What does Genesis 12:20 mean?
After grilling Abram over why he had not told Pharaoh that Sarai was his wife, Pharaoh sends Abram away with Sarai and all the goods Pharaoh has already given to him. In the end, Abram comes out ahead despite his fearfulness, foolishness, deceptiveness, and silence. This is not an unintentional aspect of the story of Genesis—God's use of flawed people, whom He blesses despite their sin, is a crucial point in understanding our relationship to the Lord.It is becoming clear that God's promise to Abram is completely one-sided. No matter what Abram does, God will keep His promise to bless Abram, to protect him, and to make him and his offspring into a great nation. Abram won't earn it; God will give it. Over time, Abram will learn to trust God. His obedience with his son, Isaac, after being renamed Abraham (Genesis 22), will become a key example of godly faith in the face of doubt and danger (Hebrews 11:17–19).