Genesis 12 – The Call of Abraham & The Promise of God
Genesis 12 marks a pivotal moment in biblical history as God calls Abram (later Abraham) to leave his homeland and journey to an unknown land. This chapter introduces the Abrahamic Covenant, setting the foundation for Israel’s divine destiny and the ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
Human Rebellion & God’s Sovereign Plan
Author: Moses, traditionally credited as the writer of Genesis.
Book Placement: The first book of the Bible, foundational to understanding God’s covenant history.
Language: Originally written in Hebrew.
Verse Count: 20 verses in Genesis 12.
Historical Significance: This chapter marks the beginning of God’s covenant with Abram, the establishment of Israel’s future, and the divine plan for redemption.
Theological Themes:
The Call of Faith – God calls individuals to leave behind their past and follow Him.
Divine Sovereignty – God directs the course of human history according to His plan.
Covenantal Blessing – God’s promises are eternal and extend beyond one generation.
Genesis Chapter 12 Overview
Genesis 12:1-3 – The Covenant Promise
📖 “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.”
🔎 God’s call required separation. Abram was commanded to leave behind his homeland, family, and old ways to follow God’s promise. This act of obedience set the stage for God’s covenant plan.
📖 Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”
🔎 Faith means moving forward without full understanding. Abram’s journey foreshadows the believer’s walk—trusting God even when the destination is unclear.
📖 Isaiah 51:2 – “Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.”
🔎 God calls individuals before calling nations. Abram’s obedience led to the establishment of Israel and the eventual coming of Christ.
Genesis 12:4-6 – The Journey to Canaan
📖 “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him… and into the land of Canaan they came.”
🔎 Abram acted immediately, leaving behind security for the unknown.
📖 Luke 14:26 – “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
🔎 God’s call often requires leaving behind earthly attachments to fully obey Him.
Genesis 12:7-9 – The Land & The Altar
📖 “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.”
🔎 Abram builds an altar, marking his faith in God’s promise.
📖 Romans 4:13 – “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
🔎 The land promise extends beyond physical inheritance to a spiritual fulfillment in Christ.
Genesis 12:10-20 – Abram’s Deception in Egypt
📖 “Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake.”
🔎 Fear led Abram to deception. He trusted in human schemes rather than God’s protection.
📖 Psalm 118:8 – “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”
🔎 Even men of faith can struggle with fear and compromise. Abram’s failure in Egypt reminds us that faith must be continually renewed.
📖 Genesis 20:2 – “And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.”
🔎 Abram repeats this mistake later, showing how deeply fear can influence decisions.
🔥 Genesis 12 teaches that faith requires trust, separation, and obedience—while compromise can bring unnecessary trials.
Genesis Chapter 12 - Notes & KJV
Overview: The Call of Abraham
🔹 Key Events in Genesis 12:
1️⃣ God Calls Abram (Genesis 12:1-3) – Abram is commanded to leave his homeland for an unknown destination.
2️⃣ The Promise of Blessing (Genesis 12:2-3) – God vows to make Abram a great nation, bless him, and make him a blessing to all families of the earth.
3️⃣ Abram’s Obedience (Genesis 12:4-6) – He leaves Haran, travels to Canaan, and builds an altar to worship God.
4️⃣ God Reaffirms His Promise (Genesis 12:7-9) – The land of Canaan is given to Abram’s descendants.
5️⃣ Abram in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20) – A famine forces Abram to Egypt, where he deceives Pharaoh about Sarai.
🔑 Key Takeaways
✅ Faith requires obedience. Abram left his home without knowing his destination (Hebrews 11:8).
✅ God’s promises extend beyond individuals—Abram’s blessing impacts all nations through Christ.
✅ Compromising faith can lead to consequences. Abram’s lie about Sarai causes turmoil in Egypt.
✅ God’s sovereignty prevails even in human weakness. Despite Abram’s failure in Egypt, God protects him and Sarai.
🔮 Prophetic Patterns
🔮 Separation for God’s Purpose: Abram’s journey represents how God calls His people out of the world (Revelation 18:4).
🔮 Canaan as the Promised Land: A foreshadowing of the ultimate inheritance in Christ (Hebrews 11:10).
🔮 Egypt as a Place of Testing: Similar to Israel’s later experience in Egypt (Exodus 1:11-12).
⚖️ Time & Rebellion
⚖️ Abram’s obedience contrasts with Babel’s rebellion (Genesis 11).
⚖️ Human cycles of trust and failure—faith when leaving Ur, failure in Egypt.
🔁 Dual Fulfillment
🔹 Immediate Fulfillment: Abram’s descendants inherit Canaan.
🔹 Future Prophetic Fulfillment: The true inheritance is spiritual—eternal life through Christ.
🔍 Cross-References & Supporting Scripture
📖 Hebrews 11:8-10 – Abram’s faith commended in the New Testament.
📖 Galatians 3:8 – “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham.”
📖 Romans 4:3 – Abram’s faith counted as righteousness.
🏺 Historical & Cultural Context
🔹 Ur of the Chaldees: Abram’s homeland was a center of idolatry (Joshua 24:2).
🔹 Canaanite Land: The region was filled with pagan tribes that Abram’s descendants would later confront (Genesis 15:16).
🔹 Egypt’s Influence: A common refuge in times of famine, but also a symbol of reliance on worldly solutions.
📌 Final Reflection & Life Application
📖 James 2:23 – “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.”
✅ Faith requires stepping into the unknown, trusting in God’s promises.
✅ Obedience brings blessing, while compromise can lead to unnecessary trials.
✅ God’s covenant with Abram extends to all believers today through Christ.
🔥 Are we willing to trust God’s call, even when we can’t see the full picture?
The Call of Abram
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:
Gen 12:2 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:
Gen 12:3 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.
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.
Gen 12:5 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.
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.
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.
Gen 12:8 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.
Gen 12:9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
Abram and Sarai in Egypt
Gen 12:10 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.
Gen 12:11 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:
Gen 12:12 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.
Gen 12:13 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.
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.
Gen 12:15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.
Gen 12:16 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.
Gen 12:17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
Gen 12:18 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?
Gen 12:19 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.
Gen 12:20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
Date Written
1446-1406 BC
Written By
Moses (written under divine inspiration)
Language
Hebrew
Verses
20