An examination of style and background

 As we have been studying the life of Abram, later Abraham, we have tried to focus mainly on the application of interesting incidents in the patriarch’s life to our lives today.  But looking at the text of Genesis we can gain a greater appreciation of a couple of things— 

• The book of Genesis as literature, and,
• The providence of God in the history of His people.

1.  A recurring theme 

A recurring theme becomes apparent as we read the story of Abraham and his family; this theme is first seen in the incident of Abram’s departure for Egypt (Genesis 12:10—13:4).  That very interesting theme is the continuing threat to God’s promise.  In every episode that follows Abram’s journey to Egypt, God’s marvelous promise to Abram— 

• Numerous seed;
• Blessing to all  people on the earth;
• The promise of the Land.

–is placed in jeopardy, not by the famine or by the enemies of God’s people, but by the actions and bad decisions of God’s people themselves.  Time and time again, when faced with a challenge, these men of God made the wrong decision because it appeared to them as though God’s promise would fail.  However, it was taking the situation into their own hands that would threaten the Promise.  God is far, far above the circumstances of this world.  He is neither surprised by nor threatened by them. 

In the face of such threats, the author of Genesis shows that God always remains faithful to His Word to the extent that He Himself—the architect of the universe—enters the human arena to safeguard what He has promised to His people.

Another theme mingled with this one is the repetition of certain events in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.  In fact, there are repetitions and recursions throughout the entire Pentateuch, all designed to show that God’s will has been firmly decided by God, that nothing man can do can change that will and that God can and does act quickly to bring about His Word. 

2.  A lesson learned 

It appears as though Abram learned a lesson after his experience in Egypt.  Once again, it appears as though the Promise is placed in jeopardy by the circumstances in the Promised Land.  Abram was wealthy and had many servants and animals to feed.  We may assume Lot also had many people and animals to feed.  There were also the locals who were looking for food and water.  Because of the famine and the sheer prosperity of Abram and Lot, there wasn’t enough room or food for everybody.  Had God mad a mistake?  Abram, having learned, now makes an offer to Lot.  This offer also appears to place the Promise jeopardy; Abram is about to give the Promised Land to Lot (verse 9).  What is interesting is that later on in Genesis (chapter 19); we see that Lot is actually the father of the Ammonites and the Moabites.  At this juncture, Abram is about to hand the Land over to the same people who are constantly seen as an obstacle to the fulfillment of the Promise!  So, thanks to Abram and his notorious passivity, the Promise is on the verge of being given to God’s enemies. 

However, again we see the unseen hand of the Lord in the history of His people.  Lot “chose” to go to the “east.”  Thus Abram stayed in the Land as the Lord intended.  And so, even the plans of the nations are shown to fit into the will of God for His people; nothing can stand in the way of God working His will out in the lives of His chosen people. 

3.  A far reaching promise 

After Lot left Abram, God came and restated His promise to the Patriarch.  His promise was that He would give the Land to Abram and to his seed in its totality: all the Promised Land is included in God’s Word to Abram and Abram’s seed would be innumerable, like the dust of the earth.  We may conclude that since Lot left, Lot had no share in this Promise.  Even though Lot was part of Abram’s family, Lot was not to a partaker of this divine Promise, even though later on God did spare Lot from death for the sake of His friend, Abram. 

Of great importance is that fact that this land was promised to Abram “forever.”  The Promise of God is unchangeable and unstoppable.  The seed of Abraham is to exist before God forever, not only in the Person of Jesus Christ and so Canaan is to be its possession forever.  However, of note is that this Promise not only applies to the lineal posterity of Abraham, which had accepted the Promise by faith, but also to the spiritual seed of Abraham; all believers from all dispensations. 

And so, through Christ, the Promise has been elevated from it’s temporal, earthly form to it’s true essence; through Him the whole earth becomes Canaan (17:8).