Genesis 12:7 - Exposition

And the Lord appeared . The first mention of a theophany, though Acts 7:2 alleges that such a Divine manifestation had previously occurred in Ur of the Chaldees. Though not a direct vision of Jehovah ( John 1:18 ), that there was some kind of outward appearance may be inferred from the subsequent Divine manifestations to the patriarch ( Genesis 18:2 , Genesis 18:17 , Genesis 18:33 ; Genesis 22:11-18 ), to Hagar ( Genesis 16:7-14 ; Genesis 21:17 , Genesis 21:18 ), and to Jacob ( Genesis 31:11-13 ; Genesis 32:24-30 ). On the relation of the angel of Jehovah to Jehovah vide Genesis 16:1-16 :17. Unto Abram . " Jam paene fatigato Abraha isto duro exsilio et perpetuis migrationibus " (Luther). And said, Unto thy seed —to himself God gave "none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on" ( Acts 7:5 ); the land was promised to his seed "when as yet he had no child"— will I give this land . Now occupied by the Canaanites. Undoubtedly a great promise, that the Canaanites should be dispossessed, and their country given to the offspring of a childless old man already over seventy-five years. The apparent improbability of its ever being accomplished rendered it a strong trial to the patriarch's faith. And there builded he an altar. " Constituit certum locum, in quo conveniat ecclesia, auditura verbum Dei, factura preess, laudatura Deum, sacrificatura Deo " (Luther). " Altare forma est Divini cultus; invocatio autem substantia et veritas " (Calvin). "The rearing of an altar in the land was, in fact, a form of taking possession of it on the ground of a right secured to the exercise of his faith" (Bush). "It is often said of Abraham and the patriarchs that they built altars to the Lord; it is never said they built houses for themselves" (Wordsworth). Unto the Lord who had appeared to him.