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Genesis: Abram Travels to Canaan and Egypt
December 9, 2017

Last week we saw how God introduced a variety of languages as the Tower of Babel was being built and we read about the genealogies of Abram. This week we continue with the story of Abram as he, his wife, and nephew travels to Canaan and Egypt.

God directed Abram to leave Haran and he and his family traveled to Canaan with a promise that God's blessing would come and from Abram would become a great nation with blessings ascribed to those aligned to Abram and cursings ascribed to those not aligned with Abram. Traveling with Abram was his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot, along with the property they could transport and the people and animals of their households. When they arrived in the land of the Canaanite, it was there that God promised them the land and where Abram built an altar to worship God.

Genesis 12:1-7
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: 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: 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. 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. 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. And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. 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.

When Abram traveled through Canaan there was a famine and everyone traveled through and ended up in Egypt. As they neared Egypt, Abram advised his wife to claim to be Abram's sister as Abram feared he might be killed by Egyptian men who wanted Sarai to be their wife.

Genesis 12:8-13
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel 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. And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. 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. 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: 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. 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.

Sure enough, when they entered Egypt, the princes of Pharaoh brought Sarai before Pharaoh, and the only way she could be rescued was for God to bring great plagues upon Pharaoh and his household.

Genesis 12:14-20
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. 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. And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. 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? 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. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

When Pharaoh understood the plagues were a curse from God for keeping Sarai, Pharaoh was upset with Abram for misleading him and immediately released Sarai and directed his men to leave Sarai alone.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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