Genesis - Genesis 12:6-9 DailyBibleStudy.Org

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Daily Bible Study

Genesis 12:6-9

Lesson # Genesis 12:6-9
Study Material - Genesis 12:6-9

You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.

Gen. 12:6-9

6 And Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 And the LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your descendants I will give this land.' So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. 8 Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.

A few quick definitions first. Shechem, 'shekem', a ridge, a place of burdens, the neck, between the shoulders, to bear a load. Moreh, 'mowreh', a canaanite, a hill, archer, to teach, to aim as with a finger in pointing, to instruct, to flow as running water. Canaanite, 'kenaaniy', peddler, humiliated, to vanquish, to subdue. Bethel, 'beyth-'el', house of God, family dwelling. Ai, 'ay', ruin, overturned. Negev, 'negeb', dry, without water, parched, drought, undefined region, generally the land between the dead sea and the Mediterranean.

Now we have a pretty good picture of Abram's journey. He left his home in Haran, after persuading his wife, a woman who has a definite attitude and is not push over. His home in Haran was comfortable and now he travels south to Shechem, then to a location between Bethel and Ai, then again south into the Negev.

The trip was not an easy one. The Canaanites were already in the land, a land promised to Abram's descendants. They knew of the promise, probably because it came from Noah centuries earlier. But the Canaanites disregarded the instructions of Noah. They disregarded the instructions of God. They were negative toward God. And they made the trip for Abram and his family very stressful. Abram was unwanted, rejected. God promised this land to Abram's line, but they rejected God too. So Abram bore the burden of the decision of this trip. The Canaanites were on one side, and Sarai was on the other side. You can just hear her comments. Cover your ears!

Abram was caught between Bethel on the one side and Ai on the other. God and the promises on the one side, and disaster on the other. Abram could have moved to Bethel. He could have gone the way of the Canaanite and rejection of God. He could have turned back toward Haran and comfort, or perceived comfort. He chose indecision and went south into the desolate southern portion of what later would be known as southern Judah, or the area south of Judah.

All along God gave him promises of ownership of the land. Promises of descendants. Abram had no children, and specifically no sons to pass along the family title. Abram built his alters as he went along. He vacillated between the right decision and the wrong decision. But he continued in his study of Gods instructions. He followed instructions sort of. He traveled through the entire length of the promised land. So he had a chance to see it all. He received a lot of instruction in Bible doctrine. God appeared to him and gave instructions and promises. God reinforced his strength against fear of the Canaanites, who were belligerent, and antagonistic. Those who would destroy Abram, but will themselves be subdued and destroyed, in the future. God pointed to the Canaanites with the arm of instruction, giving Abram a constant flow of doctrine as well as warning to the Canaanites.

So now obviously we too have these decisions in our lives. God or no God. Doctrine or the comforts of the sin nature. The stresses of the Christian life and the blessings which follow, or the false securities of the worldly things we can see, hear, and hold. We can ignore God and close our eyes to the stress of learning Bible doctrine, of growing up. Teenagers undergo stress of growing up. Childhood on the one hand, maturity and responsibility on the other.

We can reject God and enter into the land of lust and pleasure, of getting all you can get now, and at the expense of everyone else. We can vacillate in our decisions. Be inconsistent in our commitment to Bible study. Be inconsistent in our application of Bible doctrine in our lives. Or we can put our head down and drive forward in doctrine, through the storms of life and then we will reach Gods rest, the calm despite the storm, the security and blessing which God promises us while God takes care of the problems big and small.

Sarai, despite her stubborn attitude, stuck by Abram. She could have left him, called him a fool and went home to Haran. She could have constantly reminded him that this was 'his idea'. Where was this milk and honey. The neighbors and the neighborhood stunk! She probably did some of this. But there was a constant flow of doctrine and even Sarai began to change in her mind toward God. Later on we will see Lot's wife turn back and become a pillar of salt. Sarai did not look back.

Both Abram and Sarai, and their servants and those who went along on this trip with them, remained in the land. Despite the hardships, they hung in there. We all need to hang in there when it comes to Bible doctrine.

Now is the time to post a prayer.

End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.

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