“Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household…”
Ugh…But God, can’t I just be a missionary here? My pastor said the mission field was everywhere. There are plenty of things I can do for you HERE. I don’t need to move. I guess Abram could have tried some of those, but he sure would have missed out on his life, wouldn’t he? And since you don’t know what God has planned for you, it would sure be a shame if you missed your opportunity to change the world, wouldn’t it?
…they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
Oh snap. Ringing any bells? Like say from chapter 11 when they were headed to Canaan, but stopped early? I wonder if Abram would have had to leave everything if they had just kept going the first time? Interesting thought at least.
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Morech at Shechem.
A tree. Let’s see, what other trees have been mentioned so far…oh right. That one that started all this sin stuff rolling. Dang trees. Anyways, apparently this tree is special to some extent. Maybe it was a tree that managed to survive the flood or something. I don’t know. But I do know that great trees were often used as sites for alters, idols, or whatever. So, this tree probably had a bunch of junk associated with it, as well as being an important landmark. Abram takes the time to build an alter to the one true LORD, marking the territory that God just promised to give him.
Now I think this next section is just flat out crazy. See if you notice any foreshadowing of later stories that involve Egypt…
Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
People going to Egypt because of famine? Hmm…
When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me…
Well, it doesn’t really have to do with Egypt, but there is some story later about this guy David, and this married woman Bathsheba…So, I suppose this could be a valid concern on Abram’s part, but by his deception he ruins his possible witness to this land. Not to mention God has already promised to bless him and make him the father of nations. A little faith that God would keep his promise, and Abram wouldn’t have to be fearing death.
But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household…
Did somebody say plagues?
“Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?”
So, my question here is how did he find out? At some point here Pharaoh is having a rough time with a disease-ridden house, and somehow or other finds out who Sarai actually is. I wonder if his advisors figured it out. Or maybe Sarai confessed one day. Something like Jonah, maybe? "Yeah…all this stuff happening is just how my God expresses his displeasure. He’s not as mild-mannered and quite as all your gods, sorry. He does more real, physical things. It’s just the burden of worshipping the one true God, you know?"
Anyways, they get kicked out of Egypt.
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