Parashas Lech Lecha
Genesis 12:1 – 17:27
Please Pray this prayer
before reading
In the name of Yahushua
Our Messiyah,
I pray for the Spirit of
Understanding
The Spirit pf Knowledge and
The Spirit of Wisdom
As I read through this
Parasha
That the Truth of the Torah
may
Come forth. Amen
This Torah portion is called Lech Lecha in Hebrew
meaning to “Take yourself” it is the
3rd portion of the cycle. Like all Torah portion this particular
reading helps us to understand what we have been mistaken about, what we should
desire for our lives. We must ask not for a life of ease, but for the ability
to strive tirelessly against obstacles or situation that impede our spiritual
progress and for the opportunity to do so successfully. To run against the
current doesn’t have to be discouraging. It can be invigorating and exhilarating
and inspiriting. This is the gift on the Sabbath for Lech Lecha.
When The CREATOR asked Abrahan to set out for the Promise Land, The CREATOR said to Abraham “Lech Lecha,” you go. In those days, it
was no small thing to ask someone to relocate their family and travel a great
distance. Not only was traveling an arbors proposition, it was dangerous and
expensive. The logistic that was needed to perform such a task was very
challenging, Great preparation was required. Lech Lecha implies the tireless
effort needed to fulfill the CREATOR’S request for us to separate ourselves from
this world system, for one that is made on a promise, build on faith.
Kabbalah teaches us that those who are connected to
the Light of the CREATOR possess this quality of constant striving for
something better, a city not built by human hand. We can see indications of
this in the CREATOR’S esteem for Abraham. The Midrash says that the CREATOR
called Abraham in Hebrew “Yedidi” My
best friend, and Avraham Ohavi, Abraham my beloved. ABBA YAHVEH
connection “entanglement” to Abraham was so strong because HE knew that Abraham
would strive to accomplish his sixth days of Creation. Meaning whatever tast he
took on, regardless of its difficulty, Abraham would undertake it willingly.
There was no shortage of difficulties, from the
moment Abraham left Ur on his way to Canaan. His Father died on the way; He end up in Egypt; his wife
was taken away from him; I am almost sure that there were other problem that
was not describe in Torah.
Most of us are nowhere close to Abraham level of
faith, because of the lack of spiritual focus in our lives. Most of us would be
overwhelmed by the thought of living like Abraham, that is why we do not
attained the same level of spiritual success.
Fortunately, every Sabbath, but mostly on the Sabbath
of Lech Lecha, we have an opportunity to pray for the ability to strive
tirelessly against all obstacles, for the fortitude of Abraham. First we must
desire it, and then we must pray for it. Like Noah, if we do not ask for it, it
will not be given to us.
The Spirit of Abraham and the revelation of Lech
Lecha will help us changes the way we think about our spiritual goal. Most of
us see the goal of our spiritual life as an easy, endless connection to the
CREATOR. This, however was not what Abraham sought; he sought tirelessly to
fulfill his ultimate objective, knowing that there would be nothing easy about
his journey. Abraham knew and I also would like you also to know that you did
not come into this world to work only for physical things, but to achieved
spiritual maturity.
Gold is not purified without going through the fire.
Be passionate with your spiritual journey, remember that like Messiyah we too
must show ourselves approved, and faithful. If an Angels are sent to help you
with your journey everyday, how many of us would drive them away with our
unbelief? Abraham was faced with famine in Egypt, he was not angry and did not
complain. He was excited to wake up each and every day and push on. Let this
sense of enthusiasm for the struggle permeates the Sabbath of Lech Lecha,
regardless of what famine you may be in.
This Parashas called Lech Lecha like the two
previous Parashas, it is the third Parashas and it describes a new beginning
for Abraham. It is and it will always be EL YAHVEH’s desire to create perfect
sons. A perfect son is one who EL YAHVEH will established a Covenant with. This Parashas
describe a fresh new start for mankind: the story of Abraham and His
descendants the people of faith.
The first two millennium from creation were the Era of Desolation.
Adam had fall due to the deception of the Adversary, Abel had become a murderer,
idolatry had been reintroduced to the world, ten dismal generations had been
wasted away by the flood, and the ten generations from Noah had also fallen.
Abraham was born in the year 1948 from Creation. In the year
2,000, four years after the Dispersion and six years before the death of Noah,
He started to influence his disciples to call on the Name of YAHVEH.
With the emergence of Abraham, the Era of Desolation had come to
an end and the new Era of calling on the true Name of YAHVEH was at hand. With
Abraham calling on the Sacred Name of YAHVEH, it began a profound change in the
spiritual make up of humanity. The Plan of Creation was for YAHVEH Name to be
manifested in the World, and for all of humanity to have an equal share in
fulfilling the Divine mission and for the Word to be established in them.
Gen 12:1 Now YAHVEH said to Avram, "Get yourself out of your
country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father's house, and go to
the land that I will show you. – In this verse we have the call by which Abram was to be removed out
of his homeland, his native Ur of the Chaldea,
into the land of promise, which was designed both to try his faith and
obedience and also to separate him and set him apart for YAHVEH.
The conditions of
this call, is somewhat helped to the knowledge of Stephen’s speech, Acts 7:2,
where we are told, that the EL of Glory
appeared to him to give him this call, HE appeared in such a displays of HIS
glory that it left Abram no room to doubt the Divine authority of this call.
YAHVEH spoke to him after in divers’ manners; but this first time, when the
correspondence was to be settled, HE appeared to him as the EL of GLORY,
and spoke to him.
This call was given
to Abram in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran; therefore when we read
what YAHVEH had said to Abram, in Ur of the Chaldees;
and, in obedience to this call, as Stephen further relates to the story in (Acts
7:4), he came out of the land of the
Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran, or Haran, about five years, after the death of
his father Abram got a new command, different from the former. YAHVEH moved
him into the land
of Canaan. Some think
that Haran was in Chaldea, and so was a part of Abram’s country, or that Abram,
having stayed there five years, began to call it his country, and to set up
root root there, till YAHVEH let him know this was not the place he was
intended for.
When we are called,
we like Abram will not get to our promise land immediately, as most people
believe. There is a lot for Abram to learn before he like us, enter our promise
land.
Because YAHVEH loves
us, and has greatness in store for us, HE will not allow us to take up our rest
any where short of Canaan, but will graciously repeat HIS calls, till the good
work HE begun is completed, and our souls is entangled in HIM alone. In the
call itself, we have a precept and a promise.
Get thee out of
thy country, get thee out of your
present world system Abram. By this precept he was tried whether Abram like us
today, loved his native soil and dearest friends, and whether he could
willingly leave all, to go along with YAHVEH. His country had become
idolatrous, his kindred and his father’s house were a constant temptation to
him, and he could not continue with them, without danger of being infected by them;
therefore Get out, Get gone, with all speed, escape for thy life,
look not behind thee, ch. 19:17.
Those that are in a
sinful state are concerned to make all possible haste out of it. Get out for
your soal sake (so some read it), that is, for thy own good. Those who
leave their sins, and turn to YAHVEH, will themselves be cloth with unspeakable
light by the change, Prov. 9:12. This command which YAHVEH gave to Abram is
much the same as the Gospel call by which all the spiritual seed of faithful
Abram are brought into covenant with EL YAHVEH.
For, natural affection
must give way to spiritual gain. Our country is dear to us, our kindred dearer,
and our father’s house dearest of all; and yet they must all be hated (Lu.
14:26), that is, we must love them less than Messiyah, hate them in comparison
with Him, and, whenever any of these come in competition with Him, they must be
postponed, and the preference given to the will and honor of Messiyah Yahushua.
Sin, and all the
occasions of it, must be forsaken, and particularly bad company; we must
abandon all the idols of iniquity which have been set up in our hearts, and get
out of the way of temptation, plucking out even a right eye that leads us to
sin (Mt. 5:29), willingly parting with that which is dearest to us, when we
cannot keep it without danger to our integrity. Those that resolve to keep the
commandments of YAHVEH must quit the society of evil doers, Ps. 119:115; Acts
2:40.
The world, the church, and all our enjoyments in them, must
be looked upon with a holy indifference and contempt; we must no longer look
upon it as our country, or home, but as our temporary dwelling, and must
accordingly separate ourselves from it and live above it.
By this principle
Abram was tried whether YAHVEH could trust him further than HE saw him; for
Abram as we must leave our own country, to go to a land that YAHVEH would
show us. YAHVEH does not say, "It is a land that I will give thee,’’
but merely, "a land that I will show thee.’’ Nor does YAHVEH tell Abram
what land it was, nor what kind of land; but Abram like us must follow YAHVEH
with an implicit faith, and take YAH’s Word for it, in the general, though he
had no particular securities given him that he should be no loser by leaving
his country, to follow YAHVEH.
Those that will deal
with YAHVEH must deal upon trust; we must quit the things that are seen for
things that are not seen, and submit to the sufferings of this present time in
hopes of a glory that is yet to be revealed (Rom. 8:18); for it does not yet
appear what we shall be (1 John 3;2), any more than it did to Abram, when
YAHVEH called him to a land HE would show him, so teaching him to live in a
continual dependence upon HIS direction, and with his eye ever towards YAHVEH.
Gen 12:2 I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I
will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. – Here is an encouraging promise. All YAH’s precepts are
attended with promises of obedient. When YAHVEH makes HIMSELF known also as a
rewarder: if we obey HIS command, YAHVEH will not fail to perform the promise.
Here are six promises:
1.
I
will make of thee a great nation. When YAHVEH took Abram from his own people, YAHVEH promised to make
him the head of another; YAHVEH cut him off from being the branch of a wild
olive, to make him the root of a good olive. This promise was,
2.
A great relief to Abram’s burden; for he had
no children. YAHVEH knows how to fashion HIS favors to the desire for children.
He that has a plaster for every sore will provide a remedy for every pain.
3.
A
great trial to Abram’s faith; for his wife had been long barren, so that, if he
believe, it must be against hope, and his faith must build purely upon that
power which can out of stones raise up children unto Abraham, and make
them a great nation. YAHVEH makes nations: by him they are born at once
(Isa. 66:8), and he speaks to build and plant them, Jer. 18:9. And, if a nation
be made great in wealth and power, it is YAHVEH that makes it great.
4.
YAHVEH
can raise great nations out of dry ground, and can make a little one to be a
thousand.
5.
I will bless thee,
either particularly with the blessing of fruitfulness and increase, as he had
blessed Adam and Noah, or, in general, "I will bless thee with all
manner of blessings, both of the upper and the nether springs. Leave thy
father’s house, and I will give thee a father’s blessing, better than that of
they progenitors.’’ Obedient believers will be sure to inherit the blessing.
6.
I
will make thy name great. By
deserting his country, he lost his name there. "Care not for that,’’ says
YAHVEH, "but trust me, and I will make thee a greater name than ever thou
couldst have had there.’’ Having no child, he feared he should have no name;
but YAHVEH will make him a great nation, and so make him a great name. YAHVEH
is the fountain of honor, and from HIM promotion comes, 1 Sa. 2:8. The name of
a mature obedient believers shall certainly be celebrated and made great. The
best report is that which the elders obtained by faith, Heb. 11:2.
Gen 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who
curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
Thou shall be a blessing; that is, - "Our happiness like Abram’s shall be an example of happiness
forever, so that those who would bless their friends shall only pray that
YAHVEH would make them like Abram;’’ as Ruth 4:11. YAH’s dealings with mature
believers are so kind and gracious that we need not desire for ourselves or our
friends to be any better dealt with: to have YAHVEH for our friend is
blessedness enough.
"Your life shall be a blessing to the
places where you shall dwell.’’ Good men are the blessings of their country,
and it is their unspeakable honor and happiness to be made so. I will bless
those that bless you and curse him that curseth thee. This made it a kind
of a league, offensive and defensive, between YAHVEH and Abram. Abram heartily
espoused YAH’s cause, and here YAHVEH promises to interest HIMSELF in his.
YAHVEH promises to be a friend to his friends, to take kindnesses shown to him
as done to HIMSELF, and to recompense them accordingly. YAHVEH will take care
that none be losers, in the long run, by any service done for HIS people; even
a cup of cold water shall be rewarded.
He promises to appear
against Abram’s enemies. There were those that hated and cursed even Abram
himself; but, while their causeless curses could not hurt Abram, YAH’s
righteous curse would certainly overtake and ruin them, Num. 24:9. This is a
good reason why we should bless those that curse us, because it is enough that
YAHVEH will curse them, Ps. 38:13–15.
In thee shall all the
families of the earth be blessed.
This was the promise that crowned all the rest; for it points at the Messiyah
Yahushua, in whom all the promises are yea and amen.
(1.) Messiyah Yahushua is
the greatest blessing of the world, the greatest that the world was blessed
with. He is a family blessing, by Him salvation is brought to the house (Lu.
19:9); when we reckon our family blessings, let us put Messiyah in the the first place, as the blessing of
blessings. But how are all the families of the earth blessed in Messiyah, when
so many are strangers to Him? All that are blessed are blessed in Him, Acts
4:12. All that believe, of what family soever they shall be, shall be blessed
in him. Some of all the families of the earth are blessed in Him. There are
some blessings which all the families of the earth are blessed with in
Messiyah; for the gospel salvation is a common
salvation, Jude 3.
(2.) It is a great honor
to be related to Messiyah; this made Abram’s name great, that the Messiyah was
to descend from his loins, much more than that he should be the father of many
nations. It was Abram’s honor to be his father by nature; it will be ours to be
his brethren in grace, Mt. 12:50.
Gen 12:4 So Avram went, as YAHVEH had said to him, and Lot went with him. Avram was 75 years old when he left
Haran. – Abraham move
out of his native country, out of Ur, Outercourt first and afterwards out of
Haran, the Holy Place, in compliance with the call of YAHVEH: So Abram
departed; he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but did as he was
bidden, not conferring with flesh and blood, Gal. 1:15, 16. His obedience was
speedy and without delay, submissive and without dispute; for he went out,
not knowing whither he went (Heb. 11:8), but knowing whom he followed and
under whose direction he went. Therefore ABBA YAHVEH called him, Isa.
41:2.
His age when he move
was seventy-five years old, an age when he should rather have had rest
and settlement; but, if YAHVEH will have him to start over again in his old
age, he will submit. Here is an instance of an old convert.
Those who are
connected to the Light of the CREATOR posses this ability to constantly
striving. We can see sign of this in the CREATOR’S regard for Abraham. The
CREATOR called Abraham “Yedidi,” My
Best friend, and Avraham Obavi Abraham, MY Beloved. The Creator connection
to Abraham because HE knew that Abraham would strive to accomplish whatever
task he took on, regardless of its difficulty.
Gen 12:5 Avram took his wife Sarai, his brother's son Lot, and all
their possessions which they had accumulated, as well as the people they had
acquired in Haran; then they set out for the land of Kena'an
and entered the land
of Kena'an. – The company and cargo that he took with him.
He took his wife, and his
nephew Lot came with him; not by force and
against their wills, but by persuasion. Sarai, his wife, would be sure to go
with him; YAHVEH had joined them together, and nothing should put them apart.
If Abram leave all, to follow YAHVEH, Sarai will leave all, to follow Abram,
though neither of them knew where. It was a mercy to Abram to have such a
companion in his journey, a help mate for him.
It is very comfortable
when husband and wife agree to journey together in the way to the heavens. Lot
also, his kinsman, was influenced by Abram’s good example, who was perhaps his
guardian after the death of his father, and he was willing to go along with him
too. Those that go to Canaan need not go alone, for, though few find the strait
gate, blessed be YAHVEH, some do; and it is our wisdom to go with those with
whom YAHVEH is (Zec. 8:23), wherever they go.
They took all their
belongings with them, all their substance and movable goods, that
they had gathered. They would give up their all, to be at YAHVEH’s
disposal, they would keep back no part of the price, but venture all in one
foundation, knowing it was a good resting place.
They would furnish
themselves with only that which was requisite, both for the service of YAHVEH
and the supply of their family, in the country where they were going. For Abram
have thrown away his substance, because YAHVEH had promised to bless him, would
have been to tempt YAHVEH, not to trust him.
They would not be under
any temptation to return; therefore they never leave a hoof nor a shoe behind,
lest that should make them mindful of the country from which they came out.
They took with them
the souls that they had gotten, that is: The servants they had bought,
which were part of their substance, are called souls, to remind masters
that their poor servants have souls, precious souls, which they ought to take
care of and provide spiritual food convenient for. The proselytes they had
made, and persuaded to attend the worship of the true Elohim, and to go with
them to Canaan: the souls which they had gathered
under the wings of the divine Majesty.
Those who decide to
follow EL YAHVEH themselves should do all they can to bring others to serve and
follow him too. These souls they are said to have gained. We must reckon
ourselves truly bless if we can but win souls to Messiyah. Here is their happy
arrival at their journey’s end: They went forth to the land of Canaan;
so they did before (ch. 11:31), they were obviously held on their way, and, by
the good hand of their EL was upon them, to the land of Canaan they came, with
a fresh revelation they were told that this was the land YAHVEH promised to
show them. They were not discouraged by the difficulties they met with on their
way, nor diverted by the delights they met with, but pressed forward.
1. Those that set out for
the Kingdom of heavens must persevere to the end, still reaching forth to those
things that are before.
2. That which we
undertake in obedience to YAH’s command, and a humble attendance upon HIS
providence, will certainly succeed, and end with comfort at last.
Gen 12:6 Avram passed through the land to the place called Sh'khem,
to the oak of Moreh. The Kena'ani were then in the land. - One
would have expected that Abram having had such an extraordinary call to Canaan
by some great event welcoming event would have followed upon his arrival there,
that he would have been introduced with all possible marks of honor and
respect, and that the kings of Canaan should immediately have surrendered their
crowns to him, and show Abram some honor. But no; he comes not by observation,
little notice is taken of him, for still YAHVEH will have him to live by faith,
and to look upon Canaan, even when he was in it, as a land of promise;
therefore observe here,
How little comfort
he had in this new land he came to; for,
1. The Canaanite
was then in the land. He found the country peopled and possessed by Canaanites,
who were likely to be bad neighbors and worse landlords; and, for all that
appears, he could not have ground to pitch his tent on but by their permission.
The accursed Canaanites seemed to be in better circumstances than blessed
Abram. The children of this world have commonly more of it than YAH’s children.
2. He passed
through the land, verse 6. He removed to a mountain, verse 8. He journeyed,
going on still, verse 9.
Sometimes it is the
lot of good men to be unsettled, and obliged often to remove their habitation.
David had his wanderings, his fittings, Ps. 56:8.
Our removes in this
world are often into various conditions. Abram sojourned, first in a plain
verse 6, then in a mountain, verse 8. YAHVEH has set the one over-against the
other.
All good people must
look upon themselves as strangers and sojourners in this world, and by faith
sit loose to it as a strange country. So Abram did, Heb. 11:8–14
While we are here in
this present state, we must be journeying, and going on still from strength to
strength, as having not yet attained.
How much comfort he
had in the EL he followed; when he could have little satisfaction in converse
with the Canaanites whom he found there, he had abundance of pleasure in
communion with that YAHVEH who brought him thither, and did not leave him.
Communion with YAHVEH is kept up by the word and by prayer, and by these,
according to the methods of that dispensation, Abram’s communion with YAHVEH
was kept up in the land of his pilgrimage.
The Canaanites is
symbolic to the sons of darkness who still exist in the heavens those who follow
HaSatan in the rebellion. We are the one who will replace them when the Kingdom
of the Heavens is restored. Every human been who live have the responsibility
to live in the Kingdom to come, this is the whole purpose of creation, all the
stories in Torah alluded to this goal.
Gen 12:7 YAHVEH appeared to Avram and said,
"To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar
there to YAHVEH, who had appeared to him. – YAHVEH appeared to Abram, probably in a vision, and spoke
to him good, comfortable words: Unto thy seed will I give this land.
No place nor
condition of life can shut us out from the comfort of YAH’s gracious visits.
Abram is a sojourner, unsettled among Canaanites; and yet here also he meets
with him that lives and sees him. Enemies may part us and our tents, us and our
altars, but not us and our Elohim.
With respect to
those that faithfully follow YAHVEH in a way of duty, though HE leads them from
their friends, HE will make up that loss by HIS gracious appearances to them.
YAH’s promises are
sure and satisfying to all those who conscientiously observe and obey HIS
precepts; and those who, in compliance with YAH’s call, leave or lose anything
that is dear to them, shall be sure of something else abundantly better in lieu
of it. Abram had left the land of his nativity: "Well,’’ says
YAHVEH, "I will give thee this land,’’ Mt. 19:29.
YAHVEH reveals
HIMSELF and HIS favors to HIS people by degrees; before HE had promised to show
him this land, now to give it to him: as grace is growing, so is
comfort. It is comfortable to have land
of YAHVEH’s giving, not
by providence only, but by promise.
Mercies to the
children are mercies to the parents. "I will give it, not to thee, but to
thy seed;’’ it is a grant in reversion to his seed, which yet, it should seem,
Abram understood also as a grant to himself of a better land in reversion, of
which this was a type; for he looked for a heavenly country, Heb. 11:16.
Gen 12:8 He left that place, went to the hill east of Beit-El and pitched
his tent. With Beit-El to the west and 'Ai to the east, he built an altar there
and called on the name of YAHVEH. – Abram attended on YAHVEH in his instituted
ordinances. He built an altar unto EL YAHVEH who appeared to him, and called
on the name of EL YAHVEH. Now consider this, as done upon a special
occasion. When YAHVEH appeared to him, then and there he built an altar, with
an eye to YAHVEH who appeared to him. He returned YAH’s visit, and kept up his
correspondence with heaven, as one that resolved it should not fail on his
side; he acknowledged, with thankfulness, YAH’s kindness to him in making him
that gracious visit and promise; and thus he testified his confidence in and
dependence upon the Word which YAHVEH had spoken. An active believer can heartily bless YAHVEH
for a promise the performance of which HE does not yet see, and build an altar
to the honor of YAHVEH who appears to him, though he does not yet appear for
him.
Gen 12:9 Then Avram traveled on, continuing toward the Negev.
- As
his constant practice, whither-soever he removed. As soon as Abram had got to
Canaan, though he was but a stranger and sojourner there, yet he set up, and
kept up, the worship of YAHVEH in his family; and wherever he had a tent YAHVEH
had an altar, and that an altar sanctified by prayer. For he not only minded
the ceremonial part of religion, the offering of sacrifice, but made conscience
of the natural duty of seeking to his EL, and calling on his name, that
spiritual sacrifice with which YAHVEH is well pleased. He preached concerning
the name of YAHVEH, that is, he instructed his family and neighbors in the
knowledge of the true Elohim and his holy Name. The souls he had gotten in Haran, being
disciple, he must be further taught.
Those that would approve
themselves as children of faithful Abram, and would inherit the blessing of
Abram, must make conscience of keeping up the solemn worship of YAHVEH,
particularly in their families, according to the example of Abram. The way of
family worship is a good old way, is no novel invention, but the ancient usage
of all the saints. Abram was very rich and had a numerous family, was now
unsettled and in the midst of enemies, and yet, wherever he pitched his tent,
he built an altar. Wherever we go, let us not fail to take our religion along
with us.
Gen 12:10 But there was a famine in the land, so Avram went down into
Egypt
to stay there, because the famine in the land was severe. – There was a famine, lack of water, lack of Torah,
lack of water for the Holy Spirit to move upon. Some time in our spiritual
journey we will come to our promise land, yet the enemy is still in possession
of our domain. We must wait until the appropriate time to enter into the land.
It is foolish for us to walk into a Muslim house and start preaching Messiyah
to them, we must wait until the spiritual famine is lifted, before we may enter
in.
Gen 12:11 When he came close to Egypt and was about to enter, he said to
Sarai his wife, "Here now, I know that you are a good-looking woman; - A great fault which Abram was guilty of, in denying
his wife, and pretending that she was his sister. The scripture is impartial in
relating the misdeeds of the most celebrated saints, which are recorded, not
for our imitation, but for our admonition, that he who thinks he stands may
take heed lest he fall.
His fault was dissembling
his relation to Sarai, equivocating concerning it, and teaching his wife, and
probably all his attendants, to do so too. What he said was, in a sense, true
(ch. 20:12), but with a purpose to deceive; he so concealed a further truth as
in effect to deny it, and to expose thereby both his wife and the Egyptians to
sin.
Abram had what I would
called a logical reason to make that statement, however it could have led to a
more serious consequence. When the Christian church decided to institute
marriage, because they taught that the Torah requirement of the bride price did
no lend credence to the honor of women, they were in-effect creating a scenario
where adultery is practice.
From the very beginning
of the journey to Canaan, Abraham ran into
difficulties. He went down to Egypt, where there was a famine in the land, it
was bad enough, when Abraham entered Egypt the World, His wife Sarah was taken
from him and delivered to the Pharaoh so that he might enjoy the pleasure of her beauty.
Gen 12:12 so that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his
wife,' and kill me but keep you alive. - In this verse we learn that even great men do
make choice to protect themselves from the world. I will not preach on this
topic for the world will be against me. That
which was at the bottom of it was a self preservation mentality! Some of
the Egyptians would be so charmed with
the beauty of Sarai “the Church” that, if they should know he was her husband,
they would find some way or other to embrace her, by they might marry her. He
presumes they would rather be guilty of murder than adultery, such a heinous
crime was it then accounted and such a sacred regard was paid to the marriage
bond; hence he infers, without any good reason, They will kill me.
Gen 12:13 Please say that you are my sister, so that it will go well with me
for your sake, and so that I will stay alive because of you."
- The fear of man brings a snare, and
many are driven to sin by the dread of death, Lu. 12:4, 5. The grace Abram was
most eminent for was faith; and yet he fell through unbelief and distrust of
the divine Providence,
even after YAHVEH had appeared to him twice. what will become of the
willows, when the cedars are shaken?
Gen 12:14 When Avram entered Egypt, the Egyptians did notice
that the woman was very beautiful. - The
danger Sarai was in of having her chastity violated by the king of Egypt:
and without doubt the peril of sin is the greatest peril we can be in. Pharaoh’s
princes saw her, and, observing what a comely woman she was, they commended
her before Pharaoh, not for that which was really her praise, her virtue
and modesty, her faith and piety (these were no excellencies in their eyes),
but for her beauty, which they thought too good for the embraces of a subject.
Gen 12:15 Pharaoh's princes saw her and commended her to Pharaoh, so the
woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. - They recommended her to the king, and she was
presently taken into Pharaoh’s house, as Esther into the seraglio of Ahasuerus
(Esth. 2:8), in order to her being taken into his bed. Now we must not look
upon Sarai as standing fair for preferment, but as entering into temptation;
and the occasions of it were her own beauty (which is a snare to many) and
Abram’s equivocation, which is a sin that commonly is an inlet to much sin.
Gen 12:16 He treated Avram well for her sake, giving him sheep, cattle, male
and female donkeys, male and female slaves, and camels. - While Sarai was in no physical danger, she was is
spiritual danger, Abram fared the better for her sake. Pharaoh gave him sheep,
oxen, etc. To gain his consent, that he might the more readily prevail with her
whom he supposed to be his sister, this was the bride price. We cannot think
that Abram expected this when he came down into Egypt, much less that he had an eye
to it when he denied his wife; but YAHVEH brought good out of evil. Therefore
the wealth of the sinner proves, in some way or other, to be laid up for the
just.
In describing Abraham
journey through life, we can used the metaphor of running against a mighty
running river with Crocodile chasing after us. This is a good way to view our
own spiritual experience. To be like Abraham spiritually is to ask ourselves, “am I throwing myself into the rushing river”
Am I willing to continue on and on as the raging water thrush against us, or
are we will to be swept away by its relentless current.
Gen 12:17 But YAHVEH inflicted great plagues on Pharaoh and his household
because of Sarai Avram's wife. -
The deliverance of Sarai from
this danger. For if YAHVEH did not deliver us, many a time, by prerogative, out
of those straits and distresses which we bring ourselves into by our own sin
and folly, and which therefore we could not expect any deliverance from by
promise, we should soon be ruined, nay, we should have been ruined long before
this. He deals not with us according to our deserts.
YAHVEH chastised
Pharaoh, and so prevented the progress of his sin. Those are happy chastisements
that hinder us in a sinful way, and effectually bring us to our duty, and
particularly to the duty of restoring that which we have wrongfully taken and
detained.
Not Pharaoh only,
but his house, was plagued, probably those princes especially that had commended
Sarai to Pharaoh. Partners in sin are justly made partners in the punishment.
We are not told particularly what these plagues were; but doubtless there was
something in the plagues themselves, or some explication added to them,
sufficient to convince them that it was for Sarai’s sake that they were thus
plagued.
Gen 12:18 Pharaoh called Avram and said, "What is this that you have
done to me? Why didn't you tell me that she was your wife? – Pharaoh reproved Abram, and then dismissed him with
respect. The reproof was calm, but very just: What is this that thou hast done?
What an improper thing! How unbecoming a wise and good man!
If those that profess
religion do that which is unfair and disingenuous, especially if they say that
which borders upon a lie, they must expect to hear of it, and have reason to
thank those that will tell them of it. We find a prophet of the Lord justly
reproved and upbraided by a heathen ship-master, Jon. 1:6.
Pharaoh reasons with him:
Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? intimating that, if he had
known this, he would not have taken her into his house. It is a fault too
common among good people to entertain suspicions of others beyond what there is
cause for. We have often found more of virtue, honor, and conscience, in some
people than we thought they possessed; and it ought to be a pleasure to us to
be thus disappointed, as Abram was here, who found Pharaoh to be a better man
than he expected. Charity teaches us to hope the best.
Gen 12:19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my
own wife? Now therefore, here is your wife! Take her, and go away!"
– The dis-mission was kind and very
generous. He restored him his wife without offering any injury to her honor: Behold
thy wife, take her. A man’s wife is
she who he is having sexual intercourse with, it is not she who he take before
a priest.
Those that would prevent
sin must remove the temptation, or get out of the way of it. He also sent him
away in peace, and was so far from any design to kill him, as he apprehended,
that he took particular care of him. We often perplex and ensnare ourselves
with fears which soon appear to have been altogether groundless. We often fear
where no fear is. Pharaoh knew the penalty of having sex with a next man’s
wife.
Gen 12:20 So Pharaoh gave orders concerning him to his men, and they sent
him on his way with his wife and everything he had. – We fear the fury of the oppressor, as though he were
ready to destroy, when really there is no danger, Isa. 51:13. It would have
been more for Abram’s credit and comfort to have told the truth at first; for,
after all, honesty is the best policy.
Pharaoh commanded his men
concerning Abraham, that is, He charged them not to injure him in any
thing. It is not enough for those in
authority to do no hurt themselves, but they must restrain their servants, and
those about them, from doing hurt.
He appointed them, when
Abram was disposed to return home after the famine, to conduct him safely out
of the country, as his convoy. Probably he was alarmed by the plagues verse 17,
and inferred from them that Abram was a particular favorite of Heaven, and
therefore, through fear of their return, took special care he should receive no
injury in his country.
YAHVEH has often raised
up friends for his people, by making men know that it is at their peril if they
hurt them. It is a dangerous thing to offend Messiyah’s little ones. Mt. 18:6.
To this passage, among others, the Psalmist refers, Ps. 105:13–15, He reproved
kings for their sakes, saying Touch not my anointed. Perhaps if Pharaoh had not
sent him away, he would have been tempted to stay in Egypt and to forget the land of
promise.
Sometimes YAHVEH makes
use of the enemies of his people to convince them, and remind them, that this
world is not their rest, but that they must think of departing.
Lastly, Observe a
resemblance between this deliverance of Abram out of Egypt and the deliverance
of his seed thence: 430 years after Abram went into Egypt on occasion of a
famine they went thither on occasion of a famine also; he was fetched out with
great plagues on Pharaoh, so were they; as Abram was dismissed by Pharaoh, and
enriched with the spoil of the Egyptians, so were they. For YAH’s care of HIS
people is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever!
This scenario with his
wife and Pharaoh was to create a situation where Abram would leave Egypt.
It is so like YAHVEH, to ruffle our bed, making it uncomfortable when it is
time for us to move on.
