel, but suffer capture by the 'house of Joseph', and then Jeroboam
of the "house of Israel', would pollute Beth-el with golden calf worship (Judges
1:22-23; 1 Kings 12-13).
There's a lot of symbolism being given with this 'Beth-El'
(House of God). I want to cover a bit of it now before going further. The area of this
Beth-el was originally named 'Luz' (Hebrew 'Luwz'), a Canaanite city (Gen.28:19). So with
Abraham and Jacob declaring 'God's House', which the land prior to was named 'Luz', this
is symbolic of God's People being given the inheritance which the workers of iniquity
among the Canaanite tried to claim as their own against God's Will. This is why it was
written earlier that "...the Canaanite was then in the land."
(Gen.12:6). As the ruins of this ancient city of 'Luz' was never discovered, Abram and
Jacob no doubt built altars in a different area near Luz, and then 'proclaimed'
"Beth-El" (House of God), reclaiming territory promised to God's children. As
Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14, and 2 Thessalonians 2 reveals that Lucifer has always wanted to
proclaim himself as 'God', he tries to steal God's Authority and setup his own false
kingdom, and that also means trying to steal the inheritance God has given to His People.
We just saw much of that occur in the last Chapter of Genesis with the tower of Babel
event.
Further, this 'Beth-el' which means 'House of
God', was right next to the place called 'Hai' towards the east (also named
'Ai'). This 'Hai' means 'heap of ruins', and represents the
opposite of the House of God (Beth-el). In Hebrew, this opposite is a 'Beth-aven'
(house of vanity, and can be associated with the meaning of 'tohuw' of
Isa.45:18; Strong's nos. 5857; 1007; BDB definition). There was a place
of false idol worship near this 'Hai' (Ai) called 'Bethaven' (Josh.7:2).
So what we have revealed in this Genesis 12:8 verse is the House of God existing towards
the West, and the house of vanity towards the East.
Since Beth-el would later fall to false worship
under king Jeroboam of the Northern Kingdom of the house of Israel, and a golden calf
would be setup there, it became also a 'bethaven' of sorts right among God's
chosen ones. This symbolizes the 'house of Israel' falling away, and being taken out of
the land captive to Assyria, and never returning, nor known as God's People any longer,
until Christ would come for His Mission as Savior (1 Kings 11 through 2 Kings 18; Hosea 2;
Romans 9).
Are you ready for the anvil? All this is symbolic of what
is happening again today with the 'house of Israel', as the Western Christian Nations are
where the tribes of the 'house of Israel' were scattered to, and since that scattering,
are known to GOD as true Israel today. And just how many true Houses of God (Beth-el) do
we have amongst us today that know the Western Christian Nation's heritage as the 'house
of Israel? (I'll let you decide that, based upon your faith in Christ and knowledge in
God's Word.)
When the 'house of Joseph' took 'Beth-el' away from
Benjamin's inheritance and it became a territory of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, it
also symbolized the Royal Rule of Judah being removed from the land of Israel long ago,
and being setup by the Red Branch (the 'scarlet thread' Zarah; a son of
Judah and Tamar; Gen.38). That Red Branch would begin the king line 'house of David' in
Europe. The last Royal King of Judah in the Holy Land was Zedekiah of the 'house of
Judah', during Jeremiah the prophet's days. Our Lord Jesus even explained why the Royal
Rule of Judah was removed from the land of Israel, and given to another 'nation' which
would bear much 'fruit'.
If you'll recall the 'chief priests and Pharisees'
receiving a bit of rebuke by our Lord Jesus in Matthew 21, He also gave them a parable of
a Householder Who leased His vineyard out to husbandmen, and went off to a far country.
Our LORD said His 'vineyard' is the 'house of Israel', and His "pleasant
plant" is Judah (house of Judah), which was to be the responsible leaders in our
Lord's vineyard (Isa.5:7). Turn to Matthew 21 with me:
Matt
21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which
planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a
tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
The
Householder is GOD The Father. The 'vineyard' He planted is the children of
Israel of all twelve tribes in Old Testament history, but now includes believers on Christ
today, i.e. His Church. God let His vineyard out to 'husbandmen' (Judah,
i.e. 'house of Judah' of Royal Rule and Levitical priests who were to teach God's Word to
the peoples). Then GOD went to a 'far country', i.e. Heavenly Abode off the
earth. He entrusted Judah to keep and dress His vineyard while away. All the necessary
tools (God's Word) to help Judah and the priests were set in place. The 'stones'
and 'thorns' were cleared away from His vineyard, and it was properly fenced
about to keep the 'beasts' (workers of iniquity) out. As our Lord said
in Isaiah 5:4, "What could have been done more to My
vineyard, that I have not done it?"
Matt
21:34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to
the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
When the time came to produce fruit, God sent His servants the prophets to leaders of
Judah, to receive the fruits in God's service unto His Glory.
Matt
21:35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed
another, and stoned another.
The
'workers of iniquity' (Psalms 14), which were allowed to creep in, caused the
'house of Judah' to beat God's prophets, kill and stone them, holding the fruits of God's
vineyard.
Matt
21:36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did
unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, 'They will
reverence my son.'
God
continued to send His servants to the 'house of Judah', but they were rejected because of
the false planting of the 'enemy' ('An enemy hath done this!' - Matt.13:28).
Surely if The Son Jesus Christ was sent, they would not reject Him!
Matt
21:38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves,
'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.'
When the non-believing leaders and false Jews recognized The Son, they plotted to kill
Him, in order to steal His inheritance, for The Son is to inherit His vineyard
from His Father. Again, the final 'vineyard' represents believers on Christ Jesus
The Son, but in Old Testament history, it was the children of Israel who believed as
Abraham.
Matt
21:39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard,
and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto
those husbandmen?"
The
false leaders of Judah, the Kenite false Jews, and the non-believers with them who
rejected Christ Jesus as Savior, had our Lord murdered, knowing He was The Christ. What
will The LORD do to those false husbandmen who sought to steal the 'vineyard'
when He returns home (coming 'down' out of Heaven), to rightly claim His vineyard?
Their answer:
Matt
21:41 They say unto Him, "He will miserably destroy those wicked
men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the
fruits in their seasons."
42 Jesus saith unto them, "Did ye never read in the scriptures,
'The Stone Which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is
the LORD's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?'
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you,
and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Our
Lord Jesus was quoting from Psalms 118:22-23, which also ties to a reference in Isaiah 28
of false leaders in Jerusalem who made a pact with "death"
(Isa.28:15-22). By this, our Lord was actually condemning those false leaders; and if they
had recalled those Scriptures our Lord was pointing out to them, then they surely should
understand now Who was speaking to them (see Matt.21:45).
At the first showing of old Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar,
this is what God did to the 'house of Judah'. He rendered those husbandmen useless in the
hands of their enemies to Babylon and Assyria. God then put 'others', a remnant in control
of His vineyard of the 'house of Israel' in a new land (see the Lost
Tribes study). Jerusalem became a desolation, and is still in that spiritual state
without a king of Judah upon the throne. The "fruits in their seasons"
began when The Gospel was preached to His vineyard in the new lands, and much fruit was
produced. The "seasons" are not over, as our Lord's INHERITANCE of
'all' believers to make up His future vineyard, is not yet full. And because those wicked
husbandmen judged rightly in this parable, but not in real action as to their positions of
responsibility as chief priests and elders of the people, they will suffer condemnation if
they do not repent to Christ and turn from their iniquity. Realize then, that another
cycle of this parable is now in effect for many present leaders and elders of Christ's
vineyard who become slack and follow the 'workers of iniquity.' Before anyone
thinks I'm 'pointing' the finger at the false ones, and that it's not God Himself doing
the pointing, then I recommend a deeper study in Isaiah 28, giving the method for how a
'Beth-el' (House of God) is to teach God's Word; that is, by Chapter by Chapter, verse by
verse, and line by line.
And certainly the Western Christian Nations who stayed on
Christ have produced much 'fruit' for Him. The "House of God" (Beth-el) was
literally 'moved' to the 'house of Israel' when our Lord Jesus Christ sent His Apostles to
preach The Gospel to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and then to the Gentiles. If
you can receive it, follow this Beth-el subject up with study in Amos 5, a very important
Chapter for our times.
So Beth-el has much significance to those in Christ today,
and to any Church which calls itself a 'House of God', as the 'inheritance' God promised
to Abraham's seed works both ways. Believers in Christ receive the inheritance only 'if'
we accept The Father through The Son Jesus Christ, and none other, and keep to His Word.
Then the Vineyard (Body of Christ) must be properly cared for by present 'husbandmen'
until our Lord returns. Now back to Genesis 12...
Gen
12:9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
10 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.
11 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:"
12 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.
13 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."
Truly, Sarai was Abram's half-sister, from a different wife of his father Terah
(Gen.20:12). This type of marriage was permitted by God at the time, no doubt because of
the lack of choices to keep the lineage of Christ pure, and the giving of The Law had not
been official through the mediator Moses yet.
Now God had already promised to Abram that his seed would
inherit the land of Canaan, and from him would come a great nation, yet he and Sarai had
no child, and were getting up there in age. Yet Abram believed God, and no doubt knew
Sarai would not fall into danger. Maybe Abram was trying to help God out a little bit
here, but more likely was receiving a lure from Satan, for this is an attempt to split the
family of Christ, and prevent His future birth.
Gen
12:14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt,
the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before
Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16 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.
Sarai was well up in her years, yet she was very beautiful, and especially so to the
Egyptians evidently. Abram certainly got royal treatment, just for being known as Sarai's
brother. Our Father probably waited just long enough to get ol' Abram well established,
and then:
Gen
12:17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues
because of Sarai Abram's wife.
18 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?
19 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."
20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent
him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
I
suspect that through God's Hand, Pharaoh discovered the plagues were because of Sarai's
protection. This working ensured Sarai would bear the promised Seed, and not some other,
as we'll soon discover.
Abram and his wife left very rich, being blessed by God.
So Satan's attempt to drive a wedge between Abram and Sarai not only failed, but God
turned it into a blessing to Abram, at the expense of Egypt. This payoff to the children
of Israel would cost Egypt again when God would lead Israel out later on. The next time
God would send plagues upon Pharaoh and Egypt again, is when He led the children of Israel
out by the hand of His servant Moses.
An important Message within this encounter the family of
Christ had with Egypt has meaning for us today also. If we seek our Father through His Son
Jesus Christ, following His Commandments, and not the ways of the world, then we also will
be blessed in Him. And this while those outside God's Grace receive correction by plagues
in following the ways of the world. The analogies of the 'prince of Tyrus' and 'king of
Tyrus' in Ezekiel 28, which is about Lucifer, also include his servant Pharaoh beginning
with Ezekiel 29. Pharaoh sought Lucifer's ways, the world's ways, and not God's ways. This
also means that if you truly seek The Father through The Son, and call upon His Name, then
He will lead you out of harm's way, IF you listen to and follow Him.
Peace to you in Christ,
Dave Ramey.
Footnotes:
All references to
"Strong's nos." are from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, PC Study
Bible, Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
All references to
"BDB" are from Brown, Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Woodside
Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada, 1993, PC Study Bible, Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
(top)
|
|
