Abram And Sarai Series

October 12, 2024

After Adam and Eve sinned, they were promised a Deliverer – a Savior – who would undo what they had done.

Meanwhile, the sin weed grew and flourished until – “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”

It was pruned briefly by the flood, but it didn’t take long for it to sprout leaves again.

The tower of Babel was an utter failure of human awesomeness and as the people spread out and began to repopulate the earth, God began to put into motion the events that would eventually lead to that promised Deliverer – the One who would destroy the sin weed forever – Jesus.

God’s plan would revolve around the history of one man and woman – Abram and Sarai. They will become the nucleus of his hands-on Plan of Redemption.

Genesis 11:27-31 - This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot…. Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. Abram and Nahor both married. Abram's wife was Sarai, and Nahor's wife was Milcah….. Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. Terah took Abram and Sarai and his grandson, Lot and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there.

Terah’s family lived in Haran for some time and eventually Terah died - age 205.

Genesis 12:1-6 – Yahweh said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram left, as Yahweh had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he set out ….. for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there (at that time the Canaanites were in the land).

God’s command came with 3 specific blessings:

• I will make you a great nation

• You will receive My blessing.

• I will make your name great.

In turn Abram was to be a blessing to all the families of the earth.

Right away we see that God’s redemption plan was to be global in nature. Yes, the blessing would come through Abram, but the intent was global – God intended to reach and transform the entire world through one family.

Abram obeyed and moved out in faith, going to a place he had never been (see Hebrews 11:8-9).

His entourage arrived at Shechem and again, Yahweh appeared to Abram and promised that his descendants would inherit the land – Abram built an altar.

They moved on to Bethel, where Abram built another altar and “called on the name of Yahweh.”

From there he continued toward the Negev.

So far so good……….. until a severe famine hit the land. Abram decided it would be best to move to Egypt for the duration of the famine.

The Bible is silent on whether he consulted with Yahweh first.

Sarai was, by all accounts, an extraordinarily beautiful woman. So beautiful, in fact, that even though she was well in to her 60’s by this time, Abram was nervous…..

As they approached the border, he called Sarai aside, “Listen,” he said, “you are very beautiful. When the Egyptians get a good look at you, they will kill me, so let’s just tell them that you are my sister, so that I won’t die.”

In that moment, Abram failed this test of faith. He also demonstrated that he believed the covenant promise applied only to him – Sarai was expendable.

Sure enough, when the Egyptians got a good look at Sarai, they reported back to Pharaoh and she was taken to the Hareem. Pharaoh treated Abram very well, for Sarai’s sake, giving him sheep, oxen, donkeys, servants and camels.

Whew!!! Abram lives… the promise lives.

Here is our first hint, however, that the promise actually included Sarai – she was a necessary player in God’s plan.

Plagues struck Pharaoh’s household, “because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.”

Pharaoh called for Abram: “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me Sarai was your wife? Why did you say, ‘she is my sister.’? Here is your wife, take your stuff and go.”

They were escorted to the border and the family returned to Bethel. Again, Abram called on the name of Yahweh.

Abram was very wealthy. Part of that wealth was in livestock. Lot also had flocks and herds and tents of his own.