I. Summary
Yahweh blesses Abram, who moves to Canaan and builds altars in the land. A famine strikes and Abram moves to Egypt where he presents Sarai as his sister. Pharaoh takes Sarai but returns her to Abram when a plague strikes.
II. Photo
A famine strikes the land of Canaan: “There was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.” (v. 10)
III. Select Verses
1-3: The LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, And I will bless you; I will make your name great, And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you And curse him that curses you; And all the families of the earth Shall bless themselves by you.”
7: The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will assign this land to your heirs.” And he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.
10-19: There was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are.” If the Egyptians see you, and think, ‘She is his wife,’ they will kill me and let you live. Please say that you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may remain alive thanks to you.” When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw how very beautiful the woman was. Pharaoh’s courtiers saw her and praised her to Pharaoh, and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s palace. And because of her, it went well with Abram; he acquired sheep, oxen, asses, male and female slaves, she-asses, and camels. But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his household with mighty plagues on account of Sarai, the wife of Abram. Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me! Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife; take her and begone!”
IV. Outline
1-9. Abram moves to Canaan
1-3. Yahweh's command/blessing to go to a new land
4-5a. Abram leaves Haran with his wife, nephew, and possessions
5h-6. Abram arrives at Shechem
7. Yahweh appears to Abram, who builds an altar
8. Abram builds an altar at Bethel
9. Abram travels to the Negeb
10-20. Sarai is given to Pharaoh
10. Abram travels to Egypt on account of famine
11-13. Abram asks Sarai to say she is his sister
14-16. Sarai is brought to Pharaoh while Abram gains wealth
17. Yahweh afflicts Pharaoh with plagues
18-19. Pharaoh confronts Abram
20. Abram is sent off
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo copied from
http:// im.rediff .com/news/2012/apr/25nuke2 .jpg