12:1 You will begin to notice an elemental difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the NT, humans have their own existential agency. Because of a philosophical-spiritual awakening and consciousness, humans realize their own opportunity and ability to be vessels through which works of creation can come.
However in the OT, humanity is still developing its ability to acknowledge and distinguish difference between earth and spirit. In this elementary stage of spirituality, God is going to work with individuals to make His presence known. In the New Testament, the nature and philosophy of God's presence is explored in depth... but in the here in Genesis, we are in the beginning stage: acknowledgement.
Abram is about to begin a journey of faith and his example with come to serve, for all of us, as a metaphor of trustworthiness and promise from God. The symbolism in this first verse is that Abram is moving to a new place: Tehrah, Abram's father, had led Abram to a country. God now takes the reigns of leadership if Abram will allow Him to. This marks the point at which Abram stopped following man and began following God; it will make all the difference in his life.
12:2 God promises that the love and protection He will provide for Abram's family will ensure not only their survival but also their success. What is perhaps the most interesting about God's promises is how they are delivered. God provides our souls with the strength and wisdom (in other words: the tools and materials) we need to thrive and endure all circumstances in our lives.
12:3 Our faith becomes our propeller as well as our armor. Our offense and our defense. We become impenetrable to anything noxious. When we proclaim ourselves as belonging to God, we inherit the divine love and wise protection He implements in the lives of his belongings.
12:4 There's background information here that we do not have but we can logically assume: Under what circumstances does God enter our lives? When we seek Him. We do know of the spiritual conversation between God and Abram but we do know that when we wholeheartedly, sincerely, and arduously seek Him, we find Him. The nature of Abram's possible personal or existential crisis is unknown to us, but we do know that when we are lost and in need of a beacon, we find one in God.
12:5-6 Abram makes the decision to following God as this leader and beacon and he brings his family and all of his possessions along. This symbolism in this is the complete commitment. Abram did not have one figurative foot in one place and the other foot in another. He committed his entire life, everything and everyone he had to this new way of life.
12:7 As we can experience in our own spiritual relationship with God, His influence and work in our lives is an immediate and comprehensive salve. Abram cannot help but celebrate and express his love and gratitude for God before he even arrives at his destination. There is healing in the spiritual journey. There is joy. It requires our complete commitment.
In what capacity did God appear to Abram? Well, creation can manifest itself in many and miraculous ways. Through our intuition, through our dreams, through messengers, through events... what is important here to understand is that God is able to and will reach out to you.
God promises to give Abram this land. This space to learn and grow, teach, exemplify and express this spiritually-philosophical way of life. The home and origin of God's love is within our souls... for it this new philosophy to gain balance and permanence, an earthly home will be established.
12:8 Bethel: (west) The house of God. Hai: (east) heap of ruins. Abram builds his place of worship with God, symbolically separate from the chaos and ruin that is any way of life in opposition to it.
12:9 Abram continues on his journey, faithfully, gratefully. The backbone of our faith is our unwavering commitment to it. The more solid our foundation, the broader, higher and sturdier our faith. What is most important about our journey is that we remain on it. Abram did not abandon this faith as soon as he received a blessing. He proceeded further, open to more growth.
12:10 When there is a famine in the land where Abram resides, he is led to sojourn (dwell for a time) in Egypt. The symbolism in this is that when there is an element in our lives that is lacking, God is going to lead us to a source from which to fill our need.
12:11-12 Abram and Sarai must plan their entrance into Egypt. Because of Sarai's beauty (and the character of the society) they leaders of Egypt will want to have Sarai for themselves (to procreate and further distinguish their familial line from their servants and citizens). If they find out that Abram is Sarai's wife, they will kill him in order to officially claim her.
12:13 Because Sarai actually is Abram's half sister, they devise a deception which is not lie: they will proclaim first and foremost that they are brother and sister in an attempt to obscure the fact that they are married.
12:14-16 As they predicted, the Pharaoh immediately wanted Sarai for himself. In his courtship of her, Abram and Sarai were treated very well in Egypt. They were provided land and livestock.
12:17 In order to rectify the situation, Pharaoh (perhaps prodded with intuition from God) began to feel uneasy about his courtship of Sarai.
12:18-19 As to not continue with the disruption the situation caused Pharaoh's household, Pharaoh confronts Abram. Although Pharaoh might have killed Abram if he knew the truth from the beginning, now experiencing repercussions of the corruption of such a lifestyle, he releases his hold on Sarai.
12:20 To retain peace in his life, Sarai and Abram are able to escape with their lives and also with all they had collected while in Egypt. When we live with God and with good intention (Abram and Sarai never tried to cause confusion or harm) complicated situations always work out for the best.
