Gen 12:4-9 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gen 12:4-9: 12:4-9 Abram’s obedience to God’s call corresponded to God’s commands (see study note on 12:1-3). He journeyed to Canaan (12:4-6 ) and became a blessing (12:5-9 ). 12:4 Abram was middle-aged, settled, prosperous, aristocratic, and polytheistic (see study note on 11:27-32). When the Lord spoke to him (12:1-3 ), he obediently left his old ways in Ur to follow God’s plan. Since Abram responded in faith, God’s promises (12:2-3 ) could be confirmed in a binding covenant (15:8-21 ).

Summary for Gen 12:4-9: 12:4-9 ^a Abram’s obedience to God’s call corresponded to God’s commands (see study note on 12:1-3). He journeyed to Canaan (12:4-6 ^b) and became a blessing (12:5-9 ^c). 12:4 ^d Abram was middle-aged, settled, prosperous, aristocratic, and polytheistic (see study note on 11:27-32). When the Lord spoke to him (12:1-3 ^e), he obediently left his old ways in Ur to follow God’s plan. Since Abram responded in faith, God’s promises (12:2-3 ^f) could be confirmed in a binding covenant (15:8-21 ^g).
12:5 ^h The people (Hebrew hannepesh, “the lives”) he had taken into his household were probably converts; Abram first became a blessing by influencing people in his household to join him in following the Lord.
Summary for Gen 12:6-7: 12:6-7 ⁱ The oak of Moreh was apparently a Canaanite shrine; fertile groves of trees were sacred to the Canaanites (cp. Isa 1:29 ^j), and Moreh means “teacher.” Abram proclaimed (Luther: “preached”) the Lord’s name beside a pagan place of worship and instruction (Gen 12:8 ^k).

• Abram continued to be a blessing when he built an altar to worship God at Shechem and east of Bethel (12:8 ^l).
12:7 ^m The Lord appeared to Abram at Shechem (12:6 ⁿ) to confirm that this land was the Promised Land. Israel was to occupy this land, but sharing in God’s promises required their faith (cp. Num 14 ^o; Josh 1:6-9 ^p).

• to your descendants: Abram did not yet possess the land; he lived as a temporary settler.
Summary for Gen 12:8-9: 12:8-9 ^q Abram had to keep moving camp because the Canaanites had the fertile land. 12:8 ^r he worshiped the Lord (literally he made proclamation of the Lord by name): Proclaiming the name (identity and character) of the Lord is central to worship and witness (cp. 4:26 ^s; see Exod 34:5-7 ^t). Abram had to distinguish his sacrificial worship from that of the pagan Canaanites.