Bible Commentaries
Genesis 12

Introduction

THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM

(Genesis 12-13)

God’s Word deals with the nature of man and of men’s dealings in human affairs. Men take pride in

their possessions, in the things they have worked for and saved for. But, now, when are possessions of

value? Is it not when these are necessary and vital? What does man actually need? First, all men need life.

Man can neither earn it nor keep it one moment longer than God decrees. Obviously man is constantly

dependent on God’s providence, which supplies every physical and spiritual need. Everything man has

that is good comes from the hand of God as a gift. Even what is needed for daily living are things that are

available. Even my place of work, my tools, my office equipment and machinery, everything I handle is

there for my use, even though I am personally not responsible for all this. I could not even get along

without the fire and the police departments, and the Public Health service, to look after my interests. On

every hand I, like all others, take for granted all the services which are at my command even though I did

not provide for them.

In Genesis we will see that this is also true spiritually. In the building of the Tower of Babel was to be

seen the limitation of human effort. Those people had great plans. They tried to build something lasting,

but it came to nothing. In contrast, Abraham, who followed the guidance of God, was the pioneer of

faith.

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of (p.82) 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 (Gen. 12:1-3).

Here is God’s call and promise to Abraham recorded for our learning. In himself Abraham was not

different; he wanted just exactly what the men of Babel wanted. The difference was in their attitude:

where they were motivated by pride, Abraham was motivated by faith. The men of Babel wanted

security. They wanted to be safe and sure and they wanted to make for themselves a great name. They

worked to get this security and satisfaction, and they failed. That was the vain effort of man in his own

power. Abraham believed and obeyed God, that he might receive security and satisfaction. Actually this

is the whole story of the Bible: when men believe the promises of God they will receive them.

"Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house" means "Break off

everything, leave everything behind you, and come where I will lead you." Abraham had first of all to

learn that he must not cling to anything, not even his own strength and ability. He was instructed to put

away self, and go "unto a land that I will shew thee." God had something better in store for him than he

could ever earn for himself. This is the primary phase of receiving the blessing of God as revealed in the

Bible. As we empty our hands in denying self, God will take charge. "I will make of thee a great nation,

and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing." This was exactly what the

men of Babel had planned and worked for. They had said, "Let us make us a name." In Hebrews 11:8-16

it is revealed that the blessing of God comes not only upon Abraham, but upon anyone who wants to

receive it as he did. This is the very essence of the Gospel.

All who follow in the footsteps of Abraham declare that (p.83) they too seek a country and "a city

which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." They confess that they are "pilgrims and

strangers" on this earth. God promises His personal care to all that trust Him. To say that Abraham

believed God is much more than saying that he believed that God is. Abraham believed that he could take

God at His word, and he believed His promises. He believed without doubt that what God promised, He

was also able to perform. He went out from his home, from his father’s house, and from his kindred, not

knowing whither he went. Abraham did not know what any morrow would bring forth, but he went

confidently, for he trusted God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and

that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6).

It is not enough to believe in the existence of God if we want His blessing. To all who do not believe in

the existence of God, I would say, "Go out and look at the stars, look at the mountains, look at the

rolling waves of the ocean, and at the wide plains. Look at the land, the lakes, the rivers, the birds, and

the beasts of the field. Look at human beings, and their potential for good and evil." I remember years ago

when our children were small, I happened to be sitting at an open window. Outside the window two of

our children were talking. The little girl, who was three, asked her brother, who was five, "What makes

the leaves on the trees move?" The boy with his superior knowledge said, "The wind." The little girl

persisted, "What makes the wind move?" Her brother said without a moment’s hesitation, "God." By the

way, that little boy has grown up to be an electronics engineer.. He has been on the faculty as a

professor of electro-magnetics. He is studying space engineering problems, but I am confident that if he

were asked today the same question, he would give the same answer, "God." He would know much more

of natural processes, but back of all the hidden factors involved, there is "God." The Bible has a word for

those who doubt the reality of (p.84) God: "The fool hath said in his heart there is no God." But

believing that God exists does not bring peace to the heart and assurance to the soul. James writes, "The

devils also believe, and tremble."

No doubt many people want the blessing of God who do not know how to find it. The first step to

blessing is to seek the mind of God. It is as I read God’s Word and pray and meditate on it that His Holy

Spirit will guide and direct me into His will. Abraham not only believed the promises of God, but he

obeyed God even though he did not know what each day might bring forth. It is here again that many

people falter. They are actually grieved in their hearts because the blessing of God is not evident in their

lives. The fact of the matter is that they are not willing to change, to be different. Abraham held back

nothing. God was more important to him than his father and his kindred. Think of it! This was the

nature of his faith even under most severe testing. We could all understand how a man might be called to

leave evil company. When a man has done wrong, or when he is involved in a sinful situation, it is easy

to see why he should be willing to change. But with Abraham this was not the case. He was called from

his home and his belongings to enter into the will and the blessing of God.

Abraham’s dealings with his nephew, Lot, further reveal that he was ready to give up any advantage

for the sake of peace. Lot, like Abraham, had great flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. It happened that

the herdsmen of Abraham and the herdsmen of Lot quarreled over the best pasture for the animals. There

was not enough good pasture for all, and the servants argued with each other. Abraham felt that

separation was the only solution, and his procedure has become a classic. It is an example to all believers.

And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my

herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray

thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right

hand, then I will go to the left (Gen. 13:8-9).

When Lot was given this opportunity he chose the well watered valley of Jordan; Abraham took what

was left, which was a plateau in the mountains.

The first thing Abraham did was to build an altar to worship God. Nowhere do we find a record of Lot

building an altar. Abraham separated from Lot so that there would be no more quarreling among their

herdsmen. But this did not mean that Abraham lost interest in Lot. The records show that Abraham later

interceded in Lot’s behalf. What a challenge to believers to intercede for their children and for others who

are outside the blessing of God!