Exegeting NARRATIVE Genre

– Genesis 12:10-20

Exegesis for Sermon + Bible Study *

PCJB PP Presentation

devised and prepared for expositary preaching

and leading group Bible studiesmay be copied for non-commercial use only

June 2009

Why Bible Study version?

It is good for preacher and congregation to work together to understand and apply God’s Word

Exegesis can be done by anybody – including members of a Bible Study Group!

The message of a sermon can be more effective if worked on in a Bible Study Group afterwards

Genesis 12:10-20

Part 1 Exegeting

for A SERMON

Interpreting NARRATIVE

Narratives vary in length.

They do not always lend themselves to

breaking up into units of thought

and shaping their grammatical structure.

But in shorter narratives

such analysis can still be useful

to determine

the over-all subject of a particular narrative

Genesis 12:10-20 The TEXT Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to

live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.’ When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharoah’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And she was taken into his palace. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram, ”What have you done to me?” he said. Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

UNITS of Thought Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai,

“I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

UNITS of Thought (cont.)

When Abram came to Egypt,

the Egyptians saw that

she was a very beautiful woman.

And when Pharoah’s officials saw her,

they praised her to Pharaoh.

And she was taken into his palace.

He treated Abram well for her sake,

and Abram acquired sheep and cattle,

male and female donkeys,

menservants and maidservants,

and camels.

UNITS of Thought (cont.)But the Lord inflicted serious diseases

on Pharaoh and his household

because of Abram’s wife Sarai.

So Pharaoh summoned Abram,

”What have you done to me?” he said.

“Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?

Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’

so that I took her to be my wife?

Now then, here is your wife.

Take her and go!”

Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram

to his men,

and they sent him on his way,

with his wife

and everything he had.

STRUCTURE Genesis 12:10-20 TOPICS

In the next frame we will combine:. Shaping the text to show its grammatical

STRUCTURE. Grammatical ANALYSIS (Identifying who does

what where, when, how and why). Identifying the various TOPICS

.

.

For reasons of space the text is divided into three frames

STRUCTURE Genesis 12:10-20 TOPICS

Now there was a famine in the land, FAMINE and Abram went down to Egypt ABRAM to live there for a while RESETTLEMENT because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. FEMALE BEAUTYWhen the Egyptians see you, ATTITUDE TO WOMEN they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN Then they will kill me but will let you live. SURVIVALSay you are my sister, DECEIT so that I will be treated well for your sake SELF-PRESERVATION and my life will be spared because of you.’ SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITY

STRUCTURE Genesis 12:10-20 TOPICS When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. FEMALE BEAUTY And when Pharoah’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. ATTITUDE TO WOMEN And she was taken into his palace. ABDUCTIONHe treated Abram well for her sake, ABRAM PROVED RIGHT and & PROSPEREDAbram acquired sheep and cattle, POSSESSIONS male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

STRUCTURE Genesis 12:10-20 TOPICSBut the Lord inflicted serious diseases DIVINE INTERVENTION on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. ABRAMSo Pharaoh summoned Abram, ”What have you done to me?” he said. BLAME“Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife?Now then, here is your wife. (FEAR) Take her and go!” EXPULSION ThenPharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. POSSESSIONS

Gen 12:10-20 Summary of TOPICS

Famine Abram (throughout) Resettlement Female beauty & attitude to women (twice) Fear of what might happen (twice) Survival Deceitful scheme Self-advancement and self-preservation Shifting responsibility (twice)

Attitude to women Abduction of a beautiful female (twice) Abram proved right Abram prospered Possessions (twice)

Divine intervention Expulsion

Gen 12:10-20 Over-all SUBJECT

Possible subjects:

Worldly-wise behaviour towards women ***

Abram (predominately)

But what about Abram?

Self preservation through public deception ***

Attitude to women and marriage, ****

Attitude to life and truthfulness **

God’s gracious blessing of His servant **

God over-ruling Abram’s mistaken scheme ****

Abram’s worldly-wise behaviour regarding his wife *****

Over-all SUBJECT Gen 12:10-20

What is

the over-all subject of the passage

that

covers every aspect of the story?

(God’s response to)

the worldly-wise behaviour

of Abram

(regarding his wife)

TEACHING on the over-all SUBJECT Gen 12:10-20The Worldly-wise Behaviour of Abram: Rather than stay in the land God had promised him, he

goes his own way by seeking refuge from starvation in Egypt

He is ready to compromise his wife for his own benefit A shrewd understanding of the world reaps only

temporary benefits; sooner or later worldly behaviour reaps its own consequences

God’s response: He allows Abram to make his own decisions and face

the consequences He also intervenes to stop Pharaoh’s adultery with Sarai He brings Abram back on track to the promised land

along with his worldly gains

The HEART-BEAT Gen 12:10-20

God graciously protects and restores believers

who compromise with the world,

but also makes them suffer

the consequences of their behaviour.

Genesis 12:10-20

Part 2 Exegeting

for A BIBLE STUDY

Interpreting NARRATIVE INTRODUCTION

We interpret stories Intuitively and subjectively as we listen

and Objectively as we read (and re-read) and

make detailed observations

NARRATIVE Genre: Interpreting Objectively

In narrative distinguish: Structure Setting Characters Plot Context Other clues (significant elements)

These all inter-act with each other

NARRATIVE: Setting

Background to the Plot

The Setting Explored

Questions to ask

of the text

and

of external sources

about the background

NARRATIVE: SettingSetting: Where and when does the event or

episode being related happen? Look at: Physical aspects: places, objects, activities Cultural aspects: customs, social values, belief

systems, world view, attitudes Temporal aspects: political, national, world

events

NARRATIVE: Setting Gen 12:10-20

Physical aspects: places, objects, activitiesAn activity?

A long journey A place?

Egypt, a foreign land Pharoah’s palaceAn object?

Various material possessions of Abram

NARRATIVE: Setting Gen 12:10-20

Cultural aspects: customs, social values, belief systems, world view, attitudes

Any social values?

Egyptians held absolute truthfulness above non-violence: murder did not matter – telling lies did!

Possessions as statusA belief?

Illness seen as Divine retributionA custom / attitude?

Palace harem: Polygamy OK, but adultery not!

Pharaoh’s power When the pharaoh or king, who is the law in his realm, demands a

beautiful woman for his harem, there is no saying, "No."

NARRATIVE: Setting Gen 12:10-20

Temporal aspects: political, national, world events

An event?

Middle East famine Migration to Egypt

Egypt escapes famine because the Nile always supplies water

STRUCTURE - Divisions

Divisions within the text

Divide the text

into

sections and sub-sections

to highlight settings and actions

Gen 12:10-20 The TEXT : WORKSHEET Divide into main episodes

Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.’ When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharoah’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And she was taken into his palace. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram, ”What have you done to me?” he said. Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Gen 12:10-20 The TEXT: 3 Episodes Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to

live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.’

When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharoah’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And she was taken into his palace. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram, ”What have you done to me?” he said. Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

General STRUCTURE

Further Divisions

within the text

The Plot Outlined

Questions to Ask

about

Its Structure

NARRATIVE: PlotPlot: The Problem What is the problem or point of conflict or

tension?The Plan What is the plan to solve the problem?How the Plan worked out How is the plan followed through?Unexpected Intervention What was unexpected?The Outcome How was the matter resolved?

Gen 12:10-20 - The TEXT divided 1st Part

The (double) Problem:

Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.

On which aspect of the Problem does this story focus?

When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.

Gen 12:10-20 - The TEXT divided 1st Part

The Plan to solve the Problem:

Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.’

Gen 12:10-20 – The TEXT 2nd Part

How the Plan worked out:When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she

was a very beautiful woman.

And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And she was taken into his palace.

He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

Gen 12:10-20 – The TEXT 3rd Part

Unexpected Intervention:

But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai.

Gen 12:10-20 – The TEXT 3rd Part

The Outcome:

So Pharaoh summoned Abram, ”What have you done to me?” he said. Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!”

Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

NARRATIVE: Plot Gen 12:10-20 The Problem: What is the problem or point of

conflict or tension?

Abram’s personal insecurity over his wife’s exceptional beauty

Wife abduction highly likely in Egypt. Adultery taken seriously, murder held lightly!

NARRATIVE: Plot Gen 12:10-20

The Plan: What is the plan to solve the problem?

Pass off Sarai as Abram’s sister, not his wife.

The choice before Abram: as “wife” of beautiful Sarai he could expect death; as “brother” he could be treated well. The action: that of a man desperate to survive.

NARRATIVE: Plot Gen 12:10-20

The Execution of the Plan: How is the plan followed through?

Abram’s fears are realised when Sarai is abducted to Pharaoh's palace

On the surface Abram himself not only survives but prospers because of being thought Sarai’s brother

Doubts must remain: Has Pharaoh consummated his marriage to his latest

wife, Sarai? What now of God’s promise of offspring for Abram?

NARRATIVE: Plot Gen 12:10-20

Complication: What unexpected intervention occurs?

God intervenes by sending diseases upon Pharaoh

NARRATIVE: Plot Gen 12:10-20

Plot: How is the matter resolved? How do the characters respond?

Pharaoh Realises the real status of Sarai Takes Abram to task for deceit Expels Abram and all his possesses from Egypt

Abram and Sarai Say nothing and leave Egypt

The CHARACTERS Gen 12:10-20

The Main Characters:

Abram Sarai Pharaoh God

The CHARACTERS’ Behaviour

Their Behaviour How is their behaviour portrayed (e.g. as

admirable, or otherwise)? Is it appropriate for the situation? Why do they act in the way portrayed? What are the consequences of their behaviour?

The CHARACTERS Gen 12:10-20 WORKSHEET

Behaviour: How…? Why…? What results…? Adam and Sarai

Pharaoh

God

The CHARACTERS Gen 12:10-20

Behaviour Adam and Sarai

Conform to Egypt’s cultural norms of behaviour Let fear dominate their action Compromise their integrity Lose face before Pharaoh Lose their refugee status & forced to return to famine

Pharaoh Gets scared by the diseases Blames it all on Abram

God Protects and even blesses Abram despite his behaviour

Other ELEMENTS Gen 12:10-20

Other significant elements within the text: Do other elements contribute significantly to the plot?

Abram’s increased possessions show God’s grace towards Abram despite Abram’s

unethical scheming

Other ELEMENTS Gen 12:10-20

Order of story information: We don’t know at this point of Abraham’s statement

that Sarai is his half-sister. The focus is on God’s intervention, not the integrity of A’s scheme!*

See wider context for the fuller story!

---------------------------------------------------------------------*Should we believe Abraham’s claim anyway, given his

previous deceptions? Gen 11:31 recounts Terah as taking his “daughter-in-law” Sarai with him from Ur.

Abraham & Sarai’s Close Relationship2 Genesis Accounts 11:27-32 (Pharaoh) 20:11-13 (Abimalech)

(A’s “Wife”) (A’s “Wife” / “Half-sister”?)

? = T E R A H ------------------------------- = ?? |_____________________ |

| | | | *

| Haran = ? ABRAM = SARAI

| _____|______ (*according to Abram!)

| | | |

Nahor = Milcah Iscah Lot

?: The Bible gives no name to these wives

NARRATIVE: Context

Contexts in narrative: Literary: the immediate context of the story

in the text Canonical: the context of the whole of

Scripture’s story

NARRATIVE: Literary Context

The wider context: How does the literary context affect how the narrative should be understood?

History repeats itself later with Hagar and with Isaac and Rebecca, with equally unpleasant consequences.

Deceit and sub-ethical attitudes to the marriage state continue amongst God’s people

NARRATIVE: Canonical Context

Theology: How does the total story of the Bible (the canonical context) affect how we should interpret the text?

The Bible as God’s Story concerns how graciously God deals with His people, forgiving those who repent and guiding those who trust in Him.

God’s people are not set up as models for us, though we can learn from their good examples and as well as from their mistakes.

APPLICATION Gen 12:10-20 Discussion

What are

the main lessons

you have learnt from this story?

The End