Tag: Abram

The God of the Impossible

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Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the people which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; so they came to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:5 (NASB)

If you recall that “people which they acquired” is literally “the living souls they made,” you’ll see Abram and Sarai were given the power to be fruitful and multiply, even though Sarai is barren. Being fruitful and multiplying is a spiritual blessing, and God makes it happen, long before Sarai miraculously gives birth to Isaac.

Nothing is impossible for God.

Sarai’s Words

Posted on by jovial_cynic
There’s something odd in the wording in Genesis 12.

In verse 13, Abram tells Sarai, “say you are my sister.”
In verse 19, Pharaoh says to Abram, “why did YOU say she was your sister?”

Pharaoh makes it clear that Abram is the one who said it. But did Sarai say anything? Perhaps she said nothing? Maybe she told the truth? It’s unclear.

A Story of Sarai

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But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
Genesis 12:17 (NASB)

The rabbis note this phrase “because of Sarai” is עַל־דְּבַר שָׂרַי, which can be read literally as “at the word of Sarai,” and this changes the tenor of the story entirely.

The Midrash states, “at her orders: she said to the angel, ‘smite’ and he smote.”

This is not only a story of Abram, but of Sarai.

Little Verses say so Much

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Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.
Genesis 12:9 (NIV)

There’s much being said in such a seemingly irrelevant verse.

1. “Set out and continued.” The rabbis say this describes the shepherd’s method of travel: going, stopping, going, stopping. A month here, a month there. This is a long journey for Abram.
2. The “Negev” means “south.” Towards what would be Judah. Jerusalem. This points to the place God intends to set up a Temple in the future.

There are no irrelevant verses. They all paint a picture we are meant to see.

It wasn’t Canaanite Land

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Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanites were in the land at that time.
Genesis 12:6 (NASB)

The rabbis note that this mention of the Canaanites in Genesis 12 is meant to tell you about their incursion into the land, not their habitation of it.

How do we know this?

Because in two chapters, we’ll meet the King of Salem, or Jerusalem, priest of God Most High. This land is his.

And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.
Genesis 14:18 (NASB)

If the Canaanites are now in the land that belongs to Melchizedek, we are being told that they are the invaders.

But this isn’t just a story about land. It’s our hearts. This describes the human condition.

The Gospel

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:5 (NIV)

God said “let there be Light,” and there was Light.

God said “enter the Promised Land,” and Abram and the people he brought entered the Promised Land with him.

This sounds like the Gospel. This is very good news, indeed.

Echo of Creation

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Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:5 (NKJV)

The text says that Abram brought with him the “people he had acquired.” It is literally translated “the souls he made.”

The rabbis see this as “converts” in the Midrash. I suspect the Christian might see it that way, too.

But what I see is an echo of God creating.

Perhaps Abram was invited to be a part of the creation process – to breathe spiritual Life into otherwise dead people.

Creating Souls

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:5 (NKJV)

The translators note the word “people” in Genesis 12:5 is not actually “people. ” Rather it means “souls” or “living beings,” which is a strange way to describe people.

But stranger yet is that the word “acquired” here does not mean “acquired.” The word is עָשָׂה (asah). It means to MAKE.

As in, “and God made,” which points us back to Genesis 1.

Monotheism

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Now Terah took his son Abram, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they departed together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran and settled there. The days of Terah were 205 years; and Terah died in Haran.
Genesis 11:31-32 (NASB)

Abram’s father Terah was going to Canaan, but settled in Haran and died there instead.

Haran means “path,” and is linked to an idea of “many roads,” as it was a major trade city. Many roads… many options. Perhaps it hinted at many gods. The Midrash teaches that Terah was an idol maker, so this link seems to fit.

But the Promise of God follows one singular path.