Genesis — Chapter 12

AND THE LORD SAID TO ABRAM: GO FORTH OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND FROM THY KINDRED, AND OUT OF THY FATHER'S HOUSE. — Note: God here demands a triple abandonment — of country, of kindred, of father's house — from the least to the greatest. It is easier to leave a country than kinsmen, and kinsmen than one's father's house. God thus calls Abram to a triple act of faith and obedience. Lapide: \"The more God loves, the more He asks.\" This is the first of the ten temptations or trials of Abraham enumerated by Chrysostom and the Fathers.

AND I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION, AND I WILL BLESS THEE, AND MAGNIFY THY NAME. — God gives six promises to Abraham: (1) a great nation; (2) blessing; (3) magnification of his name; (4) that he shall be a blessing to others; (5) blessings to those who bless him; (6) cursing to those who curse him. The seventh and greatest promise follows in verse 3: \"In thee shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed\" — the promise of Christ and the universal redemption. Lapide notes: this fulfils the blessing of Sem (Gen. 9:26) and is the beginning of the chosen race.

AND IN THEE SHALL ALL THE KINDRED OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED. — This is the first and most explicit Messianic prophecy addressed to Abraham specifically: all nations of the earth shall be blessed in his seed, i.e., in Christ (Gal. 3:8, 16). Paul teaches this refers to Christ singular (\"thy seed,\" not \"thy seeds\"). Augustine: Abraham was the patriarch of faith and the ancestor of Christ in the flesh; hence in him all nations receive blessing — that is, the Gospel, justification, and eternal life through faith in Christ. Chrysostom: The whole world was found worthy of blessing through one just man's faith and obedience.

AND THE LORD APPEARED TO ABRAM AND SAID TO HIM: TO THY SEED WILL I GIVE THIS LAND. — The first explicit promise of Canaan to the seed of Abraham. Note: Abraham built an altar here — the first altar built in the Promised Land. Lapide: the altar signifies confession, praise, proclamation, oblation, and solemn invocation of God. Abram preached the true God publicly wherever he built an altar.

AND THERE CAME A FAMINE IN THE COUNTRY, AND ABRAM WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT. — Ambrose (De Abraham I, 2): \"The athlete of God is exercised and hardened by adversities. He went to the desert, fell into famine, went down to Egypt. He knew that in Egypt the youth indulged in lust.\" The famine immediately after the divine promise and entry into the Promised Land teaches: God permits tribulations even upon those He loves, to prove them, to humble them, and to purify them.